Radio Sales Café

Happy Friday, everyone!

Here's this week's poll question:

Who is the best salesperson -- in or out of radio -- that you've ever encountered?  What impressed you about him or her?

Looking forward to reading your replies!

My father, he really cared about his clients and business. He always was honest and truthful. That is why he was so successful in sales. A man of integrity.

The best I ever saw was an appliance salesman. His name is unimportant. His sales presentation was completely effortless. What impressed me most was his product knowledge, his ability to go with the customer and up sell them and have them enjoy it at the same time. He was always cordial and direct. His style could sell anything.

With out a doubt, Jim Carroll. I met Jim when I was first starting in sales at KPOW in Powell, Wyoming. I then worked for him at KMER in Kemmerer, Wyoming and at KRQU in Laramie, Wyoming. He was in radio most of his life and seemed to know everything about how to present and sell radio. He was inducted into the Wyoming Broadcasters Hall of fame a few years ago. He passed away two years ago and this year his family was inducted into the Wyoming Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Of the hundreds (and maybe thousands) of things I learned from Jim, I can still hear him saying, "Quit selling advertising. Nobody wants to buy advertising. Bring 'em an idea. Ideas sell like hotcakes". I still miss picking up the phone and bouncing ideas off him.

Mark, I had the pleasure of working with Jim Carroll for several years, to the point where I considered him a friend as well as a customer. He was a great guy! I still keep in touch with his wife and son, so I'll make sure they see this post; I know they'd appreciate your words.

I still talk to Carol Carroll occasionally. I did not know Jim's son. It's nice to know that Jim is remembered. Thanks for posting Rebecca

The best salesperson I ever met..... Well let me set the story in motion....

The best salesperson I ever met is a woman. She didn't work many prospects but the ones she did she worked very hard at. She inhertited one and developed two. These customers were real and honest babes in the wood when it came to knowing anything about what was being sold to them. The saleperson knew her stuff though and while the prospects resisted at times, gave false objections and out and out lied at times, this sales person never waivered. She knew she was right and kept right on selling.

It is great all these years later to now see these prospects doing so well. Oh they still come to her for advice, but now they are informed. They treat this sales person with respect because they have shared so much.

The best sales person I have ever met is my wife, Jennifer. She knew what our two kids and the one she inhertied needed, and no matter how many objections and problems that came about, she persisted and molded these kids into young people who are now open to new ideas AND have a background from which to make good decisions.... and isn't that what a good sales person does?

Awesome post, Chris! And kudos to Jennifer. :-)