Price List

My mentor gave me the oportunity to actually  make a price list for the foam he sells to different mattress companies. He always says that a sales representatives job is to do whatever needs to be done to satisfy a client. A client of his that I was introduced to said he was very impressed with the way my mentor introduced his product. His way of doing that is by being very organized and convincing. I asked if it was okay with him if he showed me the proper way to do a price list and he agreed. He did tell me it was different with every company. What he does with most of his price lists is he compares the prices of other foam companies to his to show that his company will provide a good product for a good price. Although my mentor said that price lists are very important, convincing a client is just as important.

Women Make the Best Sale Representatives

I've done a lot of research online and a lot of what my mentor has been telling me is all stuff that I kind of already know. The book Women Make the Best Salesmen by Marion Luna Brem has really been an eye opener for me. I've read an other book How to Turn the Pressure on Without Turning Your Customer Off by Robert L. Shook and this book gave me a lot of information that is helpful but most of it is what I found online in articles. Women Make the Best Salesmen is a really inspiring book because it's about a woman who is 32 and is a mother of two. She has terminal cancer and her doctor gave her a death sentence. She is in the dealership business and has now opened many dealerships and businesses. Best of all she beat her cancer too. This book is really helpful because she gives tips that are helpful for all sorts of sales job not just dealerships. Other than it being a good book it is a real eye opener.

Blog 9: EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.
a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

• This doesn't meet the rule of 3 criteria because it's not formatted specific enough. If it was specific about who exactly the questions refers to it would change the depth of research.

b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

• This EQ does have a stance because it can have different view and information to it. To provide better frame work I would be specific on the kind of crime.

c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

• The EQ doesn't follow the rule of 3because it doesn't have good frame work. It isn't specific on the gender or age of the customer.

d. How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

• This EQ does follow the rule of 3 because it does provide frame work that can easily have a lot of information too. It's also specific on the kind of pain that a person is feeling.

3. What qualities best define a successful independent sales representative?

First sale!

On tuesday my mentor gave me the opportunity to help him make a sale and it went great! When he asked me if I was up for the challenge to show a client the price list and product I wasn't so sure if I was ready so I responded with "I don't think i'm ready yet." Considering that my mentor is my dad, I didn't really have a choice but to do it. We arrived at the company and right away my mentor said absolutely nothing. I then knew he expected me to say something so I introduced ourselves and told the client what company we were representing and after that it all flowed smoothly. My mentor did help me explain the price list because i'm still not familiar with it. After we shared the price list the client agreed to try out the product and after that we would know if he would be a loyal customer. It was so exciting to actually experience that sale considering the fact that I don't really know my mentors product very well.

Research and Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?

What best defines a successful independent sales representative?

2. EQ: What best defines a successful independent sales representative?

• The ability to listen more than speaking.
• Understanding the customers needs.
• Investing time on people that positevly affect sales than to those who won't return.
• A persuasive person with good communication skills as well as problem solving skills.

3. The most important source other than my mentor is a book called "Hard Ball Selling". It helped me narrow down the qualiaties that a sales person must adapt to in order to be succesful.

4. My mentor is Manuel Martin he is a sales representative and working with him relates to my working EQ because when I see him work with clients and companies it shows me the kind of traits and abilities a sales representative has to have in order to be succesful.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
 

• I plan on doing my 30 hours with my mentor because my topic is a little difficult to do. My mentor offered me to do ride alongs with him. I would basically be going with him to visit his clients and to his meetings with his bosses. I'm still working on trying to find a leadership or communications class but I am having a hard time finding one.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• To show evidence of completing the 30 hours I will try taking pictures. If I am able to take a class I will get a confirmation from the teacher that proves I completed it. 

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• By going with my mentor to his meetings and conferences I will get a better undertanding of how a sales representative comprehends the product he is selling. If I take a leadership or communications class it will help me understand how a sales reps traits and ability to work with people establish over time.

Independent Sales

As I do more and more research on my topic I seem to be getting the same information. So I decided to do more open research to get more useful information on the types of reps that are in the industry. I know I want to do sales but I didn't make up my mind to focus on independent sales till now. An independent sales representative sells products or services to a client for a certain company. Usually an independent rep represents multiple products or services to manufacturers. This kind of representative works on a commission basis so usually they get no regular salary. The success relies on how well the product is represented and sold.

This makes my topic much more interesting and easier because when I first started I was all over the place. As for a specfic product that I would be interested in selling, I havent figured that out yet. But for the most part I now know where to start looking for the useful information i've been looking for.

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

1. My mentor is Manuel Martin and he works as a sales representative at a couple different companies such as R&R Foam Sales and Mattress Kingdom.

2.

• How long have you been a sales representative and how did you get to where you are today?
• How did you prepare yourself for this job?
• What kind of freedom and benefits does the company you work for give you?
• What skills do you think are the strongest that you have that have helped you with this job?
• What would you change about this career?

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

1. So far i've learned a better and more specific understanding of business and ways to be the best sales representative. Most of my research repeats the same ideas but this book "Sale Blazers" is really giving me a better idea of how to be physically and mentally ready to be the best sales representative.

2. In the book "Sale Blazers" the autor mentions that the best sales representative has to have great leadership skills as well as experience. When I researched articles about my topic it never mentioned experience nor leadership skills although it does make a lot of sense. The bok goes into detail about how being a leader can give you the convidence that you need to be a successful sales representative.

3. The research has definetly helped me a bit but so far my mentor has given me the best information. The research gives me information but not examples or scenarios like my mentor does.

4. So far what hasn't worked for me is articles for research. Everything I find online gives the same information that I already know.

5.

• What qualities should one have to be a successful sales representative?
• I would like to do ride alongs with my mentor to get the full experience of meeting clients.

Sales Representative It Is!

When I was being interviewed by a senior before leaving school I was asked what I was thinking of doing my senior project on. To be quite honest I had absolutely no idea so I said "sales representative". During the summer I actually put some thought into it and I thought it wasn't such a bad idea considering my dad is a sales representative. I was always interested in my dads profession but I realized I want to pursue it once I did my first few hours of the mentorship.

After completing the first 10 hours and 30 minutes of the mentorship I learned a lot. Not only did I get a full experience of what my dad does everyday but I actually got the opportunity to call clients and do invoices on the computer. As a sales representative one has to have the traits of an outgoing person. My mentor also recommened me to take a communications course that he said helped him communicate with clients a lot easier.

Once my summer mentorship hours were done I knew I wanted to do my senior project on that! So sales representative it is!

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. I plan to interview my dad Manuel Martin because he has been a sales representative for the past 14 years and I know I will get the best and honest information from him for my first interview. He's an independent sales representative and he represents different companies for different products which is exactly what I want to do in the future.

2.

• What kind of traits do you have to have to be a succesful sales representative? Why?
• What do you have to do in order to keep a client satisfied?
• What is the best advice you can give to a person who wants to be a sales representative?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1) List your topic here:


 Sales Representative

2) What do you plan to do this year to show growth in each of the ESLRs? Be specific and use an example. Examples can come from senior project, model assembly, core, and/or participation in senior class ASB or other organizations on campus (clubs etc).

•  As an iPoly citizen I will take in consideration others opinions. I will partake in as many school events and committees such as prom!
• As an effective learner I will take full advantage of my mentorship hours and all the opportunities that come with that. As well as acquire as much knowledge as I can from the senior teachers. Something else I'll do is dedicate more of my time studying to understand core lessons.
• As an effective user of technology I will use the internet to acquire research information that involves the senior project and other school work.
• As an effective communicator I will communicate with not only peers and teachers but my mentor as well. I will definitely try my best to communicate with my mentor to make sure my senior project goes as I hope.

Summer Mentorship Component

1. Mentorship log
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkuzI3AwF2cNdFNSRGMzbUx4bTZ6ZkY5bHhZY1pSc3c&usp=sharing

2. Contact Information

Manuel Martin - (626)926-8579

3. What is the most important thing to know being a sales representative?
What do you have to do in order to satisfy a client?

4. The most important thing I gained from this experience is how important it is to keep a client satisfied. As a sales representative you have to acquire clients as well as maintain them in order to succeed in this career field. Another important thing I gained is that it is important as a sales representative to be a very convncing person with a great personality.

5. The ten hours I did this summer helped me choose a topic because it made me realize that my personality and ability to work with people is a very easy thing for me. Now that I know the kind of person you have to be and things you have to do, it makes me a lot more interested.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1. Presentations viewed:
Gina Thi - Clinical Pharmacist
Clara Amaya - Autism
Teo Crisanto- Real Estate
Xavier Alnarron- Web Design
Nicole Diaz- Forensic Photography
Valerie Nuno- Dance Choregraphy
Amanda Nieto- Film Directing
Taylor McRorey- Scope Surgery
Rachel hernandez- Deaf Culture
Johanis Quiroz- Mexican Folk Art
Alyssa M. - Molecular Biology
Evan Mutz- Foley Art
Alexis- Ayala- Algebra
Alexa- Violin

2. Can the summer mentorship be done with a family relative? A couple of seniors mentioned a 15 minute presentation, was that a preperation for the 2 hour? Is the 2 hour a semester project or all of senior year?

3. The most important part of the presentation from what it looked like, was the essential question. That seemed like the mose important because without it the presentation woul dbe all over the place. I also think the mentorship is important because from what it looked like the seniors got most of their answers from their mentors.

4. I'm considering on doing my senior project on being a Sales Representative because that is what my dad does and it's also something i'm interested in doing in the future.