Natural Born Sellers - The ITV’s answer to The Apprentice?
Click here for my comments on Episode V
Click here for my comments on Episode IV
Click here for my comments on Natural Born Sellers Episode III
Stop Press - for my comments on Episode II click here: Natural Born Sellers II
It was more like the "Diet Coke Of The Apprentice" or "The Low Fat Spread Of The Apprentice" as Dr Evil would say! Now I know loads of people will whine "But it’s not supposed to be like The Apprentice" and I’ll reply back with "Bull - there are too similarities and which show came first?"
Don’t get me wrong, another time and another place and this show would be a huge hit and although I enjoyed watching it, I still had the feeling as if it was after the Lord Mayor’s Show somewhat. I also think it will do well to remain on ITV 1 for the full 6 weeks but time will tell and I have been wrong once before.
So what is the concept of the show?
Well 8 sales people battle it out to earn as much commission as possible over 6 weeks working at a variety of different companies with a 6 figure prize at stake. Each week there is a "TOP DOG" who has to vote off one of the bottom two earners in commission.
So here are my thoughts on show 1… IDEAL HOMES FURNITURE STORE The show started off introducing a super confident 25 year old called Scott who made me cringe a little with his intro.
There’s a fine line between feeling confident on the inside but coming across as arrogant and Scott has this problem. Two frightened pensioners looked like rabbits in the headlights as they were being bulldozered into the sale - what would he have been like if the cameras were not there I wondered?
Sure, he made the sale. But was it out of skill or intimidation? Would those same people come back again for anything else? Scott was then pulled up for being late and blagged the Sales Manager Andy.
He then ratted on one of his fellow sales team - overall he is the type of stereotypical gum chewing wide boy who thinks he’s Tom Cruise out of Cocktail or Maverick from Top Gun! He did make a huge blunder when out in the car park trying to coax buyers in. He approached a couple who said "We’ve already been in the store and couldn’t find what we wanted" and he just let them walk on by. He should have offered to help them look and take them back in the store - you can’t sell chairs standing next to a Wheely Bin in the car park me ole China!
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Carrying on with the "Let’s beat up Scott theme" - sorry mate but you had it coming and you’ve got broad shoulders - when the Sales Manager gave him some feedback he just did not want to listen "I just want to hear positives" he said.
Well guess what?
Sales is a profession where you will "fail" 70% of the time so you’d better get used to bad news and learning from your mistakes is the only way you will learn.
I loved Scott’s positive mental attitude by the way - this should not be tempered and there is no doubt he can sell, this is not in question - what is in question is the way he sells. I believe he has enough raw material to earn 500k per year as a sales person if he could channel his skills and sales approach in the right direction. My God, I’m sounding like a Jedi Master!
Moving onto to some of the other "Natural Born Sellers"… I liked Danny. I’d employ him. Down to earth and he listened to his customers, focussing on building rapport rather than being a smart $%£^! Thea - "I’m used to sophisticated sales"
Yeah right.
If flashing your nellies and low cut tops help you to close "sophisticated sales" then Jordan could make a mint selling top of the range linux servers. Now let me think of some of the other words of wisdom I can pass onto my sales trainers from Thea for the next time we are delivering a session: "Sex Sells" "It’s an advantage to be good looking" "It’s important to be sultry and easy on the eye" "Selling is like romancing someone - you don’t go to the tiolet half way through chatting someone up"
They are real killers aren’t they?!
Another NO NO in my book was the following line that a chap called Leighton made to some customers: "I don’t mind if you say no, there are plenty of other customers that will say yes" Yup, that must have made your prospects feel real special! Come on! What 1980’s book did he get that from?
Gavin made me laugh when he said "I’ve got the fire in me today" with all of the passion of a wet lettuce. He wasn’t convincing me!
And whatever happened to Anna-Marie? Who? Yes, she was a contestant too but we never heard her name once after the intros. That must mean that she wins it!
So Danny was crowned TOP DOG after the first week and good on ya Dan but probably the winner of the show was IDEAL HOMES FURNITURE STORE who dispelled the myths of hard selling in furniture stores with a philosophy of "Trust and Integrity" said by their Sales Manager Andy.
So there were winners and losers but was everyone being themselves? Are some out for fame at the expense of their sales careers? After all, this is a reality TV show where you never quite know whether people are being the real them or not…
So it’s onwards and upwards to Wakefield where West Yorkshire Windows will be the host for the next episode.
Sean
PS If you’re wondering why I have not mentioned Nick who got fired, in my book he would have been fired on day 1 for turning up late!
Enough said.
Sean McPheat
The UK’s #1 Authority On Sales Success
MTD Sales Training
Telephone: 0800 849 6732
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Friday, 3. October 2008
Thanks Sean
Scott English here- brilliant appreciate the feedback- Love you too.
Scott xx
Friday, 3. October 2008
Hi Scott
You should be on 150k - 500k with your talent easy
Love your attitude man
Just chip away at “your rough edges” and you can write your own pay cheque. You’re the talk of our office today!
Sean
Friday, 3. October 2008
Hi Sean
It was an Entertainment show! I do enjoy reading about your tips and I introduce a lot of them to my team in the business I am a partner of.
Please please please do not think that what you see are the true techniques that I use in my day to day, or introduce to my sales execs. This is the only way I could get the airtime and an opportunity to appear on a show like this.
Love your stuff- and keep them coming.
Scott
Friday, 3. October 2008
Hi Scott
I’ve been involved with a couple of reality tv shows and I’ve been offered to actually present a couple of them too!
You have to be careful with the image you give over and yes I agree - being a boring old fart would get you no airtime whatsoever!
If I can help you in anyway in the future just shout.
I’m in the recording studios next week taping a 10 cd set I’ve been working on for the past 6 months. It will blow apart the sales profession as we know it!
Watch this space…
Sean
Sunday, 5. October 2008
Hi Sean,
Glad to see you are the only person sticking up for Scott.
He is a good lad really, do you know he is my son?
1980?
Well I am a fan of time travel!
What was more important was I got the sale plus another 8.
Only I wasn`t as fierce as Scott was, perhaps thats why I got less screen time?
I think next week I am in for some flack!
Monday, 6. October 2008
An interesting show, and I enjoyed your recap and views.
It is very clearly inspired by The Apprentice. I wonder if the lack of a boss running the boardroom will be good or bad; I guess it means the show really does become more about the salespeople alone.
I am so disappointed by the girl who quit after one day. How many potential contestants must be gutted that they didn’t make it to the show and then that ingrate quits like that?
Scott was sitting around in bed. He was a slacker even if he tries to mask it as “a judgment call” to keep on on. I wonder how he had her number, maybe a bit of hanky-panky there?
Still, to Scott’s credit he did sell hard in the end. Mind you, his “Did you speak to a discount guy? I’m a discount guy” line was a load of bollocks. His attitude problem about listening to any criticism is going to hinder his growth. Scott really is an example of a person who has been promoted too quickly. There’s some raw talent but he’s not allowing others to refine it. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t win.
Thea is just a ridiculous tart. ‘Nuff said.
Danny is an interesting character. On the one hand he does come across as a nice guy and a hard-working family-oriented bloke. But then, he did also have a snigger about people being quick to give him money in the caryard. That did make me put him back in to the category of shonky car salespeople. I felt his decision to resign his job before going on the show was foolish but then again, he did win the first challenge so maybe he will make it.
The trailer for episode two suggests Gavin is still cocking up his paperwork.
The real-estate salesman was way out of his depth. He definitely deserved to be fired. He did seem like a nice guy, but there absolutely wasn’t any real drive or hunger in him. I guess he waits for people to come into his agency rather than driving sales. It makes you wonder why he applied for the show if he didn’t really have any gumption.
Anyhow, let’s see how it progresses!
Monday, 6. October 2008
Scott was great i thought. The patronising guy at Ideal had a motivated team of experienced sales people who surely would beat the existing staff, and he spent more time talking down than up.
Getting called “Son” grates a bit too.
Getting your cleavage out to sell is a bit obvious but people buy people first and often a great pair will sell.
Which is what we are here for isn “tit”.
Friday, 10. October 2008
Rob over 700 hours of film to cut to a 1 hour show inc adds my manager did plenty of talking up, but thats not what the producers wanted to be seen!!
Friday, 10. October 2008
No they wanted conflict, arguements, bitching and back stabbing something which I was keen to avoid, hence why I hardly got a look in even though I exceeded my target!
Monday, 13. October 2008
Not such a “silent” assassin now! love your feedback on blog sites, well done for having a go.
Monday, 13. October 2008
Thanks Vincent, looks like I may have got away lightly. Poor Anne Marie has been made to look stupid and Gavin has been stitched up in my opinion.
Scott has reprieved himself in part 2 but I fear he has peaked!
Hope they don`t pull it after next week!
Thursday, 16. October 2008
I hope the show continues too.
I’ll be keen to see who wins. Scott definitely came across much, much better in episode two. He was inspirational.
In fact, even Thea, of all people, lifted up her game in episode two. She seemed more focused (although she still has this ridiculous idea she is good to look at.)
Let’s see how episode three goes …
Thursday, 16. October 2008
Scott was robbed! Can see why they decided to jetison a major competitor (that’s sales after all) but what a worker. Persistance is what gets results and he has that in spades. Hope it proves to be a useful experience. TV puts its own spin on things, so even Thea can’t be as bad as she is painted…. can she?
Friday, 17. October 2008
Err Yes actually!
Monday, 20. October 2008
I suspected as much actually Leighton, but was trying to be kind! I was a bit surprised you went out when you did too, but think the producers want to keep Thea in as she is such good thea-tre! Best wishes
Thursday, 23. October 2008
this is really beginning to get on my nerves, the simple reason scott is out is because he finished in the bottom 2, even though he had an unfair advantage being given extra discount to play with which i might add was£2500 more than anyone else and still did not sell till after the deadline by using the extra discount.this is not me having a go at scott cos he wasn’t a bad lad but nowhere near as good as he thought he was.Now onto leighton the reason leighton went even with years of double glazing expirence behind him finished bottom so my reason for getting rid of him was not because he was a greater threat than gav cos lets face it if gavins paperwork hadn’t been pulled in week 1 he would have finished above leighton on both weeks. if im allowed i will give you the figures for the tasks and then you will see the massive gulf between us all.
Friday, 24. October 2008
Dan, do you know what the figures actually were for both weeks.
Silver River didn`t want to give them to me when I asked.
Perhaps you could put the record straight?
I know there was only £400 between me and Gavin in week 2, price of one window from WYW.
Incidently EON have underpaid me this month by £700, something I feared!
Friday, 24. October 2008
i have got to say this show is exellent im hooked. I can’t beieve that on another blog some guy said he would not employ danny is the man deluded, so what if he’s a bit of wide boy from essex he ges the job done. can’t wait till next week.
Friday, 24. October 2008
yes leighton only £400 behind gavin and £36000 behind me god you were unlucky!!!!
Friday, 24. October 2008
Danny, you seem to be in a totally different league to all the others. Gavin’s ability to stay in the game is to be commended but can’t see him carrying off the title…. May the best man win. Entertaining viewing guys, thanks.
Friday, 24. October 2008
thanks gail, that means alot to me i just tried my best and the most pleasing thing is that someone like yourself noticed.it just annoys me when these so called big hitters from the city have to keep saying were the lowest form of selling, especially as nick who sold 26 million pound houses couldnt sell a £1000 pound sofa, but i bet if you put me in his job i could do it without having to change to much. ONCE again thank you and are you in sales yourself.
Saturday, 25. October 2008
Hi Dan
You are welcome. To answer your question, part of me wants to come out with the pat answer that we are ALL in sales, but that sounds really trite. I used to be, various diff things but life assurance back in the early nineties (and along with double glazing it was assumed that none of us had principles!) I was not in your league by a long way, but didn’t do too badly - got on well with people by and large and didn’t flash my legs to get sales, if you know what I mean! I got out of direct sales after having kids (now teenagers) and got a boring office job. Things changed, last year was widowed suddenly at 42 just after starting treatment for cancer myself, so sales definately not an area to get involved with these days. Have a great job as a P.A./carer, great kids, new partner (and old friend) who is fab, lots of interests, live my life with pedal to the metal, after 2 years of treatment am about to complete most of it and don’t really miss the cut and thrust of some manager breathing down my neck about targets. That said, watching you guys is great fun, and despite ITV mucking up its own sales pitch on this one, its much more entertaining than the BBC version. I wish you well; Dominic Littlewood has done very well for himself jumping from sales to tv and with the right management I reckon you could do the same. Top Dog!
Saturday, 25. October 2008
I love this programme… I don’t normally watch reality tv, but this has me hooked! I started watching it as I am in sales and thought it would be interesting to see people’s different approaches to winning business.
Danny, I really like, he cuts the bull, listens to what people say and whilst he has the desire to win, he doesn’t come across as desperate to the customers… unlike Thea!!! Oh MY God!!!! If I had to work with her I think I’d have to punch her! Firstly, how much does she fancy herself.. has she even looked in a mirror recently.. sorry honey, you really aren’t all that!! If she was completely stunning, or even vaguely pretty, then I could understand her playing on it.. but please, her make up is badly applied, she has the most awful laugh, most of the time she has a morose, sulky look on her face.. except on the days she decides to play at being a sex kitten… but I have to give her one positive thing.. she has good hair!!!!!
I didn’t really like Scott either, I think he is just a little too arrogant, I don’t doubt he can sell.. however even if he was selling Thierry Mugler Angel (my Perfume weakness), I’d not have bought from him.. he is too pushy and instantly pushes the wrong buttons. That said, his enthusiasm and positiveness was brilliant, if he could just tone down the arrogance he’d be okay.
Sunday, 26. October 2008
gail i think your in a diffrent league to me with what you have been through and you shoud be proud of yourself.I agree itv could have done alot more to advertise this programme and for me personally it has been very hard to get my ife back to normal. I was hoping a fantastic job offer would come or maybe a few tv appearences to promote mysef but so far nothing. I wouldn’t know the first thing about getting a manager on board would you have any advice or maybe even a few contacts.thanks gail for your kind words and i wish you all the best for the future.
Tuesday, 28. October 2008
Hi Dan, Thanks for your kind comments. I have a few ideas that may be of interest. If you want to discuss this outside the open forum contact gailsheridan@fsmail.net. Its never easy out there but there should be some good opportunities for you. Best wishes.
Thursday, 30. October 2008
hey danny ive watch the show from the first episode your defo head and shoulders above the rest im in the sales game myself the thing i noticed was that when you have a discount your allocated to give no one seems to hold it till its needed take the limo episode i would of waited for the objections and the no before using the discount. to throw it in before your customer says no leaves you with nowhere to go i defo think thea is there for tv ratings and she has a long way to fall when she realises that sex does,nt sell everything i hope you go on to win your coming across really well in the programme good luck
Friday, 31. October 2008
last nights show was so funny dan and Gav coughing in shopping centre classic!!.Going back to my point about the guy who wouldn’t employ danny sureley he has to admit he was wrong to say that.Even on a task which he wasn’t comfortable with he was the only one who adapted and got on with it,I also think his friendship with Gav is also fantastic let’s face it he has took Gav under his wing and protected him, but on the other hand he kneed Gav to keep him going.The way he let thea go was nice as he could have been nasty but praised her for her effort.Anne marie was a joke last night, but something tells me she will win.sean were are your comments on episode 5 look fwd to Reading them.
Monday, 3. November 2008
Poor show last week, looked like the micro mitt company was under prepared and the product was portrayed badly( A shame for them) The sales team didn’t act as if the had belief in it. I felt for Gavin gave him a big G love to use for promotion, and then told it made the product look a joke! how serious was a grown man wearing a bright orange glove going to be? Danny you are the best all round sales person as we have seen, but Gav your the star! could see you getting more TV work or possably a job as a football club mascot.
Wednesday, 5. November 2008
thanks for the comment vincent.I think Gavin deserves a bit more praise for his sales ability let’s face it he would have finished 4th in first episode but had sales taken off him so what ideal homes was saying that it’s ok to get your bangers out but if you dare make a spelling mistake well take the deal of you a very strange practice indeed!the other thing vincent is that andrew was made out to be a right tosser but it’s all in the editing same with Gav , don’t get me wrong Gav is funny guy but he’s not a fool funny how people who slagged him off in earlier forums are now jumping on the bandwagon.I at least liked Gav from start to finish and will remain mates but it pissed me off that people think he can’t sell I mean your staff get set a 6k target for a weekend I think there in desperate need of training my 7 year old daughter could do those figures
Thursday, 6. November 2008
Hi Danny
Steady on! as you must know by now the format and editing was done by the producers not us I have always said you all did a fantastic job for us, I have never knocked you or Gavin. as for the comments about your targets these were set some time before filming,and as you may know by now you were coming to us as the second challange so would have been the week after the bank holiday, it was decided to keep the targets at 6K each,as we had know idea what any of you would be like.(also there was Kersten)not all my sales team are as good as you but they are all better than a 7 year old. As for the paper work the rules were put in place before filming as to aceptence of a sale in the main this related to price charged or quoted and correctly written to match, not one was rejected for anything as petty as a spelling error.
Thursday, 6. November 2008
Danny
I was quite happy to keep my opinions to myself in respect of the contestants abilities and sales techniques during their time at Ideal Homes Furniture, however once you decide to question the abilty of my team then some clarification is in order.
The target we set for the contestants was divided by the number of people on the sales floor, if we had our own sales team working over the same period the same target would have been divided by 3 not 8 (thats how many sales people we employ in the store Danny)
Would my team have sold as much or more than the contestants ? of course they would, they are furniture retail sales professionals, who by the way Danny I can quite confidently say would have closed more business over that weekend period.
I could have cried at the number of missed opportunities we let slip through our fingers through lack of knowledge, lack of understanding and most importantly lack of closing skills.
As for Gavin, you again seem to have misunderstood the reasons why he was a bottom 2 performer. It was not has lack of sales that ultimately put him into that position it was both his lack of sales add ons (a factor that we are able to judge a persons sales skills directly against another sales person) plus his poor paperwork !
You of all people Danny should know that incorrect details are unacceptable, how do you think the customer would have felt if their suite was to be delivered in a wrong colour ? Still dont let a thing like that be a problem just because Gavin is a funny fella.. How would you like to have to explain to the family who have been waiting 3 months for their goods it is all wrong but dont worry its just a laugh !!
I have enormous respect for all of the people who took part in the show whether they were voted off at the beginning or managed to make it through to the final stages. What normally motivates a person to take part in a show like that is either money or a certain desire to have a more visible career path. I actually have no interest in whether i was liked or disliked, my only concern whilst you were a part of our business was OUR BUSINESS. that very much includes my sales team !
Friday, 7. November 2008
good response andrew but it still dosent say why thea was allowed to perform in the way she did !!!
Friday, 7. November 2008
Danny, Ignore the horrible comments, I thought you were brilliant and I think you are a credit to your family. You should be very proud. The fact that Gavin split the money with you speaks volumes and you are a fantastic salesman. I wanted you to win from the first show, and was disappointed that you did not. No disrespect to Gavin, but you were the most consistent. Well done on your great performance. The only vulgar thing in the show was Thea in my opinion. (Sorry Thea, but overtly sexual tactics do not show professionalism or respectability to yourself or the Company). I hope you will find a new job which is worthy of you - or perhaps you could look at starting your own venture. Well done Danny, you are a credit to sales.
Friday, 7. November 2008
Hi Andrew,
Gavin Here,
Just would love to know the real reasons my sales were Disqualified as I have heard insidious rumours that you were put underpressure by some of the TV people to keep Thea in.
I would hope this is not the case as I thought the compnay was based on integrity and honor. I would love it if you could contact me and explain to me as other contestants said they had put the wrong dates on, not charged VAT etc. As a result I found myself in the bottom two and my confidience was knocked for the entire series.
Do you still have all our paperwork from that weekend?
That said I did win and am honoured to share the winnings with Dan and his wonderful family.
Look Forward to speaking to you soon,
Friday, 7. November 2008
Hi Gavin
Glad to hear you shared your winnings, it was a very honourable thing to do. It’s fair play to you that you won, obviously overall Danny was the most consistent salesman, you won fair and square in the end, and obviously it was his choice to keep you in. It’s nice to hear someone who is obviously so decent doing well though, but the fact you shared it with the guy who kept you in time and again is great. Well done and good luck for the future. IT would be great to know if you are back doing your old job or moving into a different part of sales?
Friday, 7. November 2008
Hi JO,
There was no question of sharing with Dan, he is an amazing salesman and a great friend. He did keep me in which was fantastic but all I can say is thank god I did win, I think Dan and I would have been very depressed if Anna Marie had won!
I have just left my Job in sales for a career break. I’ve had a fantastic run in advertising but I need a small break to recharge and re-think my future. I do enjoy Telesales and have made a good living from it, I love the creativity advertising allows not only in the designing of the advert but also in the pitch. I’m dont know if you know this Jo but I had never sold face to face until the first episode of Natural born sellers. I found this aspect daunting and terryfying.
Friday, 7. November 2008
Hi Gavin,
Thanks for responding to my post. It’s nice to see a real friendship came out of the programme. So many ‘reality’ shows have people pretending to like eachother for their own benefit. I genuinely really liked both you and Danny.
I actually have been in contact with Anna-Marie before, and I wont go into details at all, but she is certainly very hyper! I have nothing against her as I do not know her all that well personally, but I was disappointed to see her vote Scott off, and as has been discussed, felt there was more to her than met the eye….her ideas in the final showed she is a smart woman, and not as ditzy as she was made to come across or wanted to come across..I’m not sure which.
It was apparent that you were not confortable in face to face selling…did you know that would be what the programme would be based on almost entirely when you applied? It was very brave of you to go for it, and full credit to you. It was obvious you were much more confident on the phone.
I would love to set up my own business, but like you I find face to face selling quite nerve-wracking. I do promotions work in my spare time, and it is very intimidating sometimes. If you aren’t naturally confident or extroverted it can be very hard!
Perhaps you and Danny could look at doing your own venture
I often have to psyche myself up to do this kind of work, and I got the impression you were the same. You needed them to help build your confidence but didnt find as much encouragement as you probably would have liked to achieve as much as you could have otherwise…I might not be right, but that was how I perceived it anyway! x
Friday, 7. November 2008
To Gavin & Danny
What a shame the experience seems to have left a bitter taste for you both (for different reasons). As intellegent men you must have considered the potential pitfalls before signing up for the programme and slagging off Ideal Homes who lets face it together with the other companies involved contributed to your winnings is such a shame. All the companies took a risk in participating and were not responsible for the rules set by the producers or had any say on who stayed in or didn’t.
Suprised you seem to be taking a swipe at Ideal Homes and questioning their integrity, wouldn’t seem very fair to me particulary as it would appear you and Danny changed the format of the show slightly by seemingly having a pact between you to keep you in and share the spoils. Wonder how Ann-Marie and others feel about that?!
Also Danny if you don’t rate the sales team strange you emailed Ideal Homes recently offering your services for promotional work!! Wouldn’t have thought you would want to have been associated with them. Guess when an opportunity to make some money arrives integrity for some people leaves!!
Saturday, 8. November 2008
gavin you are a star and its so cool of you to share with dan. Why on the other hand do the company dan worked for in week one seem to be very defensive about paper work issue, i wonder? Now they want to tell danny he is not as good as there own staff even though vince said he was better. you gave him a 6k target he beats it by 20 k and you want to knock him i think your totally out of order and andrew your tips to scott about the older people saying it would be there last purchase i bet those customers are well happy with that comment or was it in the editing.You also question why people went on show well we could see why you went on it to act like some kind of sales guru!!! hopefully you enjoyed the profit dan and the rest made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Saturday, 8. November 2008
I think it’s a bit poor for the contestants to be criticising some of the businesses in a public forum like this.
If I lived in England I’d be happy to buy windows from Andrew/Vincent - especially as I know I don’t have to deal with any of that inflated price and “oh, I’ll just talk to the manager, see if I can get a discount for you” rubbish.
I’m astounded Gavin won a challenge! However, it was certainly very decent of him to split the cash. Danny was undoubtedly the most competent and consistent salesperson of the lot even if some of his tactics are jarring to the consumer.
Saturday, 8. November 2008
Hello David,
You are right, Grievances should be aired behind closed doors. I was just astonished that Andrew from the furniture store had comments to make on an online forum and not to me in a one to one environment.
I tend to ignore this blogs and comments but when I was informed that Andrew was critizing me then I was greatly dissapointed in his lack of proffesionalism. Andrew or Vincent if you wish you contact me to discuss proffesionally problems I may of had during the week 1 task then you can contact me on gavindavis883@btinternet.com. Hopefully Andrew will be gracious enough to explain his comments to me. I do actually feel sorry for Vincent in all of this.
By the way David It was a differnent Andrew that sold Windows. Andrew Glover of West Yorkshire windows. A splendid man and a great manager during task 2.
Well everyone, the door is finally closed on Natural born sellers as far as I am concerned. Thank you to everyone who supported me. I am delighted that I could share the winnings with Dan and his Family, they are superb people and I hope life is made easier on them. Dan is a great friend. One thing Dan, just imagine how depressed you would havve been if Anna Marie won!!! But it was only a gameshow afterall.
I may never be the best salesperson but if anyone out there in the salesworld is struggling then learn from me. Anything is possible and there are some fantastic people out there who can help increase your skills, like Sean Mcpheat, just keep at it.
Thank you so much everyone and I look forward to recieving an email from Andrew soon.
Dan your a legend.
Gavin
Britain most Unsucessful, sucessful salesman
Saturday, 8. November 2008
Can I just say that spending two weeks of last year with Gavin lterally 24/7 was the best 2 weeks I had had in years.
It beat any holiday with the lads totally!
Gav you are a star!
I wish you well in what ever you are up to and please come and visit us here in Dorset next year.
You, my friend were the one that was awesome!
Leighton
Monday, 10. November 2008
I think there are two things that Gavin did very well.
Firstly, he went to the guy in Manchester with a figure in mind and asked big. Although he didn’t get that figure he did get a large amount. I don’t believe any of the other contestants specifically asked anyone for a specific amount.
Secondly, if I heard rightly the Betta (sp?) people said they’d put collection tins in their workshops - so Gavin effectively had a small army of people collecting on his behalf too.
All in all, an interesting show. Not quite The Apprentice, but certainly entertaining and showed an interesting collection of salespeople and gave some inspiring tactics to keep in mind.
Well done Gavin, and also well done to Danny who was undoubtedly the most consistent salesman of the show.
Monday, 10. November 2008
thanks david for your comments and glad you have kept an open mind in all this.
I would just like to point out i have nothing against ideal homes i mereley asked a question about paperwork and got a very defensive response and it was not only me who felt like this.I THINK IDH IS A GREAT COMPANY and have nothing against them at all. To put the record straight i didoffer vince my services but only because i had been approached by another furniture outlet to do some work for them and gave vince first option which he declined.David that was done in a private e mail but vince thought it best to get one of his staff to air it publicly which is why you have to reply on open forums like this!! As for me and gavin sharing and what anna marie thinks well for that to happen i had to finish top every week and remember anna marie had her chance to get rid of gavin but chose scott instead.
Monday, 10. November 2008
Unbelievable result and a very enjoyable series.
Good on you Gavin for splitting the loot with Danny, he deserves it & is a good salesman, while you were great entertainment!
Danny came to work for Hydropool after the series had finished filming, but driving distance to/from our Croydon showroom every day proved to be impractical, which was a shame as I thought it could have worked well for both of us.
I wish you both well for the future & thanks for making that particular Southampton Boat Show a very memorable one.
Jonathan.
P.S. Can we have our fleeces back now!!!
Monday, 10. November 2008
Why does it matter that Dan and Gavin split the money. Any one else could have done the same thing, and may have wanted to…who knows.Personally I can only see it as a positive thing, and why either Gavin or Dan should feel bad for that I dont know! Enjoy it lads.