Burnaby, BC – October 11, 2013
Pros: one month training
Cons: no decent leads, manager wanted a commitment of sales no matter what
Toshiba Business Solutions- Burnaby BC
As I was advised Toshiba Business Solutions are fairly new in Western Canada.Any new candidate hired has the responsibility to identify sales opportunities through cold calling and leverage existing internal sources of sales leads for our full line of MFP (multi functional printer) products/ Creative and Production Colour Solutions in a specific geographic territory.
Prepare and present sales proposals and conduct equipment demonstrations. Achieve and exceed sales target.
While I can concur with the hiring policy of Toshiba Business Solutions,but reject the notion of identifying sales opportunities through cold call and or leveraging existing internal sources. The resource tools were from Dun and Bradstreet dated from 2012. No up to date generating leads other than Dun and Bradstreet 2012.
Found that some 28% businesses were no longer in business, 20% were businesses like Tim Hortons, MacDonalds and small pantry grocery stores to try to sell them copiers.
Some 40% called had already set up and with leasing contracts with Xerox, Canon, Ricoh and HP Copiers and were not interested to change. Only 1.8 % were customer's of Toshiba Business Solutions, having a service contract but not willing to up grade due to money. Only 0.02% of the total of 2600 Dun and Bradstreet 2012 leads lead to an invitation and a proposal of which not one materilized into a sale. For what ever reason in the end they decided to buy a Canon, Ricoh other than Toshiba copiers.
There were some 34 proposals done by a previous employee early in the year. No one had the common sense to do a follow up if the proposal would lead to a sale. In all their great wisdom they had to hire a new employee to contact those past dated proposals. After a lapse period of four to five months management in all their great wisdom thought there some sale. Not one of the 34 proposal called were interested in Toshiba copiers.
I was bound to fail from the start, no decent leads available, out- dated leads and an empathy against Toshiba copiers.
The reason is that Canon, Ricoh, Xerox cornered the marketin the Fraser Valley
From what my co-workers said that there is a high rate of turn-over. ( I'm in that class).
On the other hand, training, seminars were provided of the first month. Co-workers were helpful. Branch manager in cloud nine hoping for committments- sales from sales staff.
I would not reccomend this company to any salesperson. There is a high expectation of results ( sales) where there is none.
I wish all the best the the ex- workers still working there! Met today another sales staff that quit about three weeks ago.
