Parks and Rec – “Best” Sales Pitch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP4myNHKLZs

Tom needs money to invest into a new nightclub in the area. He’s looking for a partner to help him purchase a share. He delivers a sales pitch in attempt to reach one of his coworkers. Here are some of Tom’s positive selling points, and some of his lowest points.

• Tom: “Do any of you have pacemakers or history of epilepsy?”
  • Reply: “Yes, both.”
• Tom: “Anybody? No? Alright.”

Positive Selling Points:

1. Tom sets the stage. He brings the lights, dancing, and music to the office. He puts on a good show.
2. He uses testimonial appeal on his audience, and makes it seem as if certain celebrities were denied the privilege of being his partner, but he wants one of them. He makes them feel important.
3. He singles them out, one on one, like he’s talking directly to each one of them. He gets personal.

Lowest Points:

1. The scene or “stage” isn’t exactly work-appropriate, which most likely made someone feel uncomfortable at some point.
2. Not every member of his audience knew who each celebrity was that he referred to.
3. He never inquired beforehand about their own personal need/benefit or gain from this commitment, or even if they were in the right financial state to donate. There was a lack of caring and understanding shown here on his part.

We see that Tom did not “know” his “customers” as well as he thought he did. There is also a little bit of Irritation (challenging people to do something that WE want them to do) here although it is indirect. Tom wants one of them to invest and to be his partner, or at least just help him out with the money, and the way he challenges them to do so is by saying “(celebrity name)” wishes he/she could invest in this but he/she is, denied! But YOU can.