For the last two summers, I worked as a sales associate at Flohr Pools – a local pool supply store. While I didn’t sell pools and hot tubs, I did sell chemicals and equipment for commission. I also tested water chemicals, answered the phone, and helped customers resolve pool-related issues. Many customers came in frustrated—either because their pool equipment wasn’t working or due to the high costs of maintenance. Working here provided me with some invaluable skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my career.
To start, I learned how to help a customer even when I didn’t know the answer. When I first began working at Flohr Pools, I didn’t know anything about water chemistry, pool equipment, or retail sales. However, I was forced to learn quickly because customers would come in and expect me to have the answers. I learned that if I didn’t know the solution and couldn’t find it for them, the best way to handle the situation was to be honest about that and inform them that I was going to grab someone that could better help them. When I was upfront with customers about everything, they always responded better than if I acted like I knew how to help them and actually didn’t. After working there long enough, I eventually learned what I needed to know and struggled with this less.
I also learned to trust in the value of the product rather than trying to persuade customers. The chemicals at Flohr Pools are generally more expensive than other dealers, such as Walmart, and customers sometimes complain about that or ask what the difference is. As a salesman, my job is to help the customer make the best decision for them. When I have that perspective, I don’t have to work to persuade them, I just tell them the truth. The chemicals are more expensive because of superior quality assurance, and more consistent potency and shelf life. They are also beneficial because we are able to recommend the exact dosage for the chemicals and always be here with support.
Lastly, I learned the importance of asking for business. During a sales meeting, the owner of the store told us that after water tests we should ask the customer if we can take them back and show them what they need. After we showed them, we were told to ask them if they’d like to purchase that product. I found that after I started implementing this, there were significantly more sales attributed to my water tests.
So what have I learned about sales from my job at the pool store? Number one: if you don’t know the answer, be honest and find someone who does. Number two: trust in the value of the product instead of being pushy. Number three: ask for the business if it’s going well.
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Hey Gavin. I’m somewhat jealous! This sounds like you had a great place to grow and practice your pitch. I completely agree with your opinion on how to handle a situation out of your understanding. In my time working at print services I’ve learned that you don’t know what you don’t know and people will generally be patient with you if you are upfront with them. We were all new once. Being honest also helps build your reputation with customers as someone who is trustworthy which will help you make a sale in the long run too.
Hey Gavin. That sounds like an awesome opportunity to grow your sales experience. It sounds like you began to understand how helpful it is to know and believe in your product. We talked about that a little in class a bit ago, but I bet that knowing and believing in your product such as chemicals, equipment or chemistry facts for someone’s pool or hot tub made your experience working there much easier and enjoyable.