The place was not awash with KGB, 7 series Bmw’s and sterned faced men in long black leather jackets, nor did my wife and I get kidnapped, and thankfully there wasn’t a silly furry hat in site.
Apart from the fact I got shafted for a taxi out of Bourgas airport, failing to understand that when a taxi driver asks you if you have been here before,  it really means how “green” are you.
It is not a sign of politeness but more like an indication that those freshly drawn bank notes in your plastic travellers cheque wallet are about to see the light of day, and boy did they.
For future reference and in case you ever go to Bulgaria it does not cost 100 Levs (£50) to go from the airport to Sunny Beach Resort, if you flew there it would be cheaper or indeed if you were carted around on one of those self pedalling rickshaw things that you get in London, you would probably have seen change. Who am I to argue assuming everyone is somehow linked to the mafia in bulgaria which as we all know is not true, but handed the money over all the same throwing a few gentle fu%£s and mumbles under my breath. We found it out the correct price was in fact 60 LEVS from the airport, and equally I had to endure the reminder of this from my wife for at least three days into the trip. Next time I will look it up darling, because I have that much time on my hands.

If you think the british are the best at getting to the half board buffet…think again. I am pretty good and tend to get the best picks of what is on offer, but these guys are heavyweights, you would be forgiven for thinking they had pitched tents in reception to get there before anyone else. Thankfully when we got there we were not dissapointed, have to say probably one of the best I have seen in a hotel for a while, and they even had a cheese board!!! It is worth noting that Bulgarians & Russians although amiable, dont use the common foundations of politeness (excuse me) like in England with an elbow being an adequate replacement to get ahead of you, or a shoulder charge if that doesn’t work, it kind of felt good to just be rude as well for ten days like a release from our usual pleasentries.

The staff and food in this hotel couldn’t have done anymore and the standard of rooms and facilities was very good, albeit the fact the weather was only good for 6 days, whilst the other 4 were overcast, the hotel was excellent value for money, with all the usual stuff you would expect like a SPA, GYM, ETC…
As a treat we had a two hour spa which cost about £70 each, which I think is very good. It involved being greeted by a man and women that took us through to a room where we were practically stripped naked and thrown down on a stone table and Jetwashed. Shortly followed by a massaging with what looked like a pillow filled with Foam, which actually started my hayfeaver off, and after 10 minutes of trying to clear the soap out of my eyes, we were given a massage and dried off . But the next bit is the best bit….The Upsell. Because we  only paid for the promotional offer, we were pitched by one of the guys half way through on an Indian head massage, as an extra addition, which actually forced me into negotiation..lasting ten minutes..After finally getting the deal that I didn’t really want anyway, and therefore leaving my trance like state to go into battle, the head massage thankfully was worth it in the end…Getting sold to during relaxtion therapy….its a no brainer, going to try giving all my prospects a head massage while i pitch to them, then hit them with the final close while they are in deep relaxation.
The outdoor entertainment was as good as you will see in a lot of spanish islands but it had a nice family feel to it also with a great mix of people, with varied restaurants, and bars, the usual heckling from people trying to get you to eat in ther establishments, but equally a nice med feel to it that was familiar, but not over the top – something for everyone.

The fire walker was a great night, purely on comedy really. The fire pit as it was described, was more like a tesco throwaway barbecue, and the contents were more like briquette’s than coals, and truly and honestly, I would have walked it if asked – it didnt look that hot lets just say..In fact at 50p a pint I nearly did. I also had visions of a Bulgarian Hospital, with my wife perched at the end of the bed reminding me that I had ruined the Holiday..so decided against it in the end..

Also if you say “Thankyou” to a waiter that means he can keep your change…worked it out on the last day, and 100 levs lighter…Poor housekeeper that normally gets all the change didnt get a look in
so you have to be rude to keep your money in your pocket;)

We did hire an electric 4 wheeled contraption..that only had 3 volts running through it, so as you can imagine was quite slow…Id recommend the Golf Buggy next time its quicker..
On our way back we had to endure a few hundred jubilant German fans in the terminal watching the football. Apart from the fact the departure lounge wasnt big enough to escape in, the 6.50 to cologne did leave on time, and our flight was delayed….
All in all a relaxing break that for ten days was very nice in a 5 star hotel and it wont cost you the earth given what you would pay elsewhere, why am I sharing it ..why not??

It was a great all round holiday, if you want details of where we stayed – get in touch, I managed to network with the OPS director for the Hotel and got his card, well it would have been rude not to wouldnt it…:) If you havn’t been to Bulgaria you can tell your friends you practically have now… Always interested to hear of other peoples holiday stories – so put them up on the news board if you want to share them – just for fun..

Thanks as always David Banks (your humble sales servant)

DAVIDBANKS Lead Generation, Telemarketing, Sales Agency - Taking you to Market

Okay you may or may not know I have a great sole contract with a great firm to sell and implement their products into retailers in the UK. Not easy at the moment I can tell you that much.
But as I sell uncomplicated I make it very easy. The challenge is not just selling the product, but immersing yourself into the world of the buyer, the habits, motives and general pitter patter of it all.

SO WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE?
The product is a high quality slot car brand 1:32 scale (4 inches long to the newby), that is manufactured using the finest detail and components, incorporating models and replicas of cars from a by gone era, and cars that have never been produced by the likes of manufacturers like Scalextric, Carrera, Fly, ninco, Slotit, etc. A new brand with new ideals, new benchmarks in quality and a new era in slot cars.

These products dont just appeal to “Racers” for there scalextric track, oh no they appeal to collectors also with limited edition’s in the market fetching up to £1000 GBP a time.
So whether you have a snotty nose child pulling on the trouser leg of a parent in the local model store, or a seasoned race pro for the scalextric track, or indeed a collector of high quality models,
so what person do I need to become to sell this product into retailers.

I NEED TO BECOME ALL THREE OF THE PEOPLE BUYING IT.
This is where research comes in because its not just about knowing your product, its about knowing you competitors, your buyers “buying habits”, your market conditions, your buyers remorse, the reason they say yes, and the reasons they say no.

Whats equally important is my relationship with my client. He/she has to know what their customers and prospects are saying, what needs to change, what they would like to see in the product, how there buyers operate, what changes do they see, pricepoint, need, and suggestions. If this is not water tight the foundations on which the brand is built become unstable, and that my friend can be dangerous long term.

SO WHAT DO I DO TO ENSURE THIS HAPPENS AS A SALES PERSON
If i keep my client in the loop correctly  we will both have a great product to sell, not just for now, but long term – that makes me more money, and that makes him more money. They call it a win win situation. The delivery of your feedback as a sales person is paramount, if prospects see the changes and improvements unfold and the level of customer service develop they will always buy from you that I promise you.

SO WHAT THINGS AM I DOING TO HELP THIS NEW SLOT CAR BRAND
I attend race meetings to get feedback from collecters and racers, I promote product and listen to their discussions about it, I find out why they think we are better than the competition, why we are not.
I set up promotional meetings with stores and suggest ways to them to sell the product ensuring the retailer is getting the maximum return from the product. If they sell them we sell more simple.!

I am monitoring online slot car forums and gaging response, as well as develop alliances with not just small time Model shops, but create appointments with bigger retailers, most importantly retailers that suit our brand the best. Retailers that can help us determine the best margin, and also give them a better understanding of what our buyers want and why they like our product.

FOOTFALL IS EVERYTHING
With a distribution network you lose the power of your brand largely. You create a price orientated market, and that erodes your profit, and erodes the respect and that can diminish the emotional or logical buy in of what you offer a little bit. Which is why my company will implement this brand organically, and ensure that every person gets the personal attention and support that will give this product a firm footfall in the UK. This will give the prospects a reason to buy from us.

HOWS IT ALL GOING
It is going very well, and we have secured a good dealer network covering a fairly large part of the southeast with a view to moving the business into the midlands and northern territories in the coming months, we also have a bigger retailer lined up to meet with that fits our customer demographic perfectly. I shall keep you informed.

SALES IS SALES
This will be the third SME i have notably improved the business fortunes off within the last year, in completely different industries, using the same sales tactics as before again and again.
This isn’t just hot air, I always invite any new clients to talk to my existing and ask them yourself.
Not once have i veered away from my core beliefs. Product or service sales is sales.

If you are a sole trader, big corporate.. the principle is the same whatever you sell….now is the time to roll your sleeves up, and start getting involved in the mechanics of how your market works, if you want to earn anything that is.

David Banks (Winner)

DAVIDBANKS

the difference between you and your competitors.

Okay I thought it would make a change from my usual posts to actually tell people a little about what I do, my brief take on sales, and why companies choose me to implement sales related activities for them.

I have been involved in Sales for 15 years, and have enjoyed every moment, every challenge, and every obstacle that sales inevitably brings.

Being predominantely from a Motor retail background I have been fortunate to meet many different types of people, businesses, and situations that have giving me a head start over the years.

I believe this to be the case because generally retail sales people have to deal with different personalities, different needs, different perspectives, and different negotiation styles.

It’s not all about price, it’s all about people, and it’s all about passion. If you convey your message along the premise that you have an undivided aim to exceed that customers expectations, and always deliver on your word, you will always have the following three things:

1/ Customers

2/ Referrals

3/ Money

Now I believed before I set up my sales agency that people were the key to everything. If you could get on with someone you could get them to like and trust you. If you could get people to trust you they would then buy from you, it for me really is that simple.

Now it would be fair to say that people don’t get on with everyone, but respectfully when it comes to sales me and my guys tend to be pretty good at it.

In Motor Retail it teaches us many things, but equally the same cannot be said of a clothing retail sales person as they dont spend long enough with a prospect to gain that knowledge of buying signals, personalities or indeed patterns, pace, or behaviours. Now there is nothing Psycological about it regardless of what training manual you read, what seminar you go on, or indeed what sales book you want to read. It’s about being the solution.

Sales is simple, made complicated by people who are ironically trying to sell you something. I have never picked up a sales development book once, never studied a training process ever.

IF YOU AS A CUSTOMER THOUGHT YOU WERE PART OF A PROCESS WOULD YOU BUY IT. WOULDN’T YOU RATHER LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO CARED HOW YOU LOOKED OR INDEED WHAT YOU DROVE.

That’s what I think anyway, and it has always worked for me. No matter how good you are you don’t close everyone, no one does..! But what seperates the best from the bad is the sales person that dusts themselves off and soldiers on whatever the weather.

THAT WAS JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT I BELIEVE SALES IS – I WOULDN’T WANT IT TO SOUND LIKE PREACHING OR TRAINING WOULD I
IN 30 SECONDS READING TIME! WHAT MY SALES AGENCY DOES IN BRIEF FOR OUR EXISTING CLIENTS, AND MAYBE YOU AND YOURS?

stage 1/ Its always about you – me me me

Get to know you, your offering, your aim, and a bit more about why you made the right choice in contacting us.

stage 2/Data/audience – WHO?

Ensuring your company is speaking to the right people through fact based research techniques, data collation, and David Banks wizardry.

stage 3/Lead Generation – Give them a taster !

Putting together a campaign that reaps appointments. Delivering your message how you need it to be delivered according to you, your brand, and ultamately appointments that have a genuine need for what you offer. We call it Genuine leads for genuine needs.
With the data and intelligence already recieved, we challenge your competition in their own back yard, and ensure you and your business have the best tools (US), to compete with professional tailored and non scripted campaigns by yes you have guessed it, Human beings, not robots.

4/Appointment Time

Not content with just setting the appointment, why not let us attend it for you. We can manage your sales process for you at Corporate, SME, Sole trader level.
Its all the same to us. We can act for you in procurement, C level meetings, and tendors, to make sure you are in with a real chance of getting the business.
Whether its a drop-in scenario, or indeed a corporate board level meeting, we will ensure you see ROI from the outset, not false promises from marketing and telemarketing companies – we do results.

Now much like a pizza you get to choose what toppings you want:

1/You may want us to handle you Telemarketing campaign for you
2/You may want us to attend appointments or work on gaining a specific client for you
3/You may want us to provide consultancy, or indeed design a sales strategy for your company
4/You may be in a very serious predicament and need cash flow fast – customers fast.
5/you may have a new offering and need a company to take it to market for you

UNLIKE PIZZA COMPANIES WE DONT DELIVER IN 30 MINUTES, WE DO DELIVER THOUGH THAT IS FOR SURE.

You have read the sales stuff, and your thinking it sounds like every other /article/blog/advertisement/news item/tweet/etc. This is where the other stuff and my stuff part company.

Just a few facts for you or anyone you think may need our help

*My company has not had one cancelled appointment with any of my clients ever, in 5 different industries.
We make prospects want to see us, by getting them excited about you.

*Not one cancelled Telemarketing appointment, ask any one of my current clients.

*I took a family run commercial services business with two mobile vans to a fleet of 5 and got them a premises within 13 months, and doubled their turnover during the credit crunch.

*My company is selling CMS and Web packages for one client into Medical companies, manafacturing companies, and engineering companies, with only a 12% “drop off “on the pipeline after 6 months that is how seriously we take Lead Generation.

*My Company is now implementing a brand new exciting Slot Car Brand into the UK, and my personal ambition is to have prominent Market Share within 7 Months. I have already secured a stable dealer network in the UK , and am concentrating on other areas of development and sales channels to tell their competitors we mean business.
*I am working with a commercial tyre company and have secured contracts (details available on request) in Utilities, Construction, House Building, Civil Engineering, Haulage & Logistics.

AT DAVID BANKS WE MEAN BUSINESS – For a reference or case study, I will give you their details and you can ask any of my clients directly what they think about David Banks yourself.

If you know of a business that is struggling or indeed needs to improve their sales figures, then get in touch for a chat that costs you nothing.

Thanks for reading,

David Banks

I feel rather agitated today because I have been the victim of yet another poor show in customer service whenever I buy something or indeed ask for something.
Whats the solution, sack them all one by one. Could it be that the incentivisation program is set up wrong, or do english people just not want to work.
Why have you got to wait 15 minutes on the phone for your bank to answer it “Doesn’t sound like the listening bank to me” Why does a 7 Million pound TV advert on behalf of a bank claim great things
for there customers, when they don’t do what they claim to. Why not bank the 7 million and still be crap at what you do. I feel sorry for them, what sort of ROI is that, it didn’t work someone screwed up, AGAIN. What with the cost of everything “Here we go I hear you say” I am not paying anymore. Why when I visit the States, I feel important, and when I visit England which is every day, I feel not valued, and want to promply smack the customer service advisor or post office clerk repeatedly with my bag “with the laptop in it”. The frustration for all of us is going to drive me to “Michael Douglas proportions” and I will feel much better when its happened. John Lewis fantastic customer service. They must have had a euphoric moment 25 years ago and said, you know what?? All the customer service in this country will always be crap, what we should do is treat customers properly (because they pay our wages, and we are remotely happy with our jobs, or we could leave because its our choice) we can then charge 20% more for giving them the priviledge of normality. Im’ starting a new training course it called “smiling” and It’s going to make me rich. Part 2 is “Helping People” that’s going to make me  even more money, and the final part is yet to be written. Customer Service Training companies in the UK don’t make me laugh. There not listening guys, your training apart from the exceptional few is toilet. Speaking off toilets, why is the Mans toilet always a Bus ride away from the entrance of the supermarket, when the womens’ is convieniently located right by the door. Please someone explain it. Im not sexist Im’ married to one who agrees with me entirely, and If I do not get off this blog I will probably not have one. Thanks for listening to my bitter Rant. My wifes thinks it is because I have given up smoking, It’s not, we all know the truth.

Over the last few months I have been contacted and asked to work for commission only, I felt compelled to write and explain why I wont, to anyone who cares.

Firstly my immediate question would be to a potential client “Do you work for commission only” the answer will probably be no.

Secondly, my bank would probably have a problem with it as  would my wife.

Thirdly, this gets the relationship off to a terrible start, as there is no trust and all my recent case studies and references from satisfied clients would have not been looked at or even considered.

If we were to talk about ROI, where is the investment from the client?
Does a client care about there business enough to just employ anyone who is prepared to work for commission only. What type of sales person would they really be employing if this was the case.
What would the presentation look like if the sales person, was just interested in selling, and not problem solving or indeed providing a consultative approach that is more effective.
Dangerous stuff – surely the way your company is percieved is integral to the success of it. Maybe not in some peoples eyes.

What about the 16 years experience in which I have learnt the good ways and the bad ways on how to not do it, whats that worth?? Got to be worth something surely.

Does it get sales people motoring by paying them commission only.

Not really it attracts sales people that are motivated by money not the solution, because they need to get paid, and the core reason and goal for that presentation is money… it has to be. Next time you consider a commission only sales person, consider this: What’s the true cost.

My final comment has to be:

” Don’t ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself”

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. David Frost

3 minutes ago from web

“Successful sales people love what they do”, & “No” today only means “No” today. It does not mean “No” tomorrow

4 minutes ago from web

Think about whether you want to “hire” the prospect, not be desperate to close a deal. Act like a peer not a sycophant -Alan Weiss

4 minutes ago from web

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar

4 minutes ago from web

Different isn’t always better, but better is always different!–Tony Little

5 minutes ago from web

A winner never quits and a quitter never wins

5 minutes ago from web

The Second Mouse Gets the Cheese

5 minutes ago from web

Do or do not, there is no try. Yoda, Jedi Master

5 minutes ago from web

The customer holds the scorecard. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how good you think you did.

6 minutes ago from web

“Insist on yourself. Never imitate.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) “When in doubt, do something.” anonymous

6 minutes ago from web

Focus on thing you can influence.

6 minutes ago from web

” Make Friends Make Money” – David Banks

7 minutes ago from web

Fortune and love favor the brave. – Ovid

7 minutes ago from web

No matter what else is going on in your day, put a smile on your face before you make that call.

7 minutes ago from web

if one can do it, another can do it.

7 minutes ago from web

The man on top of the mountain did not fall there.

9 minutes ago from web

Big Shots are just little shots that keep Shooting !!

9 minutes ago from web

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

9 minutes ago from web

“Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.” – James Baldwin

9 minutes ago from web

Whenever there’s a storm out, there are people that hide and seek shelter, and others build windmills…

10 minutes ago from web

Can not resist: He who speaks next is dead. Listen!

10 minutes ago from web

Champions are people with ordinary ability and extraordinary determination.

10 minutes ago from web

Never say never!

11 minutes ago from web

Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly. – Jackson Bro

11 minutes ago from web

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position – John Maxwell

11 minutes ago from web

“Life is what happens while you are making other plans” John Lennon

11 minutes ago from web

Things may come to those who wait, but only what’s left behind by those that hustle. — Abraham Lincoln

12 minutes ago from web

“Attitude determines Altitude”

12 minutes ago from web

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

12 minutes ago from web

Whether you think you can do something, or you think you can’t…you’re absolutely right.

13 minutes ago from web

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes. ~~ Henry Kaiser If you’re going through hell, keep going. ~~ Winston Churchill

14 minutes ago from web

Your good is not good enough

14 minutes ago from web

David Banks Telemarketing, next generation, lead generation.

8:26 PM Jan 15th from web

Inject true energy into your sales operation {this is selling} www.davidbanksconsultancy.co.uk

2:12 PM Jun 23rd, 2009 from web

In the Uk we should sell our products and services like the americans. The trouble with UK is too much process, not enough personality.

“Be Proactive – Proactive people carry their own weather with them – whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them. Their honor is greater than their moods.”

Many Busineses are hanging on for next year with a degree of hope that things will improve. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.

In my experience the Businesses that suffer are the ones that don’t adapt to economic change, nor do they explore other Sales avenues. Instead they rely solely on existing Business. When your competitor’s are fighting harder for Business, and looking at all angles, what is your company doing to remain “Competitive” Do not be a statistic of the recession, and don’t sit back and think that it will happen. Explore the opportunities.

Allow me to show you an alternative for next year with a one to one session.

Evening one to one sessions available @ £125.00 inc full report.

07738 974 033   Contact David Banks 07738 974 033

At David Banks we are changing the way companies perceive consultancy. Anybody can tell a company what to do and how to do it. At David Banks we are not only advising companies on there sales proposition and implementing change for the better, we are also helping our clients understand what it takes to win business in turbulent economic times. We do this through our many services at David Banks Consultancy. Much more than that we can also offer to sell a customer’s product or service for them on their behalf, enabling results straight away that can help a business position itself strongly within a storm

No death by Powerpoint, No management speak, just training services and consultancy that works. simple. Brought to you by people that have been involved in selling, not people with big words.

David is still up, and working like mad on his linkedin profile. David is trying to get a video on there by 3.00am.