1000


LO FUCKING L

I wasn't even trying

2/12/2010 2:06:52 PM

2/12/2010 2:06:53 PM

I'M AT THE TOP OF PAGE 1000!!! failed oh so miserably

[Edited on February 12, 2010 at 2:07 PM. Reason : .]

2/12/2010 2:06:59 PM

I realize this thread is about those who have started their own company.... which I have not. Hear me out, maybe I can offer some insight.

I am in outside sales, which is currently salary+commission, but will move into straight commission starting at the beginning of July 2010. I have been in this position since July 2009. I have competition from several direct manufacturing sales reps, large distributors, and local distributors. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Direct Advantages: Immediate knowledge of new technology, no middle man mark up, one shipping bill (paid by manufacturer or buyer of goods), access to larger range of non-commodity items, control inventory, have access to many distributors that can effectively sell their goods which increases market share, and set prices of commodity they manufacture.

Direct disadvantages: Typically have 1-3 sales reps per region (i.e. southeast, mid-atlantic, northeast, etc.) limiting the number of accounts they can successfully manage/cold-call, lack physical customer service or physical technical service available to or affordable for smaller users or altogether, are sometimes not trustworthy because they will go in behind their distributors that sell their commodity to one account in large quantities (i.e. they missed a big account, and have found out about it through a distributor selling their particular product) which leads to the distributor not selling their product anymore, have too many distributors selling the product ultimately driving the set price down through deviations, possibly rely on distributors to actually sell the product, and competition from other direct sources.

Large distributor advantages: have access to other commodities that go hand in hand with other manufacturers (poor example- grocery stores sell milk as well as cereal), get direct pricing, many locations regionally or nationally easing the shipping burden of buyers with multiple locations, personal service either customer or technical, many sales reps that are able to cover a broader territory, access to multiple manufacturers of the same commodity allowing to keep prices in check, service programs that smaller companies can't offer and direct providers can't match in price or value, and experts of many many commodities as opposed to one or a few.

Large distributor disadvantages: smaller local distributors creating price wars (think Michael Scott Paper Co vs Dunder-Mifflin), direct mfg's going in behind and stealing business, limited access to all of the mfg's (you won't find Harris Teeter name brands in Food Lion and visa versa), can't truly set prices because it's based on both supply and demand, territory management, and tough growth prospects in slower economies (this is true for direct as well really)

Local distributor advantages: Typically a good ol' boy setting where the seller and the buyer know each other for years (this does happen at all levels, but mostly at the local level), local folks are right down the street and can be used in emergencies, if the local guy buys at high enough volumes then there is no shipping charge to the end user, and access to both direct mfg's and large distributors.

Local distributor disadvantages: easily beaten in price, array of commodities, array of technology, lack of trained staff, low cash flow, etc etc etc.

This is what I have noticed in my six months, I am sure there are plenty more that need mentioning. The way I am setting myself apart as a sales person is this: I go after the big accounts right now while I am new. The big accounts, if I land them, will take care of me while I am new and building a customer base. The money made off of those allows me to focus free time on smaller accounts that get me higher margins. I build up big accounts, I would like to have 5-10 of these, then get 20-30 medium accounts. If I lose 1 or 2 big accounts, the 20-30 medium accounts keep me afloat while I go after new big accounts. I don't really waste time on small accounts simply because they basically pay for breakfast or something really small.

I will say this, if you can't get a big account in the first 6-8 months (assuming you have cash flow that you can ride this long) you could be in a world of trouble. If you can get one, it will really make going after the others a lot more enjoyable and less stressful. It's simply just very exhausting wasting any time on anything other than big accounts in the very beginning. You work just as hard on the medium sized accounts and see 1/3 to 1/36 of the money in my situation.

If you have any other questions, you can PM me. I hope this helps in the slightest!

2/12/2010 2:07:01 PM

I have this house to myself all weekend...but I have no money and no food

2/12/2010 2:07:04 PM

bored

[Edited on February 12, 2010 at 2:07 PM. Reason : .]

2/12/2010 2:07:08 PM

nice..

[Edited on February 12, 2010 at 2:07 PM. Reason : fuck you tww]

2/12/2010 2:07:12 PM

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

2/12/2010 2:07:15 PM

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

2/12/2010 2:07:17 PM

OMFG THAT MEME ALSDKFJALSDFJKA;SLDKFJASDF

2/12/2010 2:07:28 PM

2/12/2010 2:07:50 PM

Quote :

"I have this house to myself all weekend...but I have no money and no food"

If only I didn't have to work all weekend...

2/12/2010 2:08:08 PM

i hate you thumper

2/12/2010 2:09:34 PM

my original post was SET UP PAGE 1000 and when it went through it was at the top i wasn't trying i swear!

2/12/2010 2:10:01 PM

Holy crap! In two weeks I'll be embryologist... I can't believe my mom will be flying in two weeks from now and I can't believe I am going to be moving

Ohhhh I might need to reserve an UHaul... doing that after this post!

2/12/2010 2:18:32 PM

IOP1K

!

2/12/2010 2:19:12 PM

IRON SERAPH LIVES

2/12/2010 2:31:25 PM

2/12/2010 2:32:39 PM

baaaahahaha i just found a tetris game that has naked women in it. i love google.

2/12/2010 2:35:27 PM

Quickest way of make $600 evar. hahaha

2/12/2010 2:41:23 PM

back alley?

2/12/2010 2:41:53 PM

So Squirt, you moving to Florida then? Congrats!

2/12/2010 2:43:18 PM

why Kelly Clarkson?

why?

2/12/2010 2:45:32 PM

In on page 1000

2/12/2010 2:46:16 PM

Quote :

"So Squirt, you moving to Florida then? Congrats! "

Yes in two weeks.. I am stoked! And Lucyinthesky is gonna be my runnins partner

Thanks though I appreciate it! tww has a vacay spot in Orlando

2/12/2010 2:54:33 PM

That's awesome! I was in Orlando last week and it was fucking cold! haha You're in for an adventure!

2/12/2010 2:59:22 PM

"hey, you must be scotts mom"

"i'm scotts girlfriend"

doh!

2/12/2010 3:00:22 PM

Thats awesome... I have been really apprehensive about the move since NC i mean Raleigh has been my home for so long... But this will be a good move... I just have a good feeling about it

Thanks for the support

2/12/2010 3:02:40 PM

Word, moving is fun, I've moved every 2 yrs since I was 18. It's neat to find out stuff about new places.

You bringing the bf or is he now old news? lol!

2/12/2010 3:03:37 PM

damn I had a window open for this shit and forgot about it

in on 1000

2/12/2010 3:10:42 PM

IOP1000

2/12/2010 3:15:01 PM

...sudafed

thank god I remembered that shit

2/12/2010 3:33:24 PM

I wish I had some damn money

2/12/2010 3:34:48 PM

^If you can go 72 hours without posting on TWW I will Paypal you 5 Dollar Bucks.

2/12/2010 3:36:49 PM

lol well in 72 hours I'll have money...

2/12/2010 3:37:51 PM

page 1000!

2/12/2010 3:50:49 PM

Disconnect and self destruct one bullet at a time
What's your rush now, everyone will have his day to die

2/12/2010 3:51:33 PM

Quote :

"You bringing the bf or is he now old news? lol!"

Ummm he is staying behind That's been kinda tough... but hopefully while i find some happiness, he will too whatever he decides to do...

2/12/2010 4:15:30 PM

The endings are the toughest thing in the world I think...even when you know logically it's the best thing.

2/12/2010 4:16:26 PM

^^wow. The big O, huh? Good luck. Check out PR's Taco Palace and Johnny's Fillin' Station for some good eats. I lived there for almost 2 years. You're in for an experience, that's for sure. I'm happy that you followed your dreams.



[Edited on February 12, 2010 at 4:17 PM. Reason : .]

2/12/2010 4:17:08 PM

7 pm simply cannot come fast enough

omg

2/12/2010 4:23:37 PM

chya... But honestly I am actually looking forward to finding new friends, although I'll terribly miss my friends I have now...

But I get to work on a career path that I have been wanting for a long time...

2/12/2010 4:26:06 PM

wooooooo snowing here!

2/12/2010 4:28:25 PM

sweet...Mandy and Travis won't be here til 7/7:30 so I got more time that I thought to get this house in order.

good lunch w/ mom...good visit with the parents

and I got a dozen roses

2/12/2010 4:32:25 PM

snow + wine + olympics + a pizza maybe = fun


i feel like i want something else for the evening, hmmmmmmmm

2/12/2010 4:50:10 PM

3" tonight!

if only my droid came today this would be the best night evar!!!!!

2/12/2010 5:05:44 PM

the snow thread sucks because of all the imbeds, so ima just post it here


coming down like crazy here, already sticking

2/12/2010 5:22:41 PM

hey saps

2/12/2010 5:23:24 PM

heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey

2/12/2010 5:24:34 PM

someone sent flowers here...on the card is has the right address but the person they sent them to doesn't live here...I wonder if I should keep them or if I should call the florist and tell them about the mix up

2/12/2010 5:24:37 PM