Sales Reps

[KYG]

For those of you in sales positions, have you found some or more customers are taking longer to pay and opportunities to meet new prospects are declining either because there are more bankruptcies or just staying put?

 

[TheGuy]

Receivables have slowed significantly beginning in February and many major chains have had a hold on buying any new products for six months or more. That being said some businesses are even or up over last year. But even for those businesses doing well business has been much more difficult.

It will be a while before business works out all of the problems created by Wall Street.

 

[Aergon]

I cover both commercial and public sector sales and I've found over the past year my commercial business has dropped significantly but the increased spending in the public sector has more than offset the commercial decline. Just this past quarter, I'm starting to see more activity in the commercial sector so I'm expecting 2010 to be a much better year from that perspective.

 

[rimas]

For those of you in sales positions, have you found some or more customers are taking longer to pay and opportunities to meet new prospects are declining either because there are more bankruptcies or just staying put?

You bet. But then, this usually happens during a recession.

My sales reps are crapping the bed because they forgot how to prospect. No more low hanging fruit around. They will need to step it up, or I will find others who are hungry enough to climb that tree and pick from the top branches.

 

[BS Detector]

My sales reps are crapping the bed because they forgot how to prospect. No more low hanging fruit around.

Yes there is a recession but what you say is so true.

 

[KYG]

We've lost a few account due to the rising Canadian dollar too. Companies here they sell product to the U.S. because it's cheaper for US companies due to the exchange difference were doing well. Now the dollar is almost at par and those US companies are buying from other US companies now because there is no price advantage because of the exchange difference.

Had a high tech company go out of business today after 10 years of being in business. A clothing manufacturer of mine was doing 10 million in sales and now are doing 2 Million.

Tough times ahead still.......