Sagegreen is a business consultancy that specialises in helping clients to sell into the UK retail and foodservice sectors. It offers consultancy services, sales and marketing expertise and a strong track record in sales success. It works predominantly in added value food sales but covers a wide selection of client sectors.
National Account Manger Claire Molyneux joined Sagegreen two years ago and since then, no two days have been the same.
Explains Claire: “What makes my role so exciting is that I work with a number of different clients so I never get bored of doing the same thing. Although those clients differ, they all share one thing: the desire to make the most of UK sales. Some will be UK based, such as smaller manufacturing companies or producers. These will have a great product to sell but not necessarily the expertise to sell the product in to retailers. We can offer advice on how to sell, what to sell, where the best prospects are and how to manage the relationship with the retailer. We can also undertake this service for the client, acting for them with the retailers. This leaves the client free to focus on product and business development whilst we take care of the sales.”
It’s clearly a formula that works as Claire and her colleagues have got busier and busier over recent months. Because of its depth of experience and understanding, Sagegreen can also offer clients who want to access the UK market from abroad, a valuable insight into the UK market. Adds Claire: “We are asked to evaluate all sorts of products for UK market potential – some obvious winners and others that have very slim chances – it’s great fun assessing them! We know what works for the UK market and what doesn’t – which can save a client from overseas valuable research and testing time and get their product to market more quickly.”
Claire’s role requires tenacity and consistent determination because of the competitive nature of the UK market. “No-one pretends it’s easy to sell to UK buyers” says Clare, “they are a tough bunch and you have to not get down, but keep on trying – it makes success all the sweeter! Seeing my client’s product on the shelf in store gives me a great buzz – it what’s makes this job so worth doing.” Claire has a background in food technology which makes taking on a wide variety of product types easier to understand. She also knows that it can take time to achieve results with the buyers. She says: “We have a wonderful client that supplies line caught, sustainable varieties of exotic frozen fish. They are a highly professional Spanish company and the products are excellent, but it’s taken a year to gain UK retail listings – and a lot of determination!”
Claire believes the secret to retail sales success is to be straightforward and say it how it is. “I take a practical approach” she says, “which gains trust and respect.”
The variety is one element of sales consultancy that Claire particularly enjoys. Although she’s home based, she gets to travel to meet clients abroad and throughout the UK talking to retailers, conducting store audits and meeting client prospects. She also has to be highly organised, logging every contact she makes so that she can keep track of who she’s spoken to and what they said.
She also believes it’s important never to give up: “You just have to keep plugging away, believing that every days brings you closer to the right result!”
Sagegreen
Tel: 01606 333 677
www.sagegreen.com
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