grapevine

Was reminded of a top bloke yesterday.  Dennis Brown, sadly no longer with us, was a larger-than-life natural born salesman, who started his career selling towels on Mancunian market stalls before setting up a highly successful chain of baby goods stores.  The flagship one I believe remains in the hands

Met with a top sales manager from one of my fave customers today, called Ken Welsh.  His only error of judgement seems to be supporting Norwich City.  I’ve talked with him in the past about his passion for military history, and applying the lessons in sales.  A meeting with

I was eating lunch outside in the pleasant Oxford sunshine Tuesday, where they’ve done a terrific job renovating the area around the City Hall and Castle.  I became conscious of a sales conversation on the table next to me, which appeared to be winding up.  Hands were being shaken

Still addicted to my favourite show, more on frolics from inside the Dragons’ Den.  I thought I was going to miss it, as over the preceeding weekend a London-Summer thunderstorm saw lightning knacker my aerial, but rescue came from the bbc broadband offerings which, although lamentably sparse and currently impossible

What a great idea I came across reading a mag this morning, from a car dealership in an American town called Union; Planet Honda. There’s a reception area where each new potential customer wanders in, and get asked what they’re looking for.  If they answer as the majority

Last night saw my fave programme [http://salespodder.com/enter-the-dragon/] on telly at the mo’, Dragons’ Den.  TV editing can of course be deceiving, yet it was noticeable last night how, beneath the shroud of pretending to ask for in depth P&L details, the potential investors actually made

From the start I’ve loved this show.  For those not in the know, this isn’t a pop-ideas show like American Inventor, Dragons’ Den [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/] uses 5 self-made multi-zillionaires who are pitched business brainwaves with a view to getting them to commit a specific