B2B opportunities

Where is the current emphasize?

For example I’ve been focusing on for B2B Africa the last couple of years. I see that market potential growing almost weekly, if not daily, and now especially as Nigeria started to take a new direction. The presidential election was one of the most followed topic of last 4 years in Nigeria, and no wonder why. Even though I wish to avoid the word ”stress”, but I still stress or emphasize as much as I can people who wish to succeed, that remember to network. You never know who will be your best resource for business. More and more it seems, that it really does not matter what your business is about, but who you know.

Let’s take a brief example of this one. I was speaking in student entrepreneurship event in the first part of April; the idea was to give tips and advice how to make things happen. There were 3 members in panel discussion, and as we were speaking about the importance of networking, someone without any expectations was passing by the window behind which we were. He stopped there, and came inside to listen what we were discussing of. Later on he raised his hand and asked if he may speak. He mentioned to be in Finland for business, and saw our place as an opportunity to be in. He was looking for a music store, but found us instead. He explained why he was in Helsinki, and said that he was constantly looking for new students or people with certain skills, and said that alone in his home country there is a company that makes tens of millions of euros with very simple business. Practically I like one abbreviation that I heard few years ago, and it was N.O.W: No Opportunity Wasted.

To return to the previous topic, he was looking for new people to join a software development company. I liked the guy instantly. He was giving students the chance of their lives. Hopefully someone took a grab of it.

Sales

One of the best advices I have heard for sales is the following: ”Be so enthusiastic about your idea, that when you speak of it, spit is flying out of your mouth”. Anything and everything can be put in to sales category. In the end of the day it is up to you if you make it happen or not. If you don’t then someone will, trust me. If you wish to continue to run for someone else for the rest of your life, no one is stopping you. If you wish to achieve something unique and learn, then I suggest you to try out any position of sales or business that will be offered to you. And I mean any. It really does not matter what is the thing you are keen of, but there needs to be something in it, that keeps your focus on it, no matter how long you need to perform it.

Actually sales or selling is very simple once you learn the few basic things what it is about. The old model was to sell forcefully: ”You need this, you cannot live without this”. Just close your eyes, and think how you would react on such a thing. ”I would like to know, if there is any need for help in the field of <name your business here> for you at the moment?”. How you see yourself reacting on this one? It is all about ”softening” your topic. After all they may be the best client for you, if you treat them well.

For example there is huge demand for champagne in Nigeria. The total volume of sparkling wine and champagne consumption is already exceeding 1,1 billion bottles annually. One wise wisdom says, that all the people in the world can be contacted via 7 persons. Why the importance of networking then? To know the correct people.

Decide a goal, work for it very hard, and enjoy the benefits of your hard work.

Published at: https://sccsfinland.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/b2b-opportunities/

Successful Sales – Supply Chains

Sales in 21st century

Good amount of stuff has changed since first time ”sales” were counted as additional value for any company. I always remember from my childhood how sales persons were always thought to be very unpleasant people, with their shoes between closing the door and seeing him outside. Now as I think, and wonder what has changed, I realize that now the sales are done in a co-operative manner. Sales person needs to ask questions, and understand the real need of a client. The more common ground is found, the better chances are, that actually something more than nice discussion will follow up.

Last time when there was a panel discussion, with a theme of entrepreneurship, where I was present I understood that nowadays schools are not teaching anything about ”Being successful in life or business”. Instead, they push people to certain scope, which if being followed strictly, will lead up to teaching the same stuff to other students (as you being a professor in the same school). How it can be like this? Sir Ken Robinson spoke on a very famous TED event about this very same topic. He mentioned, that actually schools are killing creativity. Check out the whole speech at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY.

If you really had all the power and chances in the world (well, you actually do have) to do anything, what it would be? Most people are stating the normal ”Traveling”, ”Buying a house/car/outfit..” etc. Know what? Material stuff will make us happy just for a while. That is actually the trick/image that good marketing people together with sales people have created. ”We need more stuff to be happy”. The whole purpose of sales is actually something totally different: ”Helping people to be more successful in what they do”. Helping others achieve what they want. Does this sound strange? Usually we focus only on our own benefit, and forget the people around us, which would lead to the same end result, with much bigger success rate.

Supply Chains

How do we actually understand that term – ”Supply Chain”? For me, it represents network of people, who are very enthusiastic achieving something TOGETHER. For example how Success Shopping Finland Oy originally got it’s current form was due to networking with huge amount of people. Finally, the correct persons were found, then we established a business relationship and thought to help people get what they want. It really is as simple as that. There are more ways, than there is people on planet Earth, to do this but most important is that all of this is pointless, if there is nobody to share it with us.

Success Shopping Finland Oy for example works on 3 different timezones all the time. We have people in New Zealand (+ Australia and India), Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania) and Mexico. This gives us privilege to work 24 hours a day if it is needed. In our product portfolio there are products from very different categories: champagne, sparkling wine, coal, mobile phones and tablets. Almost everything that is high in demand in our supply chain.

There are no limitations what you can do in life, you just need to decide and have a goal in mind.

Original article can be found at: https://sccsfinland.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/successful-sales-supply-chains/