'Sales for People who Hate Selling': event review

Two weeks ago we hosted an experimental event entitled ‘Sales for People who hate Selling’ in the basement space of our shop. The aim of the event, which was the joint brain-baby of Zoe from Brighton Craftaganza and Patrick Potter, a marketing and copy writing genius, was to find an alternative way to support the local creative community, aside from providing a venue at which to sell their work at the Brighton Craftaganza craft markets.

The free event took the form of a structured discussion breaking down and analysisng the four main sections of an ‘anatomy of a sale’:

• Opening communication


• Building Rapport


• Pitch


• Close

There were two excellent and very knowledgeable sales experts in attendance who kindly gave up their Saturday afternoon for the event. They shared the most relevant sections of their sales training for the benefit of the crafters/designer-makers who came along. The crafters/designer-makers were encouraged to share their own opinions and ideas as well as ask the experts and each other questions to make sure the content of the discussion remained along lines that would most useful for them.

'It was all very welcoming, and mainly, not cheesy! (I've been to a lot of corporate training events, so this was a breath of fresh air - to be treated like a human and not a robot!). Would you like to see a different structure to this event? It was ideal for me, welcoming and intimate, and thankfully, no role playing!! (my pet hate...)' Kate Butler

'There was a lot of content and you had obviously spent time planning and thinking about it, which was amazing. I learnt a lot more than I thought I might.' Claire Munday

'Do you know, this is the first event I've taken part in that has actually even considered this subject?!' Marguerite Savan

A PDF containing much of the content of this discussion event will be made available for free download soon from the Brighton Craftaganza blog, so make sure you pop over there soon to see if you too can pick up some techniques and methods to improve your sales the next time you come face-to-face with the public!