subject: Becoming An Independent Sales Representative [print this page] Independent sales reps can be a great help to any size of company, and can make a great living while setting their own schedules. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Research:
One way to find a company for whom to be an independent sales rep is to think of a product that you enjoy and believe in and that you feel needs a little bit of a push in your market. Often small companies don't have the wherewithal to keep a large sales staff on hand, are would jump at the chance to take on a new rep that was willing to work on commission. So, if, for instance, there is a great local hot sauce that you feel should be in supermarkets or in more local restaurants, call the company and ask what their policy is on new accounts. You may just find that they were waiting for someone like you to kick-start their sales.
You will also have to consider the cost. Some companies will charge small to medium start up fees that may include purchasing sales kits from them. These sales kits will include such items as free samples of the product to leave behind, any catalogs they may have, order forms, and the like. When you are dealing with a smaller company, they may not even have such kits, and you can prove invaluable to the company by putting together kits for them. There are many ways to put together these kits, so look around online for a good tutorial.
If you are looking to work with larger companies that are experienced in these matters, it is important to note that their sales kits can run anywhere from very little money to thousands of dollars. Just something to keep in mind, though, of you are selling items with hug commissions and you are an experienced salesperson, you can earn that money back in no time.
Competition:
Make sure that the company you would like to work with has a need for distributors in your area, and that the area is not already saturated. If the company you are working with has assigned territories, you should be able to avoid this problem. If not, keep in mind that customers are usually loyal to products and not reps.
Narrowing Your Choices:
Once you get your choices narrowed down to two or three companies, see if you can have a beer or a cup of coffee with some other sales reps that work for these businesses. Make sure, however, that you would not be in direct competition with any of them so you can get the straight dope. Ask what the good and bad points are about the company in question, and whether the products are easy to sell and up to snuff quality wise.
Once you have found a good match for your desires and skills, contact the company. You may, as stated above need to purchase sales kits, or create some to make your job easier. After following all their procedures, all you have to do now is to get out there and start selling.
