County Carlow Enterprises are encouraged to drive recovery by focusing on sales in 2021.
Today (17th December 2020), Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office launched the Sales Development Programme for County Carlow SMEs who have the desire to grow their business and enhance their sales results.
This is the second consecutive year in which the Sales Development Programme will be offered by Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office. The programme consists of intensive sales skills training followed by an extended period of sales performance coaching, which will commence in January 2021, and continue through April 2021.
For the second year, a specialist team from Ideation Marketing will deliver the Sales Development Programme to Sales Leaders from up to 8 qualifying County Carlow businesses. Participants will be trained and coached on sales skills, techniques and behaviors, and sales performance management, which will cultivate an effective sales culture within each participating business, enabling them to boost their sales and directly impact their bottom line.
The 2019-2020 pilot programme was completed in early 2020 and was highly rated by all participants. Speaking at the conclusion of the programme, entrepreneur Elizabeth Morrisey of Elm Beauty, Tullow and Morrisey Pharmacy Group Carlow and Tullow, said:
“This was a great course for my business. The learning coupled with the follow up coaching is what made it so successful. Participants gain the skills and the tools they need, and then they continue learning with ongoing support and coaching while the tools are being implemented. Elm Beauty has gone from strength to strength as we found new and innovative ways to sell and meet the needs of our discerning customers”.
Now that lockdown is lifted, Elm Beauty is re-opened for the specialist beauty treatments they are known for, and busy taking appointments for the pre-Christmas period for their clients across the South East. Last week, they also celebrated the launch of their Christmas Gift Emporium in the salon and at www.elmbeauty.ie.
Speaking at the launch Pauline Hoctor, Senior Enterprise Development Officer said
“Sales are the life-force of every business, and that’s never been truer than now as businesses deal with the fallout from COVID19 and the upcoming impact of Brexit. Without an effective sales strategy and the skills to deploy it, a business is destined to fail - or at least fail to achieve optimal profitability. Many of our business clients do not have dedicated sales resources in their business, and many are selling in new channels such as digital channels - for the very first time. This programme has been developed to fill a clear need of our clients. They, and we, understand that developing sales skills amongst the Entrepreneurial community in Carlow is vital if they are to achieve their full potential”.
Welcoming the launch of the programme, Cllr. Tom O’Neill, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said
“The funding, training and mentoring Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office offers, enables Carlow businesses to expand, upskill and grow. The Sales Development Programme is an example of the intensive, specialist services the Local Enterprise Office can deliver to businesses who need them”,
Speaking about the benefits of the programme Elaine Bradley-Ryan, Managing Director of Ideation Marketing said
“The Sales Development Programme offered by the Local Enterprise Office, is designed to transform the businesses that participate. It was hugely impactful for the businesses who participated last year. 100% of last year’s attendees would recommend the programme to another SME, which attests to its value in the present market. In collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office, we will be adding sector specific training modules to the curriculum this year, so that retail/hospitality or B2B enterprises will receive the specific guidance that’s most valuable for them. We’ll also focus on digital sales strategies, which are highly relevant and which everyone needs in their toolkit. My team and I look forward to supporting Carlow businesses in their growth strategies, and we can’t wait to get started!”.
Places on the Sales Development Programme are limited, and interested businesses should apply via https://www.localenterprise.ie/Carlow/. Booking for this programme closes on December 31st, 2020.
There’s never been a better time for Carlow businesses to start-up or scale-up, so get your business informed and involved with the supports available through the Local Enterprise Office. Be one of the many Carlow businesses #MakingItHappen in 2021 with our help.
#MakingItHappen #LookForLocal
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For further information contact Pauline Hoctor @ phoctor@carlowcoco.ie or 086 4109079.
