Business from the Future – Eliminating the Sales Department

I Despise Most Traditional “Sales” Methods…

It’s because I think too much like a customer. Even when when I’m working for the company in question, I purposefully maintain the delusion of merely being a regular customer.

I pretend to be the customer, so that I am completely fair, honest, and effective at enhancing products and services.

I don’t have the cognitive biases associating with being an employee.

It’s not in my best interest that a product is perfect, so I can clearly point out weaknesses:

I haven’t invested a year of my life creating a product I conceived of.

I haven’t spent millions of dollars building it.

I am not a fanboi.

I don’t subconsciously invent excuses.

I don’t like going through the experience of some random person making me feel pressured.

I certainly don’t care what his personal opinion of which product is better, since I’ve already spent 3 hours online “being Colombo” about all the potential options.

My mind is 90% – 97% made up, before I take a single step into the store.

Replace Salesmen with Consultants or Advisors

Customers certainly don’t want to feel pressured. Hold up, though, that doesn’t mean to eliminate the staff:

Instead of salesmen (whose primary objective is selling a product), employees will be helpful consultants (whose primary objective is to ensure that the customer has the best experience possible, even if it means losing a sale):

To ensure that the customer fully understands the product.

To answer any of their questions.

To help them make decisions.

To ensure that every customer connects with a product that will enhance their lives in some way.

Chris Hoeller