UNIT-I

SALES AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION
The word sales management is a combination of two words- sales and management.
Sales is the art of planning in the mind of another a motive which will induce favourable
action.
MEANING:
Sales management originally referred exclusively to the direction of sales force
personnel and lately the term transformed into broader aspect in addition to the
management of personnel selling. In general view Sales Management refers the
management of overall marketing activities such as advertising, sales promotion,
marketing research, physical distribution, pricing and product merchandising.
DEFINITION:
According to American Marketing Association: Sales management refers
“The planning, direction and control of personnel selling, including recruiting,
selecting, equipping, assigning, routing, supervising, paying and motivating as these
tasks apply to the personal sales force”.

SALES MANAGEMENT
Work can be categorized as…..
OBJECTIVES OF SALES MANAGEMENT
Following are the three general objectives of sales management:
1. Generate sufficient sales volume.
2. Contribute towards current profit.
3. Ensure continuous growth of the organisation.
Top management has ultimate responsibility for the above objectives. However,
this task by authority delegation, is entrusted to sales department who
are the ultimate operational level managers.

NATURE OF SALES MANAGEMENT

To understand the concept of sales management clearly, we must go through its following
characteristics:
 ➢ Goal-Oriented: Similar to other management activities, sales management also
have a specific purpose and intended for the achievement of specified goals or
objectives.
➢ Continuous Process: The sales manager needs to perform sales management
functions regularly, and this process is never-ending.
➢ Systematic Approach: It is an organized way of handling the sales function of
the company where every problem has a defined and proven solution.

➢ Relationship Selling: The salespeople make efforts to build a strong customer

relationship to sell the products or services effectively.

➢ Marketing Management Integration: Marketing is a broader concept;

marketing management includes all the activities related to sales management.

➢ Different Sales or Job Position: It is the combined efforts of the whole sales
team, including salesperson, sales executive, sales head, sales manager and
after-sales service personnel.

➢ Pervasive Function: It is a universally applicable concept which has been

adopted and tested by every kind of business organizations.

FUNCTIONS OF SALES MANAGEMENT

Managerial Functions:

1. Planning:
This involves, forecasting demand, sales territory
planning, personal selling and promotional efforts.
2. Organising:
This involves structure, resource allocation,
responsibility assignment and delegation of authority etc.
3. Direction:
This involves leader’s motivation, communication and
promotional steps including personal selling.
4. Control:
 This involves delegation,
quota fixing, performance
evaluation, incentives and
budgets.
5. Co-ordination:
This involves liaison,
integration of various
elements, internally, P.R.
and good will by contact
with customer / general
public.

Staff Functions:
This is related to staff functions of sales force such as the following:
• Recruitment and selection.
• Deployment and evaluation of performance.
• Training and development.
• Career development.
• Compensation and incentives.
• Motivation and empowerment

Advisory Functions:
This is related to advisory functions of sales management:
❖ Product attributes / quality aspects.
❖ Pricing policies.
❖ Promotional steps and personal selling aspects. Distribution

Liaison Functions:
 Liaison with departments such as the following:
 Production department.
 Finance department.
 Marketing department.
 R&D department.
 Distribution network
IMPORTANCE OF SALES MANAGEMENT

Realizes Organizational Objectives: Sales management is practised to attain the pre-

defined organizational goals or objectives which can be increasing profitability, customer
satisfaction, market acquisition, and so on.

Manages Sales Force: The sales team includes personnel performing various sales-related
tasks; the activities of the sales force are hence monitored and regulated through sales
management.

Better Planning: Planning is an essential function of sales management; it includes the

formulation of goals, strategies, programmes and budget.

Sales Maximization: It also helps the management in setting sales target, which are though
higher than the previous goals but are possibly attainable.

Builds Strong Relationship: The sales personnel emphasize on building up strong

interpersonal relations with the customers, as their primary motive. Since it ultimately
drives the sales and profit maximization.
Optimizes Distribution: It provides for maximum utilization of the marketing channels by
identifying the key problem areas and finding a solution to these issues.

Aids Top Management Decision Making: It comprises of the comparison between the
desired and actual result and thus, supports the top-level management or directors to make
crucial decisions (such as business expansion and closure).

Improves Profitability: The most critical concerns of top-level management is profit

maximization, which is, therefore, passed on as a primary objective of the sales
management.

Develops Personnel: In the process of sales management, the sales personnel is provided
sufficient training, growth opportunities and support to ensure their overall development.

Product Development: The sales team are in constant touch with the clients or customers,
which helps the management to know about their preference and taste.

QUALITIES OF A SALES MANAGER

1. Physical qualities
▪ Sound health
▪ Cheerful Appearance
2. Psychological qualities
▪ Quick action
▪ Confidence
▪ Coordination
▪ Tactful
▪ Initiative

3. Social Qualities

▪ Social Courteous
▪ Good manner
▪ Co-operative
4. Character qualities
▪ Honesty and integrity
 ▪ Discipline
▪ Courage
▪ Determination
▪ Humanism

MAKING SALES MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVE

 Vision
 market focus
 clear guidance
 a good team
 spending time with the team
 motivation
 good communication
 sales excellence
 innovation
 leadership
PERSONAL SELLING (MEANING)
Personal selling is selling technique involved between person to person and between
the prospective buyer and seller. Personal selling consists of human contact and direct
communication rather than impersonal mass communication. Personal selling involves
developing customers relationship, discovering & communicating customer needs,
matching the appropriate products with these needs.

METHODS OF PERSONAL SELLING

Retail selling : Selling to ultimate consumer.
Field Selling : Business to business selling that take place in the prospective
customer's place of business.
Telemarketing : Using the Telephone as the primary means of communicating
with prospective customers & Telemarketers often used
computers for order taking.
Inside Selling : Business to business selling in the Sales person’s place of
business.
CHARACTERISTICS (P.S)
o Personal selling is flexible.
o Personal selling builds relationships.
o Personal selling produces immediate response.

MAIN STEPS IN THE PERSONAL SELLING PROCESS

Prospecting
The first step of the personal selling process is called ‘prospecting’. Prospecting refers
to locating potential customers. There are many sources from which potential customers can
be found: observation, social contacts, trade shows, commercially-available databases,
commercially-available mail list and cold calling.

Pre-Approach
The nest step in the personal selling process is called the ‘pre-approach’. The pre-
approach involves preparation for the sales presentation. This preparation involves research
about the potential customers, such as market research. Research is useful in planning the
right sales presentation. During the pre-approach the salesperson may also plan and practice
their sales presentation.
The Approach
The next step in the personal selling process is called the ‘approach’. The approach
refers to the initial contact between the salesperson and the prospective customer. During
this stage the sales person takes a few minutes for “small talk” and get to know the potential
customer. The goal of the approach is to determine the specific needs and wants of the
individual customer, as well as allowing the potential customer to relax and open up.
Sales Presentation
The next step in the personal selling process is called the ‘sales presentation’. The
sales presentation involves the salesperson presenting the product or service, describing its
qualities and possibly demonstrating features of the product. Ideally the sales presentation
will be individualized to match the needs and desires of the potential customer.
Handling Objectives
 In some cases, after receiving the sales presentation, the potential customer will have
some questions or concerns. In order to secure a sale, the salesperson must address these
questions or concerns; this step is referred to as ‘handling objectives.’
Closing the Sale
The next step in the personal selling process is referred to as ‘closing the sale’.
‘Closing the sale’ refers to finalizing the sale and persuading the potential customer to make
the purchase. During the ‘closing the sale’ step, prices and payment options may be
negotiated.
Follow Up
The final step in the personal selling process is referred to as the ‘follow up.’ The
follow up involves the salesperson contacting the customer after the sale to ensure that the
customer is satisfied. If the customer has any existing issues with the product, the
salesperson will address them. A successful follow up stage of personal selling can be very
effective in ensuring repeat sales, evaluating the effectiveness of the salesperson, and
obtaining additional referrals from the satisfied customer.
SALES FORCE MANAGEMENT
Sales force management refers to the management of sales force.
It is defined as analysing, planning, implementing and controlling sales force
activities.
Managing the sales force involves six major steps which are as follows:
MANAGING THE SALES FORCE

Designing Sales Force Strategy and Structure

Recruiting and Selecting Sales People

Training Sales People

Compensating Sales People

Supervising and Motivating Sales People

Evaluating Sales People

 DESIGNING SALES FORCE STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE

Sales force strategy Territorial

Sales force structure Product

Sales force size Customer

 RECRUITING AND SELECTING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Enthusiasm and Self-Confidence

Some Characteristics of Salesperson Persistence
Initiative
Job Commitment

Procedure Sales Pers

Recruiting Sales Person Current Salesperson
Employment Agencies
Classified Ads
College Campuses

Sales Aptitude
Analytical & Organizational Process Skills
Salesperson Selection Process Personality Traits
Other Characteristics
 TRAINING THE SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Help sales people know & Identify with the company

Learn How the product works

Learn about Competitors and Customers Characteristics

Learn How to make effective presentations

Understand field procedure and responsibilities

 COMPENSATING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Salary

Benefits Components of Bonus

compensation

commission
 SUPERVISING AND MOTIVATING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Supervising Sales Force Motivating Sales force

• Directing the sales force Organizational Atmosphere
• Identify customer targets and set call norms Sales Quota
• Develop prospect targets Positive Incentives
• Use sales time efficiently Trips
Annual Call schedule Honors
Time and Duty Analysis Merchandise/Cash – Awards
Sales force automation
 EVALUATION OF SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Call Report Sales Report

Source Of Information

Annual Territorial

Marketing plan
Work plan
Expense
Report
SALES TRAINING PROGRAM
o Sales training is the effort an employer puts forth to provide sales people job-related culture, skills, knowledge, &
attitudes that should result in improved performance in the selling environments.
o Main idea behind training is to extract the best out of a candidate in terms of performance on the job.
o Experience is the best teacher, undoubtedly.
o But training cuts short the time required to learn. It also supplements what one learns by experience & improves the
effectiveness of the sales personnel.
o Training is therefore a supplement to experience and not its substitute.

AIM OF TRAINING
■ Sales Techniques:
Salespeople have an ongoing need to learn “how to sell”
■ Product Knowledge:
Salespeople must know their product benefits, applications, competitive strengths & limitations
■ Customer Knowledge:
Salespeople should know their customer needs, buying motives, buying procedures &
personalities
■ Time and Territory Management: Salespeople should learn to maximum work
efficiency.
■ Competitive Knowledge: Salespeople must know competitive offerings in
terms of strengths & weaknesses.
■ Company Knowledge
CHARACTERISTICS OF SALES TRAINING:

1. Sales training is imparted to develop selling skills of the sales persons.

2. It develops principles and practice of selling.
3. Sales training is a planned and organized activity of the sales department.
4. The sales organization and the salesmen, both are benefited from the sales training.
5. Training programmes are organized for the interests of new and old salesmen.
6. Its aim is to provide maximum satisfaction to customers through the knowledge gained by salesmen.
7. Training is given to find out solutions to various problems related with sales.
IMPORTANCE OF SALES TRAINING PROGRAM

Increasing customer satisfaction.

Helping salespeople become managers.
Orienting new salespeople to the job.

Improving knowledge in areas such as product, company, competitors, or selling skills.

Lowering absenteeism and turnover.

Positively influencing attitudes in such areas as job satisfaction.

Improve morale
Obtaining feedback from salespeople.

Increasing sales in a particular product or customer category.

Lowering selling costs.

 Increase productivity
Improve selling skills
Improve customer relations
OBSTACLES TO INTRODUCING TRAINING PROGRAM
▪ Top management not dedicated to sales training
▪ Lack of buy-in from frontline sales managers and salespeople
▪ Salespeople’s lack of understanding of what training is supposed to accomplish
▪ Salespeople’s lack of understanding regarding application of training to everyday tasks

METHODS OF SALES TRAINING PROGRAM

■ On-the-job training (OJT)
■ Class room training
■ Role-playing
■ Electronic training methods

ON THE JOB TRAINING

■ Teaming - Bringing together people with different skills to address issues.
■ Meetings - Setting aside times when employees at different levels and positions can get together and share thoughts on various
topics.
■ Customer interaction - Including customer feedback as part of the learning process.
■ Mentoring - Providing an informal mechanism for new salespeople to interact and learn from more experienced ones.
■ Peer-to-peer communication - Creating opportunities for salespeople to interact together for mutual learning.
CLASS ROOM TRAINING
■ Trainee receives standard briefings in
product knowledge
company polices
customer and market characteristics
selling skills
■ Formal training sessions avoid wasting executive time
■ Classroom sessions permit use of audio-visual materials and technical resources

ROLE-PLAYING
■ Salesperson act out the part of a sales rep in a simulated buying session.
■ Buyer may be either a sales instructor or another trainee.
■ Role playing is widely used to developing skills but it can also be used to determine whether the trainee can apply knowledge
taught via other methods of instruction

ELECTRONIC TRAINING METHODS

■ It uses internet for delivering quality learning experiences.
■ This method isn’t only effective but also very efficient.