Campus Connection

Students learn tactics in mock sales competition

UWL students studying marketing had the opportunity to run their sales ideas by professionals in the field. Thirteen students took part in the 3^rd annual UWL Sales Competition Friday, March 4, in Wimberly Hall. They received marketing advice from 12 area business professionals. Prior to the competition, students received a case study written by an industry professional. They had 20 minutes to sell the product to a business buyer, played by one of the business professionals. The role playing was video streamed to a room where five judges, other business professionals, rated students on a series of sales criteria. Among the criteria is how a student:

• Effectively gains attention and builds rapport
• Clearly understands the customer’s situation
• Persuasively matches product benefits to meet buyer’s needs
• Effectively eliminates concerns to buyer’s satisfaction
• Gives a persuasive closing

The judges then met one-on-one with the students to give constructive feedback. Total scores were tabulated and at the end of the day the business professionals mingled with the students during a reception. [caption id="attachment_45281" align="aligncenter" width="685"] UWL student Jack Pettinger, right, receives sales advice and feedback from judges after his sales pitch to a mock buyer at the UWL Sales Competition March 4 in Wimberly Hall.[/caption] The top four students won cash — and an opportunity to move on to national competition, the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up, in the fall. The winners were: 1^st: Ben Stauss 2^nd: Adam Letto 3^rd: Mikayla Williams 4^th: Elliot Statz Associate Lecturer Stacy Trisler, who advises the students, says UWL has a successful track record at the national competition. Last year, two UWL students obtained full-time jobs from the event. Student Kayla Peterson placed fifth overall among last year’s 66 participants.