For those that have viewed my website, you already have a brief overview of my career to date. From where I started to where I am now as a sales agent.
I have been in the interiors industry for 44 years, and although I like my work, I can't honestly say that I have always enjoyed it. 44 years has been a long time working in the same industry, and along the way I have had many ups and downs.
In the main I consider myself lucky to have chosen an industry that has been good to me. I have met wonderful people, worked for some great companies and had the pleasure of being mentored by some great characters of their time. They gave me the knowledge, guidance and grounding that a young lad needed who thought that living was all about going out and partying with a carefree attitude and no responsibilities. I know some who still think this!
I'm from a working class background, brought up on a council estate who's parents worked hard and made sure we had the basics in life to survive. Don't get me wrong, we lived on a very nice council estate and neighbourhood, so i'm not going to pretend that we were living in a poor crumbling estate with drug dealers and gangs! It was working class with good honest people with none of the luxuries that can be afforded today.
On this long and winding road to where I am today I have been gifted with wonderful children and grandchildren, had some fabulous life experiences and travelled extensively, seeing parts of the world that some people can only imagine visiting. It's not gloating, it's just that I have been blessed with the opportunities to be able to do it. And in the main I have generally remained healthy throughout this time.
I have had setbacks, I have made some poor business decisions as well as the unforeseen business failures, financial hardships and the loss of close friends and parents. I have experienced the breakdown of family life and the loss of direction that most people will experience at sometime in their life, unless they are very lucky! But I have survived and none the worse and stronger for it.
There have been days when the dark cloud comes over and I have thought, what am I doing sitting in this traffic for 2 hours just to show a few fabric books, or do I really want to go out in this weather and sit soaking wet in my car all day! It happens, but you get on with it.
This work brings me Job satisfaction and the financial reward to be able to support my family doing a job I love. I get to travel the UK (sometimes abroad) and meet great people who have the passion for their business and what they do. I sell quality products that I believe in, and I am able to offer these products knowing that they are going to make a contribution to the development and growth of that person's business if they take them. If they are successful, then I can be successful!
What I am trying to articulate is that, when the opportunities are there, (in work and life) take them, nurture and enjoy them. There will be times when that dark cloud descends, and you are struggling to get motivated or stuck in that merry go round of nothing seems to be going right syndrome, but, take a step back, re-evaluate and then start again.
Remember, worrying about the things you can't change is taking your focus away from what you can!
Thank you for taking the time to read something that this time is all about me!
UK Sales Agent representing Sandberg Wallpaper, Art of the Loom, Rebel Walls and Simpson fabrics
John.
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Get to know the Agent!
I have at times in the past when being with a customer been asked what the difference is between an agent and a company representative (rep), and a response to a recent post on Social Media made me think that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to offer a brief overview of how an agent works in the UK.
An agent is self employed, we are responsible for all our own expenses which include fuel, car parking, toll and congestion charges, our vehicle costs such as tax, insurance and servicing, telephones, accommodation etc, and being self employed means we get unpaid holiday if we choose to take them!
We are in affect a company that contracts to other companies to provide them with a service to get product to market and assist them to develop their brand. Being self employed means that providing there is no conflict of interest between the brands, i.e. not the same or similar, an agent can represent as many brands as they wish. However, I personally find that 4-5 is a comfortable manageable level that allows me to give a fair representation to all the brands carried.
An agent has restricted responsibilities and wouldn't have the same flexibility as a rep on certain decision making such as allowances, discounts or customer service issues
A company representative is employed with all expenses and their responsibility is only to the one company, therefore they have more flexibility on certain decision making.
Agents in general compared to reps are paid commission only on product sold, so it is in an agents interest and our customers interest to ensure that we represent quality brands that we are comfortable knowing is the right product at the right price and are able to give an excellent all round service package to our customers. This is in addition to being able to provide a high personal level of service as an individual to maintain a good customer relationship. An agent and his customers can only be successful with a brand if it meets their criteria and level of expectation.
One of the benefits that I enjoy about my work is that no two days are the same. I visit different areas of the UK, see different types of customer such as interior designers, retailers, upholsterers and curtain & blind makers, and meet some wonderful talented people on a daily basis.
Just like a rep we work within a territory and we are responsible for the customers for that brand within that territory. The size of a working area can vary from brand to brand, but as an example I also manage nationally for two of my brands with the assistance of sub agents. (agents working for an agent)
The majority of my day is spent in the car. Typically it could take 2-3 hours just to get to my first meeting, and then I try to get 3-4 meetings per day if travelling, and perhaps 5 if staying away. Meeting times also vary from 10-15 minutes to 2 hours + depending on whether it is just an update call or a full presentation, or how busy a customer is and the time they can allow.
A typical day for me would be to leave home at around 6.30 - 7am if travelling some distance and get back home anytime after 6pm depending how well my day goes. My call times can also be restricted. Some businesses don't start until 10am, can't see you between 12-1 or 1-2 and wont see you after 4pm, so my actual working day in meetings can be a small time frame but spending 6-8 hours in the car to achieve a good day of visits. As you can imagine, and those that follow me on Social Media will know that I spend a lot of time stuck on motorways! (a constant moaner!)
The day also consists of making and receiving telephone calls and attending to emails. If time is restricted, then on a majority of occasions new account applications and orders are sorted in the evenings after arriving back.
An agent is self employed, we are responsible for all our own expenses which include fuel, car parking, toll and congestion charges, our vehicle costs such as tax, insurance and servicing, telephones, accommodation etc, and being self employed means we get unpaid holiday if we choose to take them!
We are in affect a company that contracts to other companies to provide them with a service to get product to market and assist them to develop their brand. Being self employed means that providing there is no conflict of interest between the brands, i.e. not the same or similar, an agent can represent as many brands as they wish. However, I personally find that 4-5 is a comfortable manageable level that allows me to give a fair representation to all the brands carried.
A company representative is employed with all expenses and their responsibility is only to the one company, therefore they have more flexibility on certain decision making.
Agents in general compared to reps are paid commission only on product sold, so it is in an agents interest and our customers interest to ensure that we represent quality brands that we are comfortable knowing is the right product at the right price and are able to give an excellent all round service package to our customers. This is in addition to being able to provide a high personal level of service as an individual to maintain a good customer relationship. An agent and his customers can only be successful with a brand if it meets their criteria and level of expectation.
Just like a rep we work within a territory and we are responsible for the customers for that brand within that territory. The size of a working area can vary from brand to brand, but as an example I also manage nationally for two of my brands with the assistance of sub agents. (agents working for an agent)
The majority of my day is spent in the car. Typically it could take 2-3 hours just to get to my first meeting, and then I try to get 3-4 meetings per day if travelling, and perhaps 5 if staying away. Meeting times also vary from 10-15 minutes to 2 hours + depending on whether it is just an update call or a full presentation, or how busy a customer is and the time they can allow.
A typical day for me would be to leave home at around 6.30 - 7am if travelling some distance and get back home anytime after 6pm depending how well my day goes. My call times can also be restricted. Some businesses don't start until 10am, can't see you between 12-1 or 1-2 and wont see you after 4pm, so my actual working day in meetings can be a small time frame but spending 6-8 hours in the car to achieve a good day of visits. As you can imagine, and those that follow me on Social Media will know that I spend a lot of time stuck on motorways! (a constant moaner!)
I personally offer a 7 day a week service. In an ever changing era I am mindful that retailers now open Sunday's, and trades people work weekends. My telephone is always on and I can be reached by email. If I can help provide an answer to a question or be able to give a price evenings or weekends, it is providing a little extra service that could make all the difference.
So, that is a brief overview which I hope gives you a better understanding of how we work, and listed below are my brands and the areas that I work. If I can be of any assistance or you would like to make contact, please telephone or email, I'm happy to help! 😀
National - Sandberg wallpaper
National - Rebel Walls wall murals
Suffolk - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Norfolk - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Cambridgeshire - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Essex - Art of the Loom
Kent - Art of the Loom
Sussex - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Surrey - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Hampshire - Art of the Loom
Berkshire - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Middlesex - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
Buckinghamshire - Art of the Loom
Hertfordshire - Art of the Loom, Simpson:Yorke
London - Art of the Loom
Telephone: 07971 401499
Email: johnf.norhwood@gmail.com
Website: www.johnfnorthwood.co.uk
Also connect and follow on:
Twitter: @InteriorAgent
facebook.com/johnnorthwoodagencies
Instagram: john_northwood
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