What did you do before starting work at CFP?
I’ve worked with lots of different companies across a whole range of sectors developing their new business contacts. I also deliver training to staff about effective techniques to use when speaking to prospects on the phone.
What’s the most fulfilling thing about your job?
I love the challenge of finding a way to make a new business friend. Gone are hard sell practices which gave ‘cold calling’ such a bad name – to me it’s about listening to what a prospective customer needs and matching that with what we offer. The combination of our products, the range of services we provide and our unique online customer service portal means CFP can genuinely do that bit better than any other filter provider. It’s always satisfying to see how a business I’ve spoken to, who becomes a customer, really benefits from working with us.
What’s a typical day for you?
The first thing I do is check the prospect pipeline and review any recent activity before actioning anything that needs doing. My job is to get us a foot in the door at businesses with multiple sites that need our services so it’s important to demonstrate our professionalism every step of the way.
As well as working on our existing database, I’m responsible for identifying new opportunities so I’ll also spend some time doing some company or sector research, connecting with people on LinkedIn and of course picking up the phone to find out who I need to speak to.
What changes have you seen during your time in the industry?
I think a really interesting development at the corporate end of the market is that big businesses are much more interested than they used to be in working with partners or suppliers whose values and ethos match their own. Of course they always have one eye on price but it’s no longer the be all and end all. They need to know they can work and get along with businesses like theirs so issues like corporate responsibility and sustainability are really coming to the fore.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Anything to do with design or art. I paint canvasses, enjoy life drawing and occasionally even pen the odd piece of poetry.
