CR Smith Sales Executive

[swb]

Hey guys,

I hope you're all having a great Monday.

This is Gona be pretty long and I apolgise in advance but I'm looking for some advice on a position that's available with CR Smith. I have an interview for Sales Executive position and I would be covering the Edinburgh and Lothians area selling windows, doors and conservatories etc. The package seems decent with 22k basic, fully expensed company car, pension and private health care. OTE are 40-50k in first year.

I've spoken with a friend of mine who used to sell windows for a local glazing company in the Borders and he hit 55k with company car etc.

I currently work for a furniture company and have earned 45k per year over the last 2 years but there seems to be a serious downturn in footfall and employer is just flooding the sales floor with even more staff to ensure we're converting as many customers as possible. This means with fewer customers and more staff my earnings have taken a serious hit (£800 down on Aprils wage compared to last year alone).

CR Smith say you'll get on average 3 leads per day. I know they are one of the pricier companies out there but I believe their product is one of the best quality on the market so I think the sale process will involve a lot of haggling and follow up calls. I'm fine with this but with a 4th baby on the way I just need some help in deciding the following - do I stick with the status quo where I'm an important member of the team and hope that business gets better and other sales people leave so my earnings increase again or do I move into a field environment where the potential to earn decent money seems realistic and I'm only competing with myself and not 10 other Sales people?

Any and all feedback would be great but If anyone has experience of working for CR Smith your input would be especially welcome.

Many thanks,

Scott

 

[ethical PR]

Just because your friend made money doesn't mean you will too. This is a different company and a different patch

What research have your carried out on the new company, their market share, reviews about what it's like to work there, company accounts, customer reviews etc

How will it affect your paternity leave if you move

Have you spoken to your current company about your role and their current marketing plan/activity and how that supports sales?

Personally I wouldn't move with a new baby on the way - they take up a lot of energy/focus

 

[swb]

Thanks for the response ethical PR.

I'm meeting with my friend tomorrow morning where he will give me more information on how the sales process works with the glazing industry. I've worked with him in sales in the past and we're very similar sales people. Excellent at building relationships with people and gaining trust and my sales performance over 18 years has always been Of a high standard. So I'm fairly confident I can make a living from it. Also, at the moment I commute 60 miles per day at my own expense using my own vehicle so the company car in its self will save me in excess of 3k per year. As family life goes I would also get every weekend off with the exception of working one in 4 Saturdays whereas I never see my kids due to working all and every weekend. This factor is a big draw for me.

There is a recent report from Feb on BBC website detailing strong sales and growth for CR Smith but I can't post the link due to being a new member. Seems positive though.

The only reviews I can seem to find are from indeed job site and I don't pay much attention to these. There are 3 or 4 sales people saying they didn't enjoy it etc... but when I google reviews of my current employer there's not a good review to be seen yet I know first hand everyone I work with is happy (generally when pay is good)

Customer reviews of the service and prices seem positive with high ratings on Review Centre etc.

Paternity would be null and void but I would explain the situation and just book 2 weeks holiday to cover that period.

Spoke with management and told them how I feel about dip in wages and if it's going to increase but this is the worrying part.... we've just had our biggest promotional campaign of the year so far and it's been really slow. Commission wise I'll be approx 1k down on this same promotion compared to last year. Hopefully with one week left of the month I'll pull it back.

As for the baby coming, this is exactly my reason for looking else where. I am the sole provider in my house hold and when my income has dipped consistently over the last quarter, I just feel something needs to change and feel this opportunity sounds good.

 

[billmccallum1957]

https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Cr-Smith/reviews

Sales Advisor (Current Employee) – Scotland – 10 November 2016

You are under extreme daily pressure to sell.
If you do not sell on the night it is looked upon as failure. Targets are forced down your throat.
You are expected to start at 10.30 am approx. and may not finish 'til 10pm. You are put under pressure non stop as your phone receives messages non stop regarding sales, meeting. My phone used to receive messages from 8am, 7days a week.
If you can put up with the non stop pressure and do not want a life its a job for you.
You will be expected to work 6 days per week, officially they will say 5.

 

[swb]

Thanks for responding Bill.

I've read this review before but doesn't put me off. As I said previously I'd rather hear from someone who could do the job and not a review from someone who clearly struggled at it.

Working 6 days a week is the norm for me just now anyway. Text messages constantly = switch your phone off. Pressure to sell = sounds like a normal sales job to me.

Really looking for feedback In regards to realistic earnings. I'm sure the conversation I'll be having with my friend tomorrow will shed more light.

Thanks for sharing the link though.

 

[MikeJ]

Can't help with your question, but I found CR Smith an absolute nightmare to deal with (all be it almost 20 years ago). The salesman lied through his teeth to get our order, they left a job half finished and we withheld payment until they came in to finish the work.

I had to threaten them with a report to Ofcom to stop them phoning us trying to sell us a conservatory.

This may just indicate that the salesman we dealt with was a real pain, but it could indicate the pressure they're under to get a sale at any price.

 

[swb]

Thanks MikeJ,

That's great info but not a great situation to have found yourself in.

I appreciate you taking time out of your day to reply to my thread.

 

[MBE1]

This is just a general overview of the direct sales industry, so make of it what you will.

You will probably receive 2-3 leads per day, which are gained by different methods, such as door canvassing, approaching people in stores etc. The quality of such leads as such varies enormously, the vast majority are useless, appointments of given to elicit a payment or simply to get rid of the canvasser.

The industry itself is hard, sales are normally expected on the night, failure rate is very high, few make it, possibly 5-10% of salespeople are what I would consider successful. As a new guy you will also have to cope with the pecking order, the managers will feed their good closers, until you have proved yourself this will continue to happen. Even once you have proven yourself, you might have to fight against friends feeding friends, or managers receiving backhanders from the clique salespeople who are prepared to buy success.

You have a basic and car, this is probably to get around HMRC cracking down on self employment in the industry, but IF I had a new kid on the way, I would probably stick with what I know earns money, or consider a move in the same sector.

Best of luck whatever you decide, the industry was great fun for many years, earning were very high at one point, but those days are decades old now, at least IMO.

 

[swb]

Thanks MBE1. Very valuable info there. Very much appreciated.

 

[webgeek]

I would expect a good many more opportunities exist with 45-60K OTE in the central belt, and which aren't a part of a meat grinder sales organisation.

Have you considered sourcing your own leads in your current employment? You could probably add a bit of self-marketing and increase your personal lead -> conversion flow.

I'd hate to think someone gave up a position of success for one that's a hot griddle just waiting to make them sizzle.

 

[swb]

Thanks webgeek.

I agree that it may be a gamble and one that I need to think long and hard about.

For 3 months on the trot now my wages have been way below where I expect them to be. I know Sales is like this sometimes but I've never had a quarter of a year so bad. With baby on the way I'm panicking but trying to make a measured decision.

Had the interview last night and I've been invited for a second interview tomorrow. Earning potential definitely seems to be there but it does come across as high pressure. I will attend and grill them on sustainability of the job and realistic earning potential. I'll tell them not to blow smoke up my ass as I have a new baby on the way. Hopefully he will be as honest as possible so I can make a clear decision.

 

[MBE2017]

Hopefully he will be as honest as possible so I can make a clear decision.

Doubt he would be a direct sales manager unless he was dishonest lol. You might get lucky, but 95% of these types of companies are a constant recruit, grind, throw away type environment.

Best of luck whatever you decide, even if you try and find it is not for yourself you will learn a lot very quickly. I would recommend going out for a night or two with experienced guys working for the company, amazing what might be shown in some unguarded moments.

 

[swb]

Well I went to the open evening and was asked back to meet with head of sales and marketing 2 days later.

I spoke with him for about an hour and 15 minutes and asked everything I needed to ask and he seemed to answer my questions honestly re hours and pay structure. He put a big focus on training, evening work and surprisingly the importance of downtime.

I also explained about my new baby and how if I left now I wouldn't be entitled to paternity leave with them and asked if I could take 2 weeks off as a holiday when baby arrives.... we both agreed if I was offered the job that they would allow me to work my current position and start after baby comes. So again that seems like the sign of a decent manager. He also started with the company in 2001 in the call centre and has worked his way up so again seems like a stable company.

My next move is to go out on a call with a sales executive and then I meet with the chairman of the business for a chat.

Sound decent?

 

[MBE2017]

Only you can decide, you are there and we are not.

Take your time and best of luck.

 

[swb]

Thanks MBE. All the best.

 

[Peter Dings]

How did it work out for you?

Did you take the job and was it a good choice?