How to find comission-only sales agents to sell building materials for large industrial projects?

[rynik]

Hello,
I'm a manufacturer of roofing materials that go into roofs of large industrial structures such as warehouses and manufacturing plants. I'm selling my products successfully in Australia and North America and would like to start selling more in the UK. I'm looking for sales agents who work on commission and are focused on the construction market, specifically the industrial or agricultural market.
Any suggestions on how to contact and contract such agents?

 

[fisicx]

Any suggestions on how to contact and contract such agents?

Trade shows would be a good start. There are loads you can attend. This is just one list:

UK Trade Exhibitions - ConstructUK

A unique, up-to-date directory of construction industry information - UK Trade Exhibitions

constructuk.com

But finding commission only agents is going to be tough. All the good ones are already employed and commission only isn't an attractive proposition in what is an already competitive market. How did you find your agents in the USA? Can you use the same techniques in the UK?

 

[rynik]

Trade shows would be a good start. There are loads you can attend. This is just one list:

By trade shows do you mean that I can find agents there??? Obviously I can find customers by participating, but I don't have experience with finding sales agents through trade shows.
In America we've been working with sales agents on commissions for ages. It's a well established sales method over there with very specific specialties, such as "roofing materials sales agents" who represent 6-7 manufacturers in the same specific product and geographic area. I'm not familiar with this in UK.

 

[Mark T Jones]

There are several threads on this topic if you do a search

However, as suggests look at trade shows and trade media - look for agents selling associated but not competing products

 

[fisicx]

By trade shows do you mean that I can find agents there???

Yes. Agents attend these shows looking for opportunities.

The UK is very different to the USA. The commercial building industry is well established with many long running logistic chains. A Google search will return a number of roofing suppliers and manufacturers. These are the people you need to talk to. I’m not even sure there is a need for agents.

Construction companies tend to use suppliers they know and trust. They buy per contract so what you really need to do is set up your warehouses in the UK and start bidding on contracts.

 

[makimsunil@gma]

Hello,
I'm a manufacturer of roofing materials that go into roofs of large industrial structures such as warehouses and manufacturing plants. I'm selling my products successfully in Australia and North America and would like to start selling more in the UK. I'm looking for sales agents who work on commission and are focused on the construction market, specifically the industrial or agricultural market.
Any suggestions on how to contact and contract such agents?

Have you a website?

 

[paulgbrown]

Hello,
I'm a manufacturer of roofing materials that go into roofs of large industrial structures such as warehouses and manufacturing plants. I'm selling my products successfully in Australia and North America and would like to start selling more in the UK. I'm looking for sales agents who work on commission and are focused on the construction market, specifically the industrial or agricultural market.
Any suggestions on how to contact and contract such agents?

We can help. Established 1993, and in contact with over 10,000 sales agents in all sectors in the UK & Ireland. Give us a call on 01926 864200 and/or check out our website at www.agentbase.co.uk

 

[MarketingQuote]

Hello,
I'm a manufacturer of roofing materials that go into roofs of large industrial structures such as warehouses and manufacturing plants. I'm selling my products successfully in Australia and North America and would like to start selling more in the UK. I'm looking for sales agents who work on commission and are focused on the construction market, specifically the industrial or agricultural market.
Any suggestions on how to contact and contract such agents?

We get asked this all the time, for people that will work on commission.

You may find a freelancer that will take it on, until they find a full time job. Commission only sales does not really exist here in the UK, except for double glazing.

 

[NickGrogan]

We get asked this all the time, for people that will work on commission.

You may find a freelancer that will take it on, until they find a full time job. Commission only sales does not really exist here in the UK, except for double glazing.

I've worked with commission-only agents for the last 30 years; none of them would take a full-time job.

 

[paulgbrown]

We get asked this all the time, for people that will work on commission.

You may find a freelancer that will take it on, until they find a full time job. Commission only sales does not really exist here in the UK, except for double glazing.

Not sure which century you are living in. double glazing sales agents are as extinct as dinosaurs, and clearly agents do exist as our business has 10,000 sales agent members and exists purely because of them. B2C sales agents are dead, but B2B agents very much alive and kicking.