Sales Meeting Theme Ideas You Can Use

Sales meetings can be an important part of the sales training process.  A lot of people have trouble coming up with sales meeting theme ideas for their sales people. The following are some sample sales meeting theme ideas to get your brain working and help you come up with your own ideas.  These themes will work great whether you are planning a local, regional or national sales meeting.

Holiday Based Sales Meeting Theme Ideas

Holiday – Sales Meeting Theme Ideas
New Year – Set sales goals for the new year.
Washington’s Birthday – Never lie to a customer.
Valentine – Fall in love with your prospect.
March Winds – A big blow won’t necessarily get the order.
April Showers – Shower each customer with service.
Easter or New Growth – A chance for a new start.
Green Thumb – Use your sales training to cultivate new customers.
Spring Fling – Wake up and live!
Baseball – Hit home runs with your prospects.
May Day – Calls for a celebration
Decoration Day – Salespeople; the infantry of American business.

Graduation – Sales Training series is now over.
June Bride – Marry your customer.
July 4th – Be hot as a firecracker.
Summertime – Shirt sleeve session.
Vacation -Work now—retire later.
Fishing – Fish for the big ones.
Back to School – Start of sales training series.
Football or Kickoff – Beginning of new sales training program.
Columbus Day – Astounding discovery.
Halloween – Spooks are laziness, neglect, et al.
Golden Harvest – Commissions to be reaped.
Horn of Plenty – Money for everybody.
Thanksgiving – Management thanks salespeople.
Winter Whirl – Build a hot fire.
Christmas  – Gifts for salespeople.

Subject Based Sales Meeting Theme Ideas

Subject – Sales Meeting Theme Ideas
Prospecting – Look for customers.
Go Getter – Take action.
Opportunity – Make the most of it.
Treasure Hunt – Let’s find it.
Pirate – Don’t let competitors in.
Enthusiasm – go, Go, GO
Gold Rush – Get your share.
Big Game – Hunt Find the big sales.
Pioneers’ – Party Be among the first.
Black Magic – Calls pay off like magic.
Wheel of Fortune – You can make a fortune.
Carnival – Don’t be a pitch man.
Circus or Big Top – Ringmaster, clown, thin man.
Masquerade – Prospects wear different disguises.
Vaudeville – Have a variety of talents.
Cowboy – Roundup customers.
Bury The Hatchet – Regain lost customers.
Fiesta – Celebrate over the Latin market.
Sell-a-bration – A sales rally.
Bonanza – A real gold strike.
Road to Success – Take it. Go!
Transportation – Let work be your vehicle.
Aviation – Let’s fly high.
Atomic Energy – A huge sales explosion.
Courtroom – Trial for poor sales practices.

Watch for future posts on sales meeting theme ideas.

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To prepare a sales meeting agenda, select topics in keeping with the objective.  If you want to motivate salespeople, what subjects would be most likely to do it? Wouldn’t something on enthusiasm be inspirational? What about positive thinking?  Should you have someone give an account of how he succeeded?

Sales Meeting Agenda Questions

Let’s suppose you want to train instead of motivate in your sales meeting agenda.  In what areas is sales training needed?  Is it: product information or closing techniques?   Can your sales training needs be satisfied at one sales meeting or should a series of sales meetings be scheduled?

Which training needs are most important?  For example, isn’t it all important for every sales person to master his or her sales presentation? Which needs are most urgent? Shouldn’t you do something now to get them to move overstocked items?

By asking questions such as these you can then decide upon appropriate subject matter for your sales meeting agenda.

Arrange Your Sales Meeting Agenda by Subject

Items for the agenda should be arranged in logical sequence. Tips on approaching the customer are placed before methods of presenting the product.  A demonstration of the product should precede closing the sale.

The sales vice president of an industrial concern said, “A natural sequence (in your sales meeting agenda) makes for better understanding. Schedule any general information first. Then narrow the subject matter toward your objective, becoming more specific all the time.”

Sample Sales Meeting Agenda

Objective: To make strong closers of the salespeople.
1st Subject (3 minutes): Recent sales trends showing a need for closing more sales.
2nd Subject (3 minutes): The steps in a sale—attention, interest, desire, action.
3rd Subject (15 minutes): Step number 4—how to close, or how to prompt action.
4th Subject (15 minutes): A movie or some demonstrations on trial closes.
5th Subject (3 minutes): Summary, plea for application of sales training concepts in the field, inspirational close.

Sales Meeting Agenda Sequence

In the foregoing sample sales meeting agenda, note the logical sequence of subject matter. The need or reason for strong closing is developed before emphasis is placed on the subject. This makes the salesperson want to learn more about closing techniques.

Then the steps in a sale are briefly covered. This shows the relationship of the close to the other steps, pointing up its importance. Thereafter, all emphasis is on the close itself.  You will find your sales meetings to be more effective by using this approach.

Review additional posts for more information on planning a Sales Meeting Agenda.

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What will a good sales meeting do for you?

There’s a sales meeting going on somewhere right now.  Morning, noon, or night— a sales meeting is taking place. There are more this year than last, and next year there will be more than ever.

Sales meetings or sales training seminars are popular because of one thing . . . they pay dividends!

They’re often the difference between profit and loss, the difference between success and failure.  Sales meetings are that important.

Training meetings can work wonders for the people attending.  After a snappy sales meeting in Akron, Ohio, a salesman remarked, “I learned more about selling in one hour than I had in the last year!” Another commented, “I always get ‘pumped up’ when I go to our sales training meeting. I’d be lost without them.”

Good sales meetings are profitable for all concerned.  However a sales meeting must actually be good for everyone to benefit.  If there’s reason to believe a sales meeting will not be successful, improve your plans … or don’t stage the meeting.

If there’s doubt about the need for a sales training meeting, establish the need … or don’t call the meeting.  A poor meeting is torture. Even a mediocre meeting is not acceptable.

An effective sales meeting is instructional and inspirational, both interesting and exciting. Everyone attending becomes a participant, at least in spirit. They accept and approve, nodding their heads in agreement with the speakers and demonstrations.

Sales Meeting = Increase In Sales

Your greatest benefit will be an increase in sales. While this increase cannot always be measured, it is the main reason for having a sales meeting and the natural result of good meeting.  You should expect an increase in sales. If necessary, you should insist upon it.

The Sales Manager of an Eastern concern stated, “We’ve tried ‘em all—contests, push periods, red-letter days—everything from Christmas bonuses to a founder’s day banquet. But the best way to stimulate sales is by meetings—regular and well planned sales meetings.”

A case in point: a chain system of variety stores had few meetings. “Most stores had monthly get-togethers,” a vice president reported. “And to be honest about it, those monthly meetings were sometimes skipped. But last year we insisted on weekly sales meetings—good weekly meetings. And sales increased 16 percent, apparently for that reason alone.”  Sales people need good sales training and whether you are planning a local sales meeting or a national sales meeting it is critical to plan well.

Review some of the other post on this blog to learn more about planning an effective sales meeting.

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How To Select A Subject For Brain Storming

Many subjects are suitable for creative thinking. Non-technical subjects are best. They give everyone a chance to contribute.

Ideal subjects:
“How can more store traffic be created?” “What should we name our customer magazine?” “How can our merchandise be promoted in the off-season?” “What are some new methods of finding prospects?” “What new uses can be suggested for the versatile salad mixer?”

Select a subject on which originality, fresh thinking, and new ideas are needed. Avoid the complex. Further, avoid policy discussion and policy making. Brain storming is creative thinking.

How To Conduct A Brain Storming Session

The group is seated around a conference table. The chairman explains the rules.
No negative thoughts may be expressed. Absolutely no evaluation of any contribution is permitted. Statements such as, “That’s ridiculous.” or, “That couldn’t possibly work.” are strictly taboo.

It’s also understood that a participant will not be held in prejudice because of the quality of his comments. Quantity of new thought is the objective – not quality.

Brain storming draws from the subconscious of each participant. Thoughts near the surface are rapidly contributed. Then the participants dig into the subconscious for new thoughts. They search their minds. The results are usually surprising!

There’s another angle worth mentioning. An absurd contribution often sparks comment that’s not so absurd. This may lead to an idea of still greater value.

Usually there are several people wanting to comment at the same time. Each raises a hand. He speaks only when recognized by the chairman.

None of the contributions are acknowledged. Thus comments are made in rapid succession. All stops are pulled. Imagination runs wild. It’s fun!

One idea may prompt another. The second idea, then, is called a “hitch hike.” A participant with a “hitch hike” snaps his fingers. He’s given priority over others with raised hands. This provides continuity of thought. It causes an idea to be more fully developed.

When ideas have been exhausted, the session is stopped. The recorders read their notes. Any other ideas are then added.

Sales Meeting

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Here is a brief overview of the committee process when working with multiple committees.

The general assembly is adjourned. The various committees then convene in separate meeting places.
Each committee appoints a chairman and a recorder. Their functions are exactly those implied by their titles.

Every member of each committee should be urged to give his thinking. Participation is vital.
At an appointed hour, the general assembly is reconvened. Committee chairmen read reports prepared by the recorders of their respective committees. These reports may be final. Or they may be preliminary reports, followed by more committee work.

After final reports are given, there should be a summary and evaluation in the general assembly. If appropriate, have copied summations distributed.

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A committee should be appointed for each significant sales problem. Sometimes a problem will have more than one phase, however. In this event, it may be best to appoint a committee to work on each phase of the problem.

For example, consider the problem, “What can be done to give better customer service?”

This might have two distinctly separate phases. One could involve treatment of the customer while he’s in your store. The other phase might have to do with service at the customer’s home or office.

For maximum effectiveness, committees should consist of four to seven people. Each member should have a knowledge of the problem. His occupation should be related to the matter. Where one is not acquainted with the situation, valuable time is lost in bringing him up to date. Even then his or her effectiveness is questionable.

You may have a few experts in the crowd. Spread them around. Use them as consultants.

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Instead, there had been a succession of speeches that superficially stabbed at a few festered places, not nearly reaching the core.

The next year they met again. This time they noticed that extra curricular conferences were quite profitable. As one bakery owner explained it, “After the meeting I spent an hour with four other fellows. They have the same problems as I do. I got more help from that one hour than I did from the two-day meeting.”

The group soon realized that long-winded speeches were ineffective. One baker said, “Let’s get to the crux of things. Let’s solve some of our problems together. We can help each other.”
Another chimed in, “Yes, and while some of us confer on one problem, a second group can discuss another matter. We might have several sections, each working on a separate problem.”

Thus a workshop was born.  More on that soon…

Sales Meeting

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To organize a workshop, plan a general assembly as your first event. At this assembly, the group decides which problems to tackle. Make suggestions. Guide when necessary. But create the impression that they’re making the decision.

Problems can be of a Positive Nature

Not all the problems must concern things that are wrong. Some may be of a positive nature. The following are positive rather than negative:

“What can dealers do to get more business via the telephone?”
“How can better use be made of direct mail?”
“How can customer service be improved?”
“What new promotions would be timely and profitable?”
“What additional items could be merchandised successfully?”

Most People Will Suggest Problems That Are Negative

But a natural tendency is to suggest problems of a negative nature. Here are a few:

“What can be done about the price cutting of our competitors?”
“How can breakage in transit be reduced?”
“How can travel costs of salespeople be lowered?”
“How can accidents be prevented?”
“What can be done about Smithfield Company’s complaint?”

Prior to the workshop, determine which problems are most pressing. Advance information can be quite helpful. For one thing, it indicates whether there’ll be too many negative problems.
There should be a healthy balance between the positive and negative. This produces better morale and a more effective workshop. You may find it advisable to prepare a few positive problems.
They can be thrown into the hopper to offset the usual barrage of negativism.

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2. Eliminate interruptions in advance. It’s folly for a dozen people to be idle while one person talks on the telephone. Don’t allow any members of the conference group to take calls during the meeting.

3. Have an open mind. If you don’t, why hold a conference?  If an employer is determined that things will be a certain way, there’s no need for a conference. Merely an announcement will serve the purpose.

4. Get them acquainted. Be sure all conference members have met each other. A friendly atmosphere relaxes everyone. Be sure to create it.

5. Try to analyze. Break down the problem so you won’t have more than the group can handle. Many subjects are too broad for an effective problem solving conference. Other problems may be beyond the scope of authority of the conference group. Always analyze the problem to determine if it is appropriate.

6. Stay alert. Quick thinking is a must. Day dreaming can cause the conference leader to be caught off guard.

7. Accept all contributions. The fellow who’s not permitted to throw in his 2 cents worth will be miffed. Perhaps his comment is unimportant to everyone else. But it’s important to the person contributing it, so let him say a few words.

8. Keep on the track. Tangents are often interesting but seldom profitable. Virtually every conference will wander out into “right field” if permitted to do so. You, the leader, must keep the discussion aimed in the right direction.

9. Refrain from squelching anyone. It doesn’t pay! If someone gets out of line the others will take care of him.

10. Avoid sarcasm and ridicule. People don’t appreciate it. While it makes a guy feel superior to belittle one of his conference members, it’s nothing short of professional suicide.

11. Use tact. Many people wear their feelings on their sleeves.  It’s easy to offend a person when speaking to him in front of others. How you treat a conference member is important. But how he feels you’ve treated him is even more important.

12. Let them save face. When one conference member gets “crucified” by another, put in a good word for the loser. Help save at least part of his face.

13. Have a sense of humor. An occasional laugh improves the “climate.” So be ready to laugh, especially at yourself. “I have two or three jokes ready in advance,” said a Minneapolis con
ference leader. “I work them in when things start getting stale.”

14. Consider early departures. Certain participants may have special interests or qualifications. Make them feel free to leave after they are no longer involved.

15. Keep it moving. No one else is concerned about the progress of the conference. Be sure that you are. Even the brass should not be permitted to bog down the proceedings. You must keep it moving at all costs.

16. Subordinate your own opinion. Give your ideas. But consider them no more important than those of any other conference member. A Texarkana sales manager said, “Nothing is worse than a conference leader who places his opinion over that of others. He’s taking unfair advantage of his position.”

17. Remain in charge. Either you run the conference or others do. Don’t let it “get out of hand.”

18. Have only one speaker at a time. Side conversations are undesirable since those involved do not hear what is being said in the conference. A good way to stop a side conversation: “Can everyone hear what Mr. Jones is saying?”

19. Get distribution of discussion. Everyone should participate. One or two should not be permitted to hog the show.

20. Push for a solution. Little has been accomplished until the problem is solved. Ever seen a guided missile seek out its target? It’s relentless. A good conference leader is much the same way. He pursues his target, a solution, refusing to be thwarted en route.

Sales Meeting Ideas

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Example Letter
 
Mr. Jack Brighton
SellMore Stores, Inc.
Yourtown, U.S.A.

Attention: A small fortune in one day! Seems impossible, but is it?

Interest: Many dealers, like yourself, handle our merchandise. You’re doing a terrific job, too. But some of you expressed a desire to do even better. You suggested a sales meeting. You felt that more product information was needed. You also asked for tips on selling this particular line.

Desire:    You can have exactly what you want. We’ll give you an all-day meeting chock-full of money making ideas. There’ll be exhibits, displays, demonstrations, prizes, and surprises. You’ll love it! Your sales will zoom up¬wards because of this fabulous meeting!

Action: We’ll convene from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6th, at the Jefferson Hotel. Please be our guest for lunch that day. And if you care to bring an assistant, that’s fine. Two tickets are enclosed.

No reply is expected. Just be there!

Cordially,

Richard Kendall
President

Sales Meeting Ideas

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