“Boots on the Ground” and Advice from Shaun Vembutty
A Renovation Project faces a myriad of obstacles when approaching the precipice of a client signing the dotted line. Submitted competitor quotes could be an unknown threat surrounding the job-site like thieves in the night and the Sales Coordinator is made none the wiser until he is given the figure he must beat and the days (or hours) he has to beat it. This scrappy yet dignified salesman must maintain the cut and dry figure of a lower cost, higher value contract — a mantra that transcends all cultures, origins, languages and upbringings, while at the same time subtly reassuring the client of his loyal dedication to do right by the client’s bread and butter — a trustworthy and committed empathy he must exhibit towards the business his client has painstakingly built. He must be genuinely personable and relatable whether he is appealing to the Mom & Pop Bed & Breakfast or the Executive of Maintenance Operations of a major Flag Hotel.
“Meetings will definitely differ depending on if he is expected to sit down to discuss business over a meal with a devoted family man or hang with the best of them on a night out on the town with a with a successful, self-made bachelor. He needs to be ready to shoot the breeze with a “boots on the ground” contractor ready to talk shop or effectively communicate the quality of his contract over a competitor’s when he has limited wiggle room on margins,” says Shaun Vembutty, owner of Ashton Gray Development. These image-selling, marketing efforts seem exhausting when faced with the countless hours it takes to actually calculate material lists, schedule deliveries and coordinate Installations once the job has actually been secured and signed. As the “face” of the ongoing project, this Sales Coordinator is often expected to remain the sole point of contact for the customer, even as he is expected to be seeking new renovation clients.
Let it be known that many of these Sales Coordinators are women, but the clear majority are men, so when mentioned they will be collectively, in the spirit of efficiency be referred to as a “He”. Many Data Entry Project Specialists are men but the vast majority are women so when mentioned they will be collectively, in the spirit of efficiency, be referred to as “She”. A sound and comparable base pay for each party, that favors incentive through commission for the Sales Coordinator and punctuated bonuses for grand completions for the Project Specialist, helps to facilitate a working relationship whose synchronicity in collaboration and communication can rival that of many domestic marriages.
A smooth-running renovation that adheres to the customer’s budget and schedule is often the result of an established team of two between a patient and diligent Project Specialist (PS) who doesn’t mind working anonymously behind the scenes, and a determined and driven Sales Coordinator (SC) who is happy to appear as though he single-handedly has it all under control.
