The Southwestern Company Difference Blog
I ran across a blog post at http://www.zickets.com/why-southwestern-won-a-direct-selling-award/ I wanted to share about how after over 150 years, Southwestern Company is not “stale and old,” but “is still fresh adding to their industry.”
The blogger drew this conclusion because of Southwestern Company being one of only four companies in the Direct Selling Association’s membership to be awarded the Century Award.
Further, the blogger differentiates between Southwestern Company and others who do not do such a great job working to keep neighborhoods safe. My own opinion as to why this is:
Southwestern Company CEO Henry Bedford accepts the Century Award from the Direct Selling Sssociation
1) Selection process of quality, sharp students – these students are accomplished and have done something in their lives to prove they are goal-oriented and coachable.
2) Parental endorsement – parents endorse their children into the Southwestern Company internship even though they are over 18. It is always the right decision to have the parents help the college students to know if this is something right for them.
3) Training, training, training – there is no other direct selling company I know of that has more training than Southwestern company – from on campus to Sales School to Sunday meetings and get-back meetings and all the other training through out the year.
4) Emotional training – the psychology of the sale and how to have a positive attitude among other things are just as important to the sale as any other parts of the “Cycle of Selling.”
5) Not entirely focused on sales – sales is means to an end. Other life skills are covered to help the students be well-rounded and diversified. Success traits found desirable by employers are also included in the training.
These five things (and there are others) are some of the things that make the Southwestern Company’s summer sales program stand out. There have been many that imitate, but they do not have the longevity because they are superficial on the outside. If you’re going to do it, do it right.
To read about Southwestern Company’s Century Award on the corporate blog, click here.
