Sheffield-based sales mentor Steve Knapp is the first to admit his industry is tarnished by more than a few negative stereotypes – and he’s keen to hear about the experiences of business people in our region for a forthcoming book.
He’s dedicating an entire chapter to naming and shaming some of the worst and most underhand sales techniques in a bid to help stamp them out and improve the image of the sector.
Steve Knapp said: “It’s sad to say that my industry does suffer some negative stereotypes and I’m the first to admit I’ve not been immune from them myself. Like many, I was on the wrong side of the ‘pressure selling’ techniques of a time share company a few years ago and we lost half a day of our holiday as a result!”
Steve Knapp’s forthcoming ‘FunnelVision – Sales Made Easy’ book lifts the lid on his celebrated selling techniques.
He started his sales career at the very bottom – selling Calor Gas cylinders door-to-door in the late 1980s – but advanced it to the very top with Shell Oil.
The sales handbook written by Steve Knapp for the multi-national still helps maintain the company as one of the world’s most recognised brands today.
He said: “The digital age has made the sales process far easier than ever – there really is no excuse for underhand methods”.
“My book is going to help people embrace and love sales. It’s not really anything we can do without – no sales means no business!
“But I’d like to use the book to try and re-dress the balance and help remove the negative connotations from the sector”.
Steve Knapp’s ‘Sales Mindset Coach’ company is now helping turn the business community of the Sheffield City Region into one of the best performing business sectors of its type in the UK.
Since his spring 2018 launch, he has now worked with over 1,000 business owners through his online Facebook Group; coached over 150 businesses and had scores more join his online Sales Mindset Coach platform.
Steve Knapp has also coached staff at the Chamber of Commerce and he’s a mentor with The Source.
He is also a member of the Association of Professional Sales and is a keen supporter of the lobby working towards a charter mark for the industry by 2020.
