The Basic Business Skills: First 3 Guide Questions
Question 1: Have you ever taken any basic business courses?
Entrepreneurs may or may not have completed studies. Yet there are short courses available and even seminars, which may augment to the lack of skills.
Like in the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI), the franchisors are given the line-up of business seminars. Most of the programs are done in the dialogues conducted by the board of directors.
Question 2: Have you ever sold new products or services?
There is no doubt that being in business there is either a product or service or both which we render to the targeted market. As the business grows, there are people hired and tasked to do the selling. Entrepreneurs often take the back seat and just become an observer. One of the people I admired and gave me the inspiration was the opportunity of meeting and getting tips from no less than the founder of National Bookstore, Mrs.Socorro Ramos. During my employment years with a major pizza chain, my superior told us of the surplus of promotional items in the warehouse. In short we needed to find how we could dispose and turn into money those items. Selling in the pizza branches was the immediate answer. However I thought of approaching National Bookstore. On the day I called their head office in Rizal Avenue to seek for an appointment with Mrs. Ramos, I was surprised that she was the one who answered the phone. In fact she told me to come on that same day.
Reaching the bookstore, I went straight to her office. Her staff told me to go and see her at the selling area. There I found her wearing the same uniform as the other company people and she was attending to the needs of customers. Considering that National Bookstore was already a brand name and with a number of branches, she told me her day would no be complete if she did not have a chance to see and interact with her customers. Next time you drop by that bookstore, don’t be surprised to be entertained by her.
Question 3: Have you ever worked in a customer service?
This one area where I see the true-blooded entrepreneur. To be in the customer service area can be fun and at the same stressful. The entrepreneurs I know make it as routine to take the calls and even meet customers who complaint. They personally take action and attempt in winning back the customer. A review with management is then conducted to learn what are the areas which need attention.
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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.
By email: [email protected]
FB Page: Armando Bartolome
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franguru/
Website: https://www.gmb.ph
