Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Vocational/Christian Sales Principles

Christian Sales Principles
Vocational General Conference	Skill Level 2
Vocational General Conference	Year of Introduction: 2001

The Christian Sales Principles Honor is a component of the Technician Master Award .

Contents

1. Explain the responsibilities of a Christian salesperson as related to how they treat their customers and boss.

Christians strive to live according to the principles of the life of Christ and the Golden Rule.

When dealing with customers, a Christian is honest and forthright, not withholding information or misleading people simply to gain a sale. A Christian is not high pressure and will not try to intimidate people into purchasing a service or product from them. Rather, he is empathetic and understanding of the customer's concerns and needs. He knows his product and its benefits thoroughly and is able to answer questions competently and quickly in order to help his customer make the decision that will best serve him.

A Christian is courteous to his employer, and remembers that it is his place to serve. He will not cause strife in the work place and show angst toward his employer when talking with fellow employees or customers. A Christian will strive to put the best interest of the company at the forefront of his efforts by being professional and clean. He will discuss problems with the source and not spread rumors in the work place.

2. List the points in the steps of a sale.

3. Give a statement on how to meet objections.

4. How are the following points valuable to a salesperson?

a. Researching the market to see how an item or service will sell

b. Proper training and knowledge about the item or service to be sold

c. A visit to the plant or home office that produces the item or service

d. Follow-up visits with first-time customers

5. Using actual or hypothetical education and experience, write a resume which could be used in applying for a job.

You can start your research on writing a resume on Wikipedia.

6. Find out what education is most beneficial for a career in sales. What aspects of sales are available to a Christian salesperson?

7. Do one of the following

a. Help raise funds through sales of either services, merchandise, or tickets to a Pathfinder, AY Society, or school activity accounting for more than your proportionate share of the sales.

b. Earn money for yourself through the selling of merchandise or a service.

8. Make a practice sales presentation to your counselor, teacher, or parent on the above item that you are selling.

9. Interview a Christian salesperson and a Christian retailer regarding the following points

For the Salesperson: a. Is a lot of traveling involved in the profession of selling? b. What other ways does the job of a salesperson affect family life? c. How are sales people paid? d. What opportunities for advancement are there in sales? e. What does the future hold for a career in sales? f. How do you get customers? g. What do you like the most about your job? The least? h. Does being a Christian make a difference in the way you do your job?

For the Retailer: a. What type of education and training is helpful for a retail sales career? b. What advancement opportunities are available in retail sales? c. When you place an order, which do you rely on most, service of the sales person, price, market characteristics, or the quality of the product? d. What do you do when a customer complains about an error he thinks your store has made when he is actually the one at fault? e. Does being a Christian make a difference in the way you run your store? f. What do you like the most about your job? The least?