1) How long have you been with ParsonsKellogg and what is your professional/educational background?
I joined the PK team in December 2015. I found ParsonsKellogg online while looking to move from New Jersey to Rhode Island to live with my girlfriend. My leap of faith could not have turned out any better than landing me at ParsonsKellogg. I graduated from Binghamton University in New York in 2014 with a degree in English and creative writing. After graduation I worked for a community supported agriculture farm and with an IT reseller in central New Jersey.
2) As an inside sales specialist, how do you build relationships with customers when you typically do not meet them face to face?
Most of the relationships already have been established by account managers. I view my role as maintaining those relationships. In order to maintain our relationships with our customers, we need to establish a reputation as responsive and attentive. Every day there will be new issues we need to address. If you?re cruising on a positive memory of success, you?re going to miss something that the customer needs from you. When you don?t meet face to face with your customers, the best thing you can do is pronounce your character in every interaction: reliable, responsive, attentive.
3) You speak to clients every day to find out what they are looking for. What are the popular trends in promotional apparel and accessories right now?
I think people are always excited to see what is new in the tech field. Tech seems to see the most rapid change in what?s out there. Customers are always looking for something new and interesting to get their brands on. In apparel, heather is in. So is athleisure.” A heather athleisure pullover you can wear on a run or at work ? that?s cool.
4) What do you think is the secret to providing excellent customer service?
Excellent customer service begins with organization and knowing and understanding a customer?s expectations. From there you have a foundation to execute the following steps: anticipating any needs/problems that may arise before the customer has contacted you; acknowledging a customer?s request so that they know you have a special interest in assisting them; updating a customer at every step so that they know you are actively working to help them; and following up at the end of a case to see if you can be of further assistance. In short the goal is to exceed a customer?s expectations of us.
5) Can you describe a highlight or surprising element of your work with ParsonsKellogg?
The PK team is great. They have a wealth of experience to offer and draw from. You can?t go wrong asking anyone for help because you know their answers are coming from a similar project they?ve worked on. I would say a highlight is feeling like a part of the ParsonsKellogg team to be able to help out someone on a project. It?s well understood we?re all in this together.
