There is a bigger smile than usual on James Fox’s face at the moment as Xpressions 4 U’s enthusiastic senior sales manager has been crowned Best Salesperson of the Year by the company, for the second year running.
In addition, last Wednesday (July 11) James’ long standing wish to go to The Retas was granted – and the event more than met his expectations, especially as one of his favourite customers, Something Special in Widnes, won the award for Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland.
“I am very proud of my own achievement,” James told PG Buzz, “but it was so great to be at The Retas and see Something Special in Widnes being rewarded at The Retas for all their hard work. It was a brilliant event.”
James, who has recently been promoted to senior sales manager for Xpressions 4 U, covers from Oxford up to Liverpool and across to mid Wales with everything in between as he is based in the West Midlands.
PG Buzz put James in the hot seat…
What would you say are the three vital ingredients of being a good sales person?
“1. Honesty
2. Trust
3. Strong work ethic. To work as hard as you possibly can!!”
How do you think the role of a salesman has changed over the years?
“The role is definitely more challenging than ever before due to various reasons, such as the rise of the internet and the growth of Card Factory which has definitely affected my retailers more now than ever.
However being a salesman is still the most rewarding job in the world, especially when you see product ranges that you have supplied to a retailer succeed and produce strong sales and more money in their till which is what it’s all about!!”
If you weren’t an award-winning salesman, and money was no object, what would you like to do as a job/life?
“I was a failed footballer in the past (everyone knows one!!) so I would have liked to have gone back in time and succeeded as a footballer and had a great career! I often wish I had made different decisions when I was playing at Swansea City FC, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!!”
How long have you been in this trade and how did you enter it?
“I have been with Xpressions for nearly six years now and before that was with Carte Blanche for nearly seven years. I found my way into the gift and card industry slightly by chance, but I have never looked back ever since and I love everything about the industry and especially the people I deal with…even if football was my first option!!”
