Thread Number: 23482
dyson salesperson? 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 262960   1/12/2014 at 00:19 (3,757 days old) by vacuumssuck213 ()        

I saw on the forum "new toy to play with. The mention of a Dyson demonstration is this Europes Kirby demo or is this a international thing? And how does a Dyson demo work its not like Kirby where there is multiple tools or a rainbow with its different method. In all the demos all I've heard of only 3 Vacs that I've heard of done demos Kirby rainbow and electrolux which I'm unsure if the still do in home demos?

Post# 262962 , Reply# 1   1/12/2014 at 02:22 (3,757 days old) by Adamthemieleman (North Yorkshire )        

Dyson hire demonstrators that work along side retail staff in stores.

Post# 262971 , Reply# 2   1/12/2014 at 07:13 (3,756 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

As well as paying the demonstrators to work in store (and I have it on good authority that they are very well paid), Dyson also pay the store for hosting the demonstrator. This is no inexpensive exercise and I really have to question the return-on-investment which Dyson gets from all which it is paying out.

Although staff can receive bonuses for selling the cleaners, their basic hourly rate is a lot hire than many jobs where no real experience is required. This is of course unlike a Kirby demonstrator who visits consumers in their home to earn a large commission from selling a very expensive cleaner.


Post# 262972 , Reply# 3   1/12/2014 at 07:14 (3,756 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

I said hire. Forgive me, please. I meant to write "higher".

Post# 263030 , Reply# 4   1/12/2014 at 16:06 (3,756 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

A friend of mine used to work as a Dyson demonstrator. They are paid at a very handsome hourly rate and are sent on regular training courses to make sure they are the experts in the current line of Dyson machines. For some reason £14 an hour comes to mind?

Basically what my mate used to do is linger by the vacuum displays with his Dyson's all set out and plugged in, and when a customer would walk by he would pour salt and powders and things all over the floor and then show how well the Dyson could suck it all up. He'd slander all the other brands and basically make out that the Dyson was the best thing since sliced bread.

He would show them how the tools worked, how easy they were to maintain, explaining about the filters and things and make sure the store staff were also up to date on all the new products and how they worked.

If a customer was buying a Dyson when the sales rep was in they should pretty much know how to set it up out of the box and how to maintain it before they've even got home and read the instructions.

He was also responsible for maintaining the Dyson display. He would clean out all the display machines that customers had tried and keep the Dyson display looking its best. If a dust bin had started to dull from use he would order a new one ect ect



Post# 263031 , Reply# 5   1/12/2014 at 16:25 (3,756 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

£10 per hour is what the job is advertised at countrywide, plus daily bonus of £25 if the demonstrator hits the target. As well as this, the target is very low and also -rather generously- does not exclude sales made by store staff, nor sales made to customers who had come in to buy a Dyson anyway. I know of someone who's daughter did the job for a short while. She worked in a Comet store and her job ended when Comet closed.

In a world where so very many vacuum cleaner-buying consumers are buying Dyson cleaners anyway, it is all very well Dyson paying so much money to both the demonstrator and to the store, but it is such a vast amount (consider how many demonstrators they have working across the UK each weekend) that I cannot start to calculate the additional Dyson sales each person would need to make in order for Dyson to break-even. The real benefit of a demonstrator would not be to work with the vacuum-buying consumer of course, rather to capture the attention of those who had come in to purchase other items. Now THAT would be true sales as a result of the demonstrator being in situ. However, the problem here is that a 3rd party trying to 'push' another item onto a consumer runs the risk of the store losing the sale of whatever it was the customer originally wanted. This is not a situation which a store would tolerate for long. To this end, I heard that some stores like John Lewis do not permit 3rd party staff to stand anywhere other than in front of their respective brands.

Post# 263120 , Reply# 6   1/13/2014 at 01:16 (3,756 days old) by spiraclean (UK)        

spiraclean's profile picture
Reminds me very much of the Apple concept, which I feel Dyson is trying to emulate somewhat. You have expensive objects of desire, very nicely presented on expensive display areas with top-notch POS and packaging. And then the company provides their own trained staff, with encyclopaedic knowledge of their own product, to walk you through the selection and purchase process with live demos. Only difference is that Dyson don't have their own retail stores (yet); placing uniformed demonstrators in established outlets is the next closest thing.

It's not a cheap way of doing business, but something tells me Dyson can easily afford it given the almost unlimited resources they seem to lavish on their R&D fetish. And the retail prices of Dyson products are higher than they have ever been, not to mention well above those of their biggest competitors.

Post# 263122 , Reply# 7   1/13/2014 at 03:07 (3,756 days old) by Adamthemieleman (North Yorkshire )        

Thing is, our demonstrator only works weekends, so I basically take over his job as well as my own during the week day.

I agree, he makes sure it's clean and tidy, which I do to, as it's my area.

Post# 263126 , Reply# 8   1/13/2014 at 03:42 (3,756 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Spiraclean, you nailed it when you said "something tells me Dyson can easily afford it given the almost unlimited resources they seem to lavish on their R&D fetish". The point is, without demonstrators, they could reduce the retail prices or increase profits. They choose instead to pump it into employing demonstrators. Now, I am all for giving people jobs, of course I am, but having been in business myself, profits are my first and final thought in anything.

Adam, you are the perfect gentleman to ask, how many more sales of Dyson cleaners is your store making solely as a result of the demonstrator being in-store at the weekends? From what I know, it would be very hard to ascertain a figure, and assuming as a store you don't know, I cannot see how Dyson would know. Not only this, not all customers who the demonstrator meets will make a purchase that day; some will return in the week or buy from other outlets. That again is a figure which cannot be measured. Also, do you ever get Dyson and other vacuum demonstrators in-store on the same day? If so, how does that go down?

Considering all the money Dyson spend in total, countrywide, each weekend, I am amazed that the demonstrators are given no budget to allow a customer a small cash-back incentive for purchasing "on the day", or, at the very least, a few freebies, such as optional tools, which must actually cost Dyson very little to make.

Their demonstrator program proves that almost anything is possible if one has that budget to do so, whether it "hits the spot" is another matter. If profits are of concern to Dyson, then I can see how this program works.



Post# 263150 , Reply# 9   1/13/2014 at 08:36 (3,755 days old) by Adamthemieleman (North Yorkshire )        

Well we measure it on stock reporting, so any sale can be tracked to a particular day and time, and also who sold it. He can print the section off for Dyson, and each day/week see the stock movements. That is down to his bonus. Although the only unfair thing about this is, he only works weekends, me and my colleagues have to manage during the week, sales which he wouldn't be responsible for


As for Dyson and another company, we will be soon getting a vax demonstrator, so I'm looking forward to see how that goes down!


Post# 263162 , Reply# 10   1/13/2014 at 10:07 (3,755 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN)        
demonstator in store

 At one time part of the system that that kept Hoover no 1 was a Hoover managed dept in a cities finest dept store.The stock was in a separate warehouse and there were in home demos.Anyone know more?-When Electrolux put Special Editions in Sams Club in 80s existing salesmen could work in vac dept as they felt they were losing their DTD sales.

Post# 263176 , Reply# 11   1/13/2014 at 12:22 (3,755 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
Unfair - not really.

 Adam, Dyson only pay bonus on sales made on the day the demonstrator is in-store. He or she will get nothing for any Dyson-related sales made outside of this time, so no matter what you or your co-workers sell, the rep has nothing to gain from it. If anything, you may well find yourself serving customers in the week who had already seen the demonstrator days or weeks earlier, but did not commit to a purchase on the day. This of course is to your advantage as a lot of the work has been done for you.

What I was meaning about sales statistics was not a list of what has actually been sold and when, but a detailed comparison as to what sales are made when a demonstrator is in store, and what sales are made on an identical day when they are not. This is the only way for Dyson to see if their system works. As a store, it would not in the interest of Currys to ask the question, because they are -in effect- being paid to host another member of staff. They will be quids-in.

Post# 263177 , Reply# 12   1/13/2014 at 12:30 (3,755 days old) by madabouthoovers ()        

That'll be fun - a Vax demo'er and Dyson demo'er in the same store - both employed to slag off the other brands. I can just imagine it, they will lie in wait - each trying to ambush the customers, and steal the sales away from each other. Another reason I wont be going in Currys.
Post# 263200 , Reply# 13   1/13/2014 at 16:34 (3,755 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Last time I was in or Currys store they had a Dyson demonstrator, a Vax demonstrator and some demonstrators from Samsung trying to demo the new Samsung machines. We're talking about a very large megastore here though so although all 3 demonstrators were in the same area they couldn't see each other so there was no squabbling over who's machine was best.

I've also seen Panasonic demonstrators in there before and they used to regularly have an AEG demonstrator in when the AEG Nimble was first brought out a few years ago.

The Vax demonstrator was the best. I'm friends with her too as it happens - invited to her wedding next month.

She had a large section of cream carpet that she would pour all sorts of things over - ketchup, soup, coke ect ect and would then demonstrate the Vax Dual V and wash it all clean again.

The Dyson and Vax demonstrators are trained specifically by Dyson and Vax.... The AEG rep was just some random bloke with an AEG badge who didn't have a clue about the product he was selling.

Post# 263204 , Reply# 14   1/13/2014 at 16:55 (3,755 days old) by uksausage (eastbourne east sussex UK)        
Vax years ago

I remember many years ago Vax demonstrating the 120 and 121 machines in dept stores and the electricity board ( ours was Seaboard ) they used to have 2 of the machines 1 set up for washing and the other for vacuuming. They would invite people to bring their own small pieces of carpets, mats and rugs to be cleaned by the demonstrator first vacuumed then washed. I used to nag my mum to take me to debenhams or seaboard to see the machine being demonstrated. Do any of you remember these demonstrators

Post# 263206 , Reply# 15   1/13/2014 at 17:08 (3,755 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
Yes

 I recall that well, Mr Sausage. Just as you say, two cleaner side-by-side, one wet and one dry. Now THIS is what demonstrations were all about; being located near a front door or a long queue of people waiting to see a cashier, and drawing in a crowd to see something which none of them had either seen or at least intended to buy before. The fact that Vax washed carpets tapped right into the mentality of those who had a perfectly good vacuum cleaner but could justify giving it away or at least keeping it "for upstairs vacuuming" as their new cleaner was more than a "just" a vacuum. The fact that Vax could wash was both it's selling point AND it's justification for buying it!


Post# 263214 , Reply# 16   1/13/2014 at 19:03 (3,755 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture

Lordy

 

It surprises me that Dyson need product demonstrators for all the added product bumpf they have in stores, anyway. The public already know about air watts and "goodbye to the bag," due to the soft, hushed tones of Victoria Wood in TV ad voice overs.

 

I must however support Apple staff. Whenever I've had a query with any one of my products they've made the experience cost effective rather than what Apple.com say. Free advice doesn't hurt and I find that unlike vacuum cleaner demonstrators, Apple staff don't push for an easy sale.
Post# 263254 , Reply# 17   1/14/2014 at 02:08 (3,755 days old) by parwaz786 ( )        

I was actually planning on working as a Dyson demonstrator when I am 16? This November I will turn 16

My school teacher was talking about sales and he put me off by saying " I have a friend who does sales, and if you break even 3 or 4 times, you are sacked!"

That put me off :O Please tell me this aint true
Post# 263261 , Reply# 18   1/14/2014 at 03:38 (3,755 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Your teacher does not know everything then. There are "sales" roles and there are "demonstrator" roles. A "sales" role is like that of a car salesman or double-glazing representative. They are paid to sell, nothing else. This is a sales role in every sense of the word.

The role of a demonstrator is to promote goods in-store, and whilst they are expected to sell a minimum quantity, it is not "sales". Staff are paid nowhere near as much money as a "sales" person like I described above, and the role they do usually has many aspects to it, such as housekeeping and so on & so forth.

If Dyson are still recruiting when you turn 16, then you should consider applying, although I have a feeling they don't employ under the age of 18 for this position.

Post# 263275 , Reply# 19   1/14/2014 at 05:12 (3,755 days old) by Adamthemieleman (North Yorkshire )        

I was thinking of perhaps doing it myself, but I'd like to join Dyson in design rather than product demonstrating.

Having the demonstrator is good for us in store, I already knew enough about Dyson anyway (being a fanatic and having a signed book from his truly) he is a good source to turn to for other colleagues who might need some advice on what makes Dyson different.

Ever since he started, we've been chucking flour and oats everywhere, with an added dose of cat hair.
Just this theatre alone helps to draw attention rather than just a still display.



Post# 263283 , Reply# 20   1/14/2014 at 05:43 (3,754 days old) by spiraclean (UK)        

spiraclean's profile picture
Demonstrators do not "slag off" each others' product if they know what is good for them. It is called brand bashing, and is frowned upon by other salespeople and customers alike. If you know your product well, believe in it 100% and are capable of doing your job, there is absolutely no need to tear down the competition.

With regard to commissions and bonuses payable, I don't know what the score is with Dyson, but some manufacturers do pay their demonstrators for every sale a store makes, regardless of who the salesperson actually was. It all depends on the agreement they have with the retailer. The manufacturers I worked for all allowed me to claim commission on other people's sales, doubling up if I sold the item myself. Perfectly fair, because often customers would come purely to browse, speak to me, and then return a week or two later and end up buying from a different staff member. Having a demonstrator on site also tends to raise the profile of the brand in store, thereby driving sales across the board.

Post# 263308 , Reply# 21   1/14/2014 at 11:27 (3,754 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture

Brands hate it if you brand bash as a demonstrator as you may be liable! In recent years a few brands have gone out of their way to hire people who just use the appliances and slap a "product tester" badge on people - that's really only when, as a consumer you can stand back and brand bash all you like - however it isn't very professional regardless. If you want people to hear you and to hear what you have to say, there's no need to brand bash.
Post# 263319 , Reply# 22   1/14/2014 at 14:52 (3,754 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        
Commison

 Spiraclean,

Today I contacted the daughter of the woman I know, this being the girl who demonstrated Dyson cleaners in Comet. This is what she told me:

The hourly rate was £10 per hour and she was employed to work two 6-hour shifts each weekend. She was able to earn a £25 daily bonus by exceeding her sales target, but it was a one-off payment per day, so regardless of if she sold one more cleaner than her target or ten more cleaners, the bonus was the same.

All sales of Dyson cleaners made on the day she was in-store counted towards her target. On a Saturday, her store was open for a number of hours before and after her shift finished, and any sales made by store staff in her absence counted too. However, as she said, although she might have finished her shift at 5:15pm, she was known to hang about to get that next sale if she was one short of her bonus.

On a Sunday, she worked the same 6 hours that the store traded, meaning it was only when at lunch that store staff would have really made the sales. But again, they all counted.

Sales arsing during the week from a customer she spoke to on a weekend and who did not commit to purchase there & then would not count towards her sales target. But she said the target was always very low (she said it was variable depending on what the predicted footfall was likely to be for that day) and could be as low as three but as high as ten, though mostly was around four.

They were also instructed to sell the accessories as much as possible, but received no incentive at all for doing so.


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