shoe sales
The Shoe Market
Vocabulary
| fierce | competitor | competition |
| market (2) | saturated | overseas |
| customers | decide | send |
| sales | country (2) | representative |
| director | take on | footwear |
| explore | decline (2) | assignment |
| anyone | someone | telemarketing |
| else | junior | senior |
| immediately | accept | without |
| hesitate | hesitation | depart |
| arrive | extensive | interview |
| potential | government | official |
| gather | data | relevant |
| after | before | complete |
| finish | report | send/sent |
| telegram | head | head office |
| trip (2) | waste (2) | local |
| wear | wonderful | opportunity |
Fierce Competition
Advantage Footwear and Nicholas Shoes were fierce competitors in the shoe business.
Since the shoe market in their country had become saturated, the companies looked overseas for new customers.
And so they each decided to send a sales representative to the country of Muganba to explore the market for shoes.
The Assignment
When the marketing director of Adventure Footwear asked one of its senior salesman if would like to take on the assignment, he immediately declined.
“Alright, I’ll ask someone else to go,” said the director…and you can do telemarketing. As you know, the person who goes will get promoted.”
“No, no! Don’t ask anyone else ….Okay…alright. I’ll go!” said the salesman.
When a junior salesman from Nicholas Shoes was asked, he accepted without hesitation.
In Muganba
And so the two salesmen arrived in Muganba.
There they made extensive market studies. They interviewed businessmen, potential customers and government officials. They gathered the relevant data.
The Results
After two weeks, both completed their reports and sent telegrams back to their head offices.
The salesman from Advantage Footwear wrote “Business trip wasted. There is no market for shoes here: locals don’t wear shoes.”
The salesman from Nicholas Shoe Company said in his telegram, “Wonderful trip. Market opportunities here are unlimited: No one wears shoes!”
Questions
1. Who are Advantage Footwear and Nicholas Shoes?
2. Describe the market conditions in their country. What did they decide to do?
3. Did the sales representative from both companies have the same attitude and outlook?
4. What happened in the end?
5. What will happen next? What will happen in the future?
6. What is possible explanation? Is there a moral or lesson in the story?
A. I often go on business trips. Yes or no?
B. Do you look forward to going on business trips? Do you like going on business trips?
C. Does your company prospect by telephone?
D. What are some potential markets for your products or services?
