sales experience

Sep 06
0

Interns: The Most Ambitious Entrepreneurs

By | The Dardis difference | No Comments

Our 2013 Classroom to Career internship program has come to a close, leaving us at Dardis more impressed than ever by these talented individuals.  Looking back on this past summer, we witnessed our interns progress from our Dardis Academy training program right to potential buyers’ homes and office buildings, making sales and learning valuable lessons along the way.  They persevered through our rigorous program, even though many of them didn’t even have any prior sales experience!

Congratulations to all of our interns, who we know will enter the working world post-college with unmatched work experience.  We would especially like to honor our top three selling interns, Patrick Gibbs, Elliot Salter and Justin Blackburn.  In last week’s blog post, Patrick described the many benefits of his Dardis internship, and Justin Blackburn echoed his responses.

“You learn a lot of very useful things that you will be able to use down the road in your career,” Justin said.  “It will also look very good on a resume and is a great experience for anyone going into the business world.”

He cited his sale of 42 polos to the athletic director at his high school as his most successful moment, which we previously highlighted on this blog.

Another top seller, Elliot Salter, recalled a sale that he never expected.  He drove two hours to meet with a client and ask for tips solely on his sales pitch, but the meeting led to a large sale late in the summer.

“This summer internship was a terrific opportunity to not only make money and show my employers what I can achieve, but I was able to prove to myself that with hard work and organization, I can really be successful in what I put my effort into,” Elliot said.

A 2013 LinkedIn intern contributed an insightful post to the company’s blog in early August calling interns promising entrepreneurs, diligently working to get people to invest in their careers.  We agree that interns have the unique opportunity to not only receive important professional experiences but also make connections that can make a difference in their future careers.

So how can interns be successful entrepreneurs?  Take this advice from LinkedIn intern Courtney Sanford:

  1. Be innovative:  Take advantage of what makes you unique and don’t try to fill the same roles as your full-time co-workers.
  2. Build a brand:  Social networks provide a great opportunity to build your personal brand, and great entrepreneurs know the importance of managing their online identity.
  3. Impact your company:  Regardless of the size of your company, make sure you add value and are able to make an impact with your projects.
  4. Adapt:  Use your internship as an opportunity to learn new skills and test out your knowledge.
  5. Be a serial entrepreneur:  I can’t emphasize enough how valuable it is to have multiple
    internships that give you varied experiences, perspectives, and skills.

At Dardis Academy, we recognize the importance of real work experience and meaningful internships.  There are numerous student benefits for our Classroom to Career internship program, so as we ramp up for our 2014 program, please consider recommending Dardis Academy to a young entrepreneur in your life.

Photo credit: http://www.zazoomvideo.com/

Aug 30
0

A Successful Summer for Patrick Gibbs

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

Our top sales leader for the 2013 Classroom to Career summer internship program, Patrick Gibbs, took a break from selling to share his perspective on his Dardis experience.  With sales totaling nearly $16,000 and priceless hours of on-the-job experience, it’s clear that Patrick had a successful summer.

How would you describe your Dardis Classroom to Career internship program experience in one word?
I think my summer is actually best described in two words – challenging and rewarding.  The summer was not easy, as every day was a new challenge, whether it was unexpected rejection or just finding the motivation to keep calling and stopping in places.

Overcoming these challenges was, by far, the most rewarding feeling that I’ve had.  Seeing that I was able to address obstacles and overcome them for both personal and financial reward left me feeling accomplished at the end of every day.

What was your most memorable sale of the summer?
For my last sale in June, I had to drive an hour and a half to Iowa City.  Two appointments had cancelled, and I was making the trip for one potential client.  The week had been long, and my sales were far lower than I wanted for that week.  I thought about rescheduling, but decided the morning of that I had made a commitment and would follow through.  The client asked if I would mind if his business partner also sat in, which I was more than happy to accommodate.  After the consultation, I determined that their needs together added up to the Elite Package.

I proposed that they take advantage of that package pricing and split it with just a few modifications.  They accepted, and I was the first person in the history of the company to sell our largest package option.  Needless to say, selling $4,257 worth of merchandise in one sitting was more than worth that trip!  This meant more to me than just a big sale because it reminded me to keep my head up when times got challenging and that hard work will always pay off in the end!

Would you recommend this internship program to your peers?
I would recommend this program to any of my peers.  No matter what your major is or where you want to end up in life, this internship will make you better prepared.  I had always considered myself a salesman by nature and very personable, and I was amazed at how much my interpersonal communication ability grew from the Dardis Academy and then practicing Greg Dardis’ training in the field.  The skills that you learn in the Dardis Classroom to Career internship program will prove to be what sets you apart from the rest of the pack in any career or lifestyle!

Regarding the Academy,  I was not looking forward to 40 hours of training, and I had not been a fan of any professional training that I had gotten before.  I expected to be bored and learn redundant information, but Greg and his entire team captivated me the entire time.  I can easily say that I learned more applicable skills in the Academy than three years of college.  This was an amazing opportunity, and I am so thankful that I gave this program a try.  I know that I learned skills that I will use for my entire life!

Congratulations, Patrick, on your successful summer!

Jun 21
0

Introducing Student Manager Hilary Sweet

By | Someone you should know | No Comments

The Dardis Clothiers interns began selling earlier this month under the guidance of the skilled Dardis Clothiers Student Managers. These Student Managers oversee a group of interns, providing industry-leading expertise and additional networking experience.

Hilary Sweet, 33, joined the Dardis family this year as a Student Manager with 10 years of sales experience and six years of retail experience under her belt.  This Iowa State graduate from Alburnett, Iowa is looking forward to helping others learn the business skills she has gained over the years, while also growing in her own career at a large insurance agency.

What do you most look forward to with your role as a student manager?
I look forward to a new challenge and the opportunity to learn just as much from my students as they will learn from me.

What advice will you give to the new Dardis student interns?
When you go out into the field to use the skills that you have learned from the Academy, you should not be discouraged when it comes to selling. You are always going to have the people that tell you “no,” but it’s the ones that tell you “yes” that will make all of those rejections null and void.

What are you first impressions about Dardis as a company?
I think Dardis Communications is a great company. I believe that every college and high school student needs to experience the Dardis Sales Academy before going out into the work force. I believe it’s going to teach the students to interact better and to give them the soft skills that they need to succeed.

What can clients expect by interacting with Dardis’ student interns?
Clients can expect a great set of students that are applying in the field what they have learned in the Academy. It’s a great way for the students to interact within the business world by earning college credits and overcoming any obstacles they may face.

Contact Dardis today to learn more. Contact Us