HomeCase studies - Sales Growth Programme
The Sales Growth Programme is a business development programme aimed at supporting local businesses to increase their sales base.Artfrique
Set up in 1996, Artfrique is a creative arts company providing arts and dance tuition and creativity in education through the development of programmes. Artfrique is based in a dance studio in North Street, Belfast.
Owner of Artfrique, Cuthbert Arutura said: “The Sales Growth Programme came at exactly the right time for my business. This course was just great for me at this juncture!”
Cuthbert took part in the programme to improve his presentation and selling skills and enable him to professionally target new customers in the public sector.
“It is refreshing hearing from the professionals and knowing I can call on my mentor to assist me in areas that I have a blind spot. I feel I can tell them everything about my business and they will have a fresh approach and I felt empowered after attending the sales workshops.”
Eleven meetings were arranged for Artfrique with a range of organisations including local councils, schools, Council for the Curriculum Exams and Assessment and various art centres. As a result of the programme, Artfrique has already secured £11,000 worth of sales and potential for an additional £3,000 within the next three months.
“I have got in front of people I would never have imagined as part of this programme, not only have I got the chance to sell my services but I feel fully prepared and equipped with professional presentations and sales preparations.”
Flying Colours Image Consultancy
Flying Colours Image Consultancy was first established in 1988 by company director, Evelyn Burns.
Their core services are:
- provision of one-to-one personal consultations
- training for people who wish to become image consultants
- corporate workshops which are aimed at professionals and companies in need of assistance.
This has coincided with the participation on our Sales Growth Programme which Evelyn Burns has declared as “excellent timing…this programme has been a great help in developing my business at a key time for me.”
Evelyn also said: “The programme provided me with focus and structure, which is what I needed. The mentoring aspect allowed me to see where I should focus my efforts and how. This has given me more confidence in moving my business forward and putting me in front of potential clients.”
Various meetings were organised for Evelyn with potential customers, and the outcome of these was very positive.
The focus for the programme was on the corporate workshop side of the business and the company were able to introduce themselves and the work they do to local councils and other membership bodies.
Evelyn said: “These meetings were very productive and I hope to secure new and repeat business from them…the presentation skills work which was carried out with me prior to the meetings helped me to present my business in a professional and effective way.”
Through this programme, Flying Colours have been provided with a structured sales plan which will provide them with the direction they need over the next few years.
It has helped them to look at each aspect of the business and where the potential for sales growth is.
Evelyn concluded: “I would thoroughly recommend the programme to small businesses as the mentoring, workshops and prospecting are all great ways to meet potential customers and to sell our corporate services to them.”
More information
For further information please contact:Barry Rooney
Economic Development Officer
Telephone: 028 9050 0504
Email: rooneyb@belfastcity.gov.uk
