Few days ago, I was coming back home after running some errands and heard a little voice from across the street: “Would you like to come and see our shop?!”

Intrigued, I went over and found two young girls next to a makeshift stall. No, they weren’t selling lemonade but all sorts of craft they had created. After a quick glance I realised I didn’t need anything and was about to leave but the business coach in me made me stay a little longer.

We had a little chat while I took a second glance at their display, and they noticed my interest in a bunch of tiny bottles filled with glitter. By then I had decided I was going to get one, I just needed to pick a colour – didn’t really need glitter but you have to encourage these fantastic initiatives at a very young age…

After a few more words and a business lesson (no, a 50p item cannot be sold as a bundle of two for the same price as one i.e., 50p at the beginning of your sale day - save this for the end of the day when you want to get rid of your stock), I asked them why they were going through all that effort.

“Because it’s fun”, they replied. “We love selling!”

Going home delighted with my new purchase which I promised to keep on my desk to brighten my days when the lovely weather we are having right now is over, I reflected on what had happened.

These young girls had attracted me to their stall, and through a lovely effortless conversation had convinced me to purchase from them.

Did I feel cheated or harassed?

No.

At no point were they going for a hard sell.

We just had a conversation and they got me interested. I did the rest.

It got me thinking about all the business owners I meet who say they ‘hate selling’. They find it hard and unauthentic, but it does not have to be that way.

When I was working in corporate, I hated formal pitches. The ones where you are squeezed between two other competitors and have 30 mins (if you are lucky!) to present your credentials and win the prospect over.

THIS is hard!

And to be honest this is not how I got my best sales.

I got them through developing relationships, talking to people sometimes for several years before they would work with me, keeping front of mind but not in their face. By then they got to know me, and I got to know them well enough to know I wanted to work with them. And when my offer turned out to be a match to their needs, then I would make a sale.

Selling doesn’t have to be hard or unauthentic.

Selling happens one conversation at a time, with some of the conversations turning into a sale.

It’s as simple as that.

And it certainly does not require for you to turn into someone you don’t recognise.

If you’d like to work on this mindset shift and feel more comfortable selling for your business, get in touch to book a chat. We can talk about your challenges and how to overcome them.