141: Product Sales Process for Hardware Startups

Published: Sept. 14, 2022, 8 a.m.

b'Scott Brogan is the founder of Company Expert, a sales process consultancy that has worked with over 100 emerging brands. He has spent over 30 years in sales, including working for 7 Fortune500 companies in sales capacities.\\xa0Today Scott is going to share some valuable knowledge on how inventors, startups, and small manufacturers can start to build a process around identifying partner companies to sell to, preparing how to give your pitch, and how to improve your sales process over time to rinse and repeat.\\nToday you will hear us talk about:\\n\\nHow do you start selling a first product to\\xa0\\n\\nA system and a process for sales\\n\\nSales is solving problems for your end-customer\\n\\nLeveraged sales partner play\\n\\nStart with a goal\\n\\nFigure out who specifically you want to call, then how to position yourself to that buyer.\\n\\nWrite down your sales process and strategy\\n\\nCompetitors are, distribution, strengths, weaknesses, threats\\n\\nWho within a prospective buyer company should you be calling\\n\\nWhat are the buyer\\u2019s pain points and opportunities\\n\\n7 people are usually involved in a purchasing process\\n\\nThe multiple stages of competency in sales\\n\\nStart the sales process by learning at the beginning\\n\\nFeedback loop in sales.\\n\\nAlways write down objections that are asked, and how you respond.\\n\\nEnthusiasm is powerful and can help you overcome mistakes as a new seller\\n\\nHave the personal story of why you made this product ready\\n\\nBringing the science into sales.\\n\\nThe sales industry is not mature, there are lots of improvements you can capitalize on.\\n\\n\\nEPISODE LINKS\\nScott Brogan / Company Expert Links:\\n\\n\\nWebsite: https://companyexpert.com/\\n\\n\\n\\nTools: https://companyexpert.com/product-sales/\\n\\n\\n\\nLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottpbrogan/\\n\\n\\n\\nThe Product Startup Podcast Links:\\n\\n\\nWebsite: https://www.ProductStartup.com/\\n\\n\\n\\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProductStartup/\\n\\n\\n\\nLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ProductStartup/\\n\\n\\n\\nFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ProductStartup/\\n\\n\\n\\nFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductStartup/\\n\\n\\n\\nPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ProductStartup/\\n\\n\\n\\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/ProductStartup\\n\\n\\n\\nYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent\\n\\n\\n\\nMako Design Links:\\n\\n\\nWebsite: https://www.makodesign.com/\\n\\n\\n\\nYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent\\n\\n\\n\\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/MakoInvent/\\n\\n\\n\\nLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MakoDesign/\\n\\n\\n\\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakoInvent/\\n\\n\\n\\nPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MakoInvent/\\n\\n\\n\\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/MakoInvent/\\n\\n\\n\\nKevin Mako Links:\\n\\n\\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Entrepreneurs/\\n\\n\\n\\nLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KevMako/\\n\\n\\n\\nQuora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Mako\\n\\n\\n\\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevMakoPage/\\n\\n\\n\\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/KevMako/\\n\\n\\n\\nAbout: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry\\u2019s leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about Mako Design + Invent!'