Cold Calling Corporate Offices

I’m just curious if you all have any idea what your closing rate is with getting set up as a vendor through Corporate Offices. I have run into a lot of businesses,especially chain restaurants, retail and such, where I need to contact corporate to be set up as a vendor. It’s difficult to even get the person you want on the phone, let alone get a call back. I’ve been following up regularly, but it seems that it’s nearly impossible to speak to a decision maker. Most of my success has been with companies where the local GM is the one who can say yes.

Is there a trick any of you use? It’s even difficult to get an email address. I KNOW there is business to be made doing this,just seems like they are hard to contact.

Patience, persistence, and pitch…

I have the persistence and pitch nailed down…guess I just have to work on the patience part! haha!

Persistence over comes Resistance

1 Like

If your not getting the call then your pitch isn’t working.

Once you actually get a store manager to contract you for work then your put on the vendor list.

It is tough with large chains, no one wants to spend money. I walked into a local Cherry Berry store spent $35.00 on ice cream and the windows where absolutely terrible, like close to a year dirty, corporate just doesn’t spend money.

The problem I have been running into is many Managers don’t have the authority to say yes. A good example is the Chain of Dollar Tree Stores…every store has windows that are disgusting…The Managers have zero authority. They want the work done but can’t say yes. Trying to get hold of corporate is almost impossible.

They do have the authority, they just dont want to spend the money.

1 Like

How so?

I have had a lot of stores, especially restaurants, where the manager is impressed, and would hire me right now. I can tell they want to. But it comes down to “The owner has to make that decision.”

Are you saying that they do have the authority, but they don’t want $50-$100 to account for at the end of the day to the owner? Most that I have run across that say this are the higher dollar amounts. On smaller businesses, you can usually get the owner. And since they are smaller, they often have a smaller facility with fewer windows, hence a lower price.

I was referring to the dollar tree that @whitehorse67 Mark was talking about…

Have you had experience with them? What is a good way to turn the objection around?..Seriously…every stores windows are nasty…However, the cleanliness of the insides of the stores isn’t exactly stellar!

Yes. I know a Manager (personally) of one location. [quote=“whitehorse67, post:10, topic:43085”]
every stores windows are nasty…However, the cleanliness of the insides of the stores isn’t exactly stellar!
[/quote]

Like I said they can approve it, but they rarely do! lol

So when I go in there, I point out how clean windows are inviting to customers, I explain the benefits of having a professional clean them vs employees taking time away from in store duties…I’m just curious if there is a particular pitch I can use that will sway them in any way…maybe its a lost cause and i should just move on?..I suspect like many retail businesses, the Managers bonus is based on that particular stores P&L for the month…which would explain the lack of employees working there during certain times of the week.

Bingo…We have a winner! :wink:

Chain stores can be very profitable if you find the ones that care about appearance.
(search them out)

Awesome…and for sure I have found plenty who care about appearance. Thanks for the input!..maybe when the two stores I approached see me cleaning their neighbors regularly…they will have a change of heart…but as you said…not likely! LOL…I have been getting a bunch of calls lately for residential too,so my focus is beginning to change…which is a good thing!

Stay focused on both sides of the business. Winter is less then 6mths away.

2 Likes

Thats good. That means you’re in a soft spot for window cleaners.

When new guys ask me how I built my base I tell them hard work, perserverance, and a hell of a lot of luck.

2 Likes

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

The trick to dealing with dollar stories is finding out when the big wigs are coming to do an inspection. The week prior to that they will spend the money. I think they have annual inspections, so don’t expect them to become a regular account. But they make for great before and after shots on websites.

1 Like