PRT 3800
During my internship I had the opportunity to work with Garret Rose at Envision Sales. Envision Sales is a representative sales team that boasts a variety of brands. Some of their brands include Smith Optics, Skullcandy, Chums, and Bogs Footwear. Although I did get to touch briefly on all the brands, my main focal point was with Smith Optics. I learned a lot of useful skills and knowledge related to the business world throughout my internship. I also got my first touch of brand loyalty and brand maintenance. My goals for the small internship were as follows:
Develop an increased understanding of the top 5 duties required of a Smith sales rep by the end of my internship.
Throughout the duration of my internship I learned to understand how a brand is built and actively maintained on a daily basis, .
Develop an increased understanding of the top 5 duties required of a Smith sales rep by the end of my internship.
- Participate and engage in the Outdoor Retailer Show in January.
- Visit and work hand-in-hand with 5 different shops that carry Smith product.
Throughout the duration of my internship I learned to understand how a brand is built and actively maintained on a daily basis, .
- Participate in 2 brand-building events.
- Promote Smith loyalty within the 5 visitation accounts; promotion will be focused on floor level employees.
-Brief History of Smith Optics-
Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, Smith Optics, Inc. was founded in 1965 with the creation of the first-ever goggle featuring a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam. This invention would revolutionize the powder skiing experience and make Smith Optics a worldwide brand in the years to come. In the early days, founder Dr. Bob Smith, a dentist by trade, made goggles by hand using dental tools, foam and glue. Before he struck a deal for the manufacturing of Smith goggles in the late 60's, Smith built early prototypes with friends around the kitchen table and would often trade these creations for lift tickets while traveling to test the goggles out.
- www.Smithoptics.com Today Smith leads the pack and was the first to introduce seamless goggle to helmet integration, Airevac, silicone sealed lenses, and Aeorcore helmet venting technology. Smith takes pride in innovation and is constantly pushing boundaries in all aspects of the market, be it surfing, skiing, mountain biking or eyewear. Smith has strong roots embedded in Utah and has enormous amount of loyal customers and organizational partnerships. |
-Internship-
Overall my internship was very successful and helped me to broaden my understanding of the retail sales market. Not only did my internship help me to reach all my goals, but they were accomplished in an interactive and engaging way. Never did I find myself slaving over mindless "usual" intern tasks. One thing that stood out to me from the very beginning was dedication and drive that Garret had for the smith brand. Being a sales rep takes a lot of self perseverance, nobody is watching your back or making sure you're working a 9-5, a sales rep has the flexibility to make his own schedule but must create opportunity and results.
Im going to touch on a few of the main experiences that stood out to me during the duration of my internship, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Im going to touch on a few of the main experiences that stood out to me during the duration of my internship, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
-on snow Demo Day-Demo day is an annual event that is held at Snowbasin resort. This particular event is not open to the public, but rather focuses on the local retailers/buyers, providing them with a "sneak peak" of next years gear. It gives them the opportunity to try out upcoming product before finalizing orders for the upcoming year at Outdoor retailer show. This is also a great opportunity for Smith to show loyalty and appreciation to their long time customers through "gifts".
Although there is a lot of competition condensed into one area, Smith did a great job making themselves stand out (DJ set helped with that). It also helps that Smith is locally manufactured, and is close knit with many community members throughout the Wasatch front. |
-Smith "Ski with the Pros" day-Ski with the pros day took place at Alta resort. This program was designed to give the opportunity for people to engage and interact with the Smith pro team.
I had the responsibility of setting up the team pro tent, placing flyers in the surrounding area, and coordinating meeting times for the general public. It was a really good experience to grasp the concept of brand maintenance and brand building. These athletes put a lot of blood sweat and tears into building their own reputation and the brands that they represent. |
-outdoor Retailer Show-The Outdoor Retailer Show (OR) is the bread and butter of any rep, I learned quickly that reps work hard all year long for essentially five days at OR. It came to my attention that 80% of Smiths next years sales, takes place during those five short days at OR.
I was extremely lucky to get a behind the scenes look of deals getting made and the time, effort, and dedication. If you don't constantly maintain and build relationships all year long that one day of sitting down and placing an order may never come to be. |
-Overview-
Overall my internship was very satisfying. I gained experience that a classroom setting would be incapable of capturing and recreating. I saw first hand the responsibilities of maintaining and building a brand. I was also blown away of the responsibilities placed upon a sales rep. In order to be a successful sales rep you have to be very diversified and have skills in many aspects. Garret stressed the importance of answering your phone, and to constantly keep up on emails. Communication is crucial in the field of a sales rep; you essentially become the face of Smith. You are a walking talking billboard and contact point for an entire company.
One thing that I wish I would have done differently is to improve on my self motivation. I was new to the whole atmosphere of being a sales rep, I waited for Garret to tell me what to do, rather than pursuing opportunities on my own. I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone under one important guideline. You have to be self driven and self efficient, there is no instruction manual for being a rep, you have to adjust as you go and as you see fit.
One thing that I wish I would have done differently is to improve on my self motivation. I was new to the whole atmosphere of being a sales rep, I waited for Garret to tell me what to do, rather than pursuing opportunities on my own. I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone under one important guideline. You have to be self driven and self efficient, there is no instruction manual for being a rep, you have to adjust as you go and as you see fit.