| "Every company needs a sales team, right?" Let's call it what it is: it's a 1-person company that sells a $75 item. I understand how you might think you need a salesperson but I don't think that's feasible yet. Put yourself in a salesperson-who-is-looking-for-work's shoes: * Here's a company that sells a $75 niche/boutique item * They aren't offering a salary * You will probably make $15 per board sold (20% of gross) * You need $3000 per month to live and $6000 per month to thrive * That means you need to sell between 200 and 400 boards per month * They don't have any customer lists/base to offer you (which means you have to come up with your own customers) * Founder has no history managing sales team or doing sales * Founder isn't able to make a full-time living yet Would you do it? How about if you gave them a 50% commission? They still have a $3000 nut to contend with which means they'd have to sell 80 boards a month. Where are they going to sell 80 boards a month? Do you have any ideas for them? You have to sell them on being a salesperson for you - you need to have the vision first for the "How?" and then find people that buy into your vision. I think that most founders in your position are going to be the salesperson, the designer, the builder, the stocker, the mail room guy, the IT guy, the programmer, the financial person, the biz dev guy, the marketing guy, etc. Build up sales, build up stock, and learn how to do it all. Nobody said it was easy. |