Web
Analytics

Shop HMG Coatings – Supplying you with all your painting and decorating needs!
image/cache/catalog/Blogs/life on the road blog-1170x600.png

Life On the Road

I have worked for HMG coatings (south) ltd for well over a decade now. In the early years I would 
deliver paint, box up paint, order paint and spill paint - sometimes even watch paint dry. One 
day, things changed. 

My boss took me to one side and asked; “Dave, how would you feel about going out on the road 
selling?” My immediate response was “I don’t think I can do that.” I was asked to sleep on it. 
www.hmgcoatings.com 1HMG coatings (south) ltd 18 March 2021

That evening I sat on my sofa trying to imagine a scenario where I am a “salesman”. It takes a 
certain type of person to gain clients and sell product, right? I’m not that kind of person. Suit 
and tie? Clean shaven? Super confident? Driven by £££? I had convinced myself that these are 
the key ingredients to becoming a good salesman. Despite this, I decided I had nothing to lose 
and took the plunge.

On my first day, I was handed a list of potential clients and some business cards with my name 
on them (which felt awesome) and off I went. I had spent weeks studying our paint products and 
pricing - I was ready! I pulled up at my first potential customer not knowing what to expect. Will 
they welcome me with open arms? Will they politely decline my service? What if I am told to go 
away in front of all their staff? I am now sat in the car park, palms are sweaty, brains getting 
foggy. I have decided I am not up to this. I searched the car for some inspiration. The only thing 
available was my 6 year olds double disc “00s kids party anthems” as I sat there building up the 
courage to get out of the car, 5 guys came out to have a smoke. One came over and asked if he 
could help me. I awkwardly turned down Mr blobby so I could hear him better, explained who I 
was and left.

Needless to say, it didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but that didn’t matter. I managed to make it 
into the building without embarrassment on my second call that day. Managed to have a brief 
chat with a friendly receptionist who told me the person I need to speak to is “in a meeting” so 
left my card. Visits like this continued for a while, at times I felt deflated at the lack of results, 
even questioning my own ability. I would try special offers in emails, I would try to call the 
relevant person to gain an appointment. Even if I did gain an appointment I was rarely successful 
in the beginning.

All it took was one enquiry from one of these potential clients to change my perspective. I 
jumped at the opportunity to offer a solution to the problem they had. A paint job had gone 
horribly wrong on site and their usual supplier could not supply replacement paint in time. We 
were able to step in and resolve the issue in good time. We developed a close relationship as a 
result of this and now they phone regularly.

I started to build more relationships with clients and I soon realised that nobody wants a 
salesman pushing them to buy something. Nobody wants emails or phone calls pushing special 
offers every week. What people want is someone they can trust to offer a solution. A friendly 
face they can rely on to supply good products and service. 
That’s what we strive for at HMG coatings.
Feel free to add your experiences out on the road, or experiences you have had as consumers.