NASCO Awards 2015 on July 24
by Rohana Jayalal
The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) will hold its premier
event, the National Sales Congress (NASCO 2015), dedicated to sales
personnel, on July 24 at the Waters Edge, Battaramulla.
The event will recognise and reward the efforts and performance of
the sales personnel across the country. Entries close on June 11.
A press briefing in this connection was held at Hilton Residence
Colombo recently.
The NASCO awards will be presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of
Marketing for the 15th consecutive year in 15 diverse business sectors.
Territorial managers, sales executive, sales supervisors and front
liners are recognised under each business sector.
In addition to Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, the Best Female is
also recognised under each category. Organisations can nominate up to
two people under territorial managers for the sector, four under sales
executive sales supervisors, and seven under front liners.
NASCO 2015, Head of Judges, Stephan Paulraj said that the objectives
of NASCO are to raise the standard of sales professionalism, recognise
and reward the performance of sales professionals in Sri Lanka.
The organising committee is expecting at least 350 entries this year.
SLIM President Ruwan Liyanagamage said, "We have come to a juncture
where it has become difficult to find sales personnel and retain them.
This problem has become a major issue for the marketing fraternity."
"When it comes to finding sales people, it was more difficult to find
people who understood the subject and were able to carry out sales
duties," he said.
"As the national body of marketing we have a great responsibility on
our shoulders to ensure that we train sales personnel properly to be
competitive in the market.
NASCO 2015 is a great platform where we can work together to improve
the capacity of the sales force," Liyanagamage said.
"The awards recognises, motivates and nurtures the sales fraternity
by enhancing their learning curve in salesmanship. It also facilitates
cross industry sales learning, imparts greater exposure to sales
professionals, builds confidence and comprehensively develops leadership
and presentation skills," he said.
NASCO 2015 Advisor to Panel of Judges, Group Director, Ceylon
Biscuits Limited, Nandana Wickramage said, "The respect for sales
personnel was going down many years ago. When businesses kept on
growing, everyone wanted to find people at the lowest possible cost to
sell their products."
"The sales profession should be valued by the people. Some people say
that sales professionals sell products by lying.
That perception should be changed. Sales personnel are people who are
honest and could go up the ladder, and there is a period where a sale
representative can perform at his best," he said. |