NASCO 2015 looks for the best of the best

By Inshira Shainaz    

The Sri Lankan Institute of Marketing (SLIM) will hold its premier event dedicated to sales personnel, the National Sales Congress (NASCO) 2015, on 24 July at Waters Edge, Colombo. 

The NASCO awards are being presented for the 15th successive year and the awards are presented in 15 diverse business sectors. Under under each business sector territorial managers, sales executive, sales supervisors and front liners are recognised. This was announced on 19 May at a press briefing held at Hilton Residence Colombo.  

The period review of entries is the year ending 31 December 2014. In addition to Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, the Best Female is also recognised under each category. Organisation cans nominate up to two individuals under territorial managers for sector, four under sales executive sales supervisors, and seven under front liners. 

Speaking at the event SLIM President Ruwan Liyanagamage said: “I think we have come to a juncture where it has become difficult to find sales personnel as well as to retain them in the respective companies. This problem has become a major issue for the marketing fraternity in the country.”

When it comes to finding sales people, he said it was more difficult to find people who understood the subject and were capable of doing carrying out sales duties.

“As the national body of marketing we have a great responsibility on our shoulders to ensure that we train these sales personnel properly in order to be competitive in the market. NASCO 2015 is a great platform that we can work together to improve the capacity of the sales forces,” he added.

Entries are now open and will be closed on 11 June. Limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships duly registered and carrying on business Sri Lanka can submit their entries for the awards. 

The sectors for nominations are Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), financial services and banking, industrial, media, consumer durables, telecommunication, fashion and tobacco and corporate selling.

The awards aim to recognise, motivate and nurture the sales fraternity of the country by enhancing their learning curve in salesmanship. It also facilitates cross industry sales learning, imparts greater exposure to the country’s sales professionals, builds confidence among the wide spectrum of participants, and comprehensively develops the leadership and presentation skills of participants.  

NASCO 2015 Head of Judging Stephen Paulraj stated that the objective of NASCO 2015 was to raise the standard of sales professionalism in Sri Lanka, to recognise and reward the performance and the potential of sales professionals and to enhance the value proposition of the sales profession in Sri Lanka. 

“Today, the environment is completely different; how many opportunities are given to the sales people? It is unfortunate that sales personnel are not given sufficient opportunities to showcase their capabilities and talent. Thereby, it becomes SLIM’s responsibility to give due recognition to the fraternity by creating a platform like NASCO to come forward,” he added. 

SLIM, as the national body of marketing has been in the forefront in fostering marketing knowledge and best practises in the country, and SLIM NASCO is the only national event that recognises and rewards the sales personals covering a spectrum of business sectors. 

NASCO 2015 Advisor to Panel of Judges Nandana Wickramage said: “The profession of sales is valuable and should be valued by people. Everywhere you find people talking about sale profession telling they lie to sell products and that perception should be changed. All sales personnel are people with respect, honest and are people who could go up the ladder.”