Companies should stop concealing top salesmen at award shows: NASCO

SLIM President Upul Adikari addressing the media during a press meet at Hilton Residence (JAIC) on Monday 30 May regarding National Sales Congress (NASCO) 2016 Gala Award Ceremony, which will be held on 27 August at Water’s Edge in Colombo. At head table: SLIM Vice President of Events Pradeep Edward, NASCO 2016 Head of Panel of Judges Niel Samarasinghe, Adviser to Panel of Judges Nandana Wickramage and NASCO 2016 Project Chairman Ranga Parera – Pic by Gitika Talukdar

By Shehana Dain

Kicking off the judging process for the 16th instalment of the National Sales Congress on Monday it was observed that companies should pave way for top salesmen to shine at award shows without obstruction.

Noting that corporate heads fear that their top salesmen would get head hunted if entries were submitted to the NASCO awards, Advisor to the panel of judges Nandana Wickramage said: “Some companies think that if they send their best salesmen to award shows they will get picked up by other companies or by the judging panel. This is not true; we have always kept our ethics in line. You should not pin them down; you should expose them and encourage them at such award functions.” 

Wickramage who is also Ceylon Biscuit Ltd.’s Executive Director added that currently it was very difficult to find the right calibre of professionals in the sales field.

“There is no regard or respect for sales people today; everyone wants to join either the IT or marketing departments where there is glamour. Sales have become the job people do when they can’t find any other job. This attitude has to change and it has to be looked at as a starting point of a career. Sales is the only revenue department in a company and due credit should be given to these salesmen,” he added.

The award show which is Sri Lanka Marketing Institute’s (SLIM) premier event dedicated to the recognition of the efforts and performance of sales personnel is scheduled on27 August at the Water’s Edge. NASCO also enables companies to identify their top sales performers and aid individuals in achieving the next level in their careers.

The awards are presented in 15 diverse business sectors and under each business sector territorial managers, sales executives/supervisors and front liners are recognised. The periods of review for entries are 31 December 2015 and 31 March 2016. In addition to gold, silver and bronze awards, the best female is also recognised under each category. Organisations can nominate up to two persons under territorial managers sector, four under sales executive/supervisor and seven under front liners.

Entries are now open and will be closed on 30 June. Limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships duly registered and carrying on business in 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 clothing, healthcare, modern retail, travel and leisure, insurance, alcohol and tobacco and corporate selling.

Pix by Gitika Thalukdar