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Sales Geek launches in USA

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

Blackburn-based Sales Geek has launched into the USA with the opening of two state-wide master franchises. 

Having expanded to more than 30 offices across the UK since its launch in 2017, multi-award-winning Sales Geek is one of the country’s fastest-growing providers of business solutions and sales training, while its Sales Geek app also has users across the globe.

Now launching the brand in the USA, Joe Heikkinen and Gene McCabe have opened master franchises in Texas and Florida respectively.

Joe Heikkinen’s career in sales includes time in B2B, pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices. His roles in sales leadership began at AstraZeneca where he held a variety of director-level positions. He then moved into a VP of Sales role at Getinge Group in 2011, and most recently was the Senior Vice President (Head of Sales and Global Field Operations) at Stemline Therapeutics.

Joe is seeking to provide the benefits of his experience to organisations in Texas and build a network of further experts across the state.

Launching similarly in Florida, Gene McCabe moved from IT leadership into sales in 2007, as a multi-state account manager for Accredo Specialty Pharmacy, a division of Express Scripts, becoming Sales Director in 2014, then joining Cigna’s Evernorth group as Senior Director, Sales & Account Management in 2021, before launching Sales Geek.

On launching Sales Geek in Texas, Joe Heikkinen said: “Sales Geek’s growth in the UK shows that there is one thing all businesses want, and that is sales.

“Sales Geek meets that need by providing a unique part-time sales director service that enables businesses of all sizes to access -op level sales expertise, without the expense of taking on a full-time, salaried sales director of the same level.

“We also provide sales training for teams and individuals and I’m looking forward to working with businesses across Texas and growing the brand and organisation to help businesses throughout the state.”

On launching in Florida, Gene McCabe said: “I’m very proud and excited to help bring Sales Geek to the US. Sales Geek is on a mission to change the way the world perceives sales. We are committed not only to improving sales practice and helping clients smash their targets, but doing so in a way that remains mindful of maintaining good mental health for the people working within the profession.

“When people think of sales as a business role, they often think of high pressure, big stakes, and people on the edge of burnout.

“We firmly believe that’s not how it should be. Happy salespeople are better salespeople, and their clients and customers are happier too, so I’m really looking forward to spreading the word to growing businesses across Florida.”

Sales Geek founder and CEO Richard Few said: “As you can imagine, we’re unbelievably excited to be launching Sales Geek in the US and we couldn’t think of anyone we’d be happier to be doing that with than Joe and Gene.

“When they visited us in Blackburn, we had a fantastic time showing them exactly how we operate here in the UK, demonstrating our culture and we are looking forward to working with them to develop Sales Geek in their own territories in the US. The guys are going to smash it!”

For more information go to www.salesgeek.co.uk. 

Ethics and public relations: doing the right thing  

Posted on by Claire Stephenson

“Ethics can be viewed as a guide to ‘doing the right thing’, in the context of organisational and personal values, shifting societal norms and legal requirements.” 

Richard Bailey, FCIPR, MCIPR

“As PR professionals we are the ethics guardians of our organisations. We regularly face difficult ethical choices.”

Mark W. McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA 

PR and ethics 

How do we decide what is ethical? If ethics are ‘doing the right thing’ – by whose standards can we consider what is right? There are many interpretations of what can be considered ethical conduct. 

However, as public relations practitioners, we are bound by and abide by professional standards and a Code of Conduct. The two main PR bodies in the UK – the CIPR and the PRCA  – each have their own Code. The CIPR’s Code includes commitments to the “highest standards of professional endeavour, integrity, confidentiality, financial propriety and personal conduct,” along with dealing “honestly and fairly in business with employers, employees, clients, fellow professionals, other professions and the public.” 

This allows our clients to be assured that our work and practice is of the highest standards, with their best interest always at the forefront of everything that we do. 

Business and ethics 

But what of business ethics outside of public relations? 

The Institute of Business Ethics talks about ethical conduct in business as: 

“Business ethics is the application of ethical values to business behaviour. Business ethics is relevant both to the conduct of individuals and to the conduct of the organisation as a whole. It applies to any and all aspects of business conduct, from boardroom strategies and how companies treat their employees and suppliers to sales techniques and accounting practices.” 

The Institute of Business Ethics

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the business world has been transformed. For so many people, the global lockdowns brought business closures, resulting in furloughs, redundancies, bankruptcies, and hybrid working when businesses operated once more. 

Businesses and organisations have adapted – and continue to do so – to meet these rapidly changing times. Corporate responsibility is now strongly tasked with the wellbeing of Covid-weary employees, along with matching customers’ new expectations, post-pandemic, all the while continuing to acclimatise to these ‘new world’ challenges. 

Business and social responsibility 

Placing ethics and integrity in the heart of business practice, we can also look to a picture of outward social responsibility – environmental, social and governance (ESG) are important, and with the climate crisis rapidly becoming a global conversation that requires urgent action. Consumers are looking to brands for socially responsible leadership that are both sustainable and environmentally sound in practice and investments. As Sphera said: 

“Companies with strong ESG performance have demonstrated higher returns on their investments, lower risks and better resiliency during a crisis.” 

Sphera.com

If your business would benefit from support or advice on how to integrate your ethical values into your communications strategy, please message us via the contact form here or call us on 0845 625 0820 for an informal chat.