Quote:
Originally Posted by RUsure
. . .
Obviously, Sales brings in the paying (hopefully) jobs, and the Prepress folks do not (hopefully) have to deal extensively with clients. But, a little cross-pollination of skills & understanding between Sales & Production is necessary, because Sales (& print buyers) - you know you want to be the hero in the suit that "got the job done in no time". Not the dreary solver of problems, with the Golden Gate Bridge stretching before you, in need of paint (again) . . .
|
My take is the cross pollination is a non starter. The skill sets, personalities and personal motivation of sales people are completely different from those of really great production people - either pre-press, presswork and finishing.
I think a much more reasonable approach is to recognize, upgrade and more highly reward CSR's. The only example I personally know of this is printingforless.com. The CSR sits at a computer most of the day. Answer emails in real time. Has a great relationship with production. Has a trusted relationship with the customer.
Some of them will come up from production, others will come up from sales. Getting production people to do CSR or sales people to do production is a waste of time and resources or it is an unfair system that forces people to do what they have not be trained for. My own opinion is that CSR's should get a piece of the action.
I'm betting that some salespeople - maybe not the majority, maybe just newbies would be willing to share some of their commission for a highly skilled and incented CSR. ( if anyone knows anyone who is doing this, please post. I don't.)
