Selling Outside Your Culture Zone

Does your sales team lose sales because of cultural barriers?  Many American and Canadian sales professionals find it awkward to sell to buyers that were raised in unfamiliar cultures.  In today's diverse business world, managers are often assigned to locations outside their native land.  They have different expectations and values that may not conform to the familiar local business model.  Countless sales are lost because the salesperson is unaware of these cultural differences.  Sales training programs in North America stress techniques that may apply locally, but are quite distant and even distasteful to Asian or Latino buyers.  Common slang and non-verbal expressions are often misunderstood and deemed unfavorable by some foreign-born customers.  Humor can be risky business if one is unfamiliar with one's buyers' national and ethnic values.  Many a sales has been lost early-on because of the salesperson's lack of knowledge and sensitivity to religious beliefs and customs.  Most of the common cultural mistakes can be avoided if one is aware of the Culture Zone of one's customers.  Call GRA today to discuss how your sales team can overcome cultural obstacles and boost its sales volume.  910.617.1817