PART V: Sales Proposal - GUIDELINES The purpose of the proposal is to provide students with the opportunity it demonstrate effective written communication skills plus, prepare students for the final role play, The Features/Benefits Presentation, Overcoming Objections & Close Role Play. This assignment is a 3-page report, if it is over 3 pages (4 with a cover page) there will be a 5-point deduction. This is an individual assignment, and students will use the SAME BUYER PROFILE and PRODUCT/SERVICE information that was used for the prior parts of the Sales Project. It will be submitted in Canvas. Sales Proposal Components: • Value Proposition • Features/Benefits Summary • Competitive Advantage • Business Proposal/Proposed Contract Value Proposition - 10 points Objective: identifies how the product will meet the needs of the Buyer and how. Short concise statement on how the product/service can help the prospect’s business. A value proposition is a clear, concise statement (usually 2-4 sentences) of the unique, tangible benefits a customer gains from using your product or service, along with the reason your product or service is superior to available alternatives. The more specific the value proposition, the better. One approach that can work well is to include in the first sentence: For (target customer) who (statement of the need or opportunity), the (product/service name) is a (product/service category) that (statement of benefit). Then the second sentence may include: Unlike (primary competitive alternative), our product or service (statement of primary differentiation). Example: For electronics industry manufacturers who annually experience over $40 billion in losses due to static discharge, the Poly-Tronic Conducive Plastic is a state-of-the-art material that completely and inexpensively eliminates damage from static electricity. Unlike currently used static discharge equipment, our product is an integral part of the electronic assembly that continually drains static charge from the product assembly. Strong value propositions outline the intended results, for example, increased revenue, faster time to market, decreased costs, improved operational efficiency, increased market share, decreased employee turnover, improved customer retention levels, higher inventory turnover, stronger productivity, expanded sales, improved retention rates. Features/Benefits Summary – 15 Points Objective: adequately identifies a unique product/service (Feature) of the product and how will help the Buyer’s business (Benefit) – CLEARLY SHOWS WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE CUSTOMER and HOW IT MEETS THEIR NEEDS. Students are to highlight 5 to 7 features of the products/services being sold AND make sure that the benefits meet the SPECIFIC NEEDS of the buyer. This should be outlined in column formatting so it’s easy to read. In this portion of the proposal students should list the key (most important) features of the product/service. For each feature, identify the benefit that the feature provides to the customer/prospect. The recommended format for this section is 2-columns. The left column having a list of key features and the right column showing corresponding benefits. Keep in mind that the benefits are the most crucial part of this. Also, remember that the benefits refer to those derived by your business for the customer. If a consumer product, is being sold, do not focus on consumer benefits. Instead, focus on the benefits that the reseller gains from buying and carrying the product/service. Competitive Advantage - 15 Points Objective: highlight why the product/service is a superior choice for the buyer rather than its competitors. What distinguishes the product/service/brand from that of competitors? In what ways do you, as a sales person, deliver superior customer value? In this section, students should demonstrate that they know enough about the product/service as well as that of the competition. Students should be able to objectively assess the advantages and disadvantages of their product/service from the perspective of the prospect/customer. While it is important to recognize where the product/service might be at a disadvantage and thus vulnerable, be able to pinpoint the product/service’s superiority in areas relating to the customer’s primary concerns and creating buying urge. Business Proposal/Proposed Contract - 10 points Objective: create a unique proposal of solutions. Provide more than one option, and the figures associated with it; clearly outlining what will it cost and what will it offer. Do the math, make it easy for the client to see what it will cost/save them, creating interest for making a buying decision. This is simply the deal that is being offered to the prospect. The product should be priced realistically based on information from the buyer profile and company information shared in PowerPoints and presentations regarding the product/service. Students should offer at least two buying options. The objective for the business proposal is to show the prospect the added value of your product/service in true financial terms. Note that for any product/service, you may not compete solely based on price!!
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