Phase 1: Top 20 Sales Professionals Award
Description: Identifies 20 in-store sales professionals who best exemplify the characteristics of professionalism, service and expertise.
Qualification: Sales professional with a minimum 2 years of experience under a licensed business (company or sole proprietor). Sales must be their primary duty (minimum 75 percent) within the business (on the showroom floor), unless the business uses a single person to perform most duties.
Nomination Process: A salesperson may nominate himself / herself. The nominee must also have a person who will “second”* the nomination. This person must be unrelated to the individual and must also be an industry professional (working for an industry manufacturer, supplier, distributor, affiliate company, or a retail location, including the owner of the retail store where the salesperson works or a fellow employee. Customers and non-professional enthusiasts are not eligible.)
*The person providing “the second” must answer the following three questions:
- How long have you been in the industry?
- How long have you known the person?
- Why do you believe this person is qualified to be a nominee for Sales Pro of The Year?
Additional Nomination Process: We are introducing Blind nominations for the Sales Pro of the year award. The person submitting the blind nomination must be an industry professional (working for an industry manufacturer, supplier, distributor, affiliate company or retail location, including the owner of the retail store where the salesperson works or a fellow employee. Customers, non-professional enthusiast and family members are not eligible.) The person will need to answer the same 3 questions a “second” of a self-nomination would need to answer, listed below. We also ask that the person submitting the blind nomination commit to being on a call with an ME Industry Awards Committee Member, to inform the nominee and encourage their participation.
- How long has the person been in the industry?
- How long have you known the person?
- Why do you believe this person is qualified to be a nominee for Sales Pro of the year?
Video Submission: Applicants must create and submit a video with a maximum running time of 10 minutes. Nominations are uploaded to YouTube (public or private) and the links are sent to the magazine staff.
The video need not be professionally produced, however, please speak loud and clear, and answer questions in the order they are listed. Make sure to answer the following:
- Name, years of experience, number of years at current location.
- How did you get into the mobile electronics industry?
- Greatest challenge (personal or professional) you’ve overcome in the past year.
- How co-workers would describe you and how your performance influences team and store culture.
- Description of your sales technique or strategy.
- What you want customers to remember about their sales experience with you.
- People, lessons or experiences that positively influence your performance.
- Why should you be part of the Top 20 Sales Professionals.
Selection Process: Mobile Electronics staff and select judges will vote based on submitted materials to determine the Top 20 Sales Professionals.
Award Process: Winners are announced via Mobile Electronics magazine’s Hotwire newsletter, and listed in an upcoming issue of the magazine. Winners receive a signed certificate and press release via mail, as well as digital versions of each and logos for marketing.
Phase 2: Top 5 Sales Professionals Award
Description: Identifies five sales professionals who best exemplify the characteristics of professionalism, service and expertise.
Qualification: Must have been selected as one of the Top 20 Sales Professionals in the same year.
Nomination Process: Video submissions from the Top 20 Sales Professionals nominations are used as a basis for industry voting.
Selection Process: The five highest vote-getters are determined and announced after all votes are verified and counted (sharing your video with others is a plus).
Award Process: Winners are announced via Mobile Electronics magazine’s Hotwire newsletter, and listed in an upcoming issue of the magazine. Winners receive a signed certificate and press release via mail, as well as digital versions of each and logos for marketing.
Phase 3: Salesperson of the Year Award
Description: Recognizes one sales professional who best exemplifies the characteristics of professionalism, service and expertise, as voted by peers, staff and judges throughout the Industry Awards process.
Qualification: Must have been selected as one of the Top 5 Sales Professionals in the same year.
Nomination Process: Nominees are required to submit materials for judging, via video and survey. (This is a different video than the previously submitted one. You will be emailed your new video instructions and the time when it is due)
Selection Process: MEA staff and select judges will vote based on submitted materials to determine the Salesperson of the Year.
Award Process: The winner is announced at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. He / she receives an award and certificate, as well as a digital certificate and logos for marketing.