As two of the select winners in this year's HKMA Distinguished Sales Person Award, Suki Cheung and Kelvin Lo, both account managers at UPS Hong Kong, represent the next wave of the city's top draw: its driven and indefatigable soldiers of commerce. They talk about their career highs and plans with Rex Aguado.
How did you start a career in sales?
Lo: To many, sales is a challenging job, but I decided to take it on and have never looked back since. I learned that I needed to understand my customers. That motivated me to read and research on various industries and that has kept me growing.
Cheung: My passion for sales began when I was in high school when I worked part time in fashion retail. I enjoyed interacting with customers. As a salesperson at UPS, I have learned various skills, such as handling disagreements, communicating with clients, selling and negotiating.
What were the initial challenges?
Cheung: Selling well during a boom is easy. The greatest challenge is selling during a recession. In 2009, during difficult times, I focused on maintaining a strong relationship with my customers and supporting them. That year, I was awarded the UPS World of Champions bronze award, which is given to the top sales employee of the year, globally.