Sales team members earn top-20 finish at Sales Warm-up

Elon Sales Team members Sarah Chadwell ’18, Josh Ellsworth ’18 and Emily Freirich ’18 finished among the top 20 in the 2017 Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

During the Oct. 19-21 competition, students were scored on two 20-minute sales presentations, in which business professionals acted as buyers. Judges evaluated students on all aspects of the sales call, including approach, needs identification, presentation, overcoming objections, the closing and communication skills.

Chadwell, a marketing major from Clarendon Hill, Illinois, placed ninth overall, earning the School Champion Award for the best overall Elon score. Ellsworth, a finance major from Sterling, Massachusetts, and Freirich, a marketing major from Oradell, New Jersey, finished 12th and 18th, respectively. The Elon Sales Team had the third highest combined team score.

“The Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up gave me the opportunity to prepare for a real-life situation selling a category buyer a new product for their stores,” Freirich said. “I found my passion in promoting a product, building a case and applying data, but the experience was made unforgettable because of my invested professors, passionate peers and knowledgeable employers.”

The team was coached by Caroline McGranahan ’19, Erin Gillespie, assistant professor of marketing and director of the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center, and Nawar Chaker, assistant professor of marketing.

The annual competition brought together 60 students from 20 colleges and universities, including Baylor University, Florida State University, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University, Ohio University, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Students received presentation feedback from the judges, connected with recruiters at a career fair, and attended professional development workshops.

“Competing in the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up was fun, as well as a great professional experience,” Ellsworth said. “Sarah, Emily and I were all able to network and receive feedback on our sales skills.”