Success Stories

Last summer was my first attempt at summer sales. My brother-in-law told me to check it out. At first it seemed like kind of a risky industry, but I just decided to bite the bullet, go for it, and work really hard since I was so strapped for cash. It worked out great and I made 35K during those 4 summer months. I think my success came from staying positive, having fun with the customers, and always trying to out-sell our team leader. Selling with friends really helped keep me motivated and working hard.

Through summer sales, I developed a lot of people skills and learned how to communicate better with strangers. This will definitely help me build strong relationships in the business world.
This summer I am a manager over a small team. My goal is to make 50K. I honestly feel that the things I do, anybody can do. There is nothing to it besides a positive attitude and a desire to work.

I think people should put their bias of summer sales aside and really check it out. Some companies are sketchy, but there are still a lot of good ones out there where you can be VERY successful. Yeah, it’s hard, but working construction making 10 bucks an hour is hard too, and probably even worse. Even if you are the WORST salesman ever, you will make more through sales than any other job you could find over the summer.

Last summer I did summer sales for the first time. Some friends I knew had done it so I thought I'll just give it a try. I didn't know if it was going to work or not. I made over 30K. The keys to my success were practicing responses to customers doubts and hard work. It was important to set goals and be self-motivated. I can now sell myself in anything and I am confident. My biggest challenge was leaving my friends behind, but I was able to look to the future and know that I wouldn't have to work during the school year. Now I will be able to invest in a condo in the fall.

I wanted to sell because of the potential to make a lot of money and not have to work during the school year. And to pay off some of my other debts (ie; school loans, car, etc...) Learning from the leaders who are training our office and working/practicing in the pre-season was so important. My persistence has been important because you have to get past a lot of rejection before you have success. My goals for the summer include earning enough money to pay for my school year obligations, learning to be a more effective salesman and of course to have fun. In dollars I'd like to make double what I made with my school job (also sales at RC Willey) and to do it in a quarter of the time. I'd also like to do well enough to be an assistant manager and maybe a manager for my own office in the future.

My summer sales experience was definitely a learning one. I probably picked one of the more difficult times in life to jump into security system sales, in that my wife was 8 months pregnant and I left a very stable full-time job in the hopes of making enough to put me through my last year of school without having to work. Everything happened for a reason, but if you put me in that same situation again knowing what I know now, I wouldn't do it again the same way.

I was a fairly successful first-year salesman, especially considering the office environment I was in. Our office started out with just over 20 reps, and within 1.5 months there were only 5 of us left. It wasn't the company's fault, nor was it the product/service's fault that things went to pot. As is often the case in summer sales companies, a decent 3rd year rep was made the new office manager, and he really didn't have the leadership skills to show us the ropes. His product knowledge was dated and he was easily distracted.

Anyway, my advice to anyone looking at doing summer sales for the first time is 1) join a reputable company, 2) don't just trust that because your friends have been successful that you automatically will, 3) find out as much about your office manager as possible and their success history, and 4) be prepared to work harder than you've ever worked in your life. Sales is not easy, and it's even more difficult to be 100% truthful and legit in everything you say and do. The pressure of making a sale and doing the right thing often conflict.

Also remember that, no matter what company you work for or what you're selling, people are buying YOU as much or more than the product/service. If you're genuine, honest, and kind you'll realize a lot more success than if you would otherwise. Be yourself, but be your best self. You'll feel a lot better about your efforts in the long run if you do.

I have done summer sales for 4 summers and I keep coming back for more. It has been a great way for me to graduate from Utah State University debt free. While in school summer sales allowed me the opportunity to focus on school and other goals without constantly worrying about money. I never would have been able to study abroad if I didn't do summer sales.

I have recently graduated and while I thought I would put summer sales behind me after graduation. I think I will be going back for another summer.
Where else can you earn a years worth of money in 4 months?!?!