Industry Interview: Shawn Smit – Assistant Sales Manager

After a number of years in the service industry, Assistant Sales Manager, Shawn Smit, is a proud FMI employee. He shares part of his journey with us.

1. What did you do before you came to work at FMI?
    — I began my career path much the same as a lot of young people do - cocktail barman and waitron! I moved on to managing Mark Gold coffee shop and then took the post of Regional Manager for Vida e Caffe. During my time at Vida, I developed a desire to have my own business and went on to open a night club and restaurant. After two years, I took a one year sabbatical before joining the FMI family!
2. Why did you decide to join FMI?
    — After being my own boss, I decided I needed some structure and some corporate exposure. Through a mutual acquaintance, I heard of a vacancy at FMI. So I started doing my due diligence and I immediately related to the FMI values. It was an obvious match to my personality and I saw opportunity to grow with this company.
   
3. What do you enjoy most about working for FMI?
    — I love the culture and the dynamic personalities I work with. Every day, there is a new opportunity to make a difference and the company as a whole is very open to engaging each individual and their ideas.
   
4. Top Sales tip?
    — Knowledge is key. Know your audience, know your product, know your market and capitalise on them. Make sure that you build relationships with integrity and take a stand. If you want to be better than the rest, you have got to be willing to dig deeper than the rest!
   
5. Tell us a bit about your day as an Assistant Sales Manager?
    — My days generally consist of analysing sales across our distribution channels and using this information to guide our sales strategies. I help to carry the FMI message to the market by doing joint broker visits and bridging the gap between our Distribution arm and Marketing.
   
6. What is one thing about you that might surprise people?
    — I am terrible at time management.