South: Women are better sales people than men, says USB Trader

A majority of managers working in sales think their female staff are more effective, organised and trustworthy than their male colleagues. 

The survey conducted on behalf of a leading computer products company found that managers thought saleswomen were more likely to close a deal.

Figures published by USBTrader.com found that a large majority of buyers thought the same way, saying female sales professionals were more courteous, less pushy and far less likely to arrive late at a meeting.

"People tend to think the sales community is one dominated by men," said USBTrader.coms sales manager Alan Dhillon. "But in reality, it appears that female workers in the industry are more effective."

Of 150 sales managers asked which are the best sales people, 41% said women, 35% said men and 24% were undecided.

Managers questioned said that, on average, 41% of female sales staff hit their sales targets on a monthly basis consistently, compared to only 36% of men.

It was a 50/50 split on producing their admin and sales reports, with neither party excelling.

USB Trader spoke to 150 buyers: 58% said they thought female sales people were more trustworthy and reliable, 65% found men to be more pushy and 75% said that a male sales rep had cancelled or arrived late at a meeting, compared to only 51% of female sales professionals.

"These are not figures borne out in the media," said Dhillon. "Far be it for us to criticise somebody of Lord Sugar's stature, but only three out of eight winners of 'The Apprentice' have been women. It's still a male-dominated world.

"These figures look like a real bump to the egos of salesmen. Perhaps they should take a leaf out of the female colleagues' book and try a bit of subtlety and the softer sell."