Field sales executive, Tracey Wood at Trader Media Group, one of Europe’s largest specialist multi media groups, has scooped top honours by winning the flagship Award of The Huthwaite International Sales Professional of the Year – the second time that a Trader Media Group employee has won the top award.
In addition, Tracey was also the recipient of the Sales Professional of the Year – General category, sponsored by Technology for Marketing & Advertising at this year’s National Sales Awards. The Award was presented before more than 1,200 sales professionals and VIPS at a prestigious gala ceremony, hosted by the BBC’s Kate Silverton at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 15 February 2007.
Now in its 10th successful year, the coveted National Sales Awards 2007, which is sponsored by Huthwaite International, honours the country’s top performing sales individuals and teams. Providing a platform to recognise the very best in the professional sales industry, the Awards promote excellence, best practice and innovation in selling, serving as a benchmark by which many UK organisations measure themselves.
Joining Trader Media Group sixteen years ago, Tracey moved into sales and has not missed a monthly target for five years. Last year, she achieved the highest growth in the company, despite having challenging targets. She calls on the motor trade, from large sophisticated dealerships to one-man car lots, selling internet advertising.
Tracey comments: “I am very honoured to collect these awards. Trader Media Group has allowed me to grow and develop my sales skills through great training and support over the years. For me, it is a great personal achievement, and highlights the level of customer service and account management that our customers receive, and I am truly humbled to be rewarded with such significant awards.”
Paul Shoesmith, Commercial Director at Trader Media Group comments: “We are very proud of Tracey for collecting these prestigious awards and are pleased that all of her hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. This is the second year running that Trader Media Group staff has won awards, and in the National Sales Awards’ ten year history, no other company has won the top prize twice. We are committed to developing our staff and providing an excellent workplace. We hope that in future, more of our sales staff will follow in Tracey’s footsteps!”
Tony Hughes, CEO of Huthwaite International remarked: “We are delighted that Tracey Wood has received the 2007 Huthwaite International Sales Professional of the Year Award. In an exceptionally strong field, she showed best of all, a constant desire to achieve excellence in selling. In particular, Tracey has clearly perfected the important art of asking questions and listening – as part of a consultative sales approach in which identifying and agreeing the customer’s real needs is recognised as key to finding the right solution.”
Simon Mills, Event Director of Technology for Marketing & Advertising remarked: “All of this year’s finalists were of the highest standard, but there can be only one winner, so our congratulations go to Tracey – this year’s highly deserving winner. Understanding her client needs, her client management skills, problem solving ability, business acumen and negotiation skills are of the highest level and were all key factors in the judges’ decision.”
Trader Media Group, a division of the Guardian Media Group, employs over 3,000 people across 40 locations in the UK, Ireland, Holland, Italy and South Africa. The Group is looking to expand on its winning formula - further developing its online and print offering to provide a one-stop-shop for all vehicle owners across all effective channels to market; building the services and relationships with dealers, manufacturers and consumers; and strengthening its portfolio of automotive and specialist classified titles.
For further information please visit www.nationalsalesawards.com, or email info@nationalsalesawards.com.
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For further information, please contact:
Karen Hughes/Caroline Burnell
The Drum Consultancy
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Note to Editors:
• Trader Media Group publishes market leading niche titles such as Auto Trader, Top Marques, Bike Trader, Truck & Plant Trader, Ad Trader, Motorhome and Caravan Trader, Boats and Yachts for Sale, Boat Trader, Farmers Trader, Auto Freeway, TNT magazine – all leading their sectors with magazine readership and web visitors.
• AutoTrader.co.uk has been voted amongst the top 10 most trusted online brands, reliable websites and best websites to visit* according to The eSuperbrands Council – experts in marketing, managing, creating or reviewing Internet brands. (*Source: eSuperbrands 2006)
• With 13 regional Auto Trader magazines across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the brand is building a competitive position across all effective channels including print, the web and WAP. Auto Trader provides buyers and sellers including dealer groups and motor manufacturers with an integrated offering including mobile (Orange, O2) and online (AOL and MSN). Auto Trader has a 37% market share of visits to automotive classified websites* and has over 430,000 classified vehicles for sale at any one time. (*Source: Hitwise January 2007).
• Trader Media Group publishes over 70 titles every week with a combined circulation of 1.5 million and has market-leading websites for its top titles.
• Trader Media Group owns and operates the following companies; Contact Advantage Group, a leading CRM software provider; 2nd Byte, a market leading web services business to motor industry; Trader Data Systems, providing vehicle data services to the motor, finance, insurance, warranty and parts and accessory organisations; www.CarZone.ie, Ireland’s no 1 motoring channel for new and used cars; www.BoatShop24.com Europe’s no 1 independently owned classified recreational marine website; Vebra, the UK’s no1 provider of estate agency software and UK’s no2 Business and Finance – Property website* (*Source: Hitwise, March 2006) and Think Property, an online property portal.
