While adland rarely bats an eyelid at the erratic behaviour of
WCRS's chairman, Robin Wight, members of the general public do not have
the luxury of prior knowledge of his, ahem, little eccentricities.
So when Wight, on one of his famous whims, decided to get first-hand
knowledge of his agency's Vodafone business by launching himself on an
unsuspecting store in Regent Street, there were more than a few raised
eyebrows.
Wight, who'd dispensed with the regulatory bow tie as he mixed with
Regent Street's hoi polloi, doubtless confused more than a few cornered
tourists as he waxed lyrical about the benefits of third- generation
mobile phones with his typical unswerving enthusiasm.
"I always believe that if you want to know what's going on, you need to
go to the front line - but I've never worked behind a counter before,"
he gushes. Really, you do surprise us.
Wight took up the gauntlet of the sales challenge with typical gusto and
rather impressively acquainted himself with the product offerings and
price plans before trying to flog hundreds of pounds worth of equipment
to the doubtlessly nonplussed punters. Pity the poor students who had
picked the wrong day to wander innocently into the store. "They'd only
come in to ask how to work their voicemail," one observer tittered.
Although Wight didn't receive any formal training, experience with his
own mobile proved handy with one particular enquiry.
"I whipped my phone out and demonstrated all its functions," he
enthused.
His magic touch sealed the deal and, hey presto, one happy customer. "I
didn't get any commission though," he rues.
Still, we're sure that Vodafone can doubtless benefit from the three
pages of suggestions he left them on ways to increase the average
revenue per user.
So what's next for Vodafone's Salesman of the Month? "Next I'm going to
the customer service centre," he enthuses.
"Whether I'll be able to answer the phone remains to be seen though," he
adds.
Ye Gads, Wight let loose in there? The mind truly boggles.
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