I’m feeling in a reflective mood this Christmas Eve. It is now 2 years since I entered into the software industry. Really by luck more than anything else. Previously to working in software I had run a very successful sales territory for Everest Home Improvements. I’d taken on the area sales manager role as the youngest in the companies history. I grew my relatively small area from 7 post codes to over 30 consistently achieving the ever increasing targets as they were set. I also grew the team of sales guys around me from a team of 2 full time guys and 1 part time to a team of 15 full times sales guys. All not just hitting their targets but smashing them.
The rewards at Everest were superb. The financial opportunity was excellent as were the incentives to those that over achieved. I had the fortune to be able to win several incentives including 5 star holidays to places like Geneva, and on the Orient Express to Christmas Hampers, and other high value prizes. I even almost won a car once.
Then came the credit crunch. Unlike a lot of people I foresaw that the credit crunch was just the beginning of worse times to come. The Everest role was one that was self employed and I was only paid commission on the business my sales area generated. As the business died so did my income. I’d always wanted to work in a B2B environment and this was the kick that I’d needed to make it happen.
Months later things weren’t too good. I’d been offered 3 jobs in B2B roles all jobs that I was looking forward to starting but all 3 had nightmare scenarios attached. The first was a International company who put a halt on recruitment the day I received the job offer as they were floating on the stock exchange. The second went into administration the day that I picked my company car. And the third did a U Turn as the chap I was replacing decided not to leave.
I needed to get back into work and I was looking at temporary jobs. I had an interview with a local company who provided office water dispensers. However, I was told I was over qualified for the job and they instead promoted someone internally. However, the agency that I had been put forward through had another job. A telesales agent with a software company. This was more like it. I’ve always been into computers from an early age. I had a good understanding of computers and related matters so I felt confident that I could stand out.
I was offered the job and although some other opportunities had raised their heads I stuck with the telesales job as I was assured if I was able to prove my ability I’d soon be out on the road doing what I loved best – selling.
It didn’t take long for me to get into that situation. I was soon out visiting clients and selling, rather than doing the job I was hired to do – telesales.
The software I was selling was a ERP system specially designed for Office Products Resellers. Businesses that supply other businesses with all of their office supplies such as stationery, machines, toners, paper etc. The industry is some what complex therefore specialised business systems are required to manage the businesses.
I had become aware of a company called Evolution Software. They were another company working within the Office Supplies vertical. They provided e-commerce solutions to office supplies companies. Their products were cool. Unlike the other software companies within the Office Products industry Evolutions webstores were up to date and full of modern features. Their competitors systems including ECi’s were antiquated and wouldn’t stand up in a market outside of the OP industry.
Some of ECi’s customers were also Evolutions customers and began to make approaches to see if there was a possibility of Evolutions webstores linking with ECi’s back office systems. I became the driving force in trying to make this happen. I spoke with the guys at Evolution and we just clicked. I knew then that I had to work for Evolution.
I left ECi and joined Evolution one month later. I’ve never looked back.
What it is about Evolution Software that makes the difference is that despite being a small team we totally kick ass. There is no such thing as working hours and nobody limits themselves to the normal 9-5 rules. Instead we work as hard as we can to deliver excellence. If that means working late then so be it. But on the other hand if I need to go to the dentist 1 afternoon there is no nonsense about booking half a days holiday.
The product is light years ahead of any of our competitors. Jon Hood is the technical director and in terms of knowledge and ability around e-commerce software he is a genius a term that shouldn’t be used lightly.
Patrick Donnelly heads up the day to day running of the technical side of the business. In corporate terms he’d be the CTO (chief technical officer) . Paddy knows what is what and has been instrumental in delivering our continued success to our customers.
Philip Wood is a driving force behind moving sales forward. Woodie has consistently welcomed new customers to our platform week in week out.
We now have over 320 live webstores. That’s more than any of our competitors. We have more UK customers than any of our competitors, our product is the best, and we’re the fastest growing. If that isn’t a perfect endorsement for market leaders then I don’t know what is.
The future is EXTREMELY bright for Evolution and I can’t wait to talk about what’s around the corner for our kick ass business.
That’s just a little reflective blog post about software & me.
