Sales changes along the world: sales competitions in a virtual environment

Turku University of Applied Sciences is one of the most active sales educators in Europe. This spring, Turku University of Applied Sciences organized the Turku Sales Competition and the Best Virtual Seller sales competitions in online. The competitions will enable future sales professionals to develop their sales competences and this spring also prepare them for future sales interactions. This spring by utilizing online approaches.

The sales competition is a pedagogical teaching method and an opportunity for students to develop their sales competences in a role-playing situation using a pre-written case-scenario. In the competition situation, a future sales professional will meet the buyer in front of independent judges. The sales interaction, needs identification and sales negotiation competences of each participating student participating in a sales situation are assessed by judges.

In a total of three competition days, close 150  competitors, buyers and judges were involved in the virtual competitions. All participants experiences the sales competitions environment in the online environment.

-It was a great pleasure to see the innovations developing through the Corona clouds.. It was also extremely nice to see how great sales experts can be found attached with our University, ”says Vesa Taatila, Rector and CEO of Turku University of Applied Sciences and Final Judge of the Best Virtual Seller competition.

Turku Sales competition participants were from Indonesia to the United States

The Turku Sales Competition was held 14th time, first time within virtual environment. The competition was participated by students from Turku University of Applied Sciences' engineering degree program engineering management on business, TUAS double degree students from Germany and France; and students from Savonia University of Applied Sciences. The judges and buyers of the competition came from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Indonesia, the USA, Poland and Russia.

- The nature of sales has changed due to recent global events, says Principal Lecturer Timo Holopainen and Competition Director of Turku Sales Competition. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of new types of competencies in virtual sales interactions.

“Turku Sales Competition is an eye opening opportunity and a milestone for a successful future career in international sales for our students. Some of our past competitors already launched their sales careers and used the competition as a reference”, mentions Özerk Göker, Judge of TSC and Senior Lecturer from Savonia University of Applied Sciences.

The winner of the competition was Arthur Gaulard from France, a double degree from ESTA and Turku University of Applied Sciences. In addition, Niklas Suupohja, Clemént Ferstler and Andre Ostheimer competed in the finals.

To be a true professional

The Best Virtual Seller competition was organized for the first time. In BVS competition, 15 sales students from Turku University of Applied Sciences competed. The Best Virtual Seller culminated in weekly sales coaching that lasted throughout the spring.

- It was great to see the development of the students during the spring into real sales professionals, says the Competition Director of the Best Virtual Seller competition, sales coach Sanna Vauranoja.

Valtteri Sysinoro was the winner of the competition. In addition to him in the finals competed Emilia Brutyan, Jasmin Koivisto and Pauliina Varjonen.