Behind the Squeak pulls back the curtain to give you a glimpse into the inner workings of ZippyPaws. Follow along as we take a look at different aspects of ZippyPaws’ role in the Pet Industry.

For our third installment of Behind the Squeak, we’re talking to Juliana Ashley about her role as Sales Manager at ZippyPaws. We sat down with Juliana to talk to her about her approach to managing and how it contributes to the growth of ZippyPaws.

Here’s what she had to say…

Juliana Ashley

Sales Manager

You’re relatively new to your position as Sales Manager at ZippyPaws. How would you describe your role?

I would describe my role as being in constant motion. One day I could be fully immersed in reporting and analytics, followed by a day spent with product development, and end that week on a plane flying to a trade show! Although there can be difficult days, the rewards and new opportunities far outweigh any difficult day!

What previous experience helped prepare you for this challenging role?

While I did work in B2B sales prior to ZippyPaws within the Classic Automotive industry, and still deal with similar day-to-day tasks, I believe my experience in purchasing and planning prepared me for this role because it helped me understand what our buyers are looking for and how we in sales can best serve them. I have a much better understanding of “both sides of the coin”.

It’s often said that sales skills can’t be taught. How much truth is behind that statement? Is being good at sales a talent, or can it be taught?

I do somewhat agree with the statement, but truly believe that if you hone your listening skills, you can be a great salesperson!

The pet industry is constantly evolving and is becoming an increasingly competitive marketplace. How do you keep up in an ever-changing market?

As a sales team, we’ll go out into stores and communicate with our customers as often as possible to understand what they are finding success with and how we can find our place amongst consumers. Listening and adapting is what will help us continue to stay in front of the competition!

When it comes to building a successful sales team, what qualities do you look for when hiring sales reps?

Some important qualities I look for when hiring sales reps are great listening skills, proactiveness, and a friendly personality. To truly understand your customers and build great relationships with them, you need to be able to listen and anticipate their needs all while maintaining a friendly and positive attitude.

What role does product knowledge play when onboarding new team members?

When onboarding new team members, they are always given our most current catalog and samples of our product to touch, feel, and understand the quality engineering behind each and every item. Understanding what attracts customers (both canine and human kind) allows us to stay a step ahead and recommend great and affordable products to all of our valued customers.

Sales is a collective effort. Can you tell us a little about your team and how important they are to reaching the goals of the company?

Each team member plays different yet very important roles that contribute to our overall success. Our sales representatives are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities, our account management team keeps everything and everyone on track and moving forward, and our assistants are ready to jump to whatever task I need them to on a moment’s notice. I’m very appreciative to have a team of amazing people who are always looking ahead and eager to succeed!

How would you describe your leadership style?

I love to encourage open communication, joint decision-making, and experimentation. I make it a point to hear from every single person on my team, understand their challenges, and put our minds together to solve any situation. I make sure not to let my team get too discouraged if a new strategy doesn’t work out, and always like to stay looking and moving forward never back.

Now that you have more experience as Sales Manager, what are your general goals for ZippyPaws moving forward?

Moving forward, I aim to forge new relationships, continue to nurture and grow our current ones, and continue to expand our global sales reach! (ZP can currently be found in 50+ countries!)