FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANCY

ROXAS CITY
ND
2 SEMESTER, A.Y. 2023-2024

PROFESSIONAL SALESMANSHIP

ACTIVITY NO. 1

Name: JOSEPH JAKEEM P. LOZADA Course/Section/Year: BSBA MM-1

Hardin, a company founded in 2021, started as a small plant business driven

by the founder's love for plants and flowers. Initially focusing on ornamental and
rare plants, Hardin soon diversified its offerings to include vegetable and fruit
seedlings, along with dried flowers and foliage, advocating for subsistence farming
and a sustainable floral industry.

As the CEO of Hardin, the founder took on this sales journey driven by a
purpose – to nurture their passion for plants and flowers while establishing a
meaningful connection with like-minded individuals. Influenced by trailblazers like
Celine Murillo, Raxene Maniquiz, and John Sherwin Felix, who advocate for
biodiversity, preservation of flora and fauna, and Philippine food heritage
respectively, the founder aimed to create an identity for Hardin beyond mere
business.

The founder possesses qualities like confidence, creativity, and determination, which
are crucial for the sales job. However, they are also working on improving
negotiation skills, expanding networks, and enhancing marketing strategies to excel
in their role.

Challenges encountered include fluctuating demands for plants, difficulty in

sourcing supplies, and meeting diverse customer preferences. Despite these
challenges, the founder believes in innovation and maintaining consistent quality to
satisfy customers.

Although formal training opportunities are limited due to Hardin's small scale,
the founder engages in local entrepreneurial events, conducts personal research,
and pursues studies in agriculture to enhance their knowledge and skills.
 The sales job is rewarding for Hardin as it allows them to connect with
customers, grow the business, and contribute positively to the community through
sustainable products.

For aspiring salespeople, the founder's advice is simple yet profound - "do it
anyway." Embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and view each experience as a
stepping stone towards success. With dedication and capability, every obstacle
becomes a learning opportunity on the path to achieving sales excellence.
a) Company Name

My company’s name is Hardin.

b) Short Profile of the company (History, VMG etc.)

Hardin is a small business which was established way back in 2021. It was initially a
plant business that started out of my passion for plants and flowers. Basically, we
sell homegrown plants that could be used as a home decoration, a gift for family and
friends and a collection for our fellow rare plant collectors in the plant industry.

We started with selling ornamental and rare plants, but now, we’re planning to add
to our enterprise the vegetable and fruit seedlings, as well as dried flowers and
foliage, to advocate for subsistence farming and a sustainable floral business.

c) Company product lines including its functions and benefits.

Our company product lines include ornamental and rare plants, these plants serve as
home decorations, gifts, and collectibles for plant enthusiasts. Vegetable and fruit
seedlings, as I have mentioned previously, we are expanding into offering seedlings
to promote subsistence farming and healthy eating. Also, we offer dried flowers and
foliage, these are for sustainable floral arrangements and crafts.

d) Position

I am the CEO of this company.

e) No. of years in the company

Our company was established March 2, 2021, so we’re now 3 years in business.

f) Reasons for taking the sales job, who influenced them?

I took this sales job opportunity so that I will be able to continue to grow and
sustain my passion for plants and flowers as well as establish a purpose as an
aspiring Agriculturist and connect with people that share the same sentiments as I
do.

Few people that influenced me are Celine Murillo - she is known for promoting and
mainstreaming Philippine biodiversity and natural heritage. Raxene Maniquiz - a
designer and illustrator, known for her works in preservation of the Flora and Fauna,
and Philippine endemic journey. Lastly, John Sherwin Felix - an advocate for Filipino food
heritage through Lokalpedia, a deep dive into endemic ingredients and provides information
of the plants that are native in our country. Like these amazing individuals, I wanted to
make an identity for Hardin aside from the business that I do.

g) What are their personal qualities that make them fit for the job?

There are a lot of qualities that make me fit for the job and with that statement, you
could say that one of them is confidence. I am confident with the risk that I took.
Aside from my passion for plants and flowers, I am creative, competent, and strong-
willed. I am building my company with a vision, humility, and a strong foundation
which I believe are essential to a long tenure in the sales job.

h) What are their personal weaknesses that they have to develop to

perform well in their sales job?

To perform well in the sales job, I am working on developing better negotiation

skills, expanding my network, enhancing marketing strategies to keep up with the
trends, and improving time management.

i) What are the challenges they encountered while being in the sales job?
The challenges that I have encountered so far are the fluctuating demands in terms
of the ornamental and rare plants. You know, previously “Plantita and Plantito” were
a thing due to the pandemic and with that we indeed generated an increase in sales,
but after that trend there have been fluctuations in demand which slowed down the
plant business. We also had a hard time sourcing out our supplies for the flowers.
Another challenge would be variation in customers preferences, therefore
overcoming these challenges requires innovation yet consistency with the quality
and value that we deliver to our customers.

j) What are the trainings provide by the company to better prepare them
for the sales job?

Since we are currently just a small-scale freelance business. What prepares me

better for the sales job are attending local entrepreneurial conventions, doing
personal research for the improvement in quality of the products, and enhancing my
knowledge in the commodity that I engage my business in. Currently, I am studying
a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Crop Science which really aligns
with the business I'm in.

k) What makes a sales job rewarding?

The sales job is rewarding because it allows us to connect with customers, fulfill
their needs, grow our business, and contribute positively to the community through
our sustainable and quality products.

l) Personal tips for new sales people.

My personal tip for them is “do it anyway” whether you are scared or just hesitating
to take the sales job, just do it anyway. For as long as you know you are capable
and dedicated with what you do, everything will fall into place. We don’t need to
wait for the perfect timing or have the perfect qualities to have the job, we just need
to do it anyway. Every challenge that we face in a sales job journey is a learning
experience towards success.