You’ve got the idea, formulated a plan, maybe even made some products.
Now, you just need customers.
The Central Michigan University Research Corp. business incubator in Mt. Pleasant has launched a new service to help entrepreneurs, start-up companies and others who need a little help getting the word out on their product or service, and actually making the sale.
According to Brian Delaney, who leads the new Sales and Marketing Services offered at CMURC: “The basic concept is, you have the idea and the product or service, and we help you get it to market. If you have a business or market plan with sales tactics, we implement it, using trained students from CMU’s Professional Sales Institute program. Many of the entrepreneurs we serve here at CMURC are great at the invention and production aspect, but need the help actually getting products out to potential customers. This often helps refine the products further or strengthens their ability to get funding. And, ultimately, it is about selling products.”
The services are being offered first to existing CMURC business incubator tenants. Several have taken advantage of the service, including virtual tenant Luna Tech Designs, a GeoWeb marketing company based in Plymouth that provides 3D modeling and geospatial mapping sservices.
“The program is ideal for us," said Doug Willett, Luna Tech owner. "It is getting my product out there in front of all the right people. And, it’s happening much, much faster than I could do myself.”
The service is not limited just to tenants and affiliates of CMU-RC. Other companies who need marketing and sales support can use this new Sales and Marketing Services division as well. CMU-RC has found that this initial contact with the business incubator, and the networks and resources they offer, often leads to new tenants who recognize the value the whole business incubator experience has to offer.
The service is offered at both an hourly rate or in some cases, as a small commission on sales, Delaney said. Services include building a pipeline of business in targeted areas and building the company's image and recognition.
The service also provides an opportunity for CMU students to both learn and earn, working for the program's entrepreneurs and start-up companies.
“Several of our sales students have shown a strong interest in partnering with the CMU RC sales program," said Ken Cherry, assistant professor of marketing and sales at CMU. "It’s a great opportunity for them to put the skills and concepts they learn as professional sales majors and minors to work in real business situations."
Students in the CMU Professional Sales Institute program are trained in best practices for today’s selling environment and many have already become Carew International-certified in sales strategy and techniques. Future professional sales people, these students bring knowledge and technique into practice to help partnering businesses springboard into their chosen markets.
For anyone with a business or service that needs sales support, contact Delaney at (248) 202-8626 or delan2bj@cmich.edu for details on what is available and quotes on various support levels.
Said CMU-RC president Ken Van Der Wende: “Partnering with CMU gives us and our tenants access to research, advanced thinking and technology for business expansion and growth. The new sales and marketing service program is a perfect example of the synergy we have.”
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