EnglishPod

Dialog

A: All right, people. We’re holding this meeting today because we’ve got to do something about our sales, and we need to do it NOW! I want concrete solutions. How do you intend to drive sales... Roger?

B: Well, in fact, we’re the most expensive in the market, so maybe we need to lower our prices to match the competitors?

A: Lower our prices? Not very creative. It’ll never fly with Swan. What kind of thinking is that? Geez. Anybody else have a better plan? Natalie?

C: Um, perhaps, um, a sales promotion. Maybe a two-for-one offer, or something like that!

A: What? That’s the same thing. Bad idea. Really bad idea. Dammit people come on! Think! The CEO will be here any minute.

D: Do we have any ideas yet?

C: Yes Mr. Swan, we were kind of considering a twofor-one offer to get more competitive.

D: A two-for-one promotion? Hmm. I kind of like the sound of that. It sounds like something we should consider.

A: Yeah, exactly. Just what I was thinking! In fact, that’s a brilliant idea! I’m glad we thought of that. Very creative.

Key Vocabulary

concrete solutions - phrase - a real or specific solution to a problem

drive sales - Preposition - increase sales

in the market - phrase - in the industry

to match the competitors - principle verb, infinitive - be as good as or better than other companies in the same industry

will never fly - phrase - will not work, will not be approved

promotion - phrase - something done to make people aware of a product

be here any minute - phrase - will arrive very soon

to consider - principle verb, infinitive - thinking about

brilliant - Adjective - excellent

Supplementary Vocabulary

competitive - Adjective - as good as or better than others of the same type

win sales - phrase - make sales sucessfully

sales strategy - phrase - plans for a company’s sales activities

sales cycle - phrase - the process a customer goes through when deciding to buy a product

to outsell - principle verb, infinitive - to sell more than others

customer loyalty - phrase - when a customer buys the same brand over and over