MANUFACTURER'S SALES REPRESENTATIVE

ASSOCIATIONS

Manufacturers' Agents National Association
P.O. Box 3467
Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3467
(949) 859-4040
Web site: http://www.manaonline.org
The group publicizes the role of manufacturers' agents and matches companies and agents.

Manufacturer's Representatives Educational Research Foundation
Box 247
Geneva, IL 60134
(630) 208-1466
Web site: http://www.mrerf.org
This group has certification information.

National Association of Sales Professionals
8300 North Hayden Road, Suite 207
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
(480) 951-4311
Web site: http://www.nasp.com
NASP encourages international participation by those who are interested in obtaining a professional sales certification. Upon acceptance for membership, all candidates are automatically enrolled in the prestigious International Registry of Accredited Salespeople.

WEB SITES

California Occupational Guides
http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/MANUSALE.HTM
This is a description of the job of a manufacturer's sales representative, including working conditions, outlook, wages, training requirements, and tips on finding a job.
Career Knowhow
http://www.careerknowhow.com/resumes/samples/salesrep.htm
Gives sample résumés for this position.

Landing a Sales Job with No Experience
http://sales.monsterindia.com/articles/sa_8017
Seven strategies to help you land a job.

Michigan Occupational Information System
http://www.mois.org/scripts/105.HTM
This site provides brief synopses of various careers.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002–03 Edition
http://www.bls.gov/oco
This Web site, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, contains detailed information on hundreds of occupations.

Positive Results Newsletter
http://www.positiveresults.com
This site offers a free monthly newsletter for sales professionals and has in-depth articles, Web site reviews, and inspiring quotes.

Professional Career Development Institute
http://www.pcdi-homestudy.com/index1.html
This group offers home-study courses in fashion merchandising.

Sales Representative in the Retail Industry
http://www.wetfeet.com/asp/RPP_interview.asp?rppid=70&rpName=Roseanne+Zabenoff&type=c
An interview with a manufacturer's sales representative.

Sales Representatives, Technical
http://realvideo.acinet.org/ramgen/49005.rm
Offers a video in RealPlayer format.

Selling Through Manufacturers' Representatives
http://www.era.org/publication/selling.shtml
A brief description of the pros of being a marketing representative.

BOOKS

Career as a Sales Representative Manufacturer's Rep. Research No. 282, Career Research Monographs. Chicago: The Institute for Research, 1998.

This publication outlines everything you need to know about being a manufacturer's sales representative.

Caroselli, Dr. Marlene. One to One for Sales Professionals. Madison, WI: CWL Publishing Enterprises, 2001.

This book gives actual scripts to follow when you are giving a sales pitch.

Voss, Jerry. Soft Sell in a Hard World. Philadelphia: Running Press, 1998.

The book treats selling as a game and offers practical tips. The reader can jump around to whatever section is the most interesting.

Washburn, Henry. Why People Don't Buy Things. Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1999.

Helps the rep look at the sale from the customer's point of view.

White, Sarah. Complete Idiot's Guide to Marketing Basics. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.

This book has everything you ever wanted to know about marketing, in a readable style.