When your windshield is suddenly chipped or cracked, it can quickly become a nuisance and a distraction from the road. A crack larger than a dollar can obstruct the road in front of you, endanger others and lower the integrity the overall safety of your vehicle.

That’s where Safelite AutoGlass comes in—they are the largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services in the United States. In 2017 they won the Gold Stevie Award for Customer Service Innovation in the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service for its new one-stop solution to calibrate ADAS cameras after a windshield replacement.

Over Six Million Lifetime Guarantees

With more than 7,800 mobile glass shops and stores in all 50 states, Safelite AutoGlass is the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services. Safelite spokesperson Katie Salvator recalls their previous year’s success in regards to speedy service.

“Last year, six million customers chose Safelite AutoGlass for its 24/7 national contact centers, advanced online scheduling, superior repair and replacement systems and the industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee.”

Safelite AutoGlass is a member of the Safelite Group family of brands, which together make a difference in the lives of 10 million customers annually.

Unbreakable Reputation

As the country’s largest service provider, their new one-stop solution to calibrate ADAS cameras after a windshield replacement made a huge impact in road safety across the nation.

“Winning a Stevie Award offers third-party credibility and recognition of our efforts to create a better customer experience.”

Katie also acknowledges Ed Sprigler, Safelite AutoGlass VP for Strategic Initiatives,, who has largely contributed to Safelite’s success.

“Ed is a problem solver, and no challenge is too big or too complex for him to eagerly roll up his sleeves and tackle it. It’s that kind of can-do attitude that helps make Ed an exceptional customer service award winner for leading the ADAS solution.

People Powered and Customer Driven

Safelite's core success can be attributed to their People Powered and Customer Driven strategy. “Being people powered means that we power our performance by thinking ‘people first’ and by having talented, happy and engaged people who deliver extraordinary results, Katie explains.”

Katie lists their four cornerstones to People Powered:

• Leadership
• Focus
• Talent
• Caring

Their Customer Driven success focuses on achieving extraordinary results by looking at their business through the eyes of their customer, making it easy for them to ensure their experience is memorable. Katie relays the four elements to being Customer Driven:

• Listen
• Focus
• Create
• Delight

With nearly 14,000 people employed across the United States, these two core mindsets have helped them continue to create memorable experiences for customers every day by demonstrating their Safelite Spirit.

Greater Than the Task at Hand

Having a greater purpose matters to people. At Safelite, their purpose is to make a difference and bring unexpected happiness to people’s everyday lives. Katie believes their purpose isn’t about what they do; it’s about the way they do it.

“It is something that motivates us to strive to achieve something greater than the task at hand ... and it influences the way we do it. When it comes to our customers, there’s a quote: ‘I may not remember what you said or even what you did, but I’ll always remember the way you made me feel.’"

Capturing moments through the art of photography can be powerful when done right. C.Mae Design is an eight person photography team based out of Wisconsin who believes photography boils down to light, laughter, trust, and the power of capturing the connection between individuals. Their business has doubled in sales every year since 2013, and they are delighted to have captured over 437,000 smiles since C.Mae Design’s opening.  In the 2017 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service C.Mae won the Bronze Stevie Award for Sales Turnaround.

Keeping Good Company

The company likes to accept clients who cherish other people in their lives, and customers who want to capture the beauty in real moments. Cassandra Spiegelhoff, owner of C.Mae Design describes their ideal customer.

“The C.Mae Design client is someone who cherishes the people in their lives. Someone who finds beauty in real moments that include tears of joy, warm hugs, and loud laughter.”

With their team of 8 photographers and 2 office assistants, many of their photographers do double duty as editors, teachers and mentors. Coming into their 5th year of business, Cassandra expresses their excitement about celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary with 500 couples.

“We are obsessed with finding and creating beautiful light and turning sweet moments into stunning imagery”

Chasing Moments

Photography is always changing. The editing styles, posing styles, new innovative techniques, and the evolving technology always makes for improvement. C.Mae Design staff enjoy doing what they love and are always learning how to service their clients better.

“At our sessions, you will find us playing music, laughing, lifting things, and maybe even climbing trees or jumping into water for the perfect shot.” Cassandra relayed, “Each session really is a new adventure with new friends and we can’t wait for you to be part of the experience.”

As passionate storytellers and don’t-care-who’s-watching dancers, what they ask of you is to fully, authentically, and awkwardly just be yourself. This is where the magic is. At C.Mae Design, they focus heavily on capturing you. THE REAL YOU. The real, funny, gorgeous you.

Awards Capture Moments Too

Like photos, awards can signify a moment in time when your hard work was cherished by your peers. Cassandra recalls the time their supervisor had recommended them to apply to the Stevie Awards, and then they won.

“We are so excited to show it off! The acknowledgment of our organization and staff is wonderful and uplifting!!”

Since then, they’ve also been awarded Best Of Weddings on The Knot in 2016 and Couples' Choice Awards from Wedding Wire in both 2016 and 2017.

“We simply believe in what we do and enjoy it! We are motivated by spreading the love! The truth is that life is hard and any time you can devote to appreciate the people in your life is beautiful. Our photography sessions highlight the love shared between individuals and their stories. What is more beautiful than that?” Cassandra concluded, “Always do your best! The golden rule of ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’ is great. We like using the platinum rule of ‘treat others the way they want to be treated.’"

ValueSelling Associates has been a sponsor of the Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service for nine consecutive years

We spoke with Julie Thomas, President & CEO of ValueSelling Associates. Julie will be presenting awards at the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service gala in Las Vegas on February 24. She shares her thoughts and sales industry insights.

The 2017 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service announced finalists last week. People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Customer Service voting is now open through February 10. If you missed the Sales & Customer Service entry deadline this year, check out The American Business Awards Customer Service Awards categories. 

What does ValueSelling do?

ValueSelling Associates offers its customers a conversational, question-based sales methodology that is simple, logical and scalable. We offer customized training on the ValueSelling Framework®, interactive reinforcement tools and consulting services that empower sales organizations around the globe with a proven formula to qualify prospects, accurately forecast and close more deals. We work with business-to-business sales organizations who are working to improve their sales productivity. Some of the challenges that we address with our clients include reducing discounting, improving forecast accuracy, more effective qualification, and selling the breadth of the product line.

What is the organizational vision?

The vision is to continue growing our well-respected global business. We’re motivated by our clients’ results. Witnessing the effectiveness of the ValueSelling Framework when working with world-class sales teams such as Adobe, Alere, Kamstrup, Autodesk, Cisco, Google, Monster, NCR, Rockwell Automation, Servicemax, Siemens, and ServiceNow, keeps us fired up. 

We invest in and integrate the most current adult-learning concepts into our customized classroom instruction, on-demand courseware and tools, leading to thousands of participants each year developing skills that measurably increases sales productivity. We know adults learn more when they are having fun,  so we strive to deliver unique and exciting experiences for our clients.

What sets your company apart in your industry?

The ValueSelling Framework is easily applied to complex B2B sales. Our methodology gives you a framework to have a conversational, question-based dialogue. So, instead of pitching, you’re engaging. Instead of presenting solutions, you’re collaborating and competing based on value, and by that, I mean the value confirmed by the individual and the organization.

How did you first become acquainted with the Stevies?

I met Michael Gallagher, President of The Stevie Awards, over 10 years ago. We became involved with the Stevie Awards at the very beginning. We welcome the opportunity to recognize our clients’ individual and organizational impact through this prestigious organization.

What’s it like for your clients to win the Stevie Award?

We put a lot of thought into which clients to nominate for the Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service. It’s thrilling to be with them at the gala in Las Vegas, celebrating their achievements.  There are high fives, champagne toasts and lots of celebrations when the awards are announced. Our clients prove time and again the power of the ValueSelling Framework and correlate that to their outstanding results. During the Gala, we get an opportunity to toast and applaud their dedication and successes.

What inspires you to continue your work?

It’s fun! Each organization is unique. There are many different challenges: meeting revenue numbers, forecasting more accurately, growing strategic accounts, and difficulty accessing high-level executives, among others.

What’s inspiring is watching how our team and the ValueSelling Framework methodology is a wonderful solution to enabling our clients to resolve their business issues. It’s transformative, not only for individuals, but for entire teams and organizations. We pride ourselves on enabling the entire organization to wrap around our framework, create a common language and leverage a common toolset. When everyone inside a company is focused on value for their customer, then, they are well positioned to develop long-standing customer relationships.

What changes do you expect in your industry in the future?

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of emphasis on sales software solutions and technology tools such as sales asset management and marketing automation platforms. Used well, these are great tools for supporting the sales effort.

Another key trend is the increase in inside sales – not telemarketers, but true inside sales professionals who build relationships and sell products and services solely over the phone and the web. The tools and techniques to become proficient and communication are different when you never build a face-to-face relationship.  That said, the inside sales professional will continue to need and leverage a successful sales methodology.

In the end, it comes down to people connecting with people virtually and social selling is a technique that is needed by sales, but success in sales requires having real conversations  either in person or by phone about the business issues and problems a buyer is facing.

On-demand courseware will become more prevalent, but the critical success factor will be presenting information in a way that keeps adults tuned in. That means smaller chunks of learning and just-in-time learning. That’s why our eLearning modules include interactive quizzes and scenarios. It’s not enough to just show a canned video or slide with a talking head. Gamification and user-centric learning is here to stay.

Given the uncertainty in the world, I expect that businesses are going to seek tried and true solutions. For over 25 years, the ValueSelling Framework has been helping organizations around the world maximize their sales productivity, better qualify prospects and improve win rates.

Is there an inspirational story related to your organization that might appeal to our blog readers?

Market Track, the leading provider of timely market intelligence solutions serves more than 1,700 brands, retailers, manufacturers, and agencies. Market Track supports clients with comprehensive analysis of the advertising, promotional, and eCommerce landscape to optimize engagement with consumers throughout their purchase cycle.

Business Issue: How do you get an entire sales team on the same page with a single methodology given the requirements of a steep growth trajectory and the continual addition of new sales professionals with various sales training and backgrounds?

Problem: In 2008, Market Track’s value proposition was murky. There was no proactive client or prospect engagement. The close rate low.

The management team knew sales would fuel future growth plans. And because the sales team was selling an intangible—tech-enabled service—they had to sell on value. Market Track called on ValueSelling Associates to install a sales methodology that could be implemented consistently to drive rapid growth.

Solution: Market Track has quintupled its revenue since adopting ValueSelling Associates’ proprietary sales methodology. Such sales improvements have allowed the firm to make 11 acquisitions in 8 years and broaden its portfolio.

The resulting, expanded organization successfully integrates new sales executives and managers with a consistent methodology and approach across each of the acquisitions so the company is supported, not stymied by additional team members.

Market Track's overall adoption is stellar because the sales methodology and tools are easy to apply in a war room or deal review. With a common sales process, the team maximizes their weekly gatherings, sharing best practices—new templates, better conversations, more innovative strategies—all honed to engage Market Track’s buyers.

Market Track continues to organically grow as they keep a pulse on their clients’ advertising, promotion, and eCommerce initiatives. In 2016, the firm had its best first half ever. Justin Hartanov, Market Track EVP (recently appointed to lead Market Track’s international expansion) and 10-year ValueSelling practitioner, swears by his team’s consistent practice of ValueSelling principals.

To learn more about ValueSelling, visit http://www.valueselling.com/

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service recognize the achievements of contact center, customer service, business development and sales professionals worldwide. Entries for the 2017 competition are now being accepted.

October 19 is the early-bird entry deadline with discounted entry fees. The entry deadline is November 16, but late entries will be accepted through January 11 with payment of a late fee. Winners of the eleventh annual competition will be announced at a gala awards banquet on February 24 at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

REVIEW THE ENTRY KIT HERE.

Today we will highlight we the Sales Distinction Awards categories.

Rather than focus on the performance of a named sales department, these categories recognize sales-related achievements across your entire company or organization. You choose the successes you wish to highlight. They can be related to revenue growth, customer acquisition, lead development, training, enculturation of product knowledge, etc.

Information required for entries in these categories include:
(a) An essay of up to 650 words describing your organization's sales-related accomplishments since July 1, 2015.

(b) Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges. At the very least you should provide a link to the organization's website.

40. Sales Distinction of the Year - Computer Hardware
41. Sales Distinction of the Year - Computer Services
42. Sales Distinction of the Year - Computer Software
43. Sales Distinction of the Year – Distribution & Transportation
44. Sales Distinction of the Year - Financial Services
45. Sales Distinction of the Year – Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Related Industries
46. Sales Distinction of the Year – Hospitality & Tourism
47. Sales Distinction of the Year - Industrial & Manufacturing
48. Sales Distinction of the Year  - Media & Entertainment
49. Sales Distinction of the Year – Public Services & Education
50. Sales Distinction of the Year - Services
51. Sales Distinction of the Year - Telecommunications
52. Sales Distinction of the Year – All Other Industries

Winners of the Sales Distinction Awards in 2016 include:

Sales Distinction of the Year - Computer Services 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
SoftPro, Raleigh, NC USA: SoftPro Shatters 2015 Sales Goals
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Oildex, Denver, CO USA: Oildex: A David vs. Goliath Deal
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
Yesware, Boston, MA USA: Yesware - Ahead of the Pack in Sales Software

Sales Distinction of the Year - Distribution & Transportation 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
DHL Express, Beirut, Lebanon: DHL Service Point Team, in Beirut Central District
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
DHL Express, Arnhem, The Netherlands: DHL Express NL Spotdesk
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
DHL Express - Saudi Arabia, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia: DHL Express - Saudi Arabia - A Journey from Good to Great

Sales Distinction of the Year - Financial Services 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
WePay Inc, Redwood City, CA USA: WePay's Amazing Sales Achievements
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
HealthEquity, Draper, UT USA: HealthEquity
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
Elephant Insurance, Richmond, VA USA: Elephant's Sales Department: Growing, Growing, Growing!

Sales Distinction of the Year - Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Related Industries 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
GuideWell Connect, Jacksonville, FL USA: High Performers Rise to the Occasion
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
GuideWell Connect, Jacksonville, FL USA: ‘MOR' assures Guidewell Connect is not 'Middle of the Road'
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
GuideWell Connect, Jacksonville, FL USA: Time for a Do Over

Sales Distinction of the Year - Telecommunications 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Vodafone Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey: Vodafone Turkey's 'Pusula'
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Sales Partnerships, Inc., Westminster, CO USA: Internet leader shines with SPI

Sales Distinction of the Year - All Other Industries 
GOLD STEVIE WINNER:
Sales Partnerships, Inc., Westminster, CO USA: Cutting Edge Blue Collar Sales
SILVER STEVIE WINNER:
Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Orlando, FL USA: Marriott Vacation Club - Sales Center Technology - Dynamic Customization and Personalization
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER:
Campaigner Email Marketing, Woburn, MA USA: Campaigner Email Marketing's Distinctive Sales Achievements