129: Cole Strauss – Being the Easiest Company to Deal With

Guest: Cole Strauss

 

Guest Bio:

Leading the Texas region at igus Inc., I focus on nurturing customer relationships and driving new business development through strategic leadership and industrial sales acumen. My role involves guiding our sales force, negotiating high-value contracts, and ensuring our mission of being the easiest company to deal with is realized with every customer interaction. I am currently transitioning into the National Sales Manager role for Chainflex Cables, effective January 2025.

I hold an Engineering degree from Texas State University and an MBA from UT Permian Basin. Before joining Igus, I worked for John Deere, Continental Automotive, and Vehicle Monitor Corporation, gaining experience in manufacturing, engineering, and sales.

I live in San Antonio, TX with my wife, Kelsie, our son, Beckett, and our two dogs Lady and Cleo. I spend most of my free time with family and friends but also spend some alone as an avid outdoorsman who appreciates the relaxation only the woods can offer.

 

Key Points:

Role & Background:

Cole is the new National Sales Manager for Igus, Inc., a role he has held for 14 days. He has an engineering degree from Texas State University and an MBA from the University of Texas Permian Basin. Before his current role, Cole worked as a manufacturing engineer and transitioned into sales at Igus, Inc over the last four and a half years. He started as a Territory Sales Manager and later became a Regional Manager.

 

Company Mission:

Igus's mission is to be "the easiest company to deal with" in every customer interaction. This is central to their customer service philosophy. Cole explains that being easy to deal with involves being responsive, providing reliable support, and ensuring customers receive solutions, even if those solutions come from other departments. It’s about building trust and being an advisor, not just a salesperson.

 

Strategic Partnerships:

Cole plans to grow sales revenue through both external and internal strategic partnerships. External partnerships include working with distributors and catalog houses, while internal partnerships focus on better alignment between outside and inside sales teams to improve customer service and product offerings.

 

Sales Philosophy:

Igus aims to sell on the value of their products, even if they are priced higher than competitors. Cole emphasizes showing customers the long-term cost savings through product durability and fewer replacements. Changing the mindset of outside salespeople from focusing on immediate low cost to emphasizing lifetime costs and return on investment is key.

 

Sales Team Management:

Cole prioritizes attitude over experience when hiring. He believes a good attitude is more important than technical experience because the right attitude leads to success in the sales process. He values teamwork, with a focus on communication and ownership within the team, helping people take the next step in their careers.

 

Hiring Process:

When hiring, Cole looks for candidates with the right attitude and a basic mechanical background. He emphasizes finding people who are reliable, accountable, and have a strong work ethic. He also uses personal referrals to assess candidates' true character.

 

Challenges in Sales Management:

Cole acknowledges that managing a large sales team (about 50 territory managers) means dealing with many problems simultaneously. His engineering background helps him troubleshoot and find solutions without panicking, ensuring that issues are resolved efficiently while balancing internal and external needs.

 

Work-Life Balance:

Cole mentioned the challenge of managing a team while balancing work and personal life, sharing a humorous anecdote about how he sometimes struggles to "turn off" his problem-solving mindset even at home.

  

Guest Links: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-strauss-igus/ 

 

 

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