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Face-to-face

Narrator

Welcome back to English at Work. It’s the big day of the International Plastics Conference and a good opportunity for the staff at Tip Top Trading to promote its business. But hold on, who’s this? It’s Mr Socrates, the big boss from America.

Mr Socrates

Hey, you guys, where have you been?

Paul

Ah, Mr Socrates… nice to see you again. I’d heard you were in town.

Anna/Tom

Hello Mr Socrates.

Mr Socrates

I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I need to catch up with you and see how business is going.

Paul

Oh very, very well. We’re selling Imperial Lemons to France and Anna is developing plastic vegetables.

Mr Socrates

Ah Anna! My favourite girl. Still doing a good job?

Anna

I’m doing my best.

Paul

In fact she’s been doing my job for a few days… had a bit of a biscuit accident… Mr Socrates

Yeah, well that’s not hard for you, Paul. Listen, listen I need to talk you - shouldn’t the others be doing some networking now?

Paul

Of course, that’s why we’re here. Right, Tom, I need you to catch up with some of our existing customers – do some schmoozing – and Anna, could you talk to some potential new customers? I need to speak to Mr Socrates.

Anna

Right. Erm, networking… what exactly am I supposed to do?

Narrator

Networking is about helping your business through connecting with other people in the industry. It involves meeting people and talking to them, sharing information, hopefully helping each other and ultimately, getting new business.

Anna

So I have to talk to strangers?

Narrator

Well, yes. Introduce yourself, say who you work for. Ask them about their business and what they do. Then explain a bit about what you do and who uses your products. If it’s appropriate, say that you may be able to help them. Then see if they would consider buying from you. Just be chatty and friendly.

Anna

Thanks. I’ll give it a try. Excuse me, hello, I’m Anna. I work as a Sales Executive at Tip Top Trading… and you are?

Woman

Jane. Jane from Nice’n’Cheesy. It’s very busy here today isn’t it?

Anna

It is. It’s my first time here but it’s very exciting. I really didn’t know what to wear.

Narrator

Anna! That’s chatty and friendly, but let’s get down to business.

Anna

Oh yes, of course. So can you tell me about your company, Nice’n’Cheesy?

Woman

Well, we sell cheese to London’s top cheese shops - we like to say we’re a wedge above the rest – a wedge of cheese, get it?!

Anna

Err, right. Well, can I briefly tell you about what our company does? Our company – Tip Top Trading – makes plastic fruit mainly for the catering and food industry. We’re up for an award today for one of our designs.

Woman

Smashing. That’s quite interesting actually. We have an issue with the fresh grapes we provide with our cheeses – they keep going mouldy.

Anna

Oh dear.

Woman

Yes – sour grapes you could say! A good quality plastic grape would be useful to put with our cheese displays.

Anna

Well, I think we might be able to help you.

Narrator

Yes you can! This is the time to exchange contact details – give her your business card.

Anna

Well, if I could have your contact details I’ll send you one of our brochures and then give you a call about prices. And here’s my business card should you want to call me.

Woman

That’s fantastic. So nice to have met you – and I think what you’re wearing for the conference is perfect.

Anna

Thanks!

Narrator

Bingo! Looks like Anna has a potential new customer. She was friendly and chatty but kept her mind on business. She used phrases like these: Excuse me, hello, I’m Anna. I work as a Sales Executive at Tip Top Trading.

Can you tell me about your company?

Can I briefly tell you about what our company does?

I think we might be able to help you.

Here’s my business card should you want to call.

Narrator

So, some good work by Anna but there’s more networking to be done. A conference is a good place for networking and for catching up with your boss, too. Let’s find out how Paul is getting on with Mr Socrates.

Mr Socrates

It’s a tough economic climate Paul. We’re already cutting out cookies in management meetings.

Paul

Oh, gosh.

Mr Socrates

And now we’re cutting staff. We’ve already lost Rachel – my favourite Sales Executive.

Paul

Ah yes, well, she was stealing the pens.

Mr Socrates

Pens can be replaced but not people like her.

Paul

Well…

Mr Socrates

But now it’s time to reduce your team Paul – share the pain.

Paul

Are you sure?

Mr Socrates

Absolutely. By my calculations you need to be rid of one member of staff.

Paul

Oh… well let’s not tell the team until we’ve had the awards ceremony.

Mr Socrates

OK Paul. But it’s in your hands to sort this out.

Paul

Crumbs!

Narrator

Ah yes, Tip Top Trading could be about to win a prestigious award but how will this bad news go down with the team? And what is Paul going to do? Find out next time on English at Work.