Billy Gibbs, 30
Outside Sales Rep
Rexel
Billy started his Rexel Career in 2019. “I was recruited by the district vice president at my local mechanic shop,” he recalled. During his four years with the company, Billy has completed multiple vendor trainings, the Rexel Outside Sales Trainee Development Plan, and taken many NAED EPEC classes. “Shortly after my one-year sales training program, I did what every salesman needed to do: I hit the road and start building my foundation,” said Billy, “As does any new outside sales rep, I faced challenges with rejection and not getting responses from new prospects. I knew from the start that I had to work harder than the guy next to get the orders. So that’s what I did. When customers gave me deadlines on quotes, I made sure to stay up late and work weekends to beat the guy next to me. Along the way the orders started flowing in and customers were calling me first instead of second or third.”
Asked about a challenge currently facing the industry—and how he is tackling it, Billy pointed to the continuing supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I had to adapt my business propositions to procurement leaders on how I was going to have the material when my customers needed it,” he said. “This was an uphill battle, being new in the industry, so I went out and got customers to agree on terms that if I stocked it, they would buy it from me.”
As for his future, Billy said “My career here at Rexel is growing by the day, and I plan to stay in my current position until the orders stop coming.”
What would he tell someone just entering the industry? “My advice to all new employees that are trying to go the sales route is, ‘You don’t need to outrun the bear; you just must be faster than the guy next to you,’ ” he said. “Be persistent and take good notes. Nothing will be handed to you in life, so make sure to count your blessings and make today better than yesterday.”
Outside of work, Billy enjoys “golfing and spending my time with family at Church and demonstrating what it means to live on that narrow path.”
Each year tED magazine recognizes 30 of the industry’s best and brightest under the age of 35. Please visit tedmag.com/30Under35 for nomination information and updates about the 2023 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
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