Margaret Cotton believes one of the most important things for a company to invest in is itself.
"If you want your company to be successful, you must allocate
money for advertising, public relations, marketing, and staff training and development," said Cotton, owner of Cotton & Co.
The first part of the equation - advertising, marketing and PR - is
important for raising awareness about a business and its services. The second part - staff training and development - will make sure a company not only earns a client's business, but keeps it.
With more than 30 years of experience in sales, sales management
and corporate training, Cotton's Charleston-based consulting firm
offers businesses along the South Carolina coast services that focus
on improving sales and management. Cotton also has an office that
serves Georgetown and Myrtle Beach and is willing to travel to
serve clients across the country and around the world.
Cotton began her career in Pittsburgh in the 1970s teaching
speed reading with Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics. She soon
branched out to create her first consulting firm, which combined
speed reading with other key business skills: memory training, time
management, listening and speaking skills, and more.
Cotton then worked for Dale Carnegie where she honed her sales
skills before entering the media industry. There, she worked in
radio, television, newspaper and magazines, finding success first as
an account executive and later as a manager heralded for her ability
to lead her sales teams to record success.
"My passion has always been working with individuals and
companies as a catalyst to help them perform better. I thought the
consulting firm was a great way to combine the two careers I've had
in sales and training," Cotton said. "It's very natural that all of this
experience has come full circle and now I can help others achieve
success."
Cotton & Co.'s services include sales and sales management
training, as well as training in: leadership, time management,
personality profi ling for hiring and management, public speaking
and presentation skills, speed reading and memory training. Cotton
also offers motivational talks, media consultation and buying
services, as well as copy writing and graphic design.
While you may not think your business is "sales," sales skills are
beneficial no matter what line of work you are in.
"Selling is a combination of skills, attitude and knowledge,"
Cotton said. "You have to know the basics of your field. That is the
foundation. Then you have to have the skills and the right attitude
to sell an idea to your boss, sell a product to a client, or sell a new
process to employees."
The impact Cotton & Co. can have doesn't stop at the workplace.
"When people can achieve something they never thought they
could do, it gives them a huge sense of power. It enters into every
aspect of their lives," Cotton said. "It did for me personally and
that's why I am so passionate about this field. I don't change people,
but I educate, inspire, motivate and provide an environment for
them to be able to grow and thus change themselves. And that is
the most rewarding thing I have ever done!"
For more information on Margaret Cotton, click here.
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