29 - Putting the feelers out
Language for making a cold call
Paul wants the team to make some cold calls to find out who is buying plastic fruit but this is a new challenge for Anna who has to warm up her cold calling skills.
Intermediate · 170118 · 2017-01-18
Paul wants the team to make some cold calls to find out who is buying plastic fruit but this is a new challenge for Anna who has to warm up her cold calling skills. Language for making a cold call This episode focuses on what to say when making a cold call to a prospective client.
1. My name is Anna. Can you spare a few minutes of your time?
BBC UK: My name is Anna. Can you spare a few minutes of your time?
2. I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit
BBC UK: I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit
3. How much plastic fruit do you buy?
BBC UK: How much plastic fruit do you buy?
4. Thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon.
BBC UK: Thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon.
1. Narrator
Bye bye Mr. Socrates. He’s flying back to America leaving Tip Top Trading’s London team trying to work out how best to focus their business on the European market.
BBC UK: Bye bye Mr Socrates. He’s flying back to America leaving Tip Top Trading’s London team trying to work out how best to focus their business on the European market.
2. Paul
Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to go to the airport with Mr. Socrates to see him off. We had a good chat in the taxi and he said some very positive things.
BBC UK: Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to go to the airport with Mr Socrates to see him off. We had a good chat in the taxi and he said some very positive things.
3. Denise
Oh yes. Like what?
BBC UK: Oh yes. Like what?
4. Paul
Uh, well... well, how nice English beer is.
BBC UK: Err, well… well, how nice English beer is.
5. Tom
Yeah but what about the European marketing strategy - what are we going to do about that?
BBC UK: Yeah but what about the European marketing strategy – what are we going to do about that?
6. Paul
Well, Anna is supposed to lead on that, I’m taking a more cookieorial control over it.
BBC UK: Well, Anna is supposed to lead on that, I’m taking a more biscuitorial control over it.
7. Anna
A what?
BBC UK: A what?
8. Tom
It means you do all the work while he eats all the cookies!
BBC UK: It means you do all the work while he eats all the biscuits!
9. Paul
Do you mind Tom. Now, what I’m thinking is we put the feelers out - do some cold calling, see what people are buying at the moment.
BBC UK: Do you mind Tom. Now, what I’m thinking is we put the feelers out – do some cold calling, see what people are buying at the moment.
10. Anna
Cold calling? But I like to be warm when I’m on the phone.
BBC UK: Cold calling? But I like to be warm when I’m on the phone.
11. Denise
No Anna. Cold calling is when you call prospective clients when they’re not expecting you to, to ask them something or to sell them something. I’m very good at calling people.
BBC UK: No Anna. Cold calling is when you call prospective clients when they’re not expecting you to, to ask them something or to sell them something. I’m very good at calling people.
12. Tom
Yeah, usually the hair dresser! So Paul, where do we begin, who do we call first?
BBC UK: Yeah, usually the hair dresser! So Paul, where do we begin, who do we call first?
13. Paul
Track down some potential clients in Europe, see what they’re buying now, see what they want in the future. Make them think it’s our laser-curved fruit they want!
BBC UK: Track down some potential clients in Europe, see what they’re buying now, see what they want in the future. Make them think it’s our laser-curved fruit they want!
14. Denise
But keep your calls brief, international calls are very expensive.
BBC UK: But keep your calls brief, international calls are very expensive.
15. Narrator
Okay Anna, it’s time to cold call. What are you going to say?
BBC UK: OK Anna, it’s time to cold call. What are you going to say?
16. Anna
I don’t know.
BBC UK: I don’t know.
17. Narrator
Find someone to call, then be pleasant and polite. When you call, ask to speak to the person who deals with buying or purchasing. And then ask that person if they could spare a few minutes of their time.
BBC UK: Find someone to call, then be pleasant and polite. When you call, ask to speak to the person who deals with buying or purchasing. And then ask that person if they could spare a few minutes of their time.
18. Anna
Okay. Here goes. (Looking through a telephone directory) Let’s have a look... fruit growers, fruit pickers, fruit traders... Fruit Traders International... (Dials number) 0-0-4-3-9-8-4-5-5-4-4.
BBC UK: OK. Here goes. (Looking through a telephone directory) Let’s have a look… fruit growers, fruit pickers, fruit traders… Fruit Traders International… (Dials number) 0-0-4-3-9-8-4-5-5-4-4.
19. Trader
Bonjour?
BBC UK: Bonjour?
20. Anna
(surprised) Ah, um, oh....
BBC UK: (surprised) Ah, erm, oh….
21. Narrator
Don’t be surprised! You’ve called a company in France, they speak French. Just ask if it’s okay to speak English.
BBC UK: Don’t be surprised! You’ve called a company in France, they speak French. Just ask if it’s OK to speak English.
22. Anna
Oh hello. Is it possible to speak to you in English?
BBC UK: Oh hello. Is it possible to speak to you in English?
23. Trader
Oui... yes.
BBC UK: Oui… yes.
24. Anna
Great. Are you the person who purchases plastic fruit for your company?
BBC UK: Great. Are you the person who purchases plastic fruit for your company?
25. Trader
I am. How can I help you?
BBC UK: I am. How can I help you?
26. Anna
Yes, can you spare a few minutes of your time? I want to sell you some laser-curved fruit.
BBC UK: Yes, can you spare a few minutes of your time? I want to sell you some laser-curved fruit.
27. Trader
What?!
BBC UK: What?!
28. Narrator
That’s a bit direct Anna. Slow down and tell them your name and why you’re calling. Find out something about them. Maybe say “I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit”. Ask them “How much plastic fruit do you buy?” and at the end of the call say “thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon.” Give it a go Anna.
BBC UK: That’s a bit direct Anna. Slow down and tell them your name and why you’re calling. Find out something about them. Maybe say “I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit”. Ask them “How much plastic fruit do you buy?” and at the end of the call say “thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon.” Give it a go Anna.
29. Anna
Okay. Um... hello my name is Anna. How are you today?
BBC UK: OK. Erm… hello my name is Anna. How are you today?
30. Trader
Good thank you.
BBC UK: Good thank you.
31. Anna
That’s good. I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit.
BBC UK: That’s good. I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit.
32. Trader
Oh yes.
BBC UK: Oh yes.
33. Anna
Our company is called Tip Top Trading and we are the UK’s number 1 plastic fruit manufacturer - and well, we’re so proud of our fruit that we’ve decided to let the rest of Europe enjoy it too.
BBC UK: Our company is called Tip Top Trading and we are the UK’s number 1 plastic fruit manufacturer – and well, we’re so proud of our fruit that we’ve decided to let the rest of Europe enjoy it too.
34. Narrator
Very good Anna!
BBC UK: Very good Anna!
35. Anna
We make our fruit using laser-curved technology. In fact we’ve just launched our best product ever, the Imperial Lemon - it looks so real you want to squeeze it.
BBC UK: We make our fruit using laser-curved technology. In fact we’ve just launched our best product ever, the Imperial Lemon – it looks so real you want to squeeze it.
36. Trader
Hmm, lemons, interesting.
BBC UK: Hmm, lemons, interesting.
37. Narrator
Anna’s got the hang of this - she’s on fire - I mean, she’s doing really well. Her cold calling technique has really warmed up. She’s pitched the products now she needs to sell.
BBC UK: Anna’s got the hang of this – she’s on fire – I mean, she’s doing really well. Her cold calling technique has really warmed up. She’s pitched the products now she needs to sell.
38. Anna
...so thank you for your time. I hope you may consider us when you next purchase some plastic fruit.
BBC UK: …so thank you for your time. I hope you may consider us when you next purchase some plastic fruit.
39. Trader
We will certainly consider your company.
BBC UK: We will certainly consider your company.
40. Anna
Well we hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye (puts phone down). Tom, Tom, how are you getting on?
BBC UK: Well we hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye (puts phone down). Tom, Tom, how are you getting on?
41. Tom
(On phone/angry) ...well if that’s what you think then you can shove your kumquats... hello? Hello? (Slams phone down)
BBC UK: (On phone/angry) …well if that’s what you think then you can shove your kumquats… hello? Hello? (Slams phone down)
42. Anna
What’s wrong?
BBC UK: What’s wrong?
43. Tom
They’ve hung up on me. Really! He said the plastic fruit industry is in meltdown. But Anna, if I don’t get any contracts soon I’ll be fired.
BBC UK: They’ve hung up on me. Really! He said the plastic fruit industry is in meltdown. But Anna, if I don’t get any contracts soon I’ll be fired.
44. Anna
Well, this calls for teamwork Tom - tomorrow, Tuesday, we’re going to tackle this task - together!
BBC UK: Well, this calls for teamwork Tom – tomorrow, Tuesday, we’re going to tackle this task – together!
45. Narrator
Hooray for Anna. Now she’s sounding like a leader. And she’s mastered cold calling by using some simple phrases, like these: My name is Anna. Can you spare a few minutes of your time? I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit How much plastic fruit do you buy? Thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon. Phone rings
BBC UK: Hooray for Anna. Now she’s sounding like a leader. And she’s mastered cold calling by using some simple phrases, like these: My name is Anna. Can you spare a few minutes of your time? I’d like to tell you about our great new laser-curved fruit How much plastic fruit do you buy? Thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon. Phone rings
46. Denise
Anna. There’s a call for you, from someone in France, they want to talk to you about lemons.
BBC UK: Anna. There’s a call for you, from someone in France, they want to talk to you about lemons.
47. Narrator
Sounds promising. Find out what happens next time on English at Work. Bye.
BBC UK: Sounds promising. Find out what happens next time on English at Work. Bye.
Question
What does Denise say she is very good at?
Answer
Cold calling people.