Applications for 17th consecutive SLIM-NASCO awards now open

By Asnah Anver

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) last Friday announced the opening of entries for its National Sales Congress (NASCO) annual awards. 

At a participants’ briefing, SLIM invited and urged companies to champion its sales teams by nominating personnel for the prestigious awards. Applications close on 6 June and the Gala Award Ceremony is scheduled to be held in October.

NASCO is a premier event dedicated to the efforts and performance of sales personnel and serves as a platform for companies to identify their top sales performers and motivate the sales personnel to reach higher.

Organised for the 17th consecutive year, NASCO awards are presented in 15 diverse business sectors under which territorial managers, sales executives/sales supervisors and front liners are recognised. Under these categories and levels, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are provided. In addition, best female sales personnel are also awarded under each category. Business sectors under consideration include Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Financial Services and Banking, Industrial, Media, Consumer Durables, Telecommunication, Fashion and Clothing, Healthcare, Modern Retail, Travel and Leisure, Insurance, Alcohol and Tobacco, and Corporate Selling. 

SLIM President Karthik Elangovan commented, “SLIM is delighted to invite entries for NASCO 2017 to recognise and reward outstanding sales personnel from diverse sectors who make an immense contribution to their company’s success.”

He added, “The objective of NASCO Awards is to motivate and nurture the sales fraternity of the country by enhancing their learning curve in salesmanship. These awards also serve to facilitate cross industry sales learning, impart greater exposure to the country’s sales professionals, build confidence among the wide spectrum of participants and comprehensively develop the leadership and presentation skills of the participants. Winning a NASCO award can enhance careers of those nominated as it reflects the value that the company places on them. We expect NASCO 2017 to be an exciting platform for the sales fraternity to network amongst themselves and celebrate their noteworthy sales achievements.”

Elangovan, further emphasised the importance of human to human contact that personal sales provide, particularly in today’s complex digital world while noting that the sales personnel of the future must have a holistic thinking.

SLIM-NASCO Head of the Judging Panel Stephen Paulraj emphasised the importance of sales in light of the macro situation of the country wherein Sri Lanka is witnessing a high level of retail growth. “The selling is important. It is each organisation’s moment of truth where the ideas of the organisation are turned to cash,” Paulraj stated while noting that NASCO’s role is thus all the more important.

Speaking on the growth of the awards, Paulraj stated, “Nine years ago when revamping, the thinking was let us put the foundation right.” 

A testament to its growth in stature since, last year NASCO received 500 entries.  Paulraj emphasised that the focus in terms of applicants and judges is on quality as, “This is the need of the environment.” While last year there were 22 judges on the panel, this year SLIM-NASCO has upped the game to include 30 judges on the panel. These judges will not only be selecting winners, Paulraj stated, but leaders “who can take charge tomorrow.” Paulraj also stated that in response to the growing demand, the categories under consideration have also expanded from 19 last year to 22 this year, to include tourism, real estate, and shipping and freight. Furthermore, Elangovan added that as the focus this year is on quality of the applicants as opposed to the quantity, the Awards is targeting 550 applications, only a slight increase from last year. 

Organisations can nominate up to two persons under the territorial managers sector, four under sales executives/sales supervisors, and seven under front liners. The period of performance review for the entries is 1 January 2016-31 December 2016 or the financial year of 1 March 2016-31 March 2017. Limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships duly registered and carrying on businesses in Sri Lanka can submit entries for the awards. The review process once the applications come in would include an interview with the panel of judges and for the senior level applicants, a presentation as well. 

As the national body of marketing, SLIM has been in the forefront in fostering marketing knowledge and best practices in the country, and SLIM- NASCO is the only national event that recognises and rewards sales personnel covering a spectrum of business sectors. 

SLIM- NASCO 2017 is sponsored by Singer, Mobitel, Litro gas and Sanstha cement.