Kate Plowright (linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-plowright-mih-ab08b530/ )
With hands on experience of proactive and reactive sales along with event organisation and people management, Kate launched Selling Savvy in 2018 because she is passionate about supporting businesses to succeed.
Kate and the team deliver effective group workshops and one-to-one mentoring that gives team members the opportunity to be empowered and accountable to make the right strategic decisions.
What inspired you to move into your current position?
I have always been a geek when it comes to training. Even when I had just started in the industry, I went out of my way to soak up as much knowledge as possible!
Admitting my inner geek, I launched a hotel sales training company in September 2018 but quickly realised that the usual adhoc, long training days were not getting the changes that were required to improve procedures and conversion. Attendees struggled to concentrate when they were part of one long training day, and 3 months later they had forgotten everything they learned.
Off the back off this learning curve, Selling Savvy was born 6 months later offering a new and dynamic training structure. Our short-burst sessions are lively, extremely interactive and jam-packed with learnings and we include Accountability Sessions with each booking.
During the pandemic we were able to diversify into the wider event industry and now work with hotels, venues, event suppliers, organisers, and agents. It is a privilege to support so many businesses to grow and I think I have the best job in the world!
Things you’ve learned from the Covid lockdown?
I have learnt so much about my business, myself and what works best for me. Some key lockdown takeaways for me are:
- That it is ok to be holistically and authentically me, and that will get me further than trying to be someone I’m not. I bring my whole self to work and to all relationships (colleagues and clients) and this means my job never feels like ‘work’!
- I learnt to always aim high with aspirations, prospects, and collaborations! I have been surprised and humbled at how generous people are with their time and support.
- That I should always believe in myself! I take a deep breath and step out of my comfort zone and to my surprise, people don’t laugh, they complement!
- Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned: I need to just keep going and never give up
Best client you have ever worked with?
This is really hard to choose because so many of our clients are genuine friends now! I do have one wonderful client who I have work with for a year now, and we have just completely re-written their business structure and sales processes. That brought out the inner geek in me and was so much fun! Plus, we did lots of brainstorming over Aperol Spritz…
Biggest client you have ever worked with?
We’ve worked with some amazing businesses, organisations, and associations in the past. Our largest sign-up for an event was when I did a session in March for Visit Britain on selling hybrid events. We had 400 people register. I totally wasn’t nervous at all…..eek!
What are 5 things on your bucket list?
- Take my son to India where my husband and I built a school many years ago
- Buy a bigger house with a big garden (and then get a gardener…!)
- See more of the world. Asia is our favourite place in the world, but there are so many more countries to experience!
- Get a tattoo
- Grow the business to 15 Associates across the country and successfully launch in another country
“You’d do anything for love, but you wouldn’t do…?”
Jump out of a plane. Noooo thank you!
If money wasn’t a factor, how would you spend the rest of your life?
I would buy a bigger house as a base but spend lots of time traveling with my family and friends. I wouldn’t stop working though – I love it too much!
Who is your hero?
My dad. He had a successful business when I was growing up and when he sold it, he invested half the money, and created his own charity with the other half. He has now passed away and I am trustee of the charity. He will always be my hero, and I wish he could see what I’m trying to do now. I hope he is proud.
What social issue is important to you?
I am extremely passionate and actively learning more about the Black Lives Matter movement and systemic racism within our society. I would consider myself an ally and am keen to understand as much as possible, to try not to make mistakes myself and within my business.
Last summer I did an interview with Ashanti Bentil-Dhue from EventMind called ‘Questions white people are too afraid to ask.’ Link is here to watch – https://youtu.be/bT7cjcyLP1I
What cheers you up?
Wine and Pizza. Doesn’t that cheer everyone up?!
What is the last item you purchased?
Flowers for the house!
What is your biggest fear?
Clowns. I HATE them!!
If you could be any character from a film, who would you be?
At the risk of sounding silly… I have seen surprisingly few films! I only saw Home Alone for the first time when I was 30, and I still haven’t seen Back to the Future! Maybe if I could choose a Love Island personality…..
If you could have one super power what would it be?
Give the world a final date of when COVID will be over (preferably tomorrow!!) so that we can all get on with our lives and businesses!
Name something you would like to change about the events industry?
I would like to change the way it is perceived by outsiders. We are an amazing group of entrepreneurial, creative, fun-loving, and extremely hardworking people, and I don’t think the industry gets enough kudos for that.
Name one of your most embarrassing moments?
During an important meeting with a potential client to win a large piece of business, my 3-year-old burst into my office with no clothes on shouting ‘MUMMY I NEED TO WEE!!!’
Quick reactions to hide his dignity and excuse myself whilst I shimmied him out of the room back to my husband! Luckily, the client just laughed, and we won the business anyway!
What is your life motto?
Good things never happen in comfort zones! I try and live every day by it
Do you have any hidden talents?
I used to play Violin Grade 8 and Piano Grade 4. Plus, I played Saxophone and Clarinet. That was a while ago though…!
Name your 3 favourite restaurants?
- The Brasserie at Aviator Hotel. I used to work at the hotel and the steak, red wine jus and triple cooked chips are second to none!
- Jeitta in Woking. A Lebanese restaurant with incredible small dishes, plus it’s BYOB!
- Giggling Squid. I’m a sucker for a good Red Thai Curry
Name the greatest event you have ever been to?
Can I choose my own wedding!? Beautiful venue (Hotel du Vin in Henley), incredible food, excellent band and of course we were the last 2 standing at 5am!
Your website:
www.sellingsavvy.co.uk
kate@sellingsavvy.co.uk
