In the High Flyers spotlight this week is Colm Flanagan, area sales manager for CT1 Ireland
Do you have a typical working day?
My role is business to business. Liaising with local stockists and major commercial partners within the construction industry to build and secure CT1 as the number one sealant and adhesive on the market.
What qualifications do you have?
Sales assistant at O2 communication. Progressed to sales manager at Pallas food in which I was part of a major food distribution for seven years. For the last three years I have been working in B2B structure. Building and developing C-TEC (The CT1 People) in the Island of Ireland.
Best achievement?
Over the past three years I have been building and developing our company C-TEC Ireland and our brand CT1 in the market. Due to my successes, I have been appointed a Builders Merchant Federation Ambassador representing the industry, helping to develop talents and inspiring younger people coming into the sector.
What other skills do you need in your role?
The obvious ones are sales management, negotiation, strategy, marketing and presentation skills, but having strong inter-personal skills, ambition and the drive and determination to achieve goals are key attributes for success in my role.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Dealing with people and building strong long-lasting relationships with them on a professional and personal level.
And the worst?
This role is the best career choice I’ve made, but with every successfully growing business it’s striking the balance between selling, merchandising, account management and admin during very busy days.
What do you think are the greatest challenges/pressures of the job?
Driving growth and constantly delivering targets to ensure C-Tec Ireland and CT1 continues to develop and grow in a professional manner.
What did you want to be when you were at school?
I always enjoyed the thought of active manual work alongside nature, so I actually wanted to be a forester.
What advice would you give someone considering a career in your profession?
Sales is a great professional to work in, and with the right attitude and application you go anywhere in the world and earn as much as you want. Whatever the product involved people buy from people.
What’s the most common question people ask when they find out what you do?
When I meet people outside the industry they will ask ‘CT1, What is it?’ Of course, my reply is that CT1 is The Number 1 Sealant and Adhesive on the market. Inside our industry it’s normally either ‘Can I be a stockist?’ or ‘Where is my closest stockist?’
How do you like to relax outside work?
After hanging my football boots up at inter county levels with Down, I now play gaelic and soccer at club level. But most importantly I love spending quality time with my wife and young family.
