THE VENDOR WHO SOLD ME MY OWN SALES STRATEGY Some other day, I was cruising through 7th Street, minding my business, feeling like a real entrepreneur with my tinted windows and motivational playlist pumping. So I decided to stop by Redan service station. To get fuel , that’s when it happened. Out of nowhere, a street vendor walked up to my window, gave a humble salute and said: “The Chartered Vendor! How are you, big man?” Wait... what? The Charm Offensive Begins Before I could even reply, he called to his fellow vendors like a village elder summoning his people: “Come! Come and see this man. This man is a great man. I read his book!” He stepped back and gave me that look—like I was Moses and he was just grateful to be at the mountain. Now, look. I’ve done sales trainings, trained entrepreneurs, and written books. But I’ve never seen my own sales psychology used against me this masterfully. This vendor, ladies and gentlemen, built rapport like a TED Talk graduate. And Then Came the Closer… When the other vendors had cleared (probably wondering if I was a local version of Jeff Bezos), the man leaned in like a pastor about to drop revelation and said: “Big brother… I’m selling these perfumes. They’re car fragrances. Just $10 each. I only have these two left. Will you not support me?” Let me tell you something: after such praise, after such public announcement of my greatness, saying no felt like a crime against Ubuntu. I smiled, reached into my pocket, and gave him $20. Two car perfumes in hand, he gave me a handshake like I had just funded his startup. But Deep Down… I Knew As I drove off, I looked at the packaging. Hmm. Something told me these perfumes were not imported from Dubai. They were the same ones that go for $3 each in town. But could I complain? No. Why? Because this vendor played the sales game better than most people with marketing degrees. He used the same principles we preach in boardrooms: • Build rapport • Compliment your client (genuinely or theatrically) • Create urgency ("Only two left!") • Ask for the sale with confidence What I Learned (Again) from the Streets This wasn’t just a transaction. It was a masterclass in African street sales. It reminded me that: • The street vendor hustle is real. • A good story sells better than a product. • And ego is a budget line—once it’s flattered, the wallet opens. So the next time someone tells you that you need suits, slides, and a website to succeed in sales, tell them this story. Sometimes, all it takes is: • A Redan service station, • Two cheap car perfumes, • And a solid understanding of human psychology. Because in Africa, even the guy with no shop, no tie, no Wi-Fi… might just outsell the guy with an MBA. #thecharteredvendor #sellinglikeavendor #entreprenuership #salesstartegy