Big Red Expands 4G LTE Yet Again
Posted on 22. Jun, 2011 by Scott Sutton in 4G LTE
July 21st will bring 4G LTE to many more cities that include:
Portland, OR- Toledo, OH
- Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham, NC
- Maui, HI
- Wichita, KS
- And Cellular Sales’ hometown, Knoxville, TN.
Coverage will also be expanding in these existing markets: Seattle, Louisville, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas.
Read on here.
Getting to Know Cellular Sales – Brian Snyder – South Georgia
Posted on 18. May, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Getting to Know Cellular Sales
Brian Snyder of Cellular Sales sits down with the Cellular Sales Blog.
What is your title? Regional Director- South Georgia Market
How long have you worked with the company? I’ve been with Cellular Sales since 1996.
What is it your role within Cellular Sales? Support our sales representatives, develop future leaders, and expand our operations.
Please tell me about your most rewarding experience. My most rewarding experience is one that I’m so fortunate repeats itself time and time again. Being someone whose life was forever changed by this company, and the reward is watching it happen to so many others. I enjoy hearing the heart-felt stories from our team about how this opportunity has helped them achieve life goals and to live a lifestyle they never knew was possible is something that I will always cherish.
What do you like best about working with Cellular Sales? The people! I’m so blessed to be working with some of the most talented and passionate people I have ever met. They have all helped me in so many ways and continue to do so to this day.
What makes Cellular Sales such a special company to work with? The opportunity this company provides is unparalleled in business today. The experience of owning your own company, building your business, and doing it with minimal investment is truly what makes this company special. The concept of being a sales representative and reaping the benefits of your hard work with no income ceiling is a rare business model, which we are very fortunate to have.
What’s different about it from other companies? The differentiator is that we are an “upside down” company. The decisions made in this company are always decided by one simple question, “is it in the best interest of our sales representatives?” If the answer is “no”, we don’t do it!
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had? While in college, I played a Sunday night gig at Hannah’s in Knoxville. I NEVER MADE A DIME! My wonderful friends all assumed I got free beer, so they all put their drinks on my tab. By the end of the night, I paid Hannah’s for the privilege to play. Funny, the number of friends coming to the shows went down as the responsibility for paying their own tabs went up! It really was a great experience, though…
Are you married? Yes. She’s the very talented and beautiful Director of Recruiting for this company!
Do you have kids? We have two children, Bennett and Lauren.
What do you like to do with your family? We love to travel, but mostly we enjoy just hanging out and being silly with each other. Dinner time is a big event in my house!
What are your hobbies? Running, working out, playing golf, and playing the guitar.
Do you have a funny story about working at Cellular Sales? Several years ago I was working our Farragut, TN location when a sixty year old man walked in around 8 am. The gentleman threw his phone at me, walked out, then proceeded to start shadow boxing in the parking lot. He was yelling at me that all phones should be water-proof and that he was upset someone else had told him he needed to purchase a new phone. He wanted to “make someone pay”. After repeated attempts to try and calm him down his wife grabbed him and threw him in the car. Good thing, he looked like he would’ve given me a good whippin’!
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you have to have with you? A guitar, a lifetime supply of matches, and a solar powered iPad.
Getting to Know Cellular Sales – Adam Mosley – East Tennessee
Posted on 11. May, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Getting to Know Cellular Sales
Adam Mosley of the East Tennessee market of Cellular Sales sits down with the Cellular Sales Blog.
What is your title? I am the Recruiting Coordinator in East Tennessee. I also do sales as well.
How long have you worked with the company? I have been with Cellular Sales since August 2007.
What is it your role within Cellular Sales? As the Recruiting Coordinator in East Tennessee, I go out and actively recruit future sales reps. I look for the many qualities it takes to be in our company. I also source online websites (CareerBuilder/ Sales Gravy) and I am also part of BNI in East Tennessee.
Please tell me about your most rewarding experience. Probably the most rewarding experience was being appointed as the Recruiting Coordinator. It was great to know that the hard work I put in, not only mentoring new reps but all my efforts, was being rewarded. I knew that at that point I was going somewhere with the company. My overall goal of becoming a Recruiting Coordinator was able to be met through the hard work I gave the company.
What do you like best about working with Cellular Sales? The things that drew me to Cellular Sales were the flexibility and the entrepreneurial drive found in the other contractors. I‘ve always wanted to own my own my business and this company has provided me the ability to do so. It is also a great way to connect to the community. Working with Cellular Sales is an everlasting relationship with like-minded business professionals. It gives me great satisfaction to work with this company.
What makes Cellular Sales such a special company to work with? I think Cellular Sales is special in that, unlike many large corporations, Cellular Sales is able to hold on to a family-like community. That’s what I truly love about it. It’s the feeling of family within the company. Today, in lots of companies, you can put in the extra hard work but still get paid exactly what the next guy earns, who hasn’t been working as hard as you have. With Cellular Sales I can control the success of my own business.
What’s different about it from other companies? By contracting with Cellular Sales you are able to control your own destiny. The flexibility lets you not only work on the sales floor but also work with charities and other organization within the community.
Are there any obstacles you face at work? Being a business owner you are always faced with obstacles. To be a successful business owner in this economy you have to be always thinking outside the box and Cellular Sales provides me that opportunity.
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had? I would have to say farming as a teenager.
Are you married? Yes, I am married.
Do you have kids? I have no kids but I have a Bullmastiff named Lucca.
What are your hobbies? Golfing, fishing and anything sports related.
Have you ever met anyone famous? If so, who? I have met Bill and Hillary Clinton. I have also met Peyton Manning.
Do you have a funny story about working at Cellular Sales? I was working on an account and had a customer call in that needed a phone delivered to him. While delivering the phone I found out he was a caretaker for an elderly man. Sometime between the caretaker answering the door and letting me in, I noticed that the elderly man had managed to disrobe all his clothes while the caretaker was talking to me. I immediately turned, walked out and finished talking to the caretaker on the front porch. That’s was most the uncomfortable situation I’ve ever been in.
Whit Pfohl – Getting to Know Cellular Sales – Texas
Posted on 02. May, 2011 by Scott Sutton in Getting to Know Cellular Sales
Whit Pfohl of Cellular Sales North Texas sits down with the Cellular Sales Blog.
What is your title? Regional Director North Texas Market
How long have you worked for the company? Since January of 2003.
What is it your role within Cellular Sales? I manage the 14 locations that the North Texas area currently has. I also find new contractors to sell Verizon Wireless products and services to the North Texas and Oklahoma regions.
Please tell me about your most rewarding or satisfying experience, your proudest moment, since you joined the company. Through being a very successful sales rep in the Knoxville market, I was given the opportunity to become a Regional Director in the North Texas market in 2005.
What do you like best about working with Cellular Sales? It’s the people I work with! This company has the best reps and everyone is so great to work with.
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had? I have to say probably being a drummer for Gran Torino and traveling United States.
Are you married? Yes, to Stephanie Pfohl.
Do you have kids? Yes, one son named Bonham.
What do you enjoy doing with your family? Grilling out with friends and taking the dogs to the park with Bonham.
What are your hobbies? I enjoy running, playing drums and riding my motorcycle.
Have you ever met anyone famous? If so, who? Yes, Michael Irving and Emmitt Smith! I sold them some phones when they came in the store one day. I’ve also met a bunch of musicians from all the days of traveling with Gran Torino, but there are too many to list.
Getting To Know Cellular Sales – Alfred Millikan – Knoxville, TN
Posted on 28. Feb, 2011 by Jay Witherspoon in Cellular Sales News, Getting to Know Cellular Sales, Uncategorized
ALFRED MILLIKAN – KNOXVILLE, TN
What is your title?
I call myself a Wireless Lifestyle Consultant.
How long have you worked with the company?
I started August 24th, 2010.
What is it your role within Cellular Sales?
I want to make sure that everyone’s wireless is set up for their needs and lifestyle. Whether it is a wireless handset, mobile broadband connection, personalized price plans or general all around customer service, I will find exactly what the customer needs. From businesses to friends and family, I want to make sure everyone’s needs are met.
Please tell me about your most rewarding or satisfying experience, your proudest moment, since you joined the company.
My most rewarding experience to date was when my team leader called me up as being #6 on the leader-board across the market and that was my third month of working with Cellular Sales.
What makes Cellular Sales such a special company to work for?
One of the things I really like is meeting customers. Everyone is different and each day is different. Internally, the team I work with is outstanding. Everyone is motivated to do their best and make a good living. The job is a lot more complicated than people give us credit for and we all do our best to find solutions to our customer’s needs.
What do you like best about working for Cellular Sales?
The location change is one the best things. I love going to different stores each day. There is no monotony and every day isn’t cookie cutter. There is nothing that is standard and no day is ever typical.
Are there any obstacles you face at work?
Not that I’ve seen so far. The only obstacle I see is keeping the drive alive and that is not a problem for me.
Do you have a funny story about working at Cellular Sales?
Having lived out West for so many years, I’ve forgotten about the local dialect in East Tennessee. For example, I had a customer come in the store and say “Hey, youins got any of them free cell phones youins got advertised on your website”? It’s great to be home and I love East, TN but the dialect brings me back to reality.
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I’ve worked in the Alpine ski industry in the past. I was everything from a ski tech at a shop to a sales exec from American Ski Company.
What are your hobbies?
I build, repair and play electric guitars and I love live music. I also used to travel around following the Dead and other live bands. I’m also an ex-pro Alpine snow skier and mountain biker.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you have to have with you?
I would have my laptop with satellite wifi, an acoustic guitar and a big supply of mouthwash.
If a phone was named after you, what would it be called?
Phatty Phone
And finally….Droid or iPhone?
Droid X, all the way!
Cellular Sales Expansion Continues…
Posted on 26. Aug, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Cellular Sales News, Wireless Industry
From RCR Wireless:
VZW retailer to hire hundreds as part of $6M expansion
Cellular Sales, an authorized Verizon Wireless retailer, said it is expanding into Florida and Tennessee over the next four months, including opening a call center that plans to staff at least 350 employees, as part of a $6 million expansion effort.
Visit CellularSales.com for more information.
Cellular Sales’ Knoxville Jobs Announcement Sparks Massive Interest.
Posted on 02. Aug, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Cellular Sales News
Photo Courtesy KnoxNews.com
Call Center Growth
Cellular Sales had an amazing response to our announcement that we’d be adding jobs to the Knoxville, TN area. In the days immediately following the announcement, we received over 1,000 applications. The positions are being filled as the call center ramps up. It’s obvious that a lot of people are looking for work, and we’re glad to be able to provide some positions and help out families who need the opportunity.
One of the newest programs in our national call center is a customer satisfaction follow-up program where we call every customer within 48 hours of buying a new phone. This call is made to make sure everything is going all right with the customer’s new phone and to score their experience with the wireless expert who sold them their phone. It’s being received very well so far, driving down returns and reinforcing the right behaviors at the point of sale. No matter how good you are at these things, you can always get better.
How Sweet The Sound | A Verizon Experience
In un-related news, Verizon recently wrapped up the voting in its search for the best church choir in America. Now the winners will go on tour and you should check them out if you have the chance. Here’s the schedule.
Cellular Sales Adding 200-250 New Jobs in Knoxville, TN
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Cellular Sales News
Photo Courtesy KnoxNews.com
We had quite the media turnout yesterday at our new National Call Center! Cellular Sales is planning to add 200-250 jobs at our National Call Center in Knoxville, TN. That’s big news these days, and we’re proud to be providing jobs in a down economy.
In case you wanted to know the equation for our success, here it is…
We sell the best product: Verizon. We cultivate our greatest resource: our people. We do our best to keep a happy boss: our customers. That’s the long and short of it.
Here’s some media coverage we got in Knoxville:
Knoxville News Sentinel
WBIR
WATE
WVLT
Thanks also to Ackermann PR, who do such a great job for us.
-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising, Cellular Sales
Cellular Sales Events Team: Delivering The Showroom To Customers
Posted on 26. May, 2010 by Jay Witherspoon in Cellular Sales News, Events, Wireless Industry
Check out the video we put together, with the help of our friends at Cobblestone Entertainment, for The Main Event that happened in Knoxville, TN back on May 12. Mobile showrooms were delivered and sweat flowed as events teams from across the country set up their exhibits, tested all the parts, and shared tips and tricks for how to put on a successful mobile wireless sales event.
Happy 300th, Cellular Sales!
Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Cellular Sales in Cellular Sales News
Cellular Sales celebrated the opening of its 300th location in Maryville, TN on Wednesday. Check out a few video highlights below, created quickly with the help of our friends at Cobblestone Entertainment. The event celebrated a big milestone for a great company made up of great people. Alec Rankine, a Regional Director for Cellular Sales, said of the event, “Thanks to our customers and everyone in the Cellular Sales family for making it all possible!
Check out our grand opening specials (PDF) if you’re in the area.
Save The Date: June 25, 2010 – SOAR Ministries Charity Golf Event
Posted on 16. Apr, 2010 by Cellular Sales in Cellular Sales News
Some of the kids have fun with a volunteer before they go swimming (photo from last summer).
On June 25, Cellular Sales will help put on a charity golf event at Avalon Landmark Golf Club for one of our favorite organizations, SOAR Ministries. SOAR works with inner city youth in Knoxville, TN to meet their spiritual, educational, and recreational needs. The group does an amazing job at giving a lot of our inner city kids something productive and meaningful to do with their time in the summer and after school, to help keep the kids on track. Cellular Sales is a proud supporter of SOAR Ministries, and looks forward to continuing to bolster its efforts and raise up the communities in which it operates. If you’re interested in sponsoring or learning more about the golf event, please call (865) 583-8220 and ask for Kay Rinehart.
-Jay Witherspoon, Director of Advertising
Knoxville's New Training Center
Posted on 27. Mar, 2009 by Cellular Sales in Cellular Sales News
- New Training Center Chapman Hwy
Cellular Sales of Knoxville’s New Training Center Located on Chapman Hwy. More details to come….
Cellular Sales CEO Dane Scism Announces Call Center Expansion
Posted on 13. Nov, 2008 by Cellular Sales in Cellular Sales News
Dane Scism, CEO of Cellular Sales, the Knoxville-based Verizon Wireless retailer, announced the opening of its newly expanded call center on N Broadway St in Knoxville this month.
The expansion comes amidst flagging sales and gloomy forecasts for the economy at large. Cellular Sales attributes its growth in such times to Verizon Wireless’ solid infrastructure and the personalized service its sales representatives provide.
The call center is one way the Verizon Wireless retailer reaches out to its customer base, by calling with special offers and ways to save money on wireless bills. Operators call customers eligible for upgrades and customers whose habits with their wireless devices might be costing them more than is necessary. ”This is what Cellular Sales is all about. Bringing the best experience straight to the customer. This call center will make a great addition to Cellular Sales.”, said Alec Rankine, a Cellular Sales Regional Director.
“Just like at every one of our stores, we try to make sure people have the right service plan, which saves them money. Making sure a customer is in the right text message plan or letting them know they’re going over their minutes can save a lot of overage charges, and that can make somebody’s day,” explains Lyle Harris, who heads the call center, which shares space with a retail location at 5034 N Broadway St. The store and call center have expanded into the adjacent space, with the number of operators increasing from 4 to 30 in order to reach the company’s growing customer base.
Scism attributes a 27% increase in equipment upgrades in the Knoxville area to the call center’s activities since it opened in December, 2007. “After seeing the results the call center has had in the Knoxville market, we’ve decided to grow the program. We’re getting a great response from customers, who genuinely appreciate the service we’re providing.” Regional Director, Brian Snyder, said, “I can’t wait for the call centers to expand its operations nationally and bring our famous customer service to the next level.”
The call center now contacts Verizon Wireless customers in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky, targeting just a portion of the Cellular Sales’ retail footprint, with 240 locations nationwide, and several more in the works.
For more information on Cellular Sales, or to find a location near you, visit CellularSales.com.
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