Akshay is always out and about in Wellington meeting with current and potential customers. He is enjoying his new life and the challenges of doing business in the Capital, his big warm smile and gentle manner make him a favourite with Customers & the rest of the BDL Team alike.
When did you start with BDL?
September 2018
What did you do before that?
ICT Account Manager with PB Technologies, dealing with commercial clients in West Auckland.
What does your job entail?
My job it a whole lot more than selling a copier, it’s about listening and understanding the individual requirements of the customer and then tailoring a complete package solution for them & their budget. While ensuring the ongoing needs of existing customers are met with the support of BDL’s fantastic team, I’m also always actively looking for new business.
What is a typical day like?
Every day is a busy day and is usually taken up with the lengthy process of developing our business relationships. It can take a long time to get to the point that you win a new customer and some days you wonder why you do the job. Then you receive that one call from a customer you have been working with for months with the go ahead! Nothing can ever match up to the feeling.
Favourite memory from work?
Back when I first started working for BDL, the job was to start growing the HP business in Auckland – from scratch. This was a massive challenge and attracted me to the position but it was also a steep learning curve. This industry is really competitive and it took me about 6 months working with one particular customer before finally reaching the day when the customer said “Yes, let do it”! By keeping in touch with the customer & listening to them we found the perfect solution in the end. The customer mentioned that my perseverance got me the deal and that I should be proud of that.
What is a common question you get from customers?
“Why should I choose you over the other brands out there?”. My very simple answer to all potential customers is that the difference lies in the ongoing service and relationship we provide. BDL has been around for a really long time, with the same family owners since the beginning (nearly a half century ago) which is unique.
What do you like most about your job?
I really enjoy winning a customer who has not been given the best deals in the past. It’s about telling the client the facts about the equipment, and its costs, honestly. It is incredible to find some customers have been misled to great lengths, that they might not be able to get themselves out of that situation. The best thing about this job is to recognize those opportunities and setting them right.
What do you like most about your (region/city)?
The best thing about Wellington is the people. Wellingtonians have patience and they appreciate each other highly. And of course, I cannot forget to mention Wellington coffee. It definitely keeps me going every day!
What’s a fun fact about you?
I am from Kathmandu, Nepal and no… I have never been even close to Mount Everest!
What do you like most about working for BDL?
I was so excited to find this opportunity with BDL which enabled me to work in a family owned business partnered with globally recognised brands which offers the best of two worlds. BDL really is a family oriented business, and the best thing about working with this team is that it feels like a family away from family. With the team growing, I always look forward to the Christmas Party, where we all fly to Christchurch and have a good catch up.