禮節美語 Boosting Sales I

公司副總裁Lisa找到銷售部經理Frank.

Lisa: Frank, we just got our sales figures in and the numbers are very disappointing. What's going on here?

Frank: I haven't actually seen the new figures. How far have we fallen?

L: We were in sixth place at the beginning of the year and we've now slipped to the eleventh! That's a considerable drop.

F: Wow, that's really bad news. Maybe we should brainstorm some ideas for a radical reinvention of our sales and marketing plan.

L: Yeah, let's do that right now. What do you think the problem is?

公司副總裁Lisa找到銷售部經理Frank, 因為最新銷售數字很令人失望，年初的時候還排名第六，we've now slipped to the eleventh. 如今已經滑落到了第11位，下跌幅度很大，That's a considerable drop. Frank聽了這個壞消息，覺得應該 brainstorm some ideas，to brainstorm 是頭腦風暴，集思廣益的意思，看看怎樣徹底調整一下公司的銷售和市場規劃。Lisa建議，擇日不如撞日，說談就談，問Frank覺得問題出在哪里。

F: Well, it seems our competitors have managed to carve a niche in the market. They are now perceived as more "cool" or trendy than we are. Perhaps we should consider getting some celebrity endorsements.

L: You mean like a rock star or a famous sports figure?

F: Yeah, that might help. The person has to be seen as kind of a rebel so we can associate our brand with individuality.

L: That's not a bad idea. I'll talk to the Board of Directors about that.

F: I'd also suggest we reevaluate our packaging. Right now the box we sell our product in seems a little drab and colorless.

Frank說，公司的競爭對手 carved a niche in the market 在市場中找到了屬于自己的一塊地方，niche is spelled n-i-c-h-e, niche 是縫隙的意思，動詞 carve 是雕刻，劃出的意思。Frank說，現在消費者都覺得公司競爭對手的產品更時尚，因此不妨找兩個名人，給公司做產品代言，get some celebrity endorsements, 但選擇的名人一定要帶有反叛色彩，讓用戶覺得我們的產品有個性化，individuality. Frank 還建議，眼下的產品包裝有些呆板，a little drab, 可以考慮變化一下。Lisa說：

L: Yes, we could redesign our packaging. But on the other hand, there is a recent trend to move away from excessive packaging. You know...to help save the environment.

F: That's another way we could go. We could reduce our packaging, and then advertise our environmentally-friendly business policies. Being"green" is definitely cool these days. Perhaps environmentally-friendly packaging would appeal to a younger customer demographic.

Lisa說，如今的趨勢是放棄過度包裝，實現包裝簡單化，因為這樣做有利環保 environmentally-friendly. Frank覺得Lisa說得有道理，公司在包裝上可以走環保路線，用環保的新思維來吸引年輕客戶群，appeal to 是吸引的意思，demographic is spelled d-e-m-o-g-r-a-p-h-i-c, demographic 在這里指的是消費人群中的一部分。

A: 由于銷售下降，公司主管brainstorm頭腦風暴。他們認為需要get some celebrity endorsements 名人代言，實現包裝簡單化，be environmentally-friendly, 有利環保。這樣才能在市場中立足。

B: Sales is definitely a very tough profession! You need to meet a certain quota every month, otherwise you risk being fired! It needs people who are super creative and work well under pressure!

A: 對啊! 我認識的做銷售的朋友都說，他們得找到緩解壓力的方法，比如慢跑啊，瑜珈什么的!

B: 是啊! 不過下面的體育美語里，我們要去了解一個更刺激的運動! Biathlon!

ASE Biathlon

Y: Hey What's up, Patrick?

P: Well, Yang Chen, I'm watching the Winter Olympics on TV. Today they are having the biathlon competition.

Y: Biathlon是什么?

P: The biathlon is one part cross country skiing, one part shooting.

Y: That's a real sport?

P: Yep, its pretty entertaining too.

Y: 那biathlon的比賽規則是什么?

P: Well they are timed, so whoever goes through the course the fastest and hits the most targets shooting wins.

Y: 噢，我知道了，這叫冬季兩項，就是越野滑雪和射擊兩項運動。

P: That's why its called the biathlon.

Y: 那要是你 miss the target 沒有射中目標怎么辦?

P: You have time added to your total.

Y: 就是說速度和射擊兩項的綜合成績。It's such a weird sport.

P: Oh come on. Yang Chen, you can't say it's weird just because you are not good at it.

Y: It is weird.

P: Well it's a tough sport too. But lucky for us, we're in here watching it on TV.

Y: Watching TV is your number one sport.

P：I'll have you know I am a very accomplished skier.

Y: Accomplished skier? 滑雪好手?

P: It's a shame there are no mountains in downtown Washington, or I'd show you a thing or two.

Y: 幸虧這周圍沒有山。 萬一你摔壞了，我可不想送你到急診室。

P: What about you, Yang Chen, do you ski?

Y: Oh no. Not me. 我怕冷。

P: You mean your warm personality isn't enough to keep you from getting frostbite?

Y: Don't be sarcastic, Patrick. I just prefer to be warm, that's all. Let's leave the biathlon to other people.

P: Sounds good to me. Pull up a seat and watch a round!

B: It's a tough sport that requires great skiing and shooting skills. Maybe I can give it a try...

A: 哈哈，這回輪到你白日做夢了! 咱倆還是老老實實，等會兒下了班跑跑步去吧!

B: 哈哈，that sounds good! We can jog around the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms are in full-bloom!

A: 邊鍛煉邊賞櫻花？好主意！好了，這次節目時間就到這里, 同學們，我們下次的美語訓練班再見！

B: Bye bye! See you next time!