Business Talk - The Promotional

AUDIO BUSINESSTALK

THE PROMOTIONAL OFFER

In this phone call, Brian, the head of marketing, is phoning Paula, the managing director. He wants to discuss ways of increasing sales of the company’s personal stereo system, which hasn’t been selling very well. Listen to the conversation and answer these two questions:

1. What do they suggest doing to help increase sales? 2. In your opinion, why doesn’t Paula want a bottle of the perfume?

Brian: Brian here. Is that Paula? Paula: Speaking. Brian: I’ve been trying to catch you all week. Paula: You’ve got my mobile, haven’t you? Brian: Yeah, but I couldn’t get through. Paula: Did you try leaving a message? Brian: Oh, yes. I hadn’t thought of that. Anyway, as you may already know, we’ve got a bit of a problem with our personal stereo systems. Paula: What exactly is the problem? Brian: Well, there are thousands of them sitting in the warehouse with nowhere to go. We just can’t seem to shift them. Paula: What about the advertising campaign? Brian: It didn’t seem to make much difference. So we’d better think of something fast because retailers are refusing to take any more supplies from us. I suppose we could give them away. Paula: We can’t do that! We paid good money for them. What about promotional gifts? Have we got anything we can offer with the stereos? Brian: There are about sixty thousand bottles of “Shirkers” aftershave and perfume sitting in one of the warehouses. Paula: OK, that’s it then, just bundle the stereos with the aftershave. That should do the trick. Brian: That’s a massive job. Paula: I know, but have you got any other bright ideas? Brian: No, I’ll get on to it. By the way, would you like a box of “Shirkers” perfume sent up to your office? Paula: You must be joking! I’ve tried that stuff. Brian: Right. I know what you mean.

Exercise

Now listen to some extracts from the conversation again. You will notice there are some missing words and a beeping sound. See if you can write the missing word. Answers on page 50. 1. You must _______ joking! 2. We’ve got a bit of a problem _________ our personal stereo systems. 3. We’d better think _________ something fast. 4. We paid good money _________ them. 5. Just bundle the stereos __________ the aftershave. 6. Would you like a box of “Shirkers” perfume sent __________ to your office?

G L O S S A R Y

to catch someone exp inform if you are trying to catch someone, you phone someone many times, trying to communicate with them to get through phr vb to contact someone and talk to them a warehouse n a large building used for keeping goods to shift something exp inform in this case: to sell something a retailer n a person who sells goods in his/her shop to refuse vb to say that you will not do something supplies n goods and things that companies can sell to give away phr vb to give someone something for free to bundle with phr vb if you “bundle one thing with another thing”, you put those two things together that should do the trick exp this means: “that is a good solution” bright ideas n good ideas I’ll get on to it exp this means: “I will start doing it immediately” stuff n things