Amy Tobin
Published: March 11, 2010
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A simple secret: Return phone calls
Amy Tobin “fell” into sales, but now it seems it was her destiny.
Like every small business owner, Tobin wears many hats, but her passion is marketing and sales. Having begun Ariel Screen Arts in 2006, she oversees all marketing/sales strategies for the company, including print advertising, e-mail marketing, a new monthly newsletter, and social networking marketing The business offers promotional goods, ranging from pens, mugs and the standard items, to more unique items like USB flash cards worn as wrist bracelets, and handmade seed paper ornaments/tags that can be planted.
“We work with our clients to find a unique way for them to make their business stand out,” she said.
The company has had so much success, it is in the midst of launching a sister company, Ariel Marketing Group LLC, to offer marketing strategies including Web design, e-mail marketing, copy writing, direct mail campaigns, marketing tracking and more.
After receiving a masters in English Literature/Art History, Tobin quickly found a love for design and sales, which led to an offer as a wholesale sales representative for Mohawk Industries. Recruited by Fabrica International, a high-end carpet mill based in Santa Ana, Calif., the business grew 257 percent in three years and she was promoted to regional manager for the eastern half of the U.S., and then to vice president of sales.
“It was a singular journey in that, although there are now many female sales reps in the flooring business, there are very few women in VP positions,” she said. “I was always the only female in the boardroom, leaving me no female mentors to turn to,” she said.
While many have contributed to her success, Todd Vande Hei, co-owner of Synergy Training Centers, has been an outstanding mentor.
“Todd believed in me and taught me the value of working hard and relationship selling, and the need for discipline, focus, and the courage to make tough decisions,” she said. “Treat people with respect, be honorable, and return phone calls are the simple secrets to my success,” she said.
The real challenge in her previous job was the time away from her daughter, Adelaide. Self employment has remedied that with the flexibility she craves.
