How GameTime United 250 Sales Professionals to Improve Close Rates
Industry: Playground Recreation Equipment
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Tactic: Sales Workshop
Results:
22 actionable sales strategies were developed to improve close rates.
250+ sales professionals engaged in an interactive, high-energy workshop.
Strong alignment and momentum created for GameTime’s sales team to implement best practices.
Background
GameTime, a leading manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, prioritizes sales innovation as a cornerstone of their market strategy. During their National Sales Conference in Arizona, the company brought together 250 sales professionals from across the country. Recognizing the need to strengthen their sales performance in an increasingly competitive market, GameTime partnered with Bridge Innovate to design and facilitate a specialized workshop focused on improving close rates through innovative techniques.
Challenge
GameTime's sales team operates in a competitive landscape where differentiation and consultative selling are key to success. The company identified the need to:
Strengthen their approach to closing sales and increasing conversion rates.
Equip their sales professionals with fresh, innovative techniques to engage clients effectively.
Foster alignment around shared best practices to ensure consistency across their nationwide salesforce.
Create an engaging and dynamic learning experience that would inspire creative problem-solving.
Fred Weichmann, VP of Marketing & Product Development at GameTime, highlighted the urgency and complexity of the challenge: "Bridge Innovate is a great partner, and we appreciate them jumping in and helping execute a workshop (with limited time and the holidays included). We look forward to more opportunities in the future.”
Solution
Bridge Innovate designed and led a highly interactive, three-hour workshop tailored to GameTime's specific sales challenges. The session was structured to maximize engagement and practical application, incorporating:
Creative Ideation Techniques Participants used design thinking methodologies to explore new ways to improve close ratios.
Collaborative Problem-Solving Small groups worked together to generate and refine potential solutions, ensuring diverse perspectives and shared learning.
Prototype Development Teams rapidly developed 22 prototype solutions aimed at enhancing sales performance.
Facilitated Alignment Through structured discussions, participants built consensus around the most promising ideas and best practices.
Bob Barron, SVP of Sales at GameTime, praised the rapid execution of the workshop, stating: "Bridge Innovate and their team did an outstanding job on very short notice! We really appreciate them taking this on."
Bruce Thompson, Southwest Region Manager at GameTime, reflected on how the workshop positioned the team for success: "First off, the concept of 'thinking differently' was well positioned after lots of learning the days prior. Secondly, the teams were introduced to a strategic thinking process that begins and ends with delivering success in the 'eyes of the customer.' ."
Results
The workshop delivered immediate and tangible value to GameTime’s sales professionals, including:
22 Innovative Prototypes Participants developed a wide range of actionable solutions to improve their close rates.
Increased Engagement The dynamic format encouraged high levels of participation, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Alignment on Priorities The session helped unify the sales team around shared best practices and strategic priorities.
Momentum for Implementation GameTime’s leadership team gained fresh insights and ideas to further refine and implement the most impactful ideas.
The session's success went beyond just strategic outcomes. As Bruce Thompson, Southwest Region Manager at GameTime reflected: "Everyone had fun doing it, which made it memorable and will allow us to reinforce the approach and learnings moving forward." This engagement led GameTime to integrate several of the workshop's innovative problem-solving techniques into their regular sales planning processes, positioning the company to better achieve their growth objectives while maintaining their market leadership position.
By leveraging Bridge Innovate’s expertise in facilitating high-energy, results-driven workshops, GameTime equipped its salesforce with new tools and strategies to drive success in a competitive market. This collaborative effort exemplifies how innovative thinking and structured problem-solving can lead to real business impact.
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