By Zahara Haris

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body of marketing, welcomes organisations to nominate outstanding individuals of the sales sector of their respective companies for the National Sales Congress (NASCO), the event which is dedicated to recognise and reward the efforts and performance of sales personnel. 
The awards will be presented under 15 diverse business sectors and in addition to Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, the best female is also recognised under each category. 
The objective of SLIM NASCO is to raise the standard of sales professionalism, to recognise and reward the performance and the potential of sales professionals and to enhance the value proposition of the sales profession in Sri Lanka. 
Briefing the press conference held at Jaic Hilton, Advisor to Panel of Judges Nandana Wickramage said it is difficult to find sales representatives nowadays because it is not regarded as a profession for many reasons and SLIM has come forward to judge the best of performance making sure that they have a way to go and recognise people who have the capability to take on the next step. 
He urged that this profession should be valued as much as the support the brands get. 
“Brands will never survive if sales are not there. It’s the sales people who go out in the hot sun and rain, they are the ones who bring money for the brands, they are the people who make sure brands survive, they are the people we should look after and support and make sure they should come up in careers and become leaders and they will support us in return,” he said. 
Wickramage said still there are companies that do not value the sales representatives, may be in fear of losing them if they showcase their best of the people as they could be pinched by somebody else. “Don’t fear to lose your best person if you have developed another person to take over,” he said.
Organisations can nominate up to two individuals under territorial managers sector, four under sales executives/sales supervisors and seven under front-liners.
Entries are now open and will be closed on June 11, 2015. Limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships duly registered and carrying on business in Sri Lanka can submit their entries for the awards. 
The sectors for nominations are fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), financial services and banking, industrial, media, consumer durables, telecommunication, fashion and clothing, healthcare, modern retail, travel and leisure, insurance, alcohol and tobacco, and corporate selling. 
The NASCO 2015 Gala Awards is expected to unfold on July 24, at Water’s Edge.