From newspaper ad to German record holder: Edith Viell breaks the 5,000 Thermomix® sales mark
In the world of our direct sales, there are personalities who shine far beyond the sales figures. In our series about our tireless advisors who have each sold the most Thermomix® or Kobold appliances in their Vorwerk market, today we introduce you to Thermomix® Team Leader Edith Viell from Germany, who is one of these special people.
"Good service is the be-all and end-all - it's the only way to build long-term customer relationships. My oldest customer is 97 years old and she has bought all Thermomix® models from me over the years," says Edith Viell with a sparkle in her eyes. She knows what she is talking about: she has been a Thermomix® advisor since 1985 (she was the first German advisor), and she is the record holder in terms of personally sold appliances in Germany: she can already claim over 5000 sales.
A record that was honoured: "In December 2023, I was invited to Wuppertal with my husband Werner. When we were shown into the foyer on Mühlenweg, we were welcomed by Dr Thomas Stoffmehl and Sido Jan Hofman as well as many colleagues from the back office. They applauded and gave me a big hug. I was moved to tears and could hardly believe it," reports Edith. In their speeches, Thomas Stoffmehl, Speaker of the Executive Board, and Sido Jan Hofman, General Manager Vorwerk Deutschland, thanked the Thermomix® advisor for her many years of commitment and congratulated her on the record.
The newspaper advert changed her life
However, the 74-year-old did not always realise that she would one day be such a successful saleswoman. Before starting at Vorwerk, she learnt the trade of a ladies' and men's tailor and then worked at a bank for around ten years. Then it was a small newspaper advert that changed her life forever: “Major German company offers housewives and mothers rewarding part-time work with free time management,” read the text. “It was the word “mothers” that absolutely won me over at the time, as mothers were often referred to as mums at the time,” Edith recalls. As the mother of a six-year-old daughter at the time, she felt addressed and picked up the phone.
Shortly after her appointment as an advisor, she arranged her first demonstration with her mother's neighbour. Her three children and another neighbour took part and it was an instant success: the record holder sold five Thermomix® that day. This could also have been due to the fact that she catered to the special needs of the participants. "One of the guests told me that her husband had to drink pineapple juice every day – so I tried out pineapple juicing in the Thermomix® and it worked out great!"
Image: Edith Viell with Sido Jan Hofmann (left), General Manager Vorwerk Deutschland, and Thomas Stoffmehl, Speaker of the Executive Board.
Salted pudding? No problem!
Of course, there have also been demonstrations over the years that didn't go perfectly, but Edith can laugh about them today: "At one of my first demonstrations, the managing director at the time was there and I was a bit nervous. I prepared a chocolate pudding - but unfortunately mixed up sugar and salt." Ultimately, however, the Sprockhövel native was able to turn this demonstration into a success despite the minor faux pas. "I reassured every guest that I would present a particularly successful pudding at a demonstration in their home and I immediately had new bookings."
Today, she describes her decision to switch to Thermomix® as the ‘second best decision’ in her life. First place is and remains reserved for her family.
Edith Viell's tip for Team leaders:
"I always say, 'The fish stinks from the head' – this means that I have to keep my mental and positive attitude and transfer it to my group with enthusiasm – even if things aren't going so well at times. However, it takes a lot of perseverance and hard work. You just have to tackle things and then you'll always get back on the right track."