Tonight, a new series of The Apprentice begins.  In each of the prior series, at least one team has used sex to sell products and services.

Imagine walking into a law firm and finding women wearing suits from Victoria’s Secret.  Does that align with the image a professional, competent, and respectable organization wants to convey?

Over the years, many clients have asked for my help in buying products and services of various sorts.  To date, no one has even hinted that sex or gender had a thing to do with the decision.  Nope.  Not a one.

Clients have cited availability, specifications of the products and services, prior performance, reputation, references, price, capacity, expertise, and a whole host of other reasons.  But never sex.

Sex as a sales approach poses major problems for organizations.  It can expose the organization to legal risks for sexual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment, and discrimination.  Organizations simply can’t afford the legal risks or the cost of defending such cases.

All of which leads me to wonder… if sex sells, who is buying?

Filed by Coleen Davis at 8:34 pm under Business Acumen