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OgilvyOne Worldwide has launched a competition to find the World’s Greatest Salesperson. Their task? To upload a video of themselves to YouTube selling a common, ordinary brick. Three finalists will then be chosen and flown to the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival to have a final shot at securing a three-month fellowship with OgilvyOne.

Sounds simple? Well, it is an intiative to get back to basics, as Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Chairman of OgilvyOne Worldwide, says: “In marketing, the noble craft of salesmanship sometimes gets lost in the pursuit of art or the dazzle of technology. This contest celebrates selling and creativity and Cannes is the perfect place for this search to culminate.”

The competition is also in line with the agency’s roots, as founder David Ogilvy (pictured below) – who was a very successful door-to-door salesman – first said the now famous maxim: “We sell, or else.”

To provide a platform for inspiration, OgilvyOne has seeded its YouTube channel with examples of great salespeople using proven sales techniques to close the deal. You can also find all further info on the channel, including the brief in full together with helpful hints.

You can also follow the competition on twitter, facebook and Linkedin.

Good luck to all applicants!

The National Advertising Benevolent Society is the UK advertising and media industry’s charity. Each year, the charity hosts a “Big Bash” to raise money – it’s one of the highspots of the adland social calendar.

Agencies traditionally give their services free to promote the Big Bash, and this year Ogilvy has put itself forward. Our sister agency Ogilvy Advertising has created a viral ad and we’ve created a special website which allows visitors to find out more about the event and, most importantly, to buy tickets.

Make sure you visit www.nabsbigbash.co.uk now – it’s all in a good cause and a splendid time is guaranteed for all!