Meet the Rep: Danielle Dudley, Star Clippers

Describe your typical week
Every week is so varied, which is why I love my role so much, it certainly keeps me on my toes. From a glamorous night at an awards ceremony in London, to a Domino’s takeaway at the Premier Inn in Bolton, a week can take me the length of the country. But sometimes I don’t leave the house in three days when I’m tucked away working from home.

How big is Star Clippers’ on-the-road sales team?
We are a really small team, to match our really small cruise line! With just three ships in the fleet (the fourth is under construction) we stretch ourselves far and wide. Fay McCormack is the general manager of Star Clippers and oversees myself and Rosanna King, sales executive, out on the road. Emma Moody is our sales support executive based in the office, but you will occasionally find her joining us out and about.

What do you keep in your car?
My overnight bag is permanently on the backseat, along with my comfy driving shoes and a few empty cans of Red Bull.

And what’s on the radio?
It’s a mixture of Adele, James Bay and Ed Sheeran, although if I’m fortunate enough to be in the car between 1pm and 4pm on a Wednesday I will switch to Radio 1 for Scott Mill’s Innuendo Bingo – always cheers up the day!

What fast food outlet keeps you going on the road?
A safe McDonald’s would be my fast food of choice, although if I’m trying to be good, a piece of fruit and a coffee will be treat of the day.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done as part of a sales visit?
I’d been to a branch of Premier Travel to take a photograph of a prize winner. After a successful visit, I left the shop with the pop-up stand over my shoulder and walked through Cambridge city centre. As I reached the car park, a lady tapped me on the shoulder to explain that my pop-up stand had got caught on my skirt, and to my horror, had been revealing a lot more than intended as I had strolled through Market Square!

Who would be your ideal driving companion on a long journey?
I do love a good sing song so I’d have to go for James Corden for a bit of karaoke – he makes me laugh too.

What’s the most lost you have ever got?
Due to sat navs, I rarely get lost, although have countless times missed a turning off the motorway, which can add miles on to the journey – always very frustrating, but most probably because I was belting out the latest Adele track!

Where did you go on your last holiday?
I went onboard Star Clipper last July for a sailing around Greece and Turkey. It was magical. I’d done that itinerary from Athens before I even started working for Star Clippers, so it had special memories and it was a pleasure to do it again eight years on.

Which agency gives you the warmest welcome?
I once visited a homeworker and they had prepared every type of sandwich you could imagine, chicken, tuna, cheese, ham. That was a real treat and I was so grateful for all the effort they’d gone to – no McDonald’s that day!

What key messages do you try to convey in an agent visit?
I talk about offers, incentives and deliver marketing collateral. Last month we gave saints or sinners boxes of treats, to encourage agents to request a visit from the sales team.

What’s your advice for agents who don’t currently sell your product but are keen?
Get in touch with one of our team, we would love to have a chat with you to see how we can help grow your Star Clippers business. As a niche product, we work with everyone on an individual basis, but have several outlets that you can join immediately, such as Facebook or our regional email lists, that help keep you updated.