German Business Filter: What are some appropriate ways that Germans "sell" their business?

October 15, 2008 2:11 PM

German Business Filter: What some ways that Germans try to "sell" their business?

In the United States it is customary to wine and dine a potential employee, client, business partner, etc. It is also customary and appropriate to take a client to the golf course to do business.

What ways do Germans try to "sell" their business? Do they wine and dine their clients? Do they take their clients to the golf course? Any other ways?

Thanks!

posted by mjger to Society & Culture (1 answer total)

Depends a bit on the business. I work in advertising / media, which is a bit more casual than, let's say the banking sector. Media sales people will invite agency people to sport events (especially soccer here in Munich), dinners, lunches, movies premieres, concerts, sports (golfing, sailing, etc.) on a regular basis. As an agency you have to be a bit more careful about the whole thing with your clients, you don't want to give them the impression that you make so much money of them that you can afford to "waste" it on that kind of activities, so it's mainly a bit more formal business events at headquarters, e.g. a trends in advertising day with some nice dinner or get-together in the evening.

But basically I'd say we have the same customs here as you have in the US.
posted by starzero at 2:39 PM on October 15, 2008