School of Business to host sales competition with King's Hawaiian

The University of Kansas School of Business will host the KU Professional Selling Program/King’s Hawaiian Sales Competition virtually April 9-10, 2021. The event marks the first time the school’s professional selling program will hold a competition open to other universities.

Participating students will compete in an individual speed selling round and a three-round tournament-style case competition about a real business situation for King’s Hawaiian. The top three finishers in each event will receive cash prizes, which include $3,000 for the first-place case competition team. 

“This competition offers students the chance to experience a complex sales situation outside of the classroom,” said Kristen Helling, director of the school’s professional selling program. “Students will use their analytical and critical thinking skills to comprehend the case study fully and present a solution to their buyers. The sales competition is a great learning opportunity for all participating students as it will allow them to apply their classroom learnings to a real product.”

KU’s program allows students of all majors to earn a certificate in professional selling and prepares them to help consumers and businesses define their needs, understand and evaluate buying options, facilitate effective purchase decisions and forge enduring relationships. The program also works with industry partners to expose students to real-world experiences and job opportunities, interactions that have mutual benefits, according to Patrick Meehan, King’s Hawaiian senior vice president and chief customer officer.

“KU Professional Selling Program/King’s Hawaiian Sales Competition presents a unique opportunity for us to gain exposure to top students with an interest in a career in sales from all over the U.S.,” Meehan said. “The case competition allows us to see students in a different environment outside of a resume and an interview room. It allows us to see how they think, how they influence. We are truly thankful for the University of Kansas and their partnership bringing this event to life.”

Additional information about the competition is available on the School of Business website.