I can’t tell you how many times I’d driven past a seed processing facility in Manitoba and thought, I should really stop in there one day. For years, they’d been running an old Cimbria machine and occasionally ordered parts from us. But I’d never made the effort to introduce myself in person.
One day, I finally did.
I didn’t have an appointment. I didn’t have a pitch prepared. I just pulled into the lot, walked inside, handed them my card, and said hello. That was it. No pressure — just a face to the name. It was an overdue visit, but better late than never, right?
A few months later, I ran into their team again at a trade show. I casually asked if they’d gotten my card, and they said yes — and then invited me out to discuss some new equipment. That turned into a site visit. The site visit turned into a major sale.
I’d love to say my salesmanship closed the deal, but the truth is, it was Nexeed’s reputation that got my foot in the door — and showing up in person sealed it. They already knew us as the company that could deliver high-quality equipment and service, but meeting me face-to-face confirmed we were the kind of people they could count on, too.
That’s something we’ve always prided ourselves on at Nexeed: being the kind of equipment provider that doesn’t just sell products — we show up, follow through, and make sure our customers are taken care of. This sale was proof of that, and reminded me of a fundamental lesson I’ve learned over the years.
It’s easy in today’s world to lean heavily on email, social media, and marketing materials to build relationships. But in agriculture, those things will only get you so far. At the end of the day, people want to know who they’re doing business with. They want to see a face, shake a hand, and know that if they ever need help, someone will show up.
Your reputation will open a lot of doors, but showing up in person is what turns those opportunities into long-term partnerships. Because at Nexeed, we don’t just deliver equipment — we deliver the goods, both literally and figuratively. And that’s something you can’t fake with an email.
