Peter Blantanis - Sales & Customer Success Specialist,

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Work Background

Webshure Digital Marketing & Website Design AgencySales Manager

Oct. 2023 - Oct. 2024Gauteng, South AfricaMy journey at Websure Digital Marketing Agency was a dynamic chapter marked by ambitious goals and significant achievements. Working with a dynamic director who possessed great vision and passion was a key motivator for me. In fact, this compelling opportunity was why I decided to step down from my Director role at Product Ark and join Websure. I was eager to learn from such a brilliant leader, and my time there proved to be incredibly enriching in that regard. During my tenure, I focused on building great customer relationships and consistently providing 5-star service, which I believe was crucial to the agency's growth. Ultimately, my desire to return to selling physical products and further build upon my achievements in sales and business development, with the long-term goal of once again owning my own business, led me to pursue new opportunities. From the outset, I was driven by the challenge of fueling revenue growth and expanding the agency's reach. The environment was fast-paced, and I thrived on the opportunity to develop and execute strategic sales plans.

Product Ark PTY (Ltd)Director

May. 2021 - Oct. 2023South AfricaMy passion for enabling the growth of small businesses was the driving force behind Product Ark's focus as a digital marketing specialist company. Recognising the critical need for effective online solutions in South Africa, we were committed to providing impactful strategies and leveraging state-of-the-art AI websites and mobile apps to achieve tangible results. At Product Ark, we prioritised efficiency and delivered real solutions that addressed our clients' challenges directly, with the ultimate goal of fostering their sustainable growth.

Product Ark PTY (Ltd)Owner / Founder

Mar. 2019 - May. 2021South AfricaProduct Ark SHOPONLINE or DIRECT was our unique offering in the online space and set us apart from the crowded online industry. What did you do when you needed some additional info before you clicked ‘add to cart’ or ‘buy now?’ It might be that you needed to ask one more question to provide the peace of mind you needed, or maybe you were unsure about a certain spec or size. Online today we have chatbots to assist, which is great; however, talking to someone might be what you really needed to help you solve your problem. That is what the Direct option offered, all you had to do was make a call, send a mail, connect with us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn / Twitter, or Facebook, we would be there to assist you in answering your questions. The Direct option has been designed to add value for you, our customer. Our current stores sell Hygiene, Home Security, First Aid Kits, Smartphones, Rugged phones, Tools, Consumer Electronics, and Consumer lifestyle goods. We were soon adding the International Store, which provided our customers with the option to find products that were not available locally. The product range within each store would continuously expand, and this would happen every week as we continued to introduce more awesome products and stores for you to choose from.

ARBALEST SOLUTIONSProduct Manager - Norton Internet Security

Apr. 2017 - Feb. 2019South AfricaDuring my tenure at Arbalest Solutions as Product Manager for Norton Internet Security, I was at the forefront of driving sales and adoption of a product that was often considered a 'grudge purchase' – essential but not always desired by consumers. Security solutions like Norton were crucial in combating the rising threats of ransomware, identity theft, and malware, and my role was pivotal in educating, training, and promoting Norton across diverse channels in South Africa and Africa. I collaborated closely with Pure Retail to launch a retail campaign in Makro (Massmart) and Incredible Connection. This involved training brand ambassadors on effective pitching and sales techniques for Norton Antivirus. Another major project was the integration of Norton Antivirus into the Vodacom app. This complex undertaking required extensive collaboration, numerous pitches, demonstrations, and training sessions over 18 months. The successful launch of this feature allowed Vodacom customers to conveniently purchase Norton directly through the app. An exciting aspect of this role was the NSBC (National Small Business Chamber) Platinum Sponsorship. This partnership provided opportunities to present Norton Antivirus at NSBC events across the country, including major events in Johannesburg (with over 25,000 delegates), Durban, Cape Town, East London, and Bloemfontein. Planning and coordinating these events was demanding, but significantly increased brand awareness

Samplex Africa Brand Ammbassador SMEG | Key Account Manager SMEG & Business Development Manager

May. 2015 - Mar. 2017South AfricaMy journey began as the Brand Ambassador for the SMEG brand at the Hirschs Fourways store. When I started, I was able to increase sales by 75% within three months. This remarkable achievement was driven by my customer-centric sales approach, focusing on selling solutions and the perfect fit for their kitchen rather than just the product. My consultative sales tactic involved qualifying customers through key questions before presenting the product, which was so effective that Hirsch sales representatives with 5-10 years of experience began observing and learning from my techniques. A key strategy was to collaborate with the reps, encouraging them to bring customers to me for closing, while they finalised the paperwork and payment. This built trust and increased the commission earned by the reps. This collaborative approach not only boosted sales but also fostered strong relationships with the sales team and store management. My success at Hirsch led to a promotion to Key Account Manager for SMEG, where I trained the brand ambassadors on my sales techniques.

Brightpoint Africa | Ingram Micro ZAKey Account Manager Africa - Brightpoint SA | Head Of Sales & Marketing - Ingram Micro ZA

Oct. 2011 - Apr. 2015Gauteng, South AfricaMy experience with Ingram Micro and Brightpoint Africa was marked by significant achievements in distribution, cross-border solutions, and brand relaunch. My journey with Brightpoint Africa was driven by the end of the agreement between HTC and Leaf International. A key achievement at Brightpoint Africa was the development of a cross-border distribution model for the Edcon Group. This initiative was designed to reduce delivery lead times to five African countries, while simultaneously lowering costs. We successfully reduced Edcon's lead times by 7 days. After a couple of years, HTC, which previously had its head office in South Africa, appointed Ingram Micro as its official distributor for the South African market in October 2013. Given my experience with the brand, Ingram Micro approached me to relaunch the HTC brand in South Africa. I accepted the challenge and became the Head of Sales & Marketing for HTC in South Africa under the Ingram Micro distribution agreement. A key achievement at Ingram Micro was the successful media launch, including a press day at the Hyde Park Hotel. Following the launch, a significant challenge arose: HTC did not provide a marketing budget to support the brand relaunch. To overcome this, I developed a strategy to secure marketing funds by collaborating with cellular providers such as Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Autopage, Cellucity, and Nashua. This involved offering rebates on sales to drive marketing awareness, a difficult task given the negative market perception of HTC and the lack of an initial budget.

Leaf Intrernational CommunicationsAccessories Manager | Assistant Brand Manager | Brand Manager | Key Accounts Manager (MTN)

Mar. 2008 - Oct. 2011Gauteng, South AfricaMy time at Leaf International Communications was a period of significant personal and professional growth, marked by overcoming challenges, demonstrating resilience, and contributing to groundbreaking advancements in the smartphone industry. I initially joined Leaf International Communications as an Accessories Manager. At the start, I faced a steep learning curve with limited experience in Excel, PowerPoint, and even email. However, driven by a strong determination to succeed, I dedicated myself to mastering these skills, working extra hours every day. This tenacity and commitment proved to be a major personal achievement, and my expertise grew rapidly, leading to a promotion to Assistant Brand Manager within eight months. Subsequently, I was invited to travel to Dubai for the relaunch of the HTC brand with the 'Quietly Brilliant campaign. This was a huge milestone for me, as it was my first time traveling to Dubai and it came with significant responsibility. Upon my return, I was tasked with educating the entire company on the meaning and implementation of the 'Quietly Brilliant' campaign. Another key achievement was training 25 new Brand Ambassadors to promote and sell HTC devices across all retail channels, including Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Autopage, Nashua, Cellucity, and call centers. The training proved highly successful, contributing to increased sales. One of the most exciting experiences was the launch of the first Google Android smartphones by HTC: The HTC Dream and the HTC Magic. This was a major turning point in the evolution of smartphones, as Android and its applications revolutionized the capabilities of mobile devices. It was my responsibility to present this new technology and its potential to all the cellular companies: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Autopage, Nashua, and Cellucity. I traveled across South Africa, introducing them to a new way of using smartphones.

Retail & OtherA Journey of Growth and Discovery (1995-2008)

Aug. 1995 - Feb. 2008Gauteng, South AfricaMy journey into the world of business began in 1995, not with a corporate title or a grand plan, but with a pizza. At the tender age of 21, I took the plunge into entrepreneurship, opening my own Pizza Perfect franchise in Isando with the support of my father. This wasn't just about making pizzas; it was a crash course in the realities of running a business. From managing staff and inventory to ensuring customer satisfaction and balancing the books, I learned the value of hard work, dedication, and the importance of every detail. This entrepreneurial spirit continued to shape my path. I ventured into the world of sales, first at New Venture Academy, Liberty Life, where I honed my skills in financial services, learning to understand client needs and provide tailored solutions. This role instilled in me the importance of professionalism, ethical conduct, and building trust.. The diverse landscape of my early career continued with roles that each added a unique layer to my experience. At Mad Buzz in Melville, I embraced the energy of sales and promotions, learning to engage customers, meet targets, and drive results. Sunrise Sweets in City Deep provided an opportunity to manage multiple aspects of a business, from brand management to market research, fostering my ability to adapt and take on diverse responsibilities. Retail experiences at Spar in Mulbarton and Food Corner in Braamfontein offered invaluable lessons in customer service, operations, and team management. Whether it was ensuring a smooth shopping experience at Spar or managing the daily operations of a restaurant, these roles emphasised the importance of attention to detail, effective communication, and creating positive customer interactions. Sign-a-Rama Alberton introduced me to the world of visual communication, where I learned to translate client needs into impactful signage solutions. This experience honed my skills in client relationship management and the ability to provide tailored solutions.