Professional English Vocabulary for Sales

Today's lesson is a vocab expanding lesson in

which you will learn 19 adjectives to describe

products.

Who is this useful for?

Well, if you are a general student of English,

then this will help you with your vocab.

I'm looking at mainly sort of pre-intermediate, intermediate level.

Also, if you work in sales, then these could

be some good words to help you pinpoint the

advantages of buying certain products.

So, we're going to start in alphabetical order.

Our first word today is "adaptable".

Now, we know that the suffix "able" means "can", "to be able to", as it says.

So, "to be able to adapt".

Now, what kind of product might be able to adapt, to do different things?

I'm thinking of kids' transformers, like they turn into different shapes.

My son's got this pen that at one moment is a pen, and the next moment is a car.

So, things that change shape.

Maybe they can get bigger and smaller according to how you need them.

"All round", yeah, meaning to give a sort of a range.

Now, if I grab my pen, often we'll have "year".

You could have "all year round", like a plant

that is good all seasons, or to give "all

round protection", like a paint or a varnish,

yep, gives "all round", meaning sort of general

protection against scratches, the weather, all sorts of things.

"Attractive".

So, if something is attractive, then I am "pulled towards it".

What are we "pulled towards"?

Well, it's different for each person, but if a product is attractive, it's presented

in, you know, a really nice manner that pulls people towards it.

Can we say that together?

Let's just practice saying these words.

"Adaptable".

You say it?

"Adaptable".

"All round", as in "all round protection".

"Attractive".

Good.

"Chic".

Okay?

French word meaning "stylish".

It sounds...

The sound of this word is the same as, like, the meaning of it.

"Chic".

Yeah, it's really, really, really, really nice.

A very chic apartment in the center of Paris.

Yeah?

"Style".

Yeah.

"Classic".

A classic car.

Vroom, vroom.

I mean, look at that.

That's just, like, an absolute beauty, isn't it?

It's, like, that is what an old-fashioned car,

minus the wonky plastic windscreen, should

look like.

Yeah?

A classic.

One that will stand the test of time.

"Dependable".

If something is dependable, I'm able to depend on it.

Are you a dependable person?

Are you selling a dependable product?

Because if it is dependable, it's not going to break.

Say it's a car in the middle of winter, you know, a dependable belt will always keep my

trousers up, and I need it to do that.

"Energy-saving".

Think of an energy-saving light bulb.

Yeah?

It saves you...

It saves you on your electricity bill, because

not too much electricity will be used by the

light bulb.

Energy-saving.

An energy-saving device.

"Flexible payment terms".

So, "flexible" meaning able to sort of move, you could have a flexible body.

Payment terms.

So, we've got something you're buying, and it's not just this thing cost $100, give it

to me now.

It's like, you could give me $100 up front,

or you could decide to pay me in installments.

$10 a month for 10 months, probably you've got interest, too, so it will take a little

bit longer.

Probably have to pay for 11 months.

Flexible payment terms.

Yeah? "Functional".

Whatever suits you.

"Functional".

So, "functional" means it's practical, it's designed for use.

If my boots are functional, maybe it's because

they are designed for working outdoors, so

they have a strong heel, maybe they have a

steel toe cap to protect my feet against heavy

objects falling on them.

"Functional".

Yep.

Fit for purpose.

"Hot".

If something is hot, then it's fashionable, it's in the moment.

Yep.

It's attractive right now.

Hollywood actors are sometimes described as having heat.

It means there's a lot of attention on them right now.

If you buy something hot, then everybody wants that particular thing right now.

Now, if this is something that is useful for

you, this lesson, these types of words to

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"In demand".

Yes, I would like to think that I am in demand.

People need my videos.

"Demand" means to ask for, so he...

Let's think of a musician, a musician much in demand, meaning that lots of people want

this musician to play in their club, in their venue.

"Inviting".

If my bed is very inviting, I look at it and

go, "Oh, I'd love to get in that bed", like

it's almost like it's sending me an invitation

saying, "Please, Benjamin, please get in",

and I'm almost unable to resist the temptation from that inviting bed.

"Pleasing".

If something is inviting, it's sending out a messaging, "Hey, look at me, I'm really

nice".

"Pleasing".

Yes, it gives pleasure, it makes me happy.

A pleasing...

What might be pleasing?

A pleasing picture, a pleasing...

It's not like excessive, this word, it's like...

It's quite sort of moderate.

If I was reading some essays, and I read some

descriptions, and I read a pleasing description,

I went, "Yes, that's good, that one there, it's...

I like that".

"Pleasing".

"Refined".

Now, think of refined sugar, yep?

It's been through a process to take out any impurities, yep?

So, a refined product or refined taste means

that it's had that extra care and attention

put into it, yep?

So, he or she has got a very refined, you

know, taste in music, it means they've really

spent time thinking about what they listen to, and it's sophisticated.

"Sleek" means polished, yep?

So, if your apartment has very sleek interior design, then it's...

I'm imagining something quite sort of minimal,

something quite neat, something carefully

chosen, the colors kind of complement each other.

"Sleek", sort of polished, well-designed.

"Stylish".

If something is stylish, it's in style, it's

chosen with good taste, it's fashionable.

A stylish dress, a stylish watch.

I'm still waiting to get my watch.

There is a tip button over there, if you press

the "Send Benjamin a tip", then maybe one

day I'll get a watch.

"Sumptuous", meaning expensive-looking, kind of expansive, full.

If a hostess at a party was wearing a sumptuous

dress, you know, you could tell that this

was something that, you know, a lot of time

had been spent choosing this one that's, you

know, got lots of admiration.

Yeah, "sumptuous", expensive-looking.

"Top-of-the-range", the range, so we had cheap products up to high-end products.

Top-of-the-range is right up here, the most expensive products.

"Tough", so thinking in terms of products, a tough product would be one that's going

to last.

Think of a bicycle, a tough bicycle, yeah,

it's, you know, it's not going to fall apart,

you know, it's built, it's strong.

Right, we're going to have a little bit of practice now at describing some products.

So, if I asked you to describe a bouquet of flowers, which adjectives might we use?

To give someone a bouquet, it's like something

you'd buy in a flower shop, a bouquet, a handful

of flowers.

Adaptable?

Not really.

All-around?

No, because they only last a few days.

Attractive?

Yes, they certainly should be attractive.

Chic? Not really with flowers.

Classic?

Not so much.

Nope.

Nope.

Nope.

Nope.

Nope.

Nope.

Pleasing?

A little bit.

Stylish?

Maybe.

Sumptuous?

Possibly.

Okay.

What about a pair of shoes?

Adaptable?

No.

An all-around pair of shoes.

You can use them for sports.

You can use them for work.

You can use them for relaxing in.

Possibly, yes.

Attractive pair of shoes.

Chic pair...

A classic pair of shoes.

Dependable pair of shoes.

They last.

You can wear them day in, day out.

Energy saving?

Nope.

Flexible payment?

No.

Functional?

You could have a functional pair of shoes.

If they are...

Lots of people work outside, if they're for

working outside, or a pair of business shoes

that are comfortable, for example.

In demand, inviting, pleasing, refined.

Sleek?

A sleek pair of shoes.

Maybe those sort of pointy-toed ones.

Top of the range?

They are absolutely the best.

A tough pair of shoes.

Really strong ones.

Okay.

What about a car?

An all-round car.

Yeah?

It's good for giving the family lifts, it's good for commuting, it's good for weekend

breaks.

Yeah.

Attractive car.

A classic car.

It's like an old vintage car, like an old-style Mercedes or, you know...

Dependable car.

It doesn't break down.

You might have flexible payment terms to buy a car.

That's a possibility.

Functional car.

In demand, pleasing, refined.

A sleek car, stylish car.

Top of the range car.

We wouldn't so much say a tough car.

Let's think of something else.

What about a saxophone?

Adaptable saxophone, an all-round saxophone, an attractive...

Classic saxophone.

So maybe a model that has been used for a very

long time, it's got a very good reputation.

Sleek saxophone, a stylish saxophone, a top of the range, definitely.

Let's think now of some diamond earrings.

Adaptable?

No.

All-round?

No.

Attractive?

Chic?

Classic?

Because they're really stylish.

Stylish, top of the range.

And we're going to look at one more.

Let us think of a hockey stick.

An all-round hockey stick, possibly.

It can be used for attacking and defending.

I don't know that much about hockey, maybe not.

A classic hockey stick, yep, it's made by a manufacturer that has a proven reputation.

Dependable?

Hockey stick, hockey stick, stylish, maybe a tough hockey stick, it lasts because it's

strong.

Now, guys, it's time to test your understanding

of this lesson by heading over to engVid and

doing today's quiz.

Give it a go, try and get 10 out of 10.

done, hopefully it will show that you have 19 adjectives for selling products firmly

in your mind now.

I hope this has been of use to you.

If you're looking for a little bit of extra help with your English, do also head over

to honeyourenglish.com.

I do have limited available for Skype tuition,

but if you do need it, ask for help and I

can always say no if I'm too busy.

Thanks for watching, and see you again very soon.