Anyone used a Sales Agent

Ignoring for a minute the administrative and relevant tax or employment matters, from a purely commercial point of view we have had agents. The ones who were successful had a few well chosen complimentary agencies, this enable them to get appointments but the key to success was for us, the agents who had existing contacts. We are a specification business so any agents needed at least some industry technical knowledge.
The ones who didn't do any good were those who on paper were great but always asked for a retainer for 3 or 6 months, we did pay it as one job could easily cover that so it was a worthwhile risk.
We were routinely contacted by agents but a lot of people "collect" agencies never promoting them but in the faint hope of claiming commission.
For us, the market changed and things an agent could promote became too "commodity" so as we changed course we no longer needed them.
The only real success was where the local area manager for a competitor retired and he wanted to do a part time role, I knew we onto a winner when he refused a retainer for a larger commission, he earned well but perhaps too well as he went off to the coast to retire.
It's a lottery but be careful of retainer requests

Thanks for the info. I have a call with one on Friday, I will let you know how I get on.