Gimme an R!...gimme an X!

#1

Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales

By STEPHANIE SAUL
Published: November 28, 2005

As an ambitious college student, Cassie Napier had all the right moves - flips, tumbles, an ever-flashing America's sweetheart smile - to prepare for her job after graduation. She became a drug saleswoman.

Ms. Napier, 26, was a star cheerleader on the national-champion University of Kentucky squad, which has been a springboard for many careers in pharmaceutical sales. She now plies doctors' offices selling the antacid Prevacid for TAP Pharmaceutical Products.

Ms. Napier says the skills she honed performing for thousands of fans helped land her job. "I would think, essentially, that cheerleaders make good sales people," she said.

Anyone who has seen the parade of sales representatives through a doctor's waiting room has probably noticed that they are frequently female and invariably good looking. Less recognized is the fact that a good many are recruited from the cheerleading ranks.

Known for their athleticism, postage-stamp skirts and persuasive enthusiasm, cheerleaders have many qualities the drug industry looks for in its sales force. Some keep their pompoms active, like Onya, a sculptured former college cheerleader. On Sundays she works the sidelines for the Washington Redskins. But weekdays find her urging gynecologists to prescribe a treatment for vaginal yeast infection.

Some industry critics view wholesomely sexy drug representatives as a variation on the seductive inducements like dinners, golf outings and speaking fees that pharmaceutical companies have dangled to sway doctors to their brands. (continues...)

Taken from: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/28/busin ... cheer.html

#2

What a great idea...Cheerleaders and drug sales...What's not to love about America..?

#3

I think if a study was done on any sales or marketing type position in any field the conclusion would be the same. I am sure in areas where the demographic of people resposible for the purchasing decisions was weighted toward the male end of the spectrum there would be a similar tendancy for the people marketing to that particular industry/field/specialty to be female. I find it as interesting if not more so that the NY Times felt this was a story that needed to be written. Must be a slow news day...

#4

Well, they use good looking girls to sell everything else, so why not?