CHICAGO, IL, August 3 — Are sales professionals using a sales approach that's suited for today's web-altered landscape? According to a massive study by sales training leader Holden International, the answer is a resounding "No."

In this landmark study, Holden administered an 80-item survey to 28,000 sellers over a 12-year period. Of those surveyed, only four percent had adopted modern selling strategies suitable for the post-Internet era, according to Holden president Ryan Kubacki.

Kubacki said he's concerned by the survey's findings, but not surprised. "In the bestseller Power Base Selling, Holden foretold that sellers would have to adapt from being just information providers to being sharper competitors. Twenty years later, Web 3.0 and the Great Recession have proven that was prophetic.

"Today there are more first-tier suppliers, from more countries, and the customer can find out all about them on the web without a sales person. We're telling all our Holden students and alumni that today, it's not just about selling the product anymore. Now it's about out-competing the other seller," Kubacki said.

Holden International is taking a series of steps to arm its alumni for this seismic change. First and foremost is the August 20 launch of the Holden Alumni Network and its online headquarters, The Fox Den. Beyond its obvious role as a networking venue, The Fox Den will provide webinars, blogs and white papers. The goal: to give Holden's 600,000 alumni a competitive edge by sharing Holden's latest learnings in the science of Power Base Compete selling.

"Power Base Compete selling is expressly created to help our sellers win in an era when you can't sell on product alone," Kubacki said. "Jim Holden and I are in the process of updating Power Base Selling for publication next year. Starting August 20, our alumni will be able to preview that material in The Fox Den."

Holden alumni and friends of Holden can register their interest now by visiting http://www.holdenintl.com/news/register.html. General information about Holden International can be found at HoldenIntl.com. For more details on Holden Alumni Network and The Fox Den, contact Jenae Meader at 312.476.8796.