What do DECA's Professional Selling and Consulting Events focus on?

• A. Conducting market research surveys.
• B. Writing business plans for startups.
• C. Demonstrating skills needed for a career in sales and/or consulting through organized sales presentations or consultations.
• D. Completing a multiple-choice knowledge test.

Answer: (C)

These events test your ability to perform in a real-world sales or consulting scenario. The focus is on showing you can engage with a client, assess needs, present a tailored solution, handle questions and objections, and move toward a professional agreement or close—all through organized sales presentations or consultations. Judges evaluate how well you communicate, demonstrate product or service knowledge, listen and respond, and conduct yourself with professionalism and ethics.

The other activities aren’t the focus here: market research surveys center on data collection methods, writing business plans on strategy and entrepreneurship, and a multiple-choice test on knowledge recall. This event format emphasizes performance and application in a live, interactive setting.