people · May 19, 2026

Pipedrive Releases UK Report on Sales Perceptions and 'Sales Shame'

Pipedrive released its UK report titled 'Hard sell: How sales teams can reclaim the profession' on May 18, 2026. The survey of 1,500 UK respondents by Sapio Research found that 21% of the public trusts sales professionals while 33% view the profession negatively and 48% hold mixed views. Two thirds or 67% of salespeople reported negative perceptions affected their performance, rising to 82% among those aged 18-34, with 27% noting lowered morale and 22% rebranding their job title. CEO Paulo Cunha stated trust requires empathy and human connection alongside AI tools. The report examined gaps between public perception and sales reality in 2026.