「ピッチ」と言えば野球を連想しますが、「ことばを投げる」という意味もあります。ビジネスの世界では、営業マンが客の興味を引き出す為の"sales pitch"や、エレベーターで偶然一緒になった目上の人に自分を売り込むの"elevator pitch"が日常で使われています。つまり短時間（約２分以内）の一発勝負が"Pitch"ですね。
例えば、車の営業（A）さんが顧客（B）さんに新モデルを紹介したい時、これまでの連載でお伝えししてきた便利なフレーズを駆使してこんな感じで"sales pitch"ができます。
（A）Do you like our new SUV?
（B）I'm not sure ... It's sexy but I don't think I will own another SUV again.
（A）In a nutshell、it can meet all your needs. If you compare apples to apples, you will see it has more power and utility, the economy of a compact, and, as you said it's sexier, too.
（B）That's too good to be true. With gas prices going up, I don't want to take chances with a big car.
（A）We stay on top of our customers' needs. FYI many customers trade in compacts for this SUV, and are happy about it. Why not think about this after taking it out for a spin?
（B）Can I test drive it .... now?
（A）Yes we can!
"sales pitch"は大きく分類すると次の４つの部分から構成されます。（B）I'm not sure ... It's sexy but I don't think I will own another SUV again.
（A）In a nutshell、it can meet all your needs. If you compare apples to apples, you will see it has more power and utility, the economy of a compact, and, as you said it's sexier, too.
（B）That's too good to be true. With gas prices going up, I don't want to take chances with a big car.
（A）We stay on top of our customers' needs. FYI many customers trade in compacts for this SUV, and are happy about it. Why not think about this after taking it out for a spin?
（B）Can I test drive it .... now?
（A）Yes we can!
１）売り込みのキッカケを作るアプローチ
２）セールスポイントを簡潔にプレゼン
３）価値を共有する為の質疑応答
４）次のアクションにつなげるフォロー
いかがでしたでしょうか？簡単な英語でも立派な"pitch"が出来ますね。むしろ簡潔・簡単な英語を駆使した方が、ビジネスシーンでは効果的なpitchが出来ると言えます。友達と一緒に"pitch"のロールプレイ練習を続ければ、意外と短期間で外国人を引きつける"pitch"が出来るようになると思いますよ。
