I had developed a grab life with both hands attitude and didn’t listen to the voices in my head, and to take a punt in any situation. Why I say this, I am trying different accommodation’s as I travel around – a great way to meet people and it beats staying in a boring motel alone- while this may have nothing to do with party plan, it relates, as I took a chance and I am a guest of a lovely man through a site called Air BnB, private homes where people rent out rooms

I think in the business of direct selling we put our selves in front of people all the time and we either choose to embrace new opportunities and turn them into an experience or not. It also makes us stronger people and more confident.

Treat you party plan business like an opportunity to meet interesting people that will enrich your lives in more ways than one, and you just never know, what you find around the corner. Party plan is a journey and it’s not always about the income we earn, it is the life we live also, and the people you meet.

Until next week

Julie

Its often at this time, as you are starting to build your business, that you hear the negative nellies, or gate keepers, saying you are wasting your time – etc etc.

In all my years of growing a business, especially in the early days, I put the blinkers on and didn’t listen to the gossip or the negative comments and just went about day building my business, as I had the conviction and belief that I had something wonderful to offer to people.
It is not for everyone, and if you remember that from day one, you won’t get disheartened when some one shoots you down. A statement shared a little while back by Lyndsey Baigent was if you went in to Real Estate, you wouldn’t expect all your family & friends to put their house’s on the market to help you out, would you!

Remember why you started your business; believe in your business and treat it like a business, you will strive ahead and succeed.

Till next week.

Julie

From birth a baby elephant is tied with a rope to a wooden post planted in the ground leaving it confined to very small space. Soon the elephant learns that he cannot break the rope. This space defined by the rope becomes the elephant’s comfort zone.

We as human beings become trapped in a comfort zone. The elephant can easily break the rope and we can easily leave our comfort zone. Just as the elephants space determines what it can do, our comfort zone determines what we are capable of achieving.

Do you need to give your rope a bit of a tug today?

Merry Christmas and I will be back in January 2012
Julie

Do not leave your spouse in the dark. Keeping the lines of communication open at this time of year is crucial. Be sure he knows when you will be gone and where you will be going. Let him know what you need him to do and find out from him what his needs are. Ask him to tell you what 2-3 things are the most important things that you get done for him. It may be as simple as being sure he has clean socks and underwear! You do not know unless you ask!

I was a young mum waitressing at a function for a party plan company when I was introduced to the possibilities and opportunities that this profession brings. My future was very limited then as I lacked the skills to earn a better income having left school at 16 and starting a family while young. I also didn’t want to put my children into full time care. Party plan was a perfect fit, offering me the flexibility I needed and so my journey began.

The purpose of this blog, by sharing my journey of the highlights and the challenges, is to inspire you to create your life by living it with passion and without regret, and not let life just happen. To take control of what it is you want and desire. We can have it all – be it a wife, a mother, a career woman – the choice is yours, with this amazing and truly life changing journey called party plan.

The satisfaction gained by being able to take control of your life, contribute to the family finances and to have your own income, not being reliant on social security or a man, is priceless.

In my party plan career I have built a business that turned over in excess of $6 million and also achieved numerous team awards, plus 13 free international trips. I am not saying this to impress you, but to impress upon you, what is possible and achievable for anyone.

The success I have achieved has given me the confidence to go after what I want. I no longer have children to support and I am now looking for some new challenges to keep me excited about life. I have therefore made the hard decision to leave my present company, so that I can pursue my passion. I love travelling, experiencing new places and want to live in different locations for the next few years. During this time, through my blog, I will share my wisdom, inspire and encourage you to go after your dreams.

My favourite saying is “Life is way too short” – so go out and live it!!

Julie

As a young mum I was the ideal host, holding lots of parties to get the things I wanted, as money was tight with only one income. I never once considered doing something like Party Plan. I couldn’t do that job that was for other people. I saw consultants as professional educated women, – not someone like me with no skills and low self-esteem, so never in my wildest dream would I ever do consider it. Plus I could never stand up in front of a group of women.

The interesting thing is never in the time of holding lots of parties, did I ever get approached about joining, so obviously every consultant simply overlooked me, and never considered I would be a possible consultant. This is sad, as I only wish I had been encouraged to join while I so much younger and still having my children, our life would have been so much more rewarding, and less of a struggle.

However it all changed one night a few years later when my children were older and we had moved interstate, I was waitressing at a very well-known Skin & Make up company, when a consultant, saw me watching the awards and approached me about joining her team.

My exact words were, No way , I couldn’t sell make up, however this was enough to start me thinking, I could do something , it had to be better than waitressing. So 16 years ago my journey began, and I started selling children’s clothes through party plan.

So where ever that consultant is today, she has no idea of the impact she had on my life, totally changing it to having one with an enviable income and a totally different future that I would never have dreamed possible.

In closing – have a think about who you might be overlooking or prejudging at your parties??

Till next week

Julie

&
 

• Never forget to return calls and if you say you are going to ring on a certain day at a certain time, make sure this happens.
• Deal with any problems or complaints urgently.
• Have a customer service file.
• I have a special file so that I can keep track of customers needs; this file is split info sections.

a)      MAILING LIST – Ask customers if they would like to be informed when specials or special promotions are released or when new products or new catalogues become available.

b)      RING LATER FOR A PARTY – Customers may not want to book at the presentation however would like you to ring them later.  Don’t forget to give them a call.

c)       WHEN STOCK BECOMES AVAILABLE – Customers may want to order items that are out of stock.  Do not disregard them; tell them that you will ring them when the item becomes available.  Customers will be impressed when you remember then and for your outstanding customer service.

d)      SPONSER LEADS – This section is for people who show interest in the business however for one reason or another now is not convenient for them to join.  It is very important to keep them informed when special promotions come out, for example a special joining offer, and who knows their circumstances could have changed!  We do not want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity especially if we have forgotten to keep them up to date.

Attitude has a lot to do with our business.  If you always aim to please you will have a satisfied host or customer who will spread the word about your super customer service (and we all know what gossip can do!)

First Impressions

• Always arrive on time, appropriately dressed.
• Be enthusiastic and friendly.
• Help customers choose their products wisely (make sure you are up to date with your product knowledge so that you don’t sell them something that isn’t appropriate.
• Never be too pushy, don’t forget out products are great virtually sell themselves therefore there is no need to be pushy.
• If customer needs product earlier than the delivery date let them know this can be arranged.
• Give customers an extra gift if they book a party to show your generosity.

Hosts

These are our very special customers. They are the bread and butter of our business therefore we must give them outstanding service at all times. Those extra special things we do will make a lasting impression.

• Be enthusiastic about their presentation, host coach well and make them feel special.
• Listen to any problems they may have and work as a team, to help them achieve the most from their presentation.
• I give my hosts the added benefit of no handling charge if they purchase product themselves.
• Send a thank-card with the sales summary.
• Always deliver on time.
• Put all host gifts in a gift carry bag a great way to add that special touch and add an extra gift if Host put in a big effort e.g. had lots of outside orders.
• Give hosts magnet or business card so that they can ring you anytime to place an order or to re-book.
• Put hosts on your mailing list to send new catalogues and make a note in your diary to ring them if they have made no contact within 6-12 months, to see if they would like to receive more free products by having another get together.

After Sales Service

You have sold some products that will eventually run out. Whether the initial order means that you have simply obtained a sale or created a customer who will go on buying from you will depend on you. The product benefits will ensure product satisfaction but it is after sales service which will guarantee customer satisfaction. This will also create a customer who will keep coming to you forever. In this respect you will never run out of customers.

1. It helps you form good habits. Schedule your power hour into your calendar as you would a doctor or dentist appointment. In the beginning, you may have to force yourself to sit down, but it will get easier as you build momentum with the system. Those who use the Power Hour system get much more done and are much less overwhelmed.

2. The secret to success with this system is focus. During each 15 minute segment, focus only on the topic at hand. If the category is booking calls, spend 15 minutes time frame making only booking calls. Then go on to the next topic and spend 15 focused minutes on that.

3. This system encourages daily action. It transcends goal setting and list making, and helps eliminate procrastination. One hour a day 15 minute at a time. Too often, we set ourselves up for failure by setting unrealistic goals or making unhealthy lists, so the Power Hour system provides a practical vehicle to help move your business forward.

How NOT to Use Social Media When You’re In Direct Sales

by Jennifer Fong

I love direct sellers. I really do. They are some of the most passionate, giving, enthusiastic people that I know. However, one of the occupational hazards of friending a lot of direct sellers online is that those who have not (yet!) taken my social media training for direct sellers still do what I affectionately term the “Sales Swoop” any time they see an opening (and sometimes when they don’t!)

So today’s post is about what NOT to do as a direct seller online in social media.

Done Right! Status Updates Should Inform and Engage

Let me preface this by saying that what you SHOULD be doing is providing valuable content online that people appreciate. You should NOT be a sales pitch. I love it when people get it right. One of the ladies I’m friends with on Facebook who happens to be a wine consultant posts wine tips a few times a day as her Facebook status update. I’m learning the temperature my white wine should be to bring out the flavor. I laugh at her jokes about how most people age wine for as long as it takes to get it from the store to the glass. In short, she’s got an audience. She GETS it. I know she sells wine. But she’s not ramming it down my throat, and I look forward to her posts.

So let’s talk about some direct sales faux pas in the online world.

1. If I mention your company or your product, do not swoop down on me and ask if I already have a consultant. If you really want to know, start a conversation with me. Get to know me and find out what I like, what my interests are. Check out my blog and see what I write about. In short, know me as a person before you try to be my consultant.
2. Don’t provide me with a link to your website the minute I meet you online, because I’ve mentioned anything remotely related to your product line. I won’t click it. Instead, I’m more likely than not to ignore you and never click on anything you’ve sent me ever again. Instead, engage with me. Say hello. Share (FREE) resources with me about the interest that I’ve mentioned. I’m a lot more likely to be interested in what you have to offer when you express an interest in my needs, and try to help me with my needs (without trying to sell me immediately.)
3. Do not make every status update a broadcast about your product. You may think you’re meeting people’s needs by sharing valuable information about your products, but you’re not. Instead, you sound like a commercial. And I like to go get ice cream during commercials, not pay attention to them. I’d rather get to know YOU in your status updates, and have you get to know me.
4. PLEASE don’t make your logo your avatar. People in social media want to connect with PEOPLE, not logos. It’s amazing, but I feel a LOT more connected with those people online who have faces. When people have a logo up, I have no idea who they are, and I pay less attention. The people you’re trying to reach will do the same thing.
5. And finally, DON’T sign me up for your newsletter until I do it myself. Now perhaps this is another occupational hazard of communicating with a lot of direct sellers, as I do for my job. But my friends, this is actually against the law. It’s called SPAM if I don’t sign up for it myself. If I have an interest in your newsletter, rest assured, I know how to find you. But don’t sign me up without asking first.

Social media can have a dramatic impact on your business. It can help you connect with people you never could have met before, and can position you as an expert that people turn to for advice and products. By avoiding the direct sales faux pas I mention above, you will be on the path to success in social media.

What do you think? Have you experienced the “Sales Swoop?” Are you a reformed “Sales Swooper?” Would love to read your comments below!