Increase Your Sales

I know, it is getting close to Christmas and Vacation Veronica is ready to creep in.  You know who I mean…. the inner gremlin who tells you  “it is time for you to take a break” or “everyone is shopping at the malls” or any of the crazy thoughts which keep us from moving forward with our business during the busiest selling season of the year.

For me, I am at Day 2 of an event at AT & T in Bedminster.  My first time taking a big event like this in a long time but I am grateful for momma’s help.  A closed event for employees, and vendors.  Okay, so more about how to increase your sales….

No matter what your business, I know there are many of us in direct sales struggling with the same thoughts.  Some are shutting down their businesses getting ready for their own holiday while others are plugging along.  With so many exciting things happening at Thirty One with Customer Appreciation month coming and the NEW Spring Catalog Premiere, I am too excited to be winding down my business yet.  

For many of us, our direct sales business has been changing from home parties to parties dominated by social media.  From Facebook Live to Zoom parties to 31 minute parties to texting parties…. the home party has gone away for many.  I came across a blog by JulieAnne Jones which made me giggle. She starts off with:

I know, I know, your home party plan merchandise sells itself. I’ve heard that a million times from my direct sales clients and friends and I believe it…to a point.

So why does it make me giggle? Because I have said it a million times to potential hostesses when we are talking about booking a “shopping experience”.  Admit it, you have too. We know the “face to face” parties are where things really happen, right?  When people are having fun and you are providing them with solutions to every day problems, they will shop.  Believe it or not, there are ways to provide the same personalized shopping experience on social media but it is for a different blog post…

None of us want to be the pushy sales person BUT you need to be using some sales techniques or you are going to leave money on the table. Okay, maybe not literally but you will miss out on the opportunities in front of you…..

So here are some tips on how to maximize your sales at the end of your home party or at your social media base party.

1. A Wish List. This is a great way for your guests to keep track of the items they like and helps with checkout. Getting customers to tell you what their favorite products are or what is on their wish list is a great way to help them with the best deals when placing an order, hosting a party or joining your team.  I am going to create a google form for my online parties to not only be able to gather information on the guests but to ask for their “wish list” offering a ticket to be drawn for all who complete the form.  A minimal cost but worth it in the end.

2. Shopping.  Help you guests with shopping whether in person or online.  I have been utilizing the Tag Team version of a Facebook party and my guests loved it.  No need to go to the website.  Be sure you include how to shop in at the end of your presentation or during your social media party.  Make it easy for them.  Be sure to talk about customer specials, shipping times, etc.. This seems like a no-brainer but the truth is sometimes we forget something.

3. Provide a Nordstrom, not a Wal-Mart experience for your guests.  Honestly, this is my favorite thing to do.  Spending one on one time with guests.  I will help them find the best deals so they get the most value for their dollar.  Dedicated time to each customer to answer their questions and help them with choices will increase sales and build relationships which will lead to future bookings and sales.  I have been known to spend 45 minutes on the phone with a customer sending sample shots to them just to ensure they receive exactly what they are looking for in a product.

4. Add-on Products. Solution sets have always been a part of Thirty One’s party experience (as well as many other direct selling businesses) A core product teamed with two other products.  Asking guests if they want the monthly special is easy and usually a welcome reminder according to party guests. Your job is to know your merchandise and catalog so well you can suggest add-on products based on what your customers like (upsell).  A high percentage of people will say yes to relevant suggestions, increasing your bottom line.

So, which one of these tips are YOU going to implement to increase your sales for the rest of the holiday season? Better yet, what is YOUR best tip for increasing sales? Share with us…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Everything Spooky….

YEAH!!  October has arrived and I am so excited.  Since Irma caused our cruise to cancel, I am headed to North Carolina this month to spend some time with my daughter for her birthday.  October also means football is in full swing.  Despite all of the negatives in the NFL, I do like football so I may have to switch to cheering for college football instead of the J-E-T-S!

At Thirty One – October means the kick off of some many things….

There is tailgating, football, Halloween, birthdays (in our family), anniversaries, Thanksgiving and yes, Christmas. Here are some of the EXCITING things happening at Thirty One!  Thirty One launches our Holiday Gift Guide as well as our Online Exclusives which make great gifts for the holidays…

       

#1 – Have you every thought about being a part of Thirty One?

Want to have debt-free holiday?  How about some girl time after playing mom taxi?  OR do you want to solve your holiday gift giving with awesome discounts on amazing products?  Thirty One is offering a Holiday Enrollment Kit!  For just $50 you can get some of the TOP gift giving products to share with your friends and family.  Check it out:

   

Don’t worry, you can also still pick from either of the  $99 kits if you want.  They are packed with some of this seasons top sellers – the Retro Metro Bag (my favorite) and the large utility tote which has been a company top seller since it was introduced!

PLUS, during your first 4 months of being a consultant you get to earn MORE!  In addition to your 25% commission, when you reach $500 in sales every 30 days, you will receive a 25% credit in your back office to help you grow your business.  Have more than $500 in sales, there is no limit to the credit!  How cool is that!  Here is what it looks like:

Oh, there is one more thing…. join in October and submit a $1000 in sales and YOU will get a FREE Cindy Tote in the Black Dotty Pebble which is an exclusive available online during this holiday season.

#2 – Be a Hostess with the Mostess!

Not interested in joining our pink bubble – how about hosting your own party?  Did you know for just $200 in orders, YOU can have a qualified party.  You will get $25 in FREE product, 1 half price item and 1 hostess exclusive.  Did you know it is only takes 6 orders of $35 to have a qualified party? I offer home, catalog/online, on the go and Facebook parties. Fundraising opportunities are also available!  Which one will fit into YOUR busy schedule?

#3 – Don’t want to join, and not interested in being a hostess…..

How about getting a jump on your holiday shopping with a choice of these three products:

FIRST, you can shop this month’s customer special which is the either the Retro Metro Weekender, the Foldover Weekender or the All Packed Duffle for $31 each with a $35 purchase .  You can pick your choice of one for each multiple of $35 you spend!

TWO, you can send me your holiday wish list and we can put you on the budget/layaway plan for 3 months with everything being delivered to you in plenty of time for your gift giving events. Join my Holiday Gift Club. For more details, fill out the form below:

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Which one will you pick??

Want a chance to earn FREE stuff, get special deals and more….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Is Vacation Veronica Your Summer Persona?

Summer and the living is easy, at least here at the Jersey shore unless you are fighting traffic from all of the “shoobies”.  Pools, picnics, gardening, homemade ice cream, life at the beach, on the lake, and the lazy days of summer are what we want our lives to be full of, right?

Most adults have to work a JOB, so all of the fun summer things are squeezed into weekends or when you are on vacation.  For those who have their own business, there are BIG choices to make. Sometimes, it is hard to remember our “business is flexible, not optional”, especially if you want to get paid!

I know it is the end of July but for some, there are still 4 more weeks of summer vacation.  What are you going to do with your business?

Have you put your business on hold this month?  Are you going to do it again in August?Sure you can BUT how is it going to effect your customers, your team, and maybe even your company.

Are you in Vacation Veronica  mode, taking the entire sumer off?  We often talk about “vacations” during the holiday months, right?  I can’t be the only one who finds it hard to work between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We tend to take a “holimonth instead of a holiday”. Not good for your business then and certainly not good during the summer.

In a conversation last week with a friend, we were talking about the excuses everyone has about not working their business during the year:

• July/August – Summer time is vacation time, fun time. Who wants to work when everyone else is enjoying summer fun
• September/October – Back to School and sports
• November/December – holiday times.
• January – No one has any money because they spent it all on gifts
• April  – Easter or Spring Break
• June – Graduations, weddings, end of school year parties, etc.

Do you see the pattern?  So, if you don’t have a plan, you can end up working your business maybe two months out of the year.  I don’t know about you but I definitely would have to work 24/7 to make sure I made enough money to pay the bills all year long.  No one says you can’t enjoy lots of down/vacation time when you have your own business, you just need to have a plan.

Here are the 5W’s of Direct Sales which helped me keep “Vacation Veronica” away:

1. WHO will I share this with? Who will have my next show?
2. WHAT do I want my business to provide for me? What is my vision? What difference do I want to make in this world?
3. WHEN will I make time for my work and for my family?
4. WHERE will I be in one year? Where is my time best spent right now?
5. WHY am I really doing this? WHY does this bring me joy?

There are a lot more questions in each of the sections but these are MY personal favorites. When I keep these things in front of me, Vacation Veronica doesn’t have a chance to get me sidetracked. I am not saying we don’t all need a break but let’s put it in perspective. If you owned your own store-front and took a month off, don’t you think it would be hard to get back into the swing of things. What if you work a full-time job and took a month off? Would you want to go back to work and when you did, wouldn’t you still have vacation brain?

When you imagine the rest of your summer, think about what you want, and create an intentional plan.

Here’s to hoping Vacation Veronica doesn’t linger long at my house or yours.  Take a break and enjoy your family and friends but don’t neglect your business.  If you had a store front, you wouldn’t close for 2 weeks would you?  So why should you close your direct sales business for 2 weeks unless you are fully booked for the next 2 months – even then, I am not sure I would stop working my business.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Saturday Spotlight: Paparazzi Jewelry

Where are my fashionistas? Are you a jewelry addict?  Do you like to coordinate your earrings, necklace and bracelets when putting an outfit together?  I will admit, I don’t wear a lot of jewelry and I tend to wear the same thing over and over again.  WHY?  Because it can be expensive.  What if I told you, there is an alternative to spending BIG BUCKS on jewelry but you can still look stylish?

Let me introduce you to my friend, Kathy Stine.  Here is her direct sales story:

I’ve represented many direct sales companies in the past – Tupperware, Undercoverware, Partylite, Park Lane, and Avon and a couple of them more then once.

Recently I had a storefront (Bible Book Store of Imlay City) which I closed in November 2016, after 3 years. As a store owner you look for things to carry people might like. When I opened the store, I had a local person bring in her handmade jewelry to sell. Since I wasn’t selling much of her stuff she decided to scale back her display and eventually she removed everything. When she scaled back, I knew I either needed to try making my own or find another source for jewelry, but something a little more affordable.

At the same time, I noticed someone posted about a $5 jewelry company but didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t until a friend started talking about possibly joining the company to sell it, I mentioned I was interested in the products. I didn’t act on things until my jewelry lady pulled her stuff, then I checked back with my friend to see if she joined yet and where she stood.

I reached out to a consultant from the jewelry company, expressing an interest in the products.  I explained I was thinking of carrying the product in my store and maybe even join so I could sell, however I was very skeptical of the jewelry and its quality, after all the stuff was only $5 each. I asked if she could bring stuff to the store so I could get the “bird’s eye view” and see it for myself. So she came in and brought lots for me to see. I was impressed. The pieces were truly amazing and nothing like I expected. They were not small either, some of the necklaces were huge (lots of beads, long in length,etc). I knew right then I wanted to try to sell the jewelry but I didn’t have the start-up money.

Our town’s big event was the next month and I wanted to have stuff by then. She asked if she could set up a display while I gathered the needed funds to join myself and of course I said she could. A couple days later she brought in a huge display. My customers admired the jewelry and couldn’t believe the pieces were only $5 each. I got many nice comments on it. I sold quite a few pieces from her stuff and finally had enough funds together to purchase my own kit. Of course I asked a lot of questions before joining. The main question of course is how much do you earn selling the jewelry – I mean after all the customer is only charged $5.00. She proceeded to tell me we make a 45% commission! I couldn’t believe it as no company gives so much away. However she showed me proof. Plus not only do they give you a large commission, they also give you free products with your orders as long as they are a certain amount.

About the only draw back from this company is they do not print catalogs. Reason being as most items sell out really fast and they’d have to produce a new catalog almost monthly and it would be costly. They do give us a free shopping web site for our customers to shop from. Most consultants carry a lot of stock and do cash and carry. Home parties can be done as well as online parties.

The company I am referring to is paparazzi. To check out what is currently available go to my website . If you are on Facebook feel free to join my VIP group. In this group I list everything I have currently have on hand. If you want the item just let me know and once I receive payment I will ship the item(s) to you. I am really glad I joined paparazzi and wish I knew about it a lot sooner. I have met some awesome people as well. I am always looking for events and places to get into with my jewelry. Its really nice stuff.

Be sure to check out her website and I would love to hear what our favorite pieces are…

Need something to carry all of your new jewelry in?  Check out ThirtyOne’s Shine On Jewelry Case.  Great for travel and practical enough to store everyday jewelry or other small necessities. Features one PVC zipper compartment with two organza bags, one zipper pocket, two jewelry snap tabs and a tie closure. It’s available in new Spring prints and can be personalized for an added touch. Size: Approx 6.25″H x 9″L

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Bingo Fun for Your Business

How many of you like to play BINGO?  Be honest, do you have your good luck charms you always take with you?  Many years ago, I started playing BINGO at home parties and then moved to events and now with the surge of Facebook Parties, it is going to be another way to hold a Facebook LIVE party.  Yes, I said LIVE.  Of course, you can do it with lots of posts BUT wouldn’t your guests like to see you and the products up close?

First, you need a hostess or maybe a Mystery Hostess party or a battle of the hostesses… In April, I am going to do a Mystery Hostess BINGO party online playing  BINGO.

If you have a hostess, then you will begin by hostess coaching her on how to get people to join her party.  I do multiple forms of invites – snail mail, VIP invites with incentives to help the hostess collect orders, email and of course, Facebook.

Then you will need a BINGO board for YOUR business… This is for Thirty One, I’m not sure who did it but  I wish I could so I could thank her.  Set up a Facebook party (an event) for a 2 to 3 day period with the actual event happening on a specific time and day.  For example, the party may run from April 3 – 5 with the event actually happening on the 4th at 8:30PM.  Just because the event is actually only for a few days doesn’t mean you can’t post some fun things leading up to it.  I don’t usually go more than a week out with a Facebook party.  When I create the event in my VIP group, it will be for one night only.

The night before the party, you post a grid of products – your BINGO board and tell your guests to pick 5 numbers, and meet back at the designated party time. Then at the designated time, you meet back on FACEBOOK to pull numbers and share about your AMAZING products.  Now the prizes don’t have to be big BUT I would encourage you to do something that adds to your personal volume increasing your sales.

This is a great way to get interaction and share about your products.  The guests are all there hoping to win but they are also learning about the products.

Yes, the guests may pick some of the same numbers.  The directions are to choose 5 numbers BUT they do not have to be in a row or column.  Do you know what they will do?

When they are told to pick any number, they will subconsciously pick items they LIKE! A total AH-HA moment! Right?  You are starting to build a relationship with potential customers to help them shop for products they like and want.

This game works for you in so many ways!!

1. It gets people excited and interacting in your FB party or VIP group.
2. If you post it the night before the party, you can also remind them to come back the next night to join in the fun LIVE.
3. Each time you ‘call’ a number, you are telling them about the product.
4. You now have a WISH LIST for your customers and guests!!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Post the Bingo grid, tell them to pick 5 numbers, any number, they do not need to be in order, give them a time frame and tell them when Bingo will be played.  I am playing the next day BUT you may want to post the board and play the same day.
2. They need to post their numbers in the comments of the post with the Bingo grid
   I remind them a little before Bingo time
3. You can post the grid again, say let’s play Bingo!
4. If you are just posting pictures, in the comments of the post, you can post theI ‘called’ numbers.  You can pick numbers from a hat or post random numbers.  If you are doing it LIVE, you can post an album of the products so they can see the details without going to another link.
5. When all 5 of their numbers have been called, they post BINGO!
6. I give away a prize – something small and I will mail it to them.

The next day, send a message to everyone who played,  and thank them. If you are playing in your VIP Group, DO NOT sell or offer anything, just reach out to say thanks.  If you are doing this as a party for a hostess, then of course, in addition to thanking them, share the link for her party.

There are so many ways to change this up to fit YOUR business.  Can’t wait to see how it works for you….

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!