Personalize Holiday Gifts

Finding gifts for friends and family used to be easy for me….. I would note things there were interested in or wanted and probably wouldn’t buy for themselves or it would be something that triggered a memory.  Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons (mainly the MS) this has become more and more difficult.  If I don’t buy it or write it down when I am thinking of it….it is gone out of my head never to return.

I love giving things that are personal to friends and family.  I know it can be the difference between giving something they enjoy and something truly unforgettable. No matter how long your shopping list is this holiday season, these fun and creative ideas can add a personal touch which makes your gift one they’ll never forget! 

The holidays are a great time to celebrate the hardworking loved ones in your life. Maybe they’re driving the kids to and from practice and need some extra storage. Or they’re educating little ones and need a place to put all their classroom supplies. Or they’re nurses and need to be extra prepared for those extra-long shifts. Regardless, a Large Utility Tote or Medium Utility Tote will be a perfect fit for their busy schedules.  Here are some fun ways to personalize their bags:

For moms:

• • Chaos Coordinator
  • Too blessed to be stressed
  • Bless this Hot Mess
  • Wife. Mom. Boss.
  • Mom Life
  • Messy bun & gettin’ things done

For teachers:

• • Prepare to get schooled
  • Stop. Grammar time!
  • Because I’m the teacher, that’s why.
  • The influence of a great teacher cannot be erased
  • Teach, Love, Inspire

For nurses:

• • Work Hard. Stay Humble.
  • Sleep all day, Nurse all night
  • Boo Boo Crew
  • Hair up, Scrubs on
  • Comfort & Joy

 

Home is where the heart is, so help your friends and family make their space festive for the holidays with some of these keepsake decorations. Our Statement Canvas Pillow Cover is perfect for any room – and with so many options for embroidered or printed personalization, you can be sure to find something for that special person in mind.

Here are a few ideas for personalization:

• • Choose a Christmas Tree with the phrase “Home for the Holidays”
  • Use a festive lyric like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
  • Add a name along with a snowglobe or snowflake design
  • Insert Baby’s name with the phrase “First Christmas”

Other products like the Close to Home™ Round Tray are perfect for those who love to host friends and family for those big holiday meals. And with the endless possibilities of playful personalized phrases that can be added, their guests are sure to be served well.

• • Eat, Drink & Be Merry
  • Let’s eat!
  • All are welcome
  • The Miller Family
  • Gather Here
  • Eat, Pray, Love
  • Bless this Home

 

For all those people in your life who have a flair for the dramatic, our bold products and prints are sure to fit their personal style. Plus, by adding some sassy personalization to go with it, their one-of-a-kind bag can complete any look.

Our classic Cindy Tote™ Ltd., casual Retro Metro^® Bag or new Festival Mini Backpackall make great gifts for those who want to stay on trend this season.

Personalization makes any bag mean even more:

• • hello.
  • Girl Boss
  • DREAMER
  • Spread love.
  • Can’t dull my sparkle!
  • Add their first name in Swirl or Script font
  • Highlight their initials in an embroidered monogram featuring feathers or hearts

Whatever you pick, remember about 90% of Thirty One’s products can be personalized… make the gift you give this holiday season one they will remember.

Have a blessed day!

 

Out of the Box Gift Ideas

We are just 18 days from Christmas and I see the panic on the faces of many struggling on what to get those on their holiday list.  I will admit, I had those moments looking for the “perfect gift”.  Having moments where I let the inner gremlins step in bashing those out of the box ideas….

Has your gift giving list grown?  Has your office just decided to hold a Secret Santa?  Are YOUR friends looking for gifts for people in their office or do they know someone who is looking to give gifts to their co-workers or customers?

For those of us in direct sales, I know this sounds OBVIOUS but have you approached them about using YOUR products as gifts.  Now, I don’t mean just hand them a catalog to look through, I mean really help them with their gift giving dilemnas.

I offered my customers this year the opportunity to make their Christmas Wish List.   Remember the wish list of your childhood.  The one where you scoured the catalogs and sale papers making a list of EVERYTHING you could possible want then gave it to your parents who shared it with everyone in the family.

Some created their own list of what they wanted and then told family to contact me.  While others, provided me with a gift list and a few words describing person they needed to buy a gift for.  I then made practical suggestions from our product lines for them.  I know you are all thinking – when do I have time to do that in addition to my shopping, work (full and part-time), kids, etc.  The reality is most will not take advantage of it BUT you could start off by offering it to your hostess or those VIP customers who shop year round with you, never missing an opportunity to share your business with others.

Let’s try it with some of our Thirty One products:

• Busy Mom, Mom Taxi – what about a Thirty One Hanging Traveler Case bag filled with pens, pencils, note paper, crayons, etc. to leave in the car.  Maybe even a few non-perishable snacks for the kids or an energy bar or two for mom. You never have to hunt for a pen or you can keep the kids busy while in the car.

• Hubby, Mechanic, Car fanatic – How about an Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote filled with everything they would need to take care of their car?  They can keep everything in the trunk – organized so there is still room for the groceries.

• College Student – How about a Large Utility Tote filled with everything they would need in an emergency?  Blanket, jumper cables, first aid kit, etc.  Our daughter got one when she started driving. I know, most people have AAA but honestly sometimes they take FOREVER!  In the dead of winter, would it be nice to have a filled bag in the trunk so when a good Samaritan stopped to offer assistance you had the supplies you needed.  How about filling it with snacks along with a gift card or two.  You will be sending them back to school with food to get through those tough nights of studying..

So, have I sparked any ideas?  Are YOU thinking outside of the box?  Some people will think it is tacky to give a gift of the product you sell but think about how special it will be if it is combined with something they would know you picked out just for them.  I mean we all LOVE our products, why not share them with friends, family and co-workers.

What are you doing for “outside of the box” gift giving this holiday season?  I am still looking for a few gift ideas, how about sharing YOUR best company gift idea with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Productive Or Busy?

How often do you answer the question “how are you doing?” with “I’m so busy”?  Think about it…. as wives, mothers, and business owners, we often wear busyness as a badge of honor.

But is “busy” really a label you want to wear? Does it mean, your business is doing well?  Does it mean we have it “all together” as moms?  Does it mean we are reaching our goals and being successful?

Or does busy just mean being occupied? You are doing stuff. I’m not saying some of it may not be purposeful but I am sure some of it is not.  Yes, some of it necessary while some of it we do simply out of habit.  Does being busy mean you are being productive?  Does it mean you are getting things done which actually need to get done?

Think about it… do you have a plan in place for the day or the week? Do you have a clear picture of what is important or what matters most?  If you are “busy”, the answer to both of these questions is probably NO!

What if you were to say “I’m productive” instead of “I’m busy”.  What’s the difference, right?  Semantics?  The reality is, it makes a HUGE difference in how you go about your day.  You become purposeful in what you are doing.

When you’re busy, you take on new tasks without considering whether you even have time to complete them. You are less likely to delegate the task to others.  You are less likely to ask for help.  Why delegate? Because when you delegate, you take time to think: “Do I really have to do this myself? Who could do it instead? When can I ask them? How long will it take to explain?” In many cases when you are busy, the response is “never mind, I’ll just do it myself.” In the long run you waste more time and get less accomplished. Being busy generates a more stressed and hurried way of life so doing it yourself is an easy answer.

What if you were to look at “hurrying up” as the one thing which is actually slowing you down? Yes, if you took just a moment to slow down, you could actually get more of the right things done in less time and be more productive. WOW!  I know it is crazy but it really does work.  It is a great way to de-clutter your life.

I find the weeks I am more productive are when I follow a simple process of planning out my week. I make a list of everything I’d like to accomplish this week. If a week is to overwhelming, do it just for a day.  Now, put each item into one of four categories: Do it. Delay it. Delegate it. Delete it.   Stick with me, it really does work and it can all be accomplished in about 10 minutes.  Yes, you have 10 minutes to spare when the end result is feeling more productive.

So, first pick the stuff you choose to do is important. It is a priority.  I know, right now everything seems to be a priority BUT try to limit it to no more than 3 things.  I hear the groans!

Now, move on to the stuff you can delay. These are things which are not urgent and may actually be causing you stress.  Maybe you really don’t have time to do it right now, and frankly, it doesn’t yet need to be done now. Add it to your schedule for a later date.  This is where my planner comes in handy.  I list things at the bottom of the week in the space called “infinite possibility”.  If I have time, great!  It may get done before the delayed date but most times, it doesn’t.  It is okay!

Here is the tough one – the stuff you delegate.  I will admit, I struggle with this on a regular basis.  Health challenges have helped me to put this in perspective.  Delegate things which do not require your personal attention. Someone else can handle it just fine. Okay, they may not do it your way BUT it will get done.  Does it really matter as long as the end result is the same?  Maybe it is tossing clothes in the washer.  Maybe it is putting labels on the catalogs.  Maybe it is putting out the trash or emptying the dishwasher.  Learning to let go and delegate things has made life less stressful for me which is a plus as some days the health challenges are a struggle.

The last list is the stuff you delete. It is those tasks which serve no important purpose at this time. We all have them.  So, give yourself permission to take them off your to-do list.

The truth is hurrying up or busyness is actually slowing you down. What can you change in order to be more productive?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

How to Use a Key FOB

Happy Monday!

The Monday before Christmas when all through the house…..

How would you finish this sentence?  Is it the calm before the storm?  Are you on the hunt for your keys?  Are you excited to be escaping to work to avoid the mess at home?  Are you still trying to figure out what to get for people? Or are you done with holiday shopping and ready to get organized in the new year?

Today is about a simple inexpensive solution to some every day challenges…

Thirty One’s Key FOB is so much more than just a key chain.  Yes, it is perfect for your keys because you can hook them onto your purse or on a tote when you go shopping.   Or hang them on a hook when you come in the house.  Or slip it on your wrist so you don’t drop them when you are carrying lots of things. BUT have you every thought what else you could use it for?

Have you ever entered a public bathroom and there was no hook on the door for your purse?  The moment when you can’t figure out what you are going to do.  I HATE putting my bag on the floor – why not use a key fob?

Even if your keys are on the ring, you can still use it.

I know it is a little cold for the beach BUT for some it is never too early to plan (or dream of warmer weather).  Use your Key FOB to hold your beach bag up off the sand.

Do you have hair ties all over the house but can never find one when you need it?  Enter Thirty One’s Key FOB.

Going grocery shopping – child in the seat and the basket full of groceries?  Use your key fob to  hold your Essential Storage Tote or other reusable grocery bags.  Or use it to hold your purse or diaper bag.

      

Do you spend a lot of time in the car?  Ever had to stop short and your purse topples to the floor, contents all over?  I’ve had it happen more than once and occasionally something will roll under the seat and I won’t know it until I go to find it later on.  Use a key fob or two to attach your purse to the head rest to create a no spill solution.  

I love this one but it would definitely NOT work for the fur grand babies we have – they are way too big.  Walk two dogs at the same time without having two leashes to get them tangled up in.

 

One of my customer’s favorite uses for a Key FOB is as a gift for a teacher or coach.  A simple gesture to let someone know you appreciate all they do for you.

So a key fob is so much more than just a keychain.  It has a multitude of uses and here is a list of 31 uses:

What would you use your key fob for?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

In Just Five Minutes

“The limit is not in the sky. The limit is the mind.” ~Unknown

I have been working with some direct sales consultants on getting organized so that they can maximize their time.  I know you are thinking the usual “physical space” things like their office, their home, their car, etc.  The truth is that it was more about re-framing their thoughts.

Let’s be honest, life gets in the way. Maybe you have a full-time job plus hubby plus kids so who has time for a business, right?  Maybe when you are the local mom taxi.  When you started your business, you were excited and everyone seemed to be on board.  Bookings and sales came easy.

For me, I think friends and family were on board because they thought it was “a phase”.   They thought it would slowly die BUT it hasn’t.  There is something that keeps us coming back (or staying).  Maybe it is the only time just for YOU.  Maybe it is the only time that you get a break from the craziness of being the mom taxi.  Maybe the extra money comes in handy to pay for the kids extras.  Whatever your reason, you are not ready to give up. So the trick is to  earn how to work smarter.  What if you had a list of things that would only take 5 minutes to do?

I asked each girl “What is holding you back from (fill in the blank)?”  The biggest thing was “no time to do ANYTHING”.  We talked about how a typical day went.  As they explained their day, I asked if they had a few minutes in various spots – lunch time, waiting for the kids to get off the bus, etc.  We found small blocks of time (the average was 5 minutes) that they could do something to work their business.

So what could you do in just 5 minutes that would help you in your business?

• Each morning (or I do mine on Sunday night) list 3 things that you want to get accomplished. JUST 3 and put them on an index card.  Easy to carry around & remember. Cross off as you do each item.
• Reach out to a customer via phone or text that just received their order for great customer service.
• Reach out to a past hostess to check in on her life – no hidden agenda, just see how she is doing.  Continue to build a relationship.
• Reach out to a past (or current) team member to see how they are doing – again no hidden agenda.
• Post a picture on Facebook with your product somewhere in it. Admit it, we are all posting picture on Facebook with our kids, why not include a product in it.

• Use the NEW Facebook Live to share your life/ personality with people.  Remember that people buy from people they like and know. CLICK HERE to see one.

• Post a question on Instagram or Facebook asking people something that will help you to build a relationship with them. CLICK HERE to see one.

• Respond with  more than a “thank you” when someone comments on the product that they were carrying or using.  Share a mini catalog with them.
• Share a catalog/flyer with the cashier as you check out at the grocery store.  Don’t forget to get her name and email address.
• Write a card to a past customer, hostess or team member to let them know that you are thinking of them.

Am I guaranteeing instant bookings, sales or team members? NO!  What I am saying is that when you consistently do 3 things every day on your business, the rewards will follow.

If you think you can’t work your business because you don’t have time, you’ll never push yourself to start taking that first step, you’ll limit yourself by your minds perception.

Doing what you want to do starts with believing it’s possible, no matter how difficult it may be. Achieving what it’s beyond our pre-conceived limits is what strengthens not only our bodies, but also our own minds.

So, who is ready to find 5 minutes to work their business?  What could you do in 5 minutes to help your business?  Share your ideas with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!