Quality vs. Quantity

It is the time of year when many direct sales companies encourage their consultants to recruit. When you get people making money during the holiday season, hopefully they will stay around for the rest of the year, right?  Now I am all about sharing the opportunity all year long BUT I will admit it can be a struggle sometimes.

This brings up the question….When RECRUITING is it  quality or quantity?

There are pros and cons on both sides so no hate mail, please.  When I decided I wanted to be a Leader with Thirty One, I was encouraged to make sure certain some basic components were in plan in my business.  First and foremost,  my personal sales/ parties had to be consistent.  Then I had to show my team how building a team can make a difference in their life.  I have talked about my initial step (or fall) into leadership.   When I started to grow my team, I quickly realized the difference between quantity and quality of recruits.

When I started with Thirty One,  it was recommended I follow the  2 – 10 – 1 model.  What it means is to hold at least 2 parties a month with at least 10 guests per party and 1 recruit per catalog season.  I know you are thinking,  ONE recruit per season will take you forever to grow your team, right?  Some do 2 recruits per season with the goal of each of those recruits being successful or maintaining their business.  I mean what good is it to have 100 girls on your team if only 10 of them are working their business and the rest are  barely staying active.  Leading by example is a great way to build your team.  I have found consultants who are on a recruiting mission to see how many new recruits they can get per month.  Is that you?  Are you helping your new recruits to grow, learn and nurturing them?  Do you compare the size of your team with those of other leaders?  Be purposeful in your recruiting – focusing on how your company can best meet the needs of your potential recruit.  What is their WHY?  What good is recruiting lots of people only to have them be part of the revolving door – coming and going all of the time?

I LOVE my team because it is a diverse group of women who all have their own goals for their business.  I have been blessed to only have a few kit-nappers over the last 7 plus years.  As a Director, it is up to me to help new team members – CELEBRATE, ENCOURAGE & REWARD them as they reach for their goals.  Sometimes life gets in the way.  That is okay!  Maybe their vision for their business has changed. Maybe they only want to work their business for some extra money.  Maybe they are not interested in having a team or recruiting.  Maybe they are a one party a month or just vendor shows or just collecting retail orders. There will be others who will go from the initial plan of 2 – 10 – 1 to wanting and growing their business to full-time potential.  The beauty of direct sales is YOUR business is YOUR business!  I truly believe a team needs to have diverse members to be successful – you never know who your next ROCK STAR will be!  If you focus on just those people who KNOW what they want and ignore those who have some great qualities – you may be missing YOUR next ROCK STAR.

Do you believe in QUALITY or QUANTITY when recruiting?

If you want to learn more about joining my amazing team, contact me for details.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.

Fall in Love With Thirty One

 

 

I know, I say it every time a new catalog comes out, right?  It is the BEST one yet. Those who are part of my monthly club or partying in August have already seen the awesomeness of the new catalog.  See that is why you need to join in the fun or be part of the “club”.

As a consultant, we had the chance to not only see everything first hand BUT we get the chance to buy a few of the new products at a DEEP discount to share with our customers.  Maybe you’re thinking…. I can do what she does. I could use an extra $300 per month to help with bills or have for the kids activities or save (whatever your reason), then join my team, the Rays of Hope. Join us before the holiday shopping season starts.  You get to make some money so you could have a CASH holiday season.  Wouldn’t it be nice?

Pick either enrollment kit – the Signature for $99 or the Deluxe for $179.  I will help you set-up your launch party either via Facebook or an in home party.  You start earning commission with your very first order!  When you submit $1000 in orders in the first 30 days,  you will a $250 commission check.  PLUS you will also earn a $200 credit which you can use for product or business OR you can exchange for a VISA gift card or Disney bucks.  The best part is for every $1000 in sales in the first 4 months you will earn an additional $200 credit.   You will also be able to shop at a 40% discount on products.  Whatever your reason for joining us, I will be there to help you every step of the way.

You don’t need the extra money or this may not be the right time for you, how about hosting a girl’s night to get FREE and discounted products?  August is a crazy busy time for people – back to school shopping, vacations and the list goes on, right? I get it.  I have been the crazy momma  but I will make it quick and easy!  I will be happy to come to you within a one hour radius.  It can be at the baseball field, the pool or where ever you will be hanging out this summer – I’m there. No big presentation, just a party on the go – complete in about 1 hour. OR how about an online party? We can do a Facebook party. Lots of fun and games. Look at this NEW Sling Back Thermal available to hostesses with a $600 party!   Did I mention the average party is $600?

I’m not giving up yet because if you kept reading this post you are probably a Thirty One fan (or maybe you have a secret addiction).  So let me tell you about August’s customer special.  When you spend $35, you can pick ONE of these: a deluxe utility tote OR a bleacher blanket for $20!  Spend $70 and you can grab both of them.  You will be ready for tailgating this fall.

So which will it be?  Will you grab the enrollment kit and give see what this “pink bubble” is all about? Will you have some with the girls which earning FREE and discounted products?  OR will you just shop for some really AMAZING products?  The choice is yours…

Have questions, feel free to call/text me at 609-457-4249.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

What’s Your PR Strategy?

When we talk about PR, what is the first thing you think about?  By definition, “public relations” is the professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization or a famous person.  

For most in direct sales, we figure we are our company, right?  If someone knows the product, they know we sell it – done!  The truth is good PR will help you develop and grow relationships, being known as the “tops in your field”, and land on your feet quickly should you ever find yourself out of work (or your direct sales company closing their doors)..

It’s not about being a pushy sales person, it’s about being a person who people trust.  People buy from those they respect, trust and know.  It’s about people knowing YOU, what your stand for and who you are NOT just about the products you sell..

 

1. All PR is not good PR.

I know can you believe it!  I used to think as long as people were taking about me, good or bad, it was okay.  For celebrities, it might work.  I mean they get book deals and new TV shows, but it rarely works in the real world (our world).  Drama does not make for good business.   Not sure about something,  stay quiet until you get your facts straight. Be intentional about the image you present. Protect it. Polish it. Then, present it.

2. Communicate your wins consistently.

Businesses put out press releases. We should too. This is on my “to do” list for this fiscal year.  You can call them whatever you want BUT you have to communicate!   What better way to recruit new team members or gather customers than by sharing your success.  No, it isn’t bragging if you consistently communicate with people.  When I achieve a goal, I thank my customers because they are the reason I achieved it.   When you work for someone else, you keep them in the loop, right?  It is the same thing for your customers in direct sales.  Let them know how things are going then they never have to wonder if you are still in business.

3. Collaborate and celebrate others.

Being in direct sales, celebrating our accomplishments may feel like shameless self-promotion, right?  Focus on the relationships!  When you celebrate your wins and those of your team,  you are strengthening relationships, and building trust.  Did you honestly accomplish your goal on your own?  Chances are NO!  So build those connections which will help you to reach your goals, quickly and easily with the help of those around you.

4. Stay positive and share your business tips.

In direct sales, we want our communication to be intentional – sharing our progress and ideas.  The key is for others to know what you do is duplicatable.  I tell everyone my business is an open book.  Want to know something – ASK!  I don’t share gossip about others and I definitely will not be the one complaining online about the company I represent when I get frustrated. Stay positive on the outside even if you are fuming on the inside.  There is no better way to kill your business then by complaining about a problem to others.

5. Be kind. Be bold.

Nice is bland and often not even authentic.  Instead, focus on being kind and gracious to people. Tell the truth, but in a gentle and loving way when you tell it. Being arrogant, disrespectful, or obnoxious to get your point across could eventually cause you to lose customers and team members.  One of the top strengths of a good leader is love and compassion. To stand out, be bold in your own unique way. Leaders know when to take a stand instead of following the crowd.  The result will be,  soon the crowd—and the opportunities—will be following you.

What will your PR campaign look like during the next few months?  Share your ideas with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

What Can You Buy for $1?

It’s the new year and the holiday bills are trickling in…As we try to figure out how to stretch the dollars in the new year, we are looking for deals.  ShopRite has the CAN CAN sale.  Retail stores are having “inventory sales”.  Have you ever thought about why a “dollar store” is so popular?  You can now buy anything and everything at the dollar store.  Sometimes we even buy things we don’t need just because it is one dollar.

What if I could offer you something for $1 which would earn you additional money for about 20 minutes a day or 4 hours a week?  Would you be interested?

What if you could start your own business for $1.00?  Seems crazy right?  No risk involved, just the opportunity to earn some money as well as get some FREE and discounted products.  Would you jump on it as fast as you would the “stuff” from the dollar store?

I shared the details in my VIP Customer group FIRST.  Actually as soon as Thirty One announced the opportunity.  See this why it is important to be a part of my VIP group?

Just when I thought this company could not get any better, they offer this AMAZING deal.  

Yes, you can actually join for $1.00.  No, you won’t receive the enrollment kit BUT you will get the chance to buy one once you earn some money.

Maybe you are thinking…. I can do what she does. Or, I don’t have time.  Or, I am not a sales person.  Or I could use an extra $300 per month.  The truth is, when I joined Thirty One 7 years ago, I was a crazy busy COO for a non-profit who commuted 4 hours a day round trip to work.  Yes, I was a crazy lady.  Still am but now I don’t commute.  LOL.

Yes, I made money from the beginning.  How?  I carried and used the products.  I shared it with my co-workers.  I handed out mini catalogs everywhere I went.  Oh, did I mention I was planning my wedding at the same time.  I get life is crazy busy – kids, work, family… and the list goes on.

So, there are TWO options to joining our Thirty One family and the Rays of Hope Team. Check this out..

You join for $1.00.  You invite your friends to your launch party (online or home) and I will do it for you.  You receive hostess benefits (FREE and discounted products), you get to keep all of the bookings from the party, you earn commission (25%) and business credit (25%**). 

OR you can grab the Spring/Summer Enrollment Kit in either the BOLD or the Black and white…

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the details on the NEW Start Swell program where you earn credit towards business supplies….

If this was in effect when I joined, I would have had $360 in credit – not bad for a hobbiest or a part time gig.  Yes, I had no intention of doing Thirty One full-time when I started.

Look at what you can earn as a Hostess during the month of February.  Look at this AWESOME bundle available ONLY to hostesses for a minimum of a $600 party! I get it.  I have been the crazy momma  but I can help you make it quick and easy!  No big presentation, just a party on the go – complete in about 1 hour. OR how about an online party? We can do a 31-minute Facebook party.

Have questions, feel free to call/text me at 609-457-4249 or complete the form below:

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Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

How To Create a Spark In Your Team

Whether you are in direct sales or are a manager in a traditional job, sparking excitement in your team or staff can be tough?  As a County Coordinator and then a CFO with non-profits, it was sometimes tough to get staff to see the BIG picture.  It was difficult to get them to buy into my crazy ideas.  In direct sales, as leaders, we (or at least I do) struggle with motivating my team forward toward reaching their dreams and goals,

I love this Vision recipe shared by Lynn Bardowski, the Million Dollar Party Girl, which is:

Mix 1/3 purpose with 1/3 passion
Stir in 1/3 crazy idea
Blend well and let it marinate overnight
Mix in massive action
Once you get clear on your vision ask yourself two questions: What does it look like? and How will I make it happen?

Here are some tips from the Party Girl, herself…

Empower: Empower your team.  Encourage them to come up with ideas, action plans, goals and most importantly…solutions. When people feel like they contributed to something instead of just following orders, they’ll be more likely to take ownership and act on them.

Educate: It took me a long time to get this one right.  As a boss, I was more about telling people how and what to do instead of teaching.  I eventually learned, it didn’t matter how it got done as long as it got done.  In direct sales, it’s the same.  Provide your team with the training to help them achieve their goal. There are lots to trainings out there, you don’t have to have all of the answers.  Use Zoom or Facebook Live so you can influence more people.  “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.” Just because you have been saying things for months, someone else may say it and the light bulb may go off and they think it is brilliant.

Delegate: This is when I usually hear crickets.  People lack confidence and as a result, don’t want to share.  I have been trying to delegate things to my team in the hopes of building confidence and increasing engagement which help them feel like they are part of the team. Believe it or not, the time you gain by giving up the reins will make up for the stress you feel as you let go. It will all work out. Trust me.  I have been there, and done that!

Recognize:  I love to send “happy mail”.  A way to recognize individuals for their effort, progress, and results. Did you know each generation reacts to praise/ recognition differently?  Millennials expect immediate recognition. Boomers might feel uncomfortable – and even embarrassed – by the attention. That’s me!  A great rule of thumb is safety in numbers when you’re giving praise.

Communicate:  I am are you have heard it a million times… “The key to being a great communicator is to be a great listener”.   To build stronger relationships with you need to be willing to listen to their struggles, and their triumphs.

I have learned to meet my team where they are, and not where I want them to be.  There are many ways people learn so you may need to use a variety of channels to communicate: Facebook messenger, live video chat, voice message, text, postcards and in-person coffee meet-ups.  Don’t forget about GIFs and stickers, which are fun ways to communicate an emotion.

Appreciate: Feeling appreciated is a human need…which makes it a much higher form of gratitude than recognition. [Source: Huffington Post]

Happy mail to me is a great (inexpensive) way to show my gratitude and let people know how much I value them on the team. I send happy mail to my customers too.  It not only helps you to stand out in the crowd BUT it lets people know you care.

Evaluate: We have all done it.  Waited until the middle or the end of the month, to see where we are on our personal goals as well as those of a team member.  Checking in weekly, helps everyone to make a plan to reach their goal.  I share my numbers with my team to let them know I am a consultant just like they are.  I am hopefully showing them how to take risks with new ideas, embrace bumps in the road and the idea of working together so we all are successful.

Discover: Look for the hidden gems on your team. Get to know Consultants who were sponsored by others – their dreams, their goals and help them make a plan to reach them. Believe it or not, they might just be your next super star.

This holiday season is a perfect time to spark some interest….What are your best tips?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!