~ September 1st, 2010 ~
There are many aspects to your business that you may be good at and focus on. Every consultant runs their business differently especially because people are in the home party business for many reasons. The core of any successful business centers around the basics of the S.T.A.I.R process which has been outlined by the DSWA (Direct Selling Women’s Alliance).
~ August 26th, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
There are many people who we cross paths with and affect us deeply. I’d like to introduce my amazing grandfather who just turned 95 and share with you how he has helped me grow into the business woman I am today! He has taught me about optimism, to be persistent, generous and to live life with love and compassion.
~ August 17th, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
Are you searching for a new endeavor and considering the home party industry. Below are some helpful tips…
1. Direct selling is a great way to own your own business. You get to be your own boss and set your own goals. If you are self motivated and conscientious you will appreciate this freedom.
2. Flexible work schedule. You can set your hours based on what works for you and your family. For example, you can make your follow up phone calls when your children are at school or you can have your parties at night and on weekends after your full time job.
~ August 9th, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
I have talked to many consultants who have been at a party, met a friendly face at the store or have bumped into a neighborhood friend and have been beaming with excitement that they have found another person interested in the Sydney Andrews opportunity. Why not, it’s a great product that basically sells itself, it’s a fun profession surrounded by people who love to go to a party and the rewards are generous to both the hostess and consultant. Why then is it not unusual for people to say they are ready to sign up and suddenly become a person who is MIA?
~ June 22nd, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
These days it is very important to keep in contact with your customers and future prospects. One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they want to jump into a sale before the relationship has actually evolved. In fact, a great parallel is that there has to be a courting period before a marriage. Developing a relationship takes TIME and ENERGY! Outlined below is a natural progression to keeping your audience connected and interested.
Target Audience- Know your target audience and market to them. Actually visualize who that ideal person is. Is it Sally who is 42 years old, has two children, drives a SUV, owns a house and lives in the burbs? Marketing to that person would be very different than marketing to Alice who is 23 years old, lives in the city, doesn’t own a house and a car and is single.
~ June 2nd, 2010 ~
Have you heard that sales during the summer are notoriously slow? A lot of this has to do with attitude, if you are told it’s going to be slow then it will be. But if you take advantage of some of the points below and share your enthusiasm for your home party business - you will spark excitment during the summer months!
1. Highlight the specials your company offers- Many companies beef up their incentives for hostesses and consultants during the summer- take advantage of this and let people know why, for instance- ”June is the best month to have a jewelry party”At Sydney Andrews, the summer special is that hostesses earn an extra necklace or bracelet for holding a qualified party in addition to all the standard hostess rewards.
2. Have a Theme Party- Put a fun spin on your party and ask your guests to dress up or bring a special dish to go with the theme. I am have tried to research themes that start with the letter J for jewelry- not so easy:) What about Jimmy Buffet and Jewelry, Sex and the City party or Christmas in July.
I’d love your “J” suggestions:)
3. Gather your Play Group together- Hire an older child or a babysitter to entertain the children. Supply a craft such as beading a bracelet- while the moms can talk and shop. It’s a win- win the kids get to play with eachother as well as the moms!
What great ideas have you come up with to get keep your sales consistant during the summer months?
~ May 27th, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
It is so frustrating to have cancellations and postponements when booking your calendar. You are organized, why isn’t everyone else? Unfortunately, it is a part of the home party business. The two most common reasons the hostess cancels her show is due to procrastination and projected low attendence. The hostess often puts off inviting her guests and by the time she gets around to inviting them-it’s too late because everyone has plans.
Communication and education with your hostess is the key to minimizing your cancellations and postponements and maximizing your attendance. Keeping in contact and focusing on her excitement about the party is crucial. Make sure she understands “what’s in it for her.” She’s having this party because she loves the product. Ask her “Do you remember what you receive for hosting a show?” Remind her that the more attendance +more sales = more rewards for her. It’s a numbers game..
~ May 20th, 2010 ~
by Vic Pfefer
The lives of educators can be rewarding and frustrating. Most entered the field because of their interest in helping people, especially children. Unfortunately, the pay scale of educators tends to be be in the lower quartile of the salaried occupations (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), especially when you consider the amount of time that is required for lesson planning, grading, etc, that tends to take place after “working hours”. This situation is compounded by the fact that school budgets are being slashed and many teachers feel obligated to pick up the slack and buy supplies out of their own pockets.
Direct Sales is a perfect way for educators to generate additional income for themselves and can also be a great way to raise funds to help support their school, if that is a motivator. Many direct sales products ( jewelry, handbags, cosmetics, etc) are well positioned to take advantage of the demographics of both the teacher/seller and the buyer/parent, which tend to be dominated by women. The majority of direct sales take place in the evening and on weekends which also works well for their schedules.
~ May 18th, 2010 ~
How do you know when you have achieved success in your direct sales business? Is it a certain dollar amount? Is it a certain position within your organization? Is it the fancy car you drive or the enormous house you can now afford? How do you get to this success?
The definition for success is different for each individul. A methodical and logical way to acheive this success is attained by setting goals and having a clear vision. Learning to set goals takes practice and a strong focus. It’s like going to Weight Watchers and having set that weight goal and planning each step as to how to get to your desired weight. With practice, focus and support you can acheive your goal and the more you do it the easier and better you get at doing it. By creating a good habit you will see positive results and your behavior will likely repeat itself.
~ May 12th, 2010 ~
By Jill Pfefer
After spending 4 days in Los Angeles at the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (DSWA) conference it was evident that there are new trends in the home party plan industry. In fact, direct selling in general has changed. People are looking for a conversation rather than a presentation.
I believe a lot of this has to do with technology and the new era of social media. People are spending a great deal of time on their computers and smart phones and are not conversing as much in person. Therefore it seems that when people communicate with technology they feel that they have to get straight to the point and offer their product as soon as possible before losing their audience. WRONG! So many times I see on Facebook , Twitter or 3rd party sites the deal of the month or why their product is the greatest product on earth. WRONG!
