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.

Optimism- I remember when I was 7 my sister and I stayed at my grandparents house. At the dinner table he always tried to trick us with a glass of milk- asking us “Is this glass half empty or half full.” Of course either anser was correct but it taught us that it is all how you looks at things in life.

Persistence- I remember after college I was inbetween jobs and he took it upon himself to teach me about life’s obstacles. Instead of letting me feel sorry for myself he stayed up all night dreaming up ways I could propse advertising campaigns for one of the local businesses. He taught me to bounce back and to learn from my experiences.

Generous- Grandpa has told us many times about how he helped street people who came by his business asking for money. Instead of handing over the money he would take them to a local restaurant and treat them to a meal. He took the time and interest to help them out!

Love and Companssion- There was no better example than the love and compassion my grandparents expressed towards eachother. They communicated with one another and it was apparent that they knew eachother so well they could finish eachother’s sentences. We all learned that proper communication is the key to relating to one another and building long term relationships.

Please share some of your mentors and how they have helped you in your business!

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?

I believe there are many reasons why this individual does not follow through on signing up. It could be they changed their mind after talking to a loved one, a sick relative, they don’t think they can make the time commitment or just that people ARE flaky these days!  You’ll never know what the reason is if they don’t communicate it to you so it really isn’t anything personal.

The following are a few suggestions to try to get the communication flowing.  You need to understand the type of personality you are working with.  Hopefully you have had a few conversations and have gotten to understand their personality type.

Is she soft spoken and altruistic?  You may want to leave a message that you are sincerely concerned about her and just checking in to see if everything is O.K. Let her know that it is OK to say that this opportunity is not right for her- it may make her feel more comfortable to opening with you.

Is she normally to the point? You may want to leave a message that you will continue to try her until you hear back from her. This lets her know that you will continue to call and will encourage her to call you back with a definitive answer.

Is she organized and a planner?You may want to leave a friendly message that you haven’t spoken in a while and that you wanted to let her know that you are still in business and would like to share some of the new designs and marketing tools your company has to offer.

Have you gotten to know her a little bit on a personal level?  Sometimes knowing a small detail about her life- such as her daughter is a soccer player, you can reach her on a personal level by following up and asking her about her daughter’s team. You are not just trying to sell her the opportunity you are also reaching out as a friend.

By knowing your prospects “why” you can cater your approach to reaching her and get better results.  Please share your experiences of success on sharing your opportunity with us:)

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!

Social media is not “sales” media.  Social media is about having a conversation and easing into a relationship with someone. This could be compared to dating.  People who are too forward about their intentions are usually a turn off.  Most people like to become friends before commiting to a serious relationship.  The same is true when selling a product.  Customers prefer to buy from people they like and trust. Engaging in a conversation is the best way to build upon a relationship and trust.

The trend today is about inviting people to learn about a topic or a product instead of convincing them to buy it. That’s why writing blogs, posting links and joining in the conversation are great ways to build your network. Wouldn’t you rather selling to an informed customer who really wants to buy your product rather than a customer who felt pressured to buy it?

What are some of your suggestions to starting a conversation and building relationships?

I have been working out with the same teacher, “Aray” for nearly 7 years now. The exercise classes keep on changing but this devoted and amazing teacher remains the same! Aray is energetic, very funny and absolutely an  inspiration to me. Every class is different and I always appreciate her creatively and levity! I have taken everything from Barbell to Salsa dancing with her and “it’s all good!”

I’d like to outline many of Aray’s phrases and actions that demonstrate how these can be applied to you and your home party business.

1. Are you warmed up yet? At the start of class we always do a warm -up getting ourselves ready and prepared for class. Have you planned out your day and have a logical list to follow and stay organized?

2. Are you breathing?  Check to make sure your day is going at a pace that works for you. Many times I find myself going 100 miles and hour and glazing over the details- I stop, I breathe and get back into focus. My Dad always says “Cool heads prevail” and I think of that often.

3. Are you working on your core? Most movements come from the center of your body. Are you in touch with your spirituality? Do you know your “why” for being in this business?

4. Keep your head up- you will get many no’s before getting some yes’s. Keep your head up and look to those yes’s.  A positive attitude is always more contagious.

5. Have attitude- a good one of course! People will be drawn to you if you exude confidence and a positive outlook!

6. Shake it (Fake it) till you make it!  We all don’t know everything in this busines.  Many times I need to dive into something and learn it as I go along. 

7. Laugh- This one is so important and I look forward to when I am struggling with the 7.5 pound weights and Aray cracks a joke about herself.  It is wonderful to find humor in oneself and lighten up the mood.

8. Pat yourself on the back- We always end class with a last minute breadth and an applause that we made it through the class. Take time to acknowledge the hard work you have done and all of your accomplishments!

Please comment below and fill me in on your comparisons with exercise and your home based business! 

I love it when consultants come up with creative ideas as to how to get their product out there and get bookings for their parties. Being able to step outside the box can help you stand out above the rest. The following are examples of what some of the Sydney Andrews consultants have done to go the extra mile!

1. Tracy P. who happens to be a wonderful photographer as well as being a Sydney Andrews consultant has utilized her skills by photographing herself with each necklace and earring set. Every day I see a new posting on Facebook of her modeling the “jewelry of the day” She posts them at different times and different days of the week to capture various audiences.  She also posts recommendations and advice of what to wear with the jewelry and to what sort of occasion. I love this because it’s visual and interactive!

2. Missy P. is a brand new consultant.  She’s a teacher and asked her fellow co-workers at the school to “model” the jewelry.  This allowed her to have a preview to her grand opening party. The jewelry always looks best in person and what better way to get her friends and co-workers excited and curious the product.  Missy’s first party was over $1,000.00!

3. Diane K. has had success with asking for referrals.  When discussing the jewelry she may not make an immediate sale but she asks her new contact  if they might know someone else who would interested in the jewelry or hosting a party. Referrals are usually great leads because the person really wants to give a recommendation and be helpful.  Diane also asks it they would take her card and pass them around to which the person is more than happy to help out.

I’d love to hear some of your creative ideas to get bookings. 

1. Think about a place where you can hold a party outside the “traditional” home. What about meeting up at a park, your friend’s office, coffee shop or even a daycare center. The most unusual place I displayed my jewelry was actually at a horse stable- it was a bit messy but fun and successful!

2. Hold a multi host party. This is where a 2-3 or more friends have a joint party and and each invite their groups of friends. There may be some overlap but each host will have her own list. The party space is shared and the more the merrier!

3. Offer a “ special bonus” to those that book a party either on a weeknight or during a weekday.

4. Contact either your past hostess or past customer and offer them an incentive to book a party. A suggestion may be a gift certificate towards your product or a free piece of  jewelry.

5. Sometimes hosts do not want to have the party at their home- why not offer up your home? What about an e-party?

6. Get involved in community events. Local craft shows, women’s expos or even displaying at your children’s athletic event if they let you set up tables there (I have seen this at soccer tournaments, volleyball playoffs and even dance recitals.)

7. Donate a necklace or bracelet to your school auction and put up flyers about hosting parties and the hostess rewards.

8. Hold a trunk show- literally! By keeping your product (jewelry case) in your car – you may never know when an opportunity to show it off may arise! I have done many drive by sales in my day!

9. Offer a “cliff book” version of a party. People are so pressed for time these days. You can offer your host an abridged version of a party. Instead of a typical 2-3 hour party you can have an hour party- be there or be square!

I hope these ideas are helpful for your home based business. Please share any other creative ideas you may have when booking your home parties!

By Jill Pfefer- Founder and CEO of Sydney Andrews

March 24,2010  by Jill Pfefer

Whether your home based business is in direct sales or any other industry – I find it helpful to be organized and accountable in my work. The following are 5 basic tips that I do to keep on track. Many of us both work at home and run a household and it is important to be able to balance the two and feel successful in both arenas.

1. Don’t procrastinate- I do live by the saying “Do what you can today and don’t put it off until tomorrow”. It feels good to accomplish all that you can today because you never know what will come up tomorrow- especially with kids! Setting reasonable goals and finishing your tasks will give you a great sense of acheivement.

2. Write lists- I am constantly writing lists because I am a visual person. If I have written it down I can see the list in my head even if it is not infront of me. I find myself writing lists on sticky notes all over the house, which drives my husband nuts. Instead, I made a great discovery this week – I can keep an ongoing list on my blackberry which follows me wherever I go.

3. Learn something new- Each week I set a goal to learn something new. Whether it is a topic on social media (such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter,) blogging, networking etc. I know I have gained something each week by accomplishing a new task or topic.

4. Clean your work area space- About 6 months ago I took an Incubator class with Ladies Who Launch. It was a wonderful class where I learned a great deal from fellow female entreprenuers and every week we had an assignment to help us grow our businesses. I thought the assignment of cleaning one area of your home/ work environment was a bit strange but I found it really helpful . It was sort of like a cleansing or a fresh start. I love to pile up stuff but it is amazing to have a clean slate! (OK, I admit, I still need to work on this!)

5. Make yourself accountable- whether it is a weekly task or something that is montly be consistent and just do it! For example, every Friday I try to go through my emails and delete the ones I no longer need. Another one is setting specific times like Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-3:00 for phone calls to grow my business.

I hope these are helpful tips. I would love to hear how you organize yourself in your home based business!

Do you ever feel uncomfortable imposing on your friends , family and new contacts to host a party?  Do you feel that people are looking at you differently because you think they are thinking you have your own agenda? Do you feel like you are asking everyone for favors?

Sorry to say, but, the truth is “it’s not about you.”

Often consultants run their home party business incorrectly by asking for bookings.  Many consultants assume their hostesses are doing them a favor by holding a party.  Well the truth is there are a ton of benefits for the hostess to hold a party and have a fun filled evening amongst their own friends. With most companies, including Sydney Andrews, the hostesses earn a large percentage of FREE product based on party sales.  Also, additional items often can be purchased by the hostess for half off.  Many direct sales companies offer benefits to the guests as well, currently Sydney Andrews offers 10% off all orders over $100.00. Therefore this is a win, win, win senario- the hostess is eligible for free and discounted jewelry, the guests are eligible for discounted items and the consultant earns his/her commission!

Below are some examples of how you can approach booking a party- which one sounds best to you?

1. “Jane, my company is holding an annual conference and by booking a party I will be one step closer to being able to go this year”

2. “Jane, I am so glad you enjoy the jewelry as much as I do.  I would love to help you get as many pieces of jewelry as you can for as little cost as possible.  The best way to do this is to purchase an item tonight and book a party as soon as possible so you can earn the rest.  I have a few nights available in the next two weeks, would Tues. or Thurs of next week work for you? This is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your friends and earn free and discounted jewelry”

3. “Jane, I know you are fond of this jewelry line. Would you like to host a party for me?”

When booking parties it is better for the sentence to not end with “for me” type phrase. In option 2, “for me” was not mentioned at all.  When you focus on the other person it is not perceived as a favor anymore but as a geniune opportunity! When you approach it this way you will actually be helping them! Don’t forget, you are providing a wonderful service of FREE and discounted products to your hostesses and guests!

The following are some tips of where you can leave your business cards behind in your direct sales networking efforts. It is such a simple gesture but can lead to more business for you.

- Visiting doctors, dentists, hairdressers, bank- basically anytime you are doing a business transaction around town you can explain what you do by handing out your card.

-When you are paying for a product such as checking out in a clothing store- that’s a great time to strike up small talk with a salesperson. Many times the conversations starts with a compliment on the necklace I am wearing and I explain that the necklace is from a home party jewelry party and we would be happy to show her the rest of the line or do a home party.

- Slip a card in your outgoing mail and bills.

- When someone hands you a card be sure to hand one of yours back.

- In FREE LUNCH drawing boxes.

- With every product that you have sold and deliver.

-To every person at your events or parties.

-Put your card on magnets and stick to bathroom stalls.

- Write a note on the back of the card with the monthly special.

- On bullentin boards- I am always reading the board at Panera.

It’s a good idea to have your cards your home number, cell number, email address and replicated site if your company has one.

What other creative and successful ways have you found to pass out your cards?

Below is a copy of the letter she wrote…..

I’m glad you like your bracelet and I LOVE hearing that you get so many compliments.

 I would LOVE to help you out for your Spring Gala. I have a proposition for you that would make it a win-win for both of us.

 Are you willing to host a party for me? Assuming you are, with just $300 in sales, you would earn $60 in FREE jewelry (20% of your total sales), which would be enough to “buy” the necklace of your choice to use as an auction item. In addition, I would be willing to donate the earrings to match.

 Hosting a party is easy. All you need to do is invite a few friends – think of all the people who have previously complimented you on your bracelet – and the jewelry sells itself. Actually, the average Sydney Andrews party is well over $500 in total sales. (I used $300 in the above example to be conservative). And, once you hit $500 in sales, the FREE jewelry reward bumps up to 25% – that would be $125 in FREE jewelry….enough for a silent auction item AND something for yourself!

 Let me know what you think…..

I thought the letter was clear, concise and upbeat.  I am optimistic that this will be a win- win for Amy T. by her booking a party and having the hostess gift be represented in the auction.

I would love to here your feedback on thinking “outside the box” and getting party bookings.