By Jill Pfefer

Have you ever thought of thinking outside the box? Why not use your rings as a hair accessory? Since all of the Sydney Andrews rings are elastic and flexible- they make great ponytail holders too! I put a very thin hair tie underneath and only grabbed a small amount of hair. I then placed the ring ontop to cover the hair tie. I think they look pretty cool- what do you think?

I fell in love with this wrap. I liked the design and I especially like the colors in it. All my neutral colors wrapped into one accessory. My mind was swimming as to how many ways I could wear it and how many things I could wear it with. Of course, the jewelry is first to my mind for me. How many times in the past have I bought my outfits to go with the collection.

Here are some examples of outfits and accessories I thought would look good with just this one wrap and with Trixie! Here I have a chocolate brown long sleeve t-shirt, the Oh Bee-Have necklace and the wrap is tied like a scarf. The browns and the golds are picked up in the wrap and both accessories make the outfit look complete. This would look great with jeans and a pair of brown boots!

This is a black long t-shirt with the Stirred Not Shaken necklace and the scarf with the tie in the front. This looks great with a jacket or just plain as is. Again this is a great casual look and will keep you warm.

I have seen a ton of sleeveless tops for this Fall season. I loved the neckline and texture on this top. It is a little fancier and looks great with the It’s Just Black and White Necklace. I like the necklace with this top because it is not exactly the same colors but it all gets tied in with the colors in the wrap. Tie it around the waist to accentuate the waistline and show off your neckline.

This is my favorite look for the wrap. Drape it around your shoulders and it has a long flowing effect. I love the way it looks with the French Silk necklace- same colors but different shapes makes them compliment each other.

What are some of the ways you have taken one accessory and used it in your wardrobe multiple times?

I fell in love with this  new store called Hot Mama-their website is www.shopmama.com. It’s a great small chain of stores geared towards helping women accessorize and feel good about themselves.  I love the assistance they give and helpful ideas to arranging outfits.  I like that they had me try on things that I never thought would look good on me- nice try with the skinny jeans but at least I tried. I really thought that this way of approaching customers with an educational angle was the way to go.  I did not feel like I was forced to buy something, I felt like they were taking the time to explain what looked good on me and how I could use these changeable pieces to enhance my wardrobe.

I think this is a great example of how you can apply education to your home party business. At your next party bring a few t-shirts, sweaters and jackets and show how one necklace can be worn in different fashions. Sydney Andrews has many pieces that are colorful and can look completely different with many outfits.  Demonstrate this with your creativity some people can’t see outside the box unless you show them.

How about on your next party invitation- invite your guests to bring one outfit that they struggle to accessorize. See what people come up with and challenge yourself and your guests to come up with creative ideas with your collection of jewelry. I think people value your opinion and if you offer something beyond the product they will recognize the value.

I would love to see and hear your ideas about how you educate your customers.

by Jill Pfefer

We all know that it is easier to maintain a current customer than to go out and find new ones. Here’s a great tip for thanking your customers and gently reminding them about you and your business.

One week after your party send a card to each guest who did not book a party that night. Send a simple postcard that says…

Dear_______,
Thank you so much for attending _________’s party. I enjoyed meeting you and appreciate your business. If you would like to have a party or a virtual party, you can earn free merchandise. Also, feel free to contact me if you would like to place another order.
Thanks again,
_________
phone #
P.S. ________ earned $_______ in free merchandise and you can too!

I am sure this is information that you already shared at your show but it never hurts to reiterate the generous opportunity your guests can take advantage of.

Have you tried something like this before? If so, please share your success!

When choosing a perfect necklace to finish off your outfit you should consider your neckline.  Here are a few examples of how you can accessorize and compliment your look. I used our manequin Trixie to demonstrate a few pieces.

This choker necklace mimics the roundness of the blouse.  The reds and oranges are accents colors that repeat in the blouse.  Although it is not an exact match the two pieces are similar in feel and compliment each other.

O.K.I admit it, I bought this dress specifically because I knew I had the perfect necklace for it!  The neckline is a V neck which looks great with a dramatic centerpiece such as the French Silk necklace. Both of these pieces have color and texture and work well together.

This necklace Knotty can be worn with many different necklines. I like it with this layered look.  A simple top underneath a vest or a jacket and the long necklace brings you eyes down to a lower focal point. It give you the long and lean look. This necklace would also look great with a cami, a button down blouse or even over a turtleneck.

I’d love to hear your suggestions on how you wear your favorite necklaces with certain necklines.

By Jill Pfefer

I have been asked many times about my thoughts on “Matchy-Matchy.” Matchy- Matchy means wearing the same coordinates together such as the same necklace, bracelet, earrings and/or ring together. Well, I guess I would have to say it depends on your customer.

Yes to “Matchy-Matchy” if your customer

- is very tailored and all pieces of clothing are very similar

- does not mix and match gold and silver

- dresses conservatively

No to “Matchy Matchy” if your customer

- Dresses contemporary

- is confident in making a statement

- likes to think “outside the box”

- daring to be bold and individualistic

Personally, I tend to not be “matchy matchy” I feel more confident when I can accent my style with different trends and looks. I like to make my own fashion statement. I coordinate my pieces of clothing and jewelry but not do not necessarily wear all the same pieces at once. Have fun and put together different textures, metals and colors. Experiment and feel good with how you present yourself. What trends are you comfortable with?

By Jill Pfefer

Trend Alert! Color Blocking is huge here in Fall 2011!  It is not a new concept but it is big- now. This fashion statement combines the use of two or more blocks of color in an outfit. This can be from a shirt, blouse, pants, purse or jewelry. It can include monotone, bright colors, muted colors, contrasting and complimentary colors. Clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories can all feature color block designs or can make up different color blocks of color to be put together to get the color block effect.

Here are some tips to keep in mind with this trend.
1. Be bold and experiment. Any color combination is great if you can pull it off.  For example, blue, green and orange make a great statement.
2. Do not combine more than 3 or 4 colors.
3. Decide which pieces of your wardrobe you want to color block and leave the rest neutral. Such as colorful top and bottom but neutral shoes and accessories.
4.Do not combine two color blocked items. This look is bold but not that bold:)

I think is would look great to combine the Sydney Andrew s Circle of Life Pendant with a red and pink top and green pants. How have you brought this trend into your wardrobe?

By Jill Pfefer

It’s true, more and more I am seeing a strong trend today in providing education and letting your guests experience your product.  It’s how you can provide information and stand out amongst the rest!  The trend to sell with hard core tactics and by convincing your customer into a sale  is quite “passe”. I see more and more people explaining practical purposes for their product and how it can enhance their life.

Show your customers that by adding a simple accessory they can feel better about themselves instantly!  How great is it to get a compliment on something that they wear and get noticed by people they simply pass on the street! Teach them by adding, for example, a necklace they can mix up their wardrobe and and save money.  Instead of buying a new wardrobe, the necklace can compliment and tie into a lot of  their pieces they have had in their closet for years.

Here are some ideas you can mention at your next party….

1. Try before you buy.  At the party you have the actual samples.  Encourage your guests to try it on- let them try things they think are outside their comfort zone.  People get attached once they touch and feel it, it is something they can’t experience from a catalog or the internet.

2. Offer a personal closet consultation. Explain that you are there to show them how they can take one piece and tie it into their wardrobe. Bring out several outfits and show the diversity of your jewelry pieces. Give examples of how they can save money and look good at the same time.

3. Wow your wardrobe- Give examples of how your life and wardrobe has changed with the jewelry and how theirs can too. Share stories of how people have asked about the jewelry and how it really sells itself. Give examples of how a piece of  jewelry completely changed the outfit. Wearing neutrals are very popular today, why not show them how a bold colored pendant can completely change the way she presents herself.

Take note of how you see other businesses are offering education and experience.  Do you see it in the retail forum?  Are you experiencing it in social media and in reading about it in other blogs? I’d love to hear your feedback on how you integrate education and experience in your business.

This week I asked the question on my Facebook Page, “What’s the number 1 thing you need to do this week to build your business?” And there were a lot of responses. But I found that I often had to encourage folks to be specific in what they needed to do.

You see, it’s very easy to say “find new leads for my business.”

But how?

We all know the outcome we need. But what’s more important is the road map. HOW will you generate new leads? Will you:

Make a new List of 100 people you know, and then start calling those folks?
Participate in a vendor or networking event to collect leads, and then follow up within 3 days?
Host a free webinar related to your product line (for example, learn about the latest fashions this season) to gain new leads, and then follow up with a special offer for attendees?
You see the difference between the three items above, and “find new leads”? The three items above are specific things you can do to find new leads. The leads are the outcome, not the activity.

If you want to grow your business, you have to get specific. Growth requires specific, intentional actions that are planned out. Hoping you’ll think of something to achieve the end won’t do it.

What specific actions do you need to take this week to achieve your desired growth? Share with us in the comments, and then make your plan to get it done. Go!

Jennifer Fong is a direct sales and social media consultant and speaker who helps direct sales companies and independent direct sellers put the power of social media to work for their businesses. A former direct sales company CEO, Jennifer knows that social media does not replace the core business activities of book, sell, and recruit, but rather enhances these to achieve even more success. She provides free articles Jennifer Fong is a direct sales and social media consultant and speaker who helps direct sales companies and independent direct sellers put the power of social media to work for their businesses. A former direct sales company CEO, Jennifer knows that social media does not replace the core business activities of book, sell, and recruit, but rather enhances these to achieve even more success. She provides free articles about using social media successfully for a direct sales business on her website at http://www.jenfongspeaks.com/.

By Jill Pfefer

It’s the beginning of the year and for some, a time to reflect.  A time to look back on the past and learn from it by planning a new future. Analyze what worked for you in your home party business and what things you need to change. What ideas come to you that you can actively pursue to take control and create a strong business year ahead.  The following are some ideas you can use to rekindle and/or spark this year by starting your year off with a blast!

1. I commend you for reading this blog post! Doing research on the internet in your field can help give you ideas that you may have never thought of before.  Look at other people’s suggestions and see how they like to book, sell and sponsor.  Maybe one person’s approach has shed some light on how you can tweak your own approach.  Maybe an idea comes to you that you would have never thought of on your own.  The internet is a wonderful resource you can use to rekindle or refresh your own ideas.

2. Attend your company’s webinars.  At Sydney Andrews we have several training sessions a month focusing on how you can improve on your sales and sponsoring.  Learn from the experts who have been successful through their own experiences.

3. Join in the conversation on Facebook.  Many of our Sydney Andrews consultants communicate through the fan page.  They share selling ideas, get to know eachother from a distance and enjoy  information and experiences amoungst themselves.

4. Many cities have DSWA (Direct Selling Women’s Alliance) meetings.  Go to a local meeting and get inspired by other consultants involved in a similar business. Many people in the home party business share similar successes in their business.

5. Attend a local home party and see in person how the consultant structures her party.  Does she have games, contests or incentives?  How did she display her product?  What was the big draw for the customers?  What other things can you learn from going to another home party?

6. Invite a fellow consultant either with your company or another company out to coffee. Someone who inspires you.  Have an informative meeting so you can both learn tricks of the trade from eachother.

7. Re-visit your why.  Every six months take a moment and realize the very reason you wanted to join this business. Set your goals and figure out how you will achieve them.  As I mentioned it is a great idea to do this every six months because circumstances change, your dreams and goals will change all the time.

8. Don’t forget that your excitment and enthusiasm is contageous! If you are feeling good about you and your business people will see you that way too!

Good luck and feel inspired! I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on your inspirations in the home party business!