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. (more…)

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….

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By Jennifer Fong

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:

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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.

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By Jill Pfefer

Last month I took a wonderful class with Beth Jones-Schall from Spirit of Success. She gave a lecture “From Generation to Generation”based on information from researchers Strauss and Howe.  I didn’t realize it at the time but I took away so much information that afternoon that it has taken me several weeks to absorb it all. It was quite interesting when you break down the 4 generations, you can see how differently you will want to approach people with booking, selling and sponsoring .

Traditionalists (silent generation) 1925-1942 – The people from this generation are very adaptive because they have gone through so many events in their life such as the Great Depression and WW11. They are great helpers, they love their community and most of all they are loyal. It is very important for them to leave a legacy. The best way to communicate with them is face to face, on the phone or with a written letter. When approaching them, let them know that they are needed and they will make a difference.

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I love this time of year- the New Year. Everyone is re-evaluating themselves and seeing how they can be more successful in the year to come. It is a time to set personal and professional goals and figuring out a way to be accountable and to stick to them. The important thing is to set realistic and attainable goals so that you can measure and see your results. By having disapline you will be able to see your results.

1. Look at the overall picture in monthly increments, with specific actions you’ll be able to map out and plan for the upcoming month in a broad view.

2. Break down each week, you can start by using a sample week and breaking it down to how long you will spend on your business each day. Mark which times you will make your sponsoring phone calls, which times you will hold sales calls and which times you will block out for your parties/events. By actually marking your calendar you will be able to block out the time for your business and put other respinsibilities into other parts of your day.

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You just had an awesome party! You had a great turnout, with a generous hostess and you were able to drive up your sales to one of your most successful events! You had the time to explain why your product is the one of the best  and/or most unique out there and you walked away feeling that this party was a great success. Do you think the next time your customers need a similar product they will seek you out or go down the street to a store? What can you do to ensure that the repeat business will actually come back to you?

1. Explain how your product is unique. For example, Sydney Andrews jewelry is a custom designed jewelry line.  You can’t find these pieces at the local  mall or in a retail store. Therefore, if they are really enjoying their product and get lots of compliments on it and want to seek out other styles, they know that they have to come back to you to buy it.

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By Jill Pfefer In our last two conference calls, Becky introduced a great way to think outside the box! O.K. maybe this wasn’t the guy you were invisioning coming to your party, but, it caught your attention anyway, didn’t it?

Invite a group of your friend’s spouses or male friends and help them pick out great gifts for their loved ones. This is a unique service you can offer to make you stand above the rest. Make the men feel comfortable by creating an atmosphere just for them!

1. Hold the UnParty the first week in December. We all know how men are infamous for leaving the gift buying up the last minute:)

2. In the invite emphasize that you will be offering the lastest fashion advice. Many times men are out of touch of what their wives would like for the holidays. Offer suggestions with color and style to suite their spouses taste. (more…)

By Dana Phillips

If you want more parties on your calendar, but you’re not sure what to say, here is a simple formula to follow as you approach people about hosting.

1. Connect: Finding some mutual connection begins to build rapport with a future host. Because many of our first hostesses were friends and family members, we already had a connection. As you grow outside your close circle of contacts, this step is very important

2. Invite: This form of asking permission reminds you and her that you are not pushy, that booking a party is not an onerous task, but a pleasure. When you invite someone to host a party you are keeping the focus on your prospective hostess, not on yourself. (more…)

By Jill Pfefer

Most likely your company is giving you great resources to increase your sales. Take advantage of these resources to leverage your sales. Make sure you discuss these additonal offers with your future customers and hostesses. It’s to your ticket to increase your sales!

Every six months Sydney Andrews introduces new styles and designs. In addition to your new contacts, make sure your past customers and hostesses are aware of the new products. It is quite common that your hostesses will host a party every 6 months to showcase the new designs.

Every month Sydney Andrews offers incentives. For example, this month in October we are offering – hostesses an additional 5% of free bonus jewelry- that’s 25%-35% of FREE JEWELRY for hosting a party! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, our customers will get 10% off our “For A Cure” products in addition to the 10% donation to the Komen Foundation. Also, our cutomers will receive a FREE Sydney Andrews Travel Jewelry roll with any purchase of $125.00 or more.

These are all great lead ins to get your conversation going and get your parties booked. I’d love to know what you have found to be the best way to leverage your sales.