Direct Sales Talk ~ Ongoing Chatter

The Most Important Tool You Need for a Successful Fundraiser

To enjoy a successful fundraiser and have your clients reap the profits, it is imperative that you are prepared fully for the project. So what is necessary to insure your success?

The first thing necessary is a contract. Even if you are doing a casual fundraiser with a few kids or between friends, keep it professional. . If there is a contract of who is responsible for what, there will never be a question if something falls through. Things that you should cover on your contract include things like:
• What are the dates involved? Selling Dates as well as due date back to you for placing the order.
• Who pays for supplies?
• Are there prizes involved? Who supplies them? If you pay, will it change your percent you give to the club?
• Are they a non profit? What is the number and how will you deal with taxes?
• Who collects the money and is responsible for it?
• Who will do the sorting and packing of product?
• Are you able to receive a list of the customers for future use?
• What is the delivery date back to the group and how is delivery to customer handled?

Creating a simple form along with spaces for your signature as well as the signature and date of signing of that person representing the business for which the fundraiser is being held, is a simple tool that will insure everyone is on the right track and it gives everyone confidence that the event will be handled well. Those who have done fundraisers in the past can attest to the fact that challenges can happen. Using a contract will help alleviate the challenges that you can control creating a better fundraising experience for all
.

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat If you would like to use this article for your newsletters or website, all links must be live and clickable.

Finding That First Fundraiser

Fundraisers are a unique opportunity to increase your business and credibility within your community. So how do you find your first fundraiser?

Well, that question has puzzled many of us as first strains of the idea for fundraising has crossed our brain waves. The most important thing you can do is to make sure you are prepared business wise for an event. Are you comfortable with your business and the company procedures? If you are new to your company or new to Direct Sales, do your research before booking your fundraiser. You want to be professional from the start and not seem unsure about company policies or shipping challenges or other factors that could hinder your fundraiser.

Once you are comfortable knowing everything you need to know, lets do some research! Start a list of everyone you know that is involved in an organization of some sort. Think of organizations like:

PTA/Parent Clubs
Scouts
Cheerleadering
Band
Swim Team
Day Camp
Vacation Bible School
Churches
Non Profit Organizations
Booster Clubs
Sport Groups
Dance Groups

These are just a few of the organizations that could use fundraising. Now get on the phone and call that person you know within the organization. Find out as much as you can about the club and any contact information. Get together your packet of information and mail out your packet.

In 3-4 days after mailing, you need to Call the organization and follow up with them. Did they receive your packet? Do they have any questions? Who makes the decisions on fundraising and are they actively looking for a fundraiser at this time? Can you call back again X amount of time?

Make sure you have a checklist of who you call and when you need to re-contact them. The secret behind getting fundraisers is persistence, follow up and follow through and always show your professionalism by re-contacting them when you say you will.

By following these few basics, you will find yourself in the fundraising business and beginning to grow your business in a new, fabulous way. Enjoy!

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat If you would like to use this article for your newsletters or website, all links must be live and clickable.

My friend Tara at Green Tip of the Day is reporting a few other green blogs that are getting together and helping other charities that are experiencing decreased donations.

Here is a quote from the main article located at The Good Human -

“The message is that there are great organizations out there which are suffering in this economic downturn through decreased donations…and they need our help! So we have decided to give you, our readers, a voice and a choice. We have decided to take on a very simple fundraising mission, and we are asking you to donate just $1.00.

A single dollar; that’s all. ”

Head over now and donate one single dollar… or more if you choose. We can make a difference collectively. You can even vote what charity will get the funds.

Take a minute now… Thank you ! Here’s the direct link again. These guys ROCK! The Good Human

I have been honored this week with a Lovely Blog Award given to me by Kim Moyers and I am so thankful. What a treat that was!

I now get to pass it on as directed by the rules.

The rules are:

1.Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2.Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered (or as many as you can).

Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My list is as follows with no particluar order….

Shelly Hill for her Shak’in and Bak’in blog as she always has the best recipes and yummy stuff! Kitchen-Biz

Laurie Ayers for her humor and insight to the direct sales business and general helpfulness Laurie Ayers

Tara Burner for her wonderful business acumen and helpfulness. Tara Burner

Jennifer Fong and her awesome direct sales blog. Helping direct sellers with their business and growth. LiaJen

Darlene Demell coz she is the Watkins queen and has great recipes and info! TimelessIntegrity

Joan Penfold coz she is just getting started blogging and is doing a great job! Her Royal Joaness

Suzanne Franco for her wonderful Money Making Ideas Blog located at Suzanne Franco

I know that is not 15, but I will post a few more as I find their blogs.
Thanks again Kim!

Using Customer Appreciation Days in Your Direct Sales Business

We talk a lot about customer service and how to make sure that your focus is on retaining customers and growing your business.. Using a one day function is an added benefit to your mission to Spoil the Customer!

There are so many ways you can easily and effectively spoil your customer. I am going to share a few ways with you.

• Have a Progressive Sale. Start your sales at 8am and offer a discount of say 30% from 8:00-9:00am. From 9:01-10:00 the discount goes to 25%. From 10:01–11:00 it drops to 20% and so on. You can run your sales anytime of the day; early, late, whatever works for you. I would caution you to only do this once per year as it can take a big chunk out of your profits. So make it a super special event and pick an obscure day to hold it each year so they can look forward to it, like St Pat’s day or the First Day of Spring.

• Do an Open House. Another special 1 day event that can really allow your customers to get to know you and spend one on one time with you. Offer specials deals, free gifts, basket drawings; whatever you like. Set up beautiful displays and let them browse new product lines and get to know your business. Offer cookies and coffee and sit and chat with them. By really getting to know your customer, you can offer them products to fit their needs in the future.

• Free Gift with Purchase. This can be a special Customer Service Week offer. “For all orders received the week of…. A free gift will be included with your order in appreciation for your loyalty. Thank you for being My Customer and friend” or something like that. This is a great tool to use as you will not be losing profits as much as you would with a progressive sale. Gifts to customers in the US up to a certain amount are allowed to be written off on your taxes. (check with your tax advisor as I am not one!)

• Big, Fat Clearance Sale. I love doing this one and usually do 2 a year. It allows me to lower my inventory and bring cash into my pocket. I usually do one over the holidays to lower my inventory for year end and one when I am feeling cash poor. It is amazing how much inventory we can accumulate over the year. I make a flyer with all of the inventory on it with the price and make it “first come first serve”. “Existing inventory only!” I mail it out first to my customers and then 1 day later put it out on the email addresses so they all get it about the same time. Make it a good deal and you can move some of this product out.

There are many, many more ideas that I am sure you can come up with but these are the ones I have effectively used in my business. By using one, two or all of these ideas and doing them each year, you will continue to cement your relationship with your customers. Keeping their support is key to your success. Enjoy!

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat If you would like to use this article for your newsletters or website, all links must be live and clickable.

We are half way through the year already. Can you even believe it?

How are your goals coming along? Are you struggling with your goals or are you right on track? Do you need help realizing them?

Sometimes having someone to “report” to will keep you on the straight and narrow. So many business professionals have mentors that they use to help their goal process. If you are feeling the pinch of not being where you want to be with your personal and professional goals, look into getting a coach or mentor to help you. It could be someone you pay or it could be a friend that you know that will take no prisioners.

I have a business buddy that I use sometimes and it does help when I have to report my progress on a project or something. I think being held accountable is something a lot of people struggle with especially if we are locked in a room by ourselves most of the day as work at home moms and dads.

If you are struggling, reach out and connect with someone to help you get to where you want to be. It is not too late to turn this year around!

Dealing With That 5 Letter Word – SALES

“I am not good at Promoting my Business.”

Have these words or something like it ever fallen out of your mouth? I have heard this time and time again out of a lot of women online and offline. It scares me in a sense that supposedly professional women are spending their valuable time and money to create a business and then they fall short in the execution of the business.

What can you do to overcome the Fear of Selling your business to the world?

First, know that No One can promote your business at the beginning better than you can. It was created out of your desires and dreams. You are molding this business into something creative and artistic that reflects you and your beliefs. So who better to develop your business than you?

Second, understand that when you talk to people, you are not asking them to do business with you personally. You are asking them to do business with your business. Does that make sense? It is not a Personal thing to that potential customer. Yes, it is personal to you, but you need to take away the emotions and ask for the business from your customers. They make respond in the negative. But they are not saying, “No, I cannot do business with you because I don’t like you.” They are saying, “I don’t need your goods and services at this moment in time.”

Third, with that said, continue asking for business from those that you have contacted prior. Situations change and there may be a time when it is right for the person to do business with you. Newsletters really help in this area as does advertising.

Fourth, talk to everyone. Learn to overcome speaking to strangers. Be enthusiastic. Use eye contact and presence. You can use booklets, flyers, business cards to help break the ice. Wearing shirts, purses or pins can help as well. Taking baby steps will grow into giant leaps.

Fifth, enjoy the journey to growth and development of your business! Continue talking to everyone and work on remembering their needs. Your business will become what you envision.

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat

Is Procrastination Killing Your Business?

How much time do you waste on the internet surfing, checking out other sites, posting to message boards? Are you spending valuable time on these activities when you are supposed to be working? Have you ever calculated the time spent in non productive work?

If not, you could be quietly killing your business and not even realize it!

We all have those projects we really want to get done, but just don’t want to spend the time doing it.
“It is such a super idea, but it is soooooo much work!”
“I have all this laundry looking at me.”
“I have to check my email in case someone needs something.”
“I need to check my networks one more time in case, in case in case….”

Sound Familiar?

You know the old joke “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer “One bite at a time”. Well that is what we need to do with our large projects we just can’t get our hands around. That is what we need to think about when we are surfing instead of writing or creating or selling.

If we do not work “One Bite at a Time”, how we will we ever reach our goals and create what our dreams are made of? Don’t let Procrastination Kill your Business! In this time and environment of sales and marketing, the time you are wasting is the time your competitor is spending building her business and affecting your business!

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat

If you are a direct sales consultant in Ohio, especially in the field of health related businesses, there is an awesome fundraiser that needs your help in promoting the fundraiser as well as opportunities to promote your own business.

If you are in Ohio and close enough, Vendors are able to set up at the event as long as your business is promoting Natural Health Care type products ie: Spa items, vitamins, green business, maybe homeschooling info like Usbourne, etc.

Contact Stephanie for more info and read all about it here Dress-A-Child Fundraiser, Ohio

Tell her Chris sent ya! Have Fun!!

Are You Prepared to Sell?

I know! I know! This may seem like an obvious question. You maybe thinking I have lost it as selling your product or services are the key to being in business.

Being prepared to sell is both a mental and a physical preparedness. Mentally means that you are always in a selling mode whether at the grocery store or in your office. If you feel frumpy but you just dashed into the store for something, are you going to be able to chat up they lady in front of you in line? What about the friend you ran into? The kids are wild and she wants to place an order, are you going to be able to switch gears and become that professional you need to be? You have to be mentally prepared and know you will need to work your business every day, any time any place.

Physically prepared means literally that. Can you pull a pen and business card out of your purse or pocket right now to assist a potential customer? If not, you need to be prepared. Do you have a brochure available? What about your product line? Do you know it? Can you flip right to the page that customer is talking about or direct her to it on your website? Is your website easy to navigate and up to date with current information?

If you answered no to any of these, you may need to get prepared to sell. Sometimes selling a product is an impulse. How many times has someone seen you and they say “oh, I have been meaning to call you”? Right there and then you need to get that order or set a time to call them for order placement.

Being prepared may seem like a simple concept, but sometimes more often than not, we can get caught not being prepared and lose a sale or lose our professional image. Don’t let it happen to your business. Take some time right now to get what you need and find a way to have it available at a moments notice. Your customer will thank you for it.

Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved
Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk. You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat