Seven Direct Sales Party Tips for a Successful Event

Posted by Chris | Posted on 09-11-2012

Category : Direct Sales Tips, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: ,

As a direct sales party consultant, you’ll spend a lot of your time at parties. As you know, that is where much of your income will be made and the more parties you hold, the more money you can make. However, your job is not only to sell products at parties, you’ll also find new hostesses for future parties and that is one of the best sources for adding new team members. Since there is a lot that goes into the success of a direct sales party, take a look at these seven tips to make your parties successful and profitable.
 
#1 Set goals for yourself
Goals are an important part of any business. When you create goals and a plan to achieve them, you have a direction. One goal is your overall business goal. What is your sales goal? How many parties and how much per party will you need to make to hit your goal? Now you know that, you can create a plan to make it happen.

#2 Set hostess/host goals
Your personal financial goals are different than your hostess goals. Your host or host may want to earn a specific prize. They may want to earn a commission or credit on products. Spend time with your hostess finding out what their goals are and help her to create a plan to achieve them. When your hostess is successful, you are too.

#3 Pre-sell the Products
When you send the invitations for the party, be sure to share with the hostess how to pre-sell the products for more sales and bonuses for her. It is easy to share the catalog and the website to invite sales. Also the party guests can come with an idea of what they want to purchase already in their mind.

#4 Games are Fun
A direct sales party is supposed to be fun. Attendees are expecting fun and a bit of socializing. They’re also expecting a pitch from you. Plan games and social activities to break the ice and help everyone have a good time. When the guests have fun, they are more likely to come to another party or host their own.

#5 Music and food
You don’t have to have either music or food and much of this may depend on your host’s preferences. However, food and music do tend to set the mood. It helps people relax and enhances the whole party atmosphere but make sure that it is controlled too.

#6 Allow Browsing
Make sure to set out some of the products so your party attendants can browse while they’re eating and socializing. Let them touch and learn about the products before you pitch. They may have already made a decision to buy. They may also have a few questions for you which may make the presentation more interactive.

#7 Your Pitch
People are expecting you to sell. Make sure you practice and are comfortable talking in front of people but keep it casual. Remember to focus your pitch on the benefits of each product but also keep it personal. Share your and ask for others to share their likes and experiences. Help your prospects relate to you and see the value your products offer.

Parties are the fun part of direct sales. They enable you to meet new people and you get the unique opportunity to talk to people about something you love. The best part is you get to help people while you’re earning a profit. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Creating Party Urgency With Busy Calendar

Posted by Chris | Posted on 26-04-2012

Category : Direct Sales Leadership, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: , , , ,

Your home party is winding down and the attendees have all had a great time. You have used some effective games to get people interested in buying products and now you have several people interested in hosting an event of their own. Booking future events is the same as closing a sale. You need to create urgency and then go for the close. When you are doing your direct sales training, you need to teach your associates how to create that urgency by using some calendar tricks.

Mark The Available Days

The first thing that works for creating a sense of urgency with a calendar is to only show potential clients the days you are available for events. For example, if your events take place Friday through Sunday, then eliminate Monday through Thursday from your booking calendar. Cross them out as if you are busy or if you use digital calendar then just eliminate them entirely. You can always transfer your event dates to your personal calendar so that you can keep track of your overall schedule.

Create Urgency With Color Coding

As a part of direct sales training, you need to teach associates that there are few things more powerful than a color-coded calendar. Your entire calendar needs to be color-coded, even the days that have nothing going on.

A calendar full of white boxes with dates checked off will always look empty, even if all of the event dates are filled. But if you block out booked dates in red and open dates in blue, then your entire calendar looks booked. Even when you explain your color system to clients, there will still be a sense of urgency because the boxes on the calendar are not white.

Book In Tight – Narrow Choices

The chances are good that your most immediate dates will fill up first. That is why you should only show prospective clients your calendar for the next two to three months. You will find it much easier to fill up your calendar when you already have dates filled in. If you give your client an option of choosing dates that are three months away or more, then it looks like you have more open dates and you lose that sense of urgency.

Make your calendar look full!!

A sense of urgency in prospective clients is important because it helps to decrease the chances that the client will cancel. In order to create that sense of urgency, you need to know how to keep a calendar that always looks booked and busy.

When your calendar looks full,even if it is not full, then you will become better at booking shows at your show. Learn more home party plan calendar tips at the CashFlowShow training center.

A Guest Post by Deb Bixler
All Rights Reserved

Meet the New Again Mystique Boutique Direct Sales Company

Posted by Chris | Posted on 23-04-2012

Category : Direct Sales Tips, Small Business Tips

Tags: , , ,

I have had the privileged in working with a re-newed direct sales company in the past month or so on one of my other sites. I thought I would share with you a bit about my new obsession in fabulous direct sales products.

Mystique Boutique is the name of the company and they are Michigan born, American Made……Women’s Accessories & Body Care. I fell in love with the entire product line when I saw their site and catalog. There is absolutely something for everyone with their gorgeous selection of trendy, fashionable women’s accessories like the purses, leather belts and stylish buckles, amazing jewelry and watches, beautiful scarves and their body care line. Oh yes! Definitely something for everyone!

Since 2006, they have remained committed to bringing back American made products & design. They started as a jewelry only company and in Oct 2011, they extended their line to include the other fabulous selections, all for today’s modern woman.

I have seen many items in their line personally and they are top quality product with American pride built right in. The products are exactly what women are buying in the trendy boutiques so why not buy it from a Made in America company offering Made in American products?

The compensation plan looks simple and fair. You will earn a decent percentage and the kits are fairly priced. The Hostess plan is nice and generous as well. Booking for this product line should be a snap.

If you are looking for a direct sales company to check out for a new party plan business, you have to check out Mystique Boutique. They are going places! Look at their offerings to you as a direct sales business consultant and grab your kit today. I think you will be pleased!

New to Direct Sales? Here is Help for Booking Your First 6 Parties

Posted by Chris | Posted on 24-03-2012

Category : Direct Sales Tips, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: , ,

The agreement is signed and your starter kit is paid for. You’re pumped about starting a new career in the company that sells your favorite direct sales products! Now it’s time to book your first shows. Whoa, wait, what? I don’t even have my kit yet. How am I supposed to sell something if I don’t have my kit?

If that sounds like you, don’t worry, I have some helpful tips for you for getting your first shows booked, so no need to panic.

Even though you don’t have your kit yet, the sooner you get those shows booked the better. You want your excitement to shine through to those that you talk to today. Sit down and start a list of everyone you know. Make a long list of everyone you talk you, everywhere you go, whenever you go grocery shopping or running errands. Start calling them, one by one.

Start with the easiest person first, the one you know will say yes because they love and support all your efforts. This is probably your best friend, a sister or maybe even a cousin. Be natural and real with them. Don’t feel like you have to “sell” them something. Once you’ve finished your first call, say your goodbyes and move on to the next call. Keep it professional as possible and try and accommodate their schedule as well as your own

There are of course different scenarios that will play out. You may get a yes or the person you call may be too busy or have another reason for saying no. If that happens, simply move on to the next person on your list. Always be polite and professional. You never want to be rude to them because they may change their mind and have a show for you in the future. Treat everyone you talk to as a potential customer. Anyone that you cannot reach, follow up with again.

If you do not get 6 bookings from your phone calling, do not panic! You still have parties that are booked so the goal is to get bookings from every show. Some companies give incentives for getting at least 2 bookings from each show and that is a good goal to set. So how do you do that?

Most direct sales companies offer incentives like discounts and/or free product for being a hostess. That is usually the main reason people will book a show, so talk about it throughout your shows. If you are displaying or presenting a product that is also a hostess gift, be sure to let your guests know. If the hostess gifts are in the catalog, be sure you direct them to that page and point out what they can win or get them for free.

When you are talking at your parties or to people on the street, get in the habit of offering free product for booking and holding your shows. Most people nowadays expect to be asked. Some will be armed with a rejection right away, but don’t let that deter you. Carry on to the next person and the next.

Yes, you will get a lot of no’s in direct sales, but if you are confident of your product and know it’s the best around, then with some perseverance and determination, you will find the yes’s. The first 6 shows are probably the hardest to get, so once you do get them, remember to follow up, follow up, follow up. When you do, you will have fewer cancellations and more bookings and this will is the start of a successful direct sales business.

Do Games and Giveaways Build Your Direct Sales Business?

Posted by Chris | Posted on 12-03-2012

Category : Direct Sales Articles, Direct Sales Tips, Home Party Plan Tips

Tags: , , ,

Sometimes I really have to wonder when I look at my expense line if games and giveaways are bringing an increase to my direct sales business. Well, the answer to this question can be yes or no. So lets take a look at how games and giveaways can benefit your business or how they can hurt your business.

The types of games we’re talking about here are the ones you play at your shows. For example, some consultants play games or offer giveaways at their shows for the person who drove the farthest, brought the most friends, is the oldest, youngest, married the longest, has the most kids, etc.

While those games are fun, do they really benefit your business? Do they increase sales or entice people to host a show or even more importantly, do they really encourage potential new recruits to join the business? Maybe – Maybe not.

Getting to the right answer is going to depend on your company; what product you’re selling and how you go about the games. For instance, if you sell skin care products, then giving product away to the person who is the oldest or someone who loves cosmetics may be a great way to gain a new customer. Choose gifts that are appropriate and something they will actually use; new colors for the season, Skin Care Products, cleansers, etc. are all great items.

Look for items that are different than what everyone else gets. If you do multiple parties a week, always try and have something a bit different at each. Some people like the idea of getting something that is rare and unique; something that everyone else doesn’t have. The idea is to think through what you’re giving away. Don’t give away something just to get rid of it!

Also, if you choose to give away a gift to the person who brings the most friends, make sure your hostess informs their friends of this before hand and it is on the invitations too. This is a great way to get more people to a show. Also, make the gift worthwhile. You want the guest to really want it so they will truly work for it.

Some companies encourage their consultants to give gifts to people as an enticement to get them to listen to the business opportunity. While this can be a good idea, it can also be a bad idea. Again, think through who you are trying to recruit. You are looking to recruit people who really love the product; those who are interested in making more money or those who are looking to start a new career and who are motivated and excited. In other words, don’t give your business away in gifts to just anyone who is simply looking for free product only.

Be choosy about who you’re giving your product to and what you’re giving away. Games and giveaways can help your business when they are well thought out, targeted to a specific audience and used appropriately. Keep in mind; freebies can hurt your business if you’re just giving away for the sake of having something to give.

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