Fall is the BEST time to start a Home Based Business

Posted by Sue Bradley on October 20, 2010

Why? Fall traditionally is the best time for sales, and to get ready for the holiday season.

September the kids are all back in school, summer holidays are over, the weather gets cooler and people begin to get ready for the holiday season. Starting at the end of October through Thanksgiving and Christmas it seems there is an endless list we all face, Parties, open-houses, teacher appreciation, thank you gifts for service providers (hair dressers, postal carriers, teachers, coaches, etc.) hostess gifts, this is in addition to our own families, parents, grand-parents, spouses and children.

A home-based business not only gives you an opportunity to help pay for all of these must-do’s but also a way to provide ready-made gifts for you and for others looking for a solution.

This is the best time of year for holiday open houses and craft fairs. People love ready-made, pre-wrapped, home-made gifts that they can have on hand for all the reasons above. Check local listings for fairs in your area, or get together with a few friends who represent products different from yours and have a fair of your own!

10 easy ways to share your products this season

1. Tie a ribbon around a few products with a retail price under $25. Attach a blank gift tag so the giver can quickly personalize the present

2. Hold a wish-list party. Have guests make a wish-list and give you names of who to share the wish list with. For example a wife will make a wish list to share with her husband. You contact the husband, help him select some products, you order, wrap and deliver to him – ready to give to his wife for their anniversary, her birthday or Christmas!

3. Go to the dollar store and buy some cute pre-decorated baskets, tins or bags. Fill them with an assortment of products. Put signs on them “for teacher” “for my stylist” “for the babysitter” be sure to include blank gift tags.

4. Make an opportunity basket – call it “join me” put some marketing materials, a sample or two, the compensation plan and an application. Tell people it is free to anyone who wants to “join you” on your team, you are currently accepting applications!

5. Make some mystery presents. Wrap one-of-a-kind, demonstration or discontinued (but still good) product in special paper and arrange a selection in a basket. Label the basket with a price each with a special, lower price when they buy 3 or 5! Be sure to indicate if the present would only be good for a man, woman or child.

6. Create a “date night” gift; include some of your products, an easy to prepare meal and a bottle of wine and some glasses.

7. Make some themed presents for special occasions, be sure your product fits, or include your product in a way that makes sense. Some occasions to consider: baby showers, wedding showers, new baby arrival, weddings, anniversaries, going away to school or college, Senior Year, Kindergarten (Mommy survival pack), Resolution Pack (to lose weight or get in shape!) – Whatever you can imagine can make a great theme!

8. Create a booking challenge with past hosts or hostesses. Suggest that they book a party with you between now and December 15. When the party holds you will DOUBLE their benefits if they meet a minimum (you pick – or they pick – number of guests, amount of total party, number of bookings off of their party). Use your theme gifts for their party theme.

9. Hold a “Believe” themed open house. You can direct this in whichever way works best for your product; believe in the Magic of the Season, Believe What You Can Accomplish, Believe in the Future, and Believe in Today….show guests how your product can help them “believe” again.

10. Indulge – again, using your product as a centerpiece, create an Indulge theme. The idea is to challenge your guest to be decadent – illustrate ways that they can indulge with your product and benefit – health, wealth and fun!

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    Holiday Shopping – Keep Your Business Up-Front

    Posted by Sue Bradley on September 30, 2010

    By Sue Bradley and ktp party-maven Cathy Merrill

    Cathy is a member of the ktp consulting team. She has been a direct selling party plan consultant for over 15 years and holds parties regularly especially during this busy season. I went to her for tips on how to best utilize this season with friends and family as a way to sell and share your business!

    We are entering the busiest time of the year. Holidays, Parties, Vacations, Reunions, Shopping, and historically, for the direct selling industry, one of the best times for sales.

    EVERYONE has to shop for the holidays in some form or other.  As an independent business owner you can offer the fastest, easiest, most fun, and most personal way for your friends and family to do their shopping quickly, conveniently and with the help of a personal shopper; you!

    Because during this time of year most of us are in a constant socializing whirlwind of friends, family, business contacts, and school events, it is the perfect time to be able to casually mention again what you do for a living! Remind people that you have a home-based business and that you can help them with their shopping needs, or give them a way to make some extra money just in time for the gift-giving season. You can do this without being high-pressure, pushy or annoying. Simply by sharing your enthusiasm and suggestions people will come to you to help them.

    Friends and family, who see you regularly, may forget that you can make their lives easier this time of year.  Show off the latest and greatest that you have; wear it, display it in your home, drink or eat it in public. When family and/or friend come to your home, ask their opinion on the latest catalog and the items you’re using.  Mention how you will be using your product as gifts for your babysitter, neighbor, child’s teacher or friend.

    If your product is a food or beverage, have a pre-holiday tasting in your home.  Invite friends and family to come by and taste the newest creations. Let them know which ones you will be bringing to the next family gathering.  This makes them think of all the gatherings they have coming up as well.

    These little hints get people thinking about the gifts they will need to be buying.  Many people are in denial that the holiday season will be here faster than they want. It’s your job to be sure to start reminding them so they aren’t standing in a drug store on Christmas Eve throwing random items in a cart.

    Perhaps you have friends and/or family who typically hold shows for you this time of year. Get your calendar out the next time you see them and get their dates scheduled.  Remind them that your calendar fills up so quickly for holiday parties so you really want to be sure to get their date assigned.  Hand your catalogs out so friends and family can start showing it around for early, outside orders and to start their own wish list.

    Tell a story about a trip or personal achievement that you’re most proud of this year. Explain, by sharing your personal story, or how your business has helped you to achieve a goal. Your friends and family want to help and support you, and sometimes we tend to take them for granted. Show your enthusiasm about what you do, the benefits you receive from being an independent representative for your company and how much you appreciate always being able to rely on these people to buy your products, hold parties for you and refer you to their friends to increase your circle of influence. Most people want to help others, especially those they care about. How wonderful if you can help your family and friends by sharing your business with them and get to work with the people you care most about!

    No one wants to be pushy, our natural tendency is to sit back and wait for people to come to us. While it would be nice if that would sustain our business, the unfortunate fact is that it won’t. To be successful we need to continually put ourselves in front of people, especially the people who know us best, and remind them we have a business of our own and a product to sell. The holiday season is the perfect time; you are naturally around people, friends, family and new acquaintances. Make a promise to yourself that this year you will make the most of this season!

    Who doesn’t want the ease and convenience of getting their holiday shopping done quickly, easily, and with a friend?  You are the expert when it comes to your product and your company; you can share the features and benefits of your products customized to what you know your friends and family need. You already know many of the people they are purchasing for and you can recommend the exact item for the exact person.  Where else can your friends and family get that kind of one-on-one service?

    Get out there and start talking up those holidays!  Let’s embrace this selling season and help out our friends and family our business and our pocketbooks at the same time!!

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    Secrets to Direct Sales Success

    Posted by Sue Bradley on September 15, 2010

    In these tough economic times more and more people are choosing direct sales to compliment their incomes and finding success!!

    See the report from ABC News: Secrets to Direct Sales Success

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    You Can Do It!

    Posted by Sue Bradley on July 21, 2010

    Flexible hours, low start up cost, incentives and rewards and supplemental income.

    These are all important and necessary things in today’s economy. Direct sales, in-home sales, group sales might be something you should consider whether you are a company looking to expand or a person (male or female) looking for that little extra on a monthly basis. This article in March’s Newsweek magazine points out that anyone can do this, and companies are growing!

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    I Love Summer!

    Posted by Sue Bradley on June 17, 2010

    Please welcome Guest Blogger and Party Maven Cathy Merrill.

    Summer seems to be a specifically difficult time for those of us in party plan companies to get our customer’s attention.  The general perception is that everyone is out of town so there is no point in trying to host a show during the summer.  The fact is, not everyone gets to leave town and a summer show is a good way to keep in touch with those people you aren’t seeing everyday, like you might when school is in session.

    A good way to encourage your hostess to go ahead and take the Summer Party Plunge is to offer a sale.  Most party plan companies come out with a new fall catalog or at least a line of new fall products.  With that in mind, you might want to lighten up your current inventory with a summer sale.

    Some ideas that I have used include

    • Offer a Buy 2, Get 1 item half off of your current inventory (or use a percentage that will work for you based on your company’s commission structure.)
    • For those of you who don’t carry an inventory and rely on orders only, take advantage of those hostess-only specials.  Most party plans offer hostess-only buys at reduced costs.  If your hostess doesn’t use the offer, you can.  It will give you a few items to offer, at good prices, to entice your hostess and her friends.
    • A final idea is to sell any items you might have that are being discontinued with the new fall line.  These “demo” items can be reduced off regular retail pricing and can be very appealing to someone looking for a deal.

    Summer doesn’t have to be the kiss of death for your party plan business.  You might have to think a little more creatively but you can still have a fantastic summer selling season!! I love summer!

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    10 Cool Ways to Share the Summer

    Posted by Sue Bradley on June 8, 2010

    Long lazy days, schools are out, people are on vacation or wishing they were! Summer traditionally means a slower time for doing business if you’re in our industry summer is all about relaxing, staying cool, and being with friends, children and family. This summer, why not work with your friend’s passions and build your business around what they love to do?

    Here are 10 ways to put the summer to your advantage

    1. Hold a BBQ

    This is a great way to involve the men in your life. If you represent a product that goes well with a BBQ even better! If not, have a small display of the products that you represent. When you are inviting people, be sure to tell them that you want them to try or take a look at your product but the focus is on the food, fun and time spent together.

    2. Have a manicure/pedicure party with prizes for the best flip flops

    This works great for a friend of mine in a jewelry business! She buys some flip flops, has her guests decorate them with jewels and ribbon and gives them away at her shows. Another good friend brings groups to a local manicure/pedicure salon. Everyone feels indulged and she can talk, show, and teach while they are feeling relaxed!

    3. A Pool Party!

    When the temperatures soar, invite a group to your home to laze by the pool. Provide fresh squeezed lemonade and some crisp veggies and dips on ice and talk about how your company can help them live better!

    4. Christmas in July

    I know you’ve heard this one before – but everyone loves Christmas and it is fun to pull out the holiday music, turn the air conditioner on and get your shopping done now!

    5. Alaskan (or other chilly destination) Holiday

    Find out what people do in Alaska or for that matter Australia this time of year. Hold a theme party where you do the same. Create an authentic dinner or snacks and invite your friends.  You can even give each an assignment so they can participate. Play appropriate music, post some chilly looking photos on the wall or a screen saver on the television with glaciers, snow, skiing and ice. You might even have to make hot chocolate!

    6. Walk the Mall

    Not just for seniors anymore, mall walking is for anyone who doesn’t want to just watch TV from a treadmill. Meet early, say 7 am and you’ll have plenty of time to share as you circle the stores. Sharing and talking helps to keep your pace reasonable!

    7. Kids Craft Day

    If you’re like me, about 2 weeks into schools summer vacation you run out of things to keep the little ones busy. Why not host a craft day for parents and their kids. Hire a student to help you keep the kids focused on the craft (you can find lots of good, affordable ideas online) and you’ll have plenty of time to mingle with the parents!

    8. Baseball

    What’s more American or says summer than Baseball? Invite folks to join you at a game, at your home to watch one on a flat screen or even better, to play an actual game at the local field! Use a theme that highlights your product and your company.  Target how it can help your friends have more time for their favorite sport!

    9. Movie Night

    Steal an idea from local hotels, rent a projector and drape a big white sheet between two trees in your back yard. Make popcorn and invite friends and family to watch a double feature at your house! Make sure to have your product displayed and samples ready during the intermission!

    10. Water Balloons!

    Remember what it is like to be a kid again; fill buckets with water balloons, divide into teams and let the most accurate team win! After everyone’s cool, relaxed and ready for a break, sit on some lawn chairs or on blankets on the ground and share how your company can help them to feel like kids again, even without the balloons!

    Remember to be clear when you hold any of these events. Tell your guests upfront that you will be sharing your business. The event is a way to do it; you want people to be open to your message. That said, relax, and have fun too – your guests will be attracted to the fact that you can work around your life and theirs, and that like most networkers your job is a part of your life, not something to work around!

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    Quality – is it your state of mind?

    Posted by Sue Bradley on February 5, 2010

    Guest blogger Susan Trinkle has over 15 years in the direct selling industry focusing on quality systems and supply chain management…helping you improve profitability.

    When was the last time you ordered something and what you received was not what you ordered?  Was it damaged?  Did the color match the picture? Was it backordered and not due in for another 2 months? Did it taste the same as the last time you ordered it? Was the website confusing and did it take forever for you to place your order? Did you call them to complain only to be hassled? Was it easy to return? Did it work as you expected it to work? Think how you felt about your experience with the company.  Will you buy from them again?

    Quality service is so individualized.  Each of us views it differently and our outlook is ever changing.  An experience that was great on one of your good days might not seem so great on a bad day.  What your friend perceives as fantastic might be closer to your definition of awful. How can your company overcome odds like this?  How can you provide the very best quality product and service to everyone?

    Quality in an organization is part of the company’s culture.  It’s part of the company’s vision.  It is a state of mind where everyone within your company participates. Quality is not only directed at our product or service or our guarantee that the shipment is correct.  It includes everyone that we touch daily, both internal and external, our families and friends, the strangers we meet on the street. A focus on quality generates an atmosphere of customer satisfaction. The most successful companies are organizations where everyone’s goal is excellent quality and customer satisfaction.  What can be better for everyone?

    ktp consulting is dedicated to helping companies keep their people growing.  As you grow, what better way is there than to instill quality within everything thing that we do?  Recognition of quality is one of the little things that make a big difference.  Where can you add Quality to your company? Is Quality your state of mind?

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    The Tortoise & the Hare

    Posted by Sue Bradley on December 18, 2009

    Aesop’s fable of the tortoise and the hare is a favorite story that shows slow and steady can win a race, and if you “snooze you lose”.  Like Aesop’s rabbit, I am sure that you have superstars in your business. These charismatic, sleek and exciting people deserve to be celebrated! I bet you can name them, and probably have a system in place to reward them too! But are you “snoozing” by celebrating the rabbits and overlooking the tortoises?

    What about your tortoises? Who are they? Can you name them? Are they the soft-spoken, loyal consultants who order just a small amount every month? Do they have a customer base that they have built slowly over time? Have they been members of your organization for years? In their unassuming way they probably inspire more positive public relations for your brand than you realize. I challenge you this month to find out who they are and develop a way to appreciate them individually and let them know their value to you.

    ktp consulting is dedicated to helping companies keep their people growing. We a committed to helping direct selling business owners recognize the little things that make big differences. We believe that tortoises and hares should be celebrated, but how to motivate and celebrate each of these individuals should be customized to what works for them! We believe that those little things will help you to inspire your people, grow loyalty and keep the people (ktp)!

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    Tis the Season

    Posted by Sue Bradley on December 18, 2009

    It is the season – for being sentimental, for hustle and bustle, for sharing, for spending, for appreciating the people in your life, for giving thanks.

    To all of those who have inspired and mentored me; to my former bosses, co-workers and associates; to vendors and suppliers; to my friends, acquaintances; to those with whom I have disagreed and those with whom I have found common ground; it is with sincere and heartfelt gratitude that I am officially launching ktp consulting – keep the people growing! Without each and every one of you this would not have been possible.

    We, the people of ktp, are starting this blog to post communications to help keep your people growing! We hope to motivate you to take the time to make small changes and remember the little things. We will help you look for the little things that will make a big difference in your people. From the perspective of award, incentive and recognition programs we hope to inspire you, learn with you and together make a difference.

    Through this website (keepthepeople.com) we, the people of ktp, will cover issues that are important. We hope to inspire you. We encourage you to share your ideas, and also to let us know if our ideas have helped you. We also encourage you to send us questions: questions@keepthepeople.com. We promise to answer you directly or post an article about your question.

    We wish you and your families and businesses a season full of blessings. May the coming days be full of joy and surprises and an appreciation of the little things that will keep your people growing!

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