It’s been a busy a month and it’s only half over.  We had an exciting, historical election and you know the former history teacher in me was totally involved.  Lisa Young and I started our Direct Sales Jump Start program that is going great guns - there are still a couple of “seats” left if you’re interested (go to http://www.homepartysolution.com/jumpstart for more information).  And if you’re having a typical month in direct sales this should be one of your, if not your absolutely busiest month of the year.

But nows not the time to sit back and count your earnings.   Now’s the time to be planning January 2009.  It’s important to have a consistent calendar and get bookings for the early part of December, up until the time that holiday shipping ends.  But this is also the time to be planning January and getting bookings for January that will give you the start that you want for 2009.

Does your company have a January hostess or guest special to assist you in getting bookings?  Has that been announced yet?  If not, I encourage you to let people know what was offered last year and offer them a tentative date now to be confirmed once the specials for January are announced.

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In the short time I have been coaching with Ruth, my amount of bookings has literally more than doubled!  I was doing 3-4 parties a month, and now I have 8 parties a month, thanks to Ruth’s coaching tips.  She taught me how to get guests thinking about booking a show right away using simple incentives.  Her ideas created ways for the guests and hostess to encourage each other to book a show, which has made my job much easier, not to mention much more fun!  I have seen dramatic improvements in my business since coaching with Ruth, and I am looking forward to more growth to come!

Jackie Aicher

It’s a known fact that, in the direct sales industry, if you’re out of bookings you’re out of business.  Most people who book a party plan presentation do so at the presentation.  You need to encourage people to book by providing them reasons throughout your demonstration.  The easiest way to get bookings is to be “up” for your presentation.  Here’s some other ideas.

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You are going to want to read this to the end for a cool offer!

We’re all familiar with coaches for our kids’ basketball or soccer teams.  They’re people who love a sport and want to pass it on to the next generation.  Today is a beautiful Sunday in September, and millions of people are watching their favorite NFL team.  So we’re familiar with profession sports teams and their coaches.  This past summer we watched the Olympic athletes and their coaches.

We’re all familiar with coaches when it comes to sports, but, what is a business coach?  A business coach is Read the rest of this post »

I was talking with a coaching client and she commented that she had four shows postpone the previous month.  For many consultants this would be a disaster.  Yet this young woman went on to tell me she’d had over $6000 in sales and she was very pleased with the month she had had.

You may be asking yourself how she could have four shows cancel but still have those kinds of sales.  Simple. Read the rest of this post »

I just got my Guideposts magazine.  I’m not a big magazine reader, and those I do read, usually have inspirational messages throughout them.  One of my favorite features in Guideposts is called “The Up Side.”  This section is filled with quotes from the known and the unknown.  There are two this month that really hit me between the eyes, and just shouted to be included in a post because they have so much to do with direct sales - and life in general.

One is from Anne Hathaway, actress, who says: Read the rest of this post »

My belief is that everything you say and do at your party plan selling demonstration should be said and done to promote higher sales, more bookings and interest in recruiting.  Have you ever had to sit down and explain to a sister consultant how and where her demonstration fell apart?  This happened to me and it was a very uncomfortable situation.

I had a party where the consultant was selling sleep-wear,  She had flannel, stunningly beautiful lingerie and everything in-between.  Everyone was having fun and trying things on.  Some guests were even modeling.  

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We’re told to be successful in party plan selling you need to be consistent.  Decide if you’re going to be hobby - one show a week, part-time - two shows a week, or full-time - three shows a week.  Then do one, two, or three shows every week.  But what do you do if you’re having difficultly being consistent?  What do you do if you open your calendar and there’s a show here and a party there because you can’t seem to get hostesses to book when you want them to. Read the rest of this post »

Whenever I go to a wedding I’m reminded of my dad saying, “Getting married is risking putting your happiness in the happiness of another.”

We are told communication is the key to a happy marriage.  Can you imagine trusting to get married, doing all the preparation for the wedding, and then not speaking to your spouse for weeks or even months at a time?  That wouldn’t be a very happy marriage.  One, or both people in it, would want out.

When we recruit aren’t we risking to put our success in the success of another.  Isn’t communication a key to business success? Read the rest of this post »

I was in the market for a new couch, and saw one I really liked.  The saleswoman came over and told me all the reasons I wanted THIS couch.  She went on to tell my why I wanted the matching chair.  I didn’t want the matching chair.  I wanted the couch.

She told me how shabby my room would look if I didn’t get the end tables, coffee table, and matching lamps.  I didn’t want them.  I wanted the couch.

She assured me I’d be the envy of the neighborhood.  All I want is the couch Lady!

She told me to think about what a beautiful new room I’d have, and payments would be only —–

I walked out of the store.  Instead of selling me the couch I wanted, her pushy style of selling drove me out of the store.  

Are you getting the drift here?

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