September Stats!

Following our Amazing August, our September was a bit more "realistic"  :)  

First and foremost, please join me in welcoming three Brand New Consultants!

Maureen Do - Wichita, KS

Maureen launched her business with a whopping $700+ in sales!  She "confessed" to me that she spent most of the $ she earned on product for herself :)  That's just one of the many perks of this job... getting stuff for ourselves at a great price!

Shea Mead - Oklahoma City, OK

Shea launched her business and sold over $700 and booked an astounding 5 parties!  She is serious about making money with her business and is off to a great start with her party schedule!

Jennifer Hamm - Valley Center, KS

Jenn has not officially launched her business, but did do a party for one of my hostesses last month.... the hostess happens to be one of her best friends, so it was great that she got to kick off her business being the consultant for her friend's party!  She has several party bookings on her calendar and is planning an official launch party in early November!

CONGRATULATIONS

to each of you!  

I am excited to have you on our team and wish you much success with your businesses!

*****

Another set of CONGRATULATIONS is in store too! 

Please join me in congratulating the following ladies who earned their first promotion in September!

Robin Warren - promoted to Qualified Consultant

Dana Bartel- promoted to Qualified Consultant

Remember, you become a a "Qualified Consultant" once you have sold $1,000 in retail sales!  If you do this by the end of your first month in business, you will earn $50 in FREE product credit and $50 in Business Supply Credit!

So, congrats to Robin and Dana for earning those freebies!

*****

And now, our September Stats!

Overall Team Sales: $8,856!

Team Rank:  Senior Group Leader

Congratulations to the following ladies who sold over $1,000!

Linda Siders - $1,653 / 4 parties

Dana Bartel - $1,111 / 2 parties

Congratulations to the following ladies who were ACTIVE this month!

Robin Warren - $861 / 2 parties

Maureen Do - $706 / 1 party

Shea Mead - $705 / 1 party

Jennifer Ham - $502 / 1 party

Congratulations to the following ladies who partied this month!

Jeny Ayres - 1 party

Alisha Gray - 1 party

Thank you to everyone who partied this month... I hope you had fun and are enjoying the money you made!

Remember, October has LOTS of great incentives!  If your calendar is not as full as you would like for it to be, get on the phone!  Ask for party bookings!  Remember, NOW is the time to make money for Christmas Cash!  Don't let this great time of year pass you by!

What's in a Hostess Pack?

Some people call it a Hostess Packet.

Some call it a Party Pack.

Some call it a Party in a Bag.

Whatever you call it, it's the "thing" you give your hostess to assist her with her party planning!

Here's what I put inside my "Party Pack":

• 3 catalogs (make sure they are stamped on the back with your info!)
• 3 order forms
• 1 Hostess Planner (available with Business Supply credits)
• 1 Opportunity Brochure
• 40 postcards
• Sometimes, I leave the postcards out and print them at home for the hostess.  I still have her mail them out, but I often go ahead and run them through the printer and print out the name, date, etc. so they look a bit more professional.   Plus, this makes it easier for my hostesses!
• For fun, I put a teaspoon of the Tuscan Roasted Garlic Dip in a little bag with instructions on how to make it.  That gives my hostess a little something to serve at the party and hopefully will entice people to buy it at the party!

Nervous & New

Here is what my garage has looked like the past few days...

I'm getting ready for my first parties and to tell you the truth, I feel like I'm starting from scratch!

I feel like a brand new consultant and I'm nervous!

I know once I get a few parties under my belt, it will be come simple and easy to do parties, but getting ready for these first ones has been a bit nerve-racking - even for me!

I thought I would give you a few tips as you prepare to pack up and party!

1.  Plan out what you are going to take!  Make sure it is not too heavy and that you can easily transport it to and from the car.  I always, set up my little table and plan out how I will display everything at the party.  This makes my set up process much, much faster!

2.  I love these bubble wrap pouches.  I get mine at Dillons and they come in 2 sizes.  This makes for easy packing up of products.  Not everything will fit in the bags, but they are very convenient for most products.

3.  I always like to play some type of game during my parties.  This time, I thought I'd take the simple approach and simply give out raffle tickets for different things during the party (bring a friend, booking a party, sharing an idea, etc.).  At the end, I'll draw a winning ticket and let the winner choose one of our food mixes for FREE (her choice and I'll add it to the party).  Anyway, I thought it would make my life a whole lot easier if I tore the raffle tickets apart BEFORE the party!  And I will continue to use these same tickets for every party.  I just have to remember to pick them up and keep the two piles SEPARATE!

4.  Call me old fashioned, but I feel better and more confident when I am prepared!  So, I STILL write out a party presentation and plan what I am going to say and talk about!  And I'm not afraid to use notecards or notes... as a matter of fact, I plan to use my big ol' 8*11 papers as a crutch when I start doing parties!  If you need help or advice on writing a presentation, please ask!

By the way, do any of the words in my presentation look familiar?  USE the training available on the Learning Center... it is there for a reason - it works!  If you've watched the 60 minute party presentation training video, you will recognize a few things I've copied from the consultants who were featured!  If you read my whole presentation, you would realize that I copied A LOT from them!

5.  Here are some other items I always take with me:

• Pens
• Calculator
• File Folder (for collecting orders)
• Extra Catalogs (to leave for outside orders)
• Extra Order Forms
• Raffle Tickets
• My presentation notes
• Opportunity Brochures
• Information for my "B&B" Club
• Customer Care Cards - I print them out on blue paper for something different that stands out
• Small tape measure (people often like to see visually how large something measures... this is a handy thing to have on hand!)
• My product totes + 2 tablecloths

If you are wondering what the 2 tablecloths are for, here is my party display from my 1st party last Thursday night:

I use one tablecloth to cover my hostess' table so I don't damage it.  I use the 2nd one as a drape over one of the crates I use to carry product in. In the above photo, I used the throw, but I've decided the throw is so pretty, I need people to have access to it and so I'm using the 2nd tablecloth as a drape instead.

If you have yet to host your 1st party, please know that every single one of us feels nervous and new at some point!  It WILL get easier the more you party!  In fact, it will become so easy, it won't be long before you find yourself not needing any notes at all!  So, hang in there!  Get prepared, practice, and smile... that's the most important thing!  Have fun with it and others will too!

Using Party Manager

DO YOU HAVE PARTIES BOOKED FOR AUGUST?

Get them booked in your "Party Manager" on your workstation!

Party Manager is available under the "Orders & Products" menu.

Once you "book" a party in the Party Manager, it will give you the option of sending your hostess a pre-done email.  In the email, it will give your hostess a personal password so that she can use the "Host Central" section of your own personal Willow House website.

Once she is in the "Host Central" part of your website, she can create a guest list, send them invitations, make her wish list, etc.  And YOU can see all of her guests making it very easy to do reminder phone calls for her!

The email is nice, professional and looks like this:

It is an easy way to help you manage your business and provide your hostess with a bit of coaching!

It does not REPLACE good hostess coaching, but it a nice addition to it!

So, go book some parties in your Party Manager!

Welcome to Willow House

WELCOME TO WILLOW HOUSE!

Please join me in welcoming our brand new team members who joined our team on the GRAND OPENING Day of Willow House!


Michelle Buford, Leavenworth, KS; sponsored by Danielle Holtzman
Robin Warren, Wichita, KS; sponsored by Danielle Holtzman
Dana Bartel, Wichita, KS; sponsored by Jeny Ayres


Everyone should have received an email today with TONS of great links and information for our new Willow House business.  Please take some time to read through it and get familiar with the new workstation.


FOR NEW CONSULTANTS (and those that are re-launching):


A good place to start is to get on the workstation and look for the bright blue button that looks like this:

Click it and it will take you to a page filled with the basic information for getting started.  The page looks like this:

The very first place I would visit is the "GETTING STARTED GUIDE" in the upper left hand corner of this page.  This is the step by step workbook that will assist you in planning the launch of your business.  It will come in your starter kit, but it would be useful for you to go ahead and look at it online and get started.


The next place I would visit is the "Let's Party" audio call from Tricia Smith. You can Click here to access it, or go to the Learning Center ---> Audio Archive ---> Critical Training ---> Let's Party!  It's only 30 minutes, so be sure to set aside some time to listen to it.


The next spot I would visit is the Learning Center --->  Webinars.


At the very top of the Webinars section is a 60 minute training on the Party Presentation.  It is GREAT and everyone (even old consultants) should take the time to watch it!  


Don't feel overwhelmed or like you have to read everything all at once!

Just take it a bit at a time and it will all soon be very easy and natural for you!

I am still out of town, but will contact you all when I get back to find what dates you have chosen for your launch parties!

Welcome to Willow House!

Just Stamp It and a few other organization tips...

Guess what I've been doing?

A whole LOT of stamping!

I learned a long time ago that my party schedule goes much, much better when I have my materials prepared in advance.

So one of my organization tips is this...

The minute you get your business supplies in the mail, get them READY to be used!

I stamp all of my materials with my business information.  I used to print out labels, but I quickly learned that was much more expensive and tedious than using a stamp.  You can have a stamp made at OfficeMax for between $15 and $25 and it will last forever!

So I stamp the back of my catalogs, the back of my opportunity brochures, the back of my Inspiration Guides and my order forms (white and pink copies).

Then I "stuff" all of my catalogs which means I put an order form inside of the catalog.

I get as many of these things ready to go as I can and then I transfer them to my shelving unit.  It happens to reside in my garage so it's readily accessible as I pack my car to leave for a party, but you could do the same thing regardless of where your shelves are.  I can quickly grab as many catalogs as I need as I jump in my car!

I also put a big stack of stamped order forms on the shelf.

THEN...

When I get home, I take any catalogs that were returned to me from the party and put them in the lower shelf.  That way, it's easy for me to pick up the "unstuffed" catalogs, grab an order form from the top shelf and voila!, I have another "stuffed" catalog to put back in the stack!

This system works well for me and helps me keep everything organized.  I also don't end up having to do all this when I am trying to hurry to get out the door!

TODAY I got another stamp at OfficeMax!  It is what I'm going to use for the order forms I give to my hostesses as party of their "party packs".

It says:
Did you spend $39.96?
Choose another product valued at $39.96 or less for HALF PRICE!

I had it done in red ink and I stamped it in the "notes" portion of our new and improved order forms!  This is ONLY for the order forms that will hopefully be used by my hostess to get outside orders.  NO MORE printing different outside order forms... this stamp just seems to be so much easier!

So, I'm ready to go (at least from a supplies standpoint) for my August parties!  I just have a few more hostess "party packs" to deliver...

If you have a great organization tip, please share!

SALES TAX CHANGE

Remember to check sales tax rates before going to parties...

the rate in Wichita has gone up to 7.3% again!

Facts about Products in the Fall 2010 Catalog

Number of items we carry in the WH catalog, not including magazines/gift cards = 246

Number of unique item numbers, including discounted sets and magazines/gift cards = 286

Of those 286 orderable items:

• 174 or ~61% are under $40
• 66 or ~23% are $40-$60
• 30 or ~10% are $60-$100
• 16 or ~6% are over $100

Create your own Willow House Facebook Page

Click here for instructions on creating your own Willow House Facebook page!

An Idea for Scheduling August Parties...

I mailed out a card to all of my "potential" August hostesses last week. The verbage that I used is below for your reference. I told them (gives me accountability!) that I would follow up with them this week to confirm their date and get their August spot on my calendar reserved.

So... I've followed through and done what I said I would do.

The Result (with about 3 people left to call):

5 August Dated Bookings!

And I'm waiting on call backs from about 3 more!

I wanted to share this idea with you because I know a lot of you have anxiety over calling people to ask them if they would like to have a party.

With this method, they are already expecting your phone call! Plus, it gives you some accountability!

And lastly, you have to remember, you simply providing them with an invitation to a fun, money saving evening. It is their choice whether or not to accept your invitation. There is no reason to have your feelings hurt if they decline. It's their loss!

For those of you that are interested, the verbage for the letter I sent out was as follows:

This was on the top part of a foldover notecard:

Reserve your August Date Now!

My available party dates for an August party are:

Thursday, July 30th Friday, July 31st
Tuesday, August 4th Wednesday, August 5th
Thursday, August 6th Thursday, August 11th
Thursday, August 13th Sunday, August 16th
Tuesday, August 18th Thursday, August 20th
Tuesday, August 25th Thursday, August 27th
Friday, August 28th Sunday, August 30th

* If you would like a date that is not listed above, please let me know and I will see if I can accommodate it!

** Double Hostess Dollars not yet official.

This was on the bottom portion of the foldover notecard:

They are on their way….

The Fall 2009 Southern Living at HOME catalogs have been printed, ordered, and should be arriving in a few weeks!

To celebrate the debut of our brand new Fall 2009 catalog, I anticipate that August will be a Double Hostess Dollar month! That means August hostesses will have an opportunity to earn DOUBLE the amount of FREE product! For example, a hostess who holds a $1,000 party would earn $415 in FREE product of her choice!**

This amazing opportunity only happens “once in a catalog” and, per your request, I have tentatively reserved a “spot” on my calendar for YOU! I will be contacting you during the week of July 6th to finalize a date for your August party. I have listed my available dates above. If you already know that you would like one of these dates, please contact me ASAP to reserve it. August is a very popular month for parties and therefore, dates go fast! The sooner we get yours scheduled, the better!

You can look forward to sharing some last bits of summer sun with your friends, in addition to a brand new catalog with brand new products and great new specials!

I’m looking forward to “partying” with you in August!

Danielle Holtzman
Here I provided my phone, email, and website address too.

Credit Card Parties & "Overages"

Caution!

This scenario has happened to many consultants...

You submit a party in which everyone pays with a credit/debit card. Your party summary shows an "overage" and you mistakenly believe you have overpaid the party. Therefore, you reduce the amount paid so that you balance shows "$0". You submit the party.

What just happened?

You gave up your commission!!!!

When you submit a party in which all (or even the majority of) payments are on a debit/credit card, you WILL have an overage showing... that overage is your commission (or at least part of it).

If you have a party in which 100% of the payments are on a credit card, you will show an overage in the amount of 25% of the party sales... that's your commission!

Anytime you have an "overage" on a party, the company will cut you a check and it will be mailed or direct deposited (depending on how you set up your personal account) at the end of the month.

I hope this makes sense! This kind of a situation is very likely to happen during a sale month when everyone is paying by credit/debit card.

I don't want anyone losing their commissions!

Ways to get Fall Product for your Kit

As we approach this new catalog, several of you have asked me what the best way to get Fall product is.

There are a few ways:

1. Purchase the Enhancement Kit (info available on your workstation) for $99.95. If you like the products in the kit, this is a pretty good savings. You save 60% and don't pay shipping.


2. Purchase a "Kit Add On". These "Add On's" are now available on your workstation.

What is a Kit Add On?
As a Consultant, you can purchase 1 of each of the new Fall items for a 40% discount. You still have to pay shipping/tax on the item though.

If you feel like you need a few things to add to your kit, this can be a good way to do it.

Pictures of the new Kit Add On's with item codes are available from the "Corporate News You Can Use" section of your workstation.

Both Enhancement Kits and Kit Add On's can be purchased through the "Orders" section of your workstation.

HOWEVER...

3. The best way to get new items for your Fall kit is to host your own party at the very beginning of August, or even at the very end of July! When you do this, you will sell from the Fall 2009 catalog and YOU will be the lucky recipient of both the hostess rewards (which should be Double Hostess Dollars) and the consultant commission! You can then use your FREE hostess rewards to purchase new kit items. This is the most cost effective way to get new kit items.

AND

When you host this party, you can do special incentives to get new Fall bookings. You can advertise as part of your invitation... "Be the first to get a copy of the Brand New Fall 2009 catalog"! You could even do such a party at the end of July and call it a "Christmas in July" party... decorate up a few of your existing products with Fall and Holiday decor, serve holiday-type drinks and a few snacks, play Christmas music, and talk about holiday ideas during your product presentation. How fun would that be?

Hope this helps and if you plan to host your own party in July or August, please let me know!