Jan/Feb 2015 Preview

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MAGAZINE

Build a

B I G B U SI N ES S

on a

SMALL BU D GE T

COVER GIRL

Deb Bixler TALKS RETENTION IMPROVEMENT WITH

2 CRUCIAL TEAM BUILDING TIPS

WHAT DO YOU WANT

“MORE” OF IN 2015? Issue 06

J AN/F E B 2 0 1 5

Why January is the Best Time to Book Home Parties


OUR

FROM THE

contributors »

GALE BATES

DEB BIXLER

Author, Speaker, Trainer & Corporate Consultant www.mymentorbiz.com

Party Plan Expert www.debbixler.com

JENNY BYWATER

BARB GIRSON

Owner of The Booster & Direct Sales Trainer www.thebooster.com

Direct Sales Expert, Trainer & Coach www.mysalestactics.com

JULIE ANNE JONES

LYNSEY JONES

Direct Sales Expert Trainer www.julieannejones.com

Direct Sales Diva Coach www.partyplandivas.com

JAY LEISNER

SARA WAGERS

President of Sylvina Consulting www.sylvina.com

Online Business Manager www.virtualbizpartner.com

editor »

Happy New Year! I would like to dedicate this publisher’s letter column to you, our valuable readers. I am so grateful that you have stayed with us for the entire year of 2014. I hope you have enjoyed as much as I have all of the articles from our wonderful coaches who put in so much of their time and energy writing articles that will help you succeed in your business. I also want to thank the advertisers in each issue as we are 100% funded by them. They are the foundation on which we can create, print and distribute our growing publication. And a special thanks to our awesome designer, Rebecca! She makes each issue come alive, and she is very much appreciated! The New Year is full of new beginnings, new businesses, new connections, and new ideas. May you have a prosperous start to whatever you want to achieve. You can do anything you put your mind to. ♦ Another year has come and gone And now the New Year has begun This little wish is coming to you To wish you well in all you do May good fortune come your way And happiness fill your every day With many thanks,

CREATIVE DIRECTOR:

Kristina Cottrell Publisher & Editor-In-Chief

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J AN/F E B 2 015

www.partyplanmagazine.com

Rebecca Brayman www.rebeccabrayman.com EDITOR: Marilyn Tenney


07 2 Team Building Tips

to

IMPROVE TEAM RETENTION

11 Party Recipes

12 Make Your Time

YOUR O.W.N. THIS YEAR

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE COCONUT TREATS

BY BARB GIRSON

SUGAR COOKIES BY DEB BIXLER

14 WHAT DO YOU WANT “MORE” OF IN 2015?

09 What Matters Most

BY GALE BATES

BY JAY LEISNER

10 Why January is the

18

Best Time to Book Home Parties

Build a

B IG B U S INE SS on a SMAL L BU D GET BY SARA WAGERS

BY JULIE ANNE JONES

20 How to Have $1,000 Parties in the New Year! BY JENNY BYWATER

In Every Issue 06 Work-@-Home

FEATURED Direct Sales Mom

08 New on the Horizon BUSINESS Spotlight

16 Consultant Directory Find

A CONSULTANT OR BUSINESS

22 Bulletin Board

Promote YOUR BUSINESS!

Party Plan Magazine is published bi-monthly. Copyright 2015 by Party Plan Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited. Party Plan Magazine strives to provide valuable information, business building tools and resources for the direct sales professional. Advertising and editorial copy is subject to approval. Party Plan Magazine has the right to decline any advertising without explanation. Party Plan Magazine will not be held responsible for mistakes, misprints or typographical errors. Party Plan Magazine does not endorse or recommend articles or advertisers featured in this magazine. Party Plan Magazine assumes no responsibility for performance or claims made by advertisers. The opinions expressed in articles are the author’s own and do not reflect the opinions of Party Plan Magazine.


our featured

DIRECT SALES MOM

How long have you been in direct sales with your business? I have been with Norwex for about 11 months.

Stephanie Pierce, Norwex WWW.STEPHANIEPIERCE.NORWEX.BIZ stephanyann@hotmail.com 325.725.2535

Tell us a bit about your business. I am a Sales Leader and Norwex Independent Sales Consultant. The Norwex mission is to “improve the quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in the home.” I love that their core values are integrity, trust, and honesty! We sell chemical-free cleaning products, personal care, and home items. Norwex is known for their cleaning cloths, and with them and ONLY water you can replace the majority of your chemical products, cut your cleaning time by 75%, and stop ingesting chemicals you use in your home while adding a little fun to your daily cleaning routine.

What did you do prior to being in Direct Sales? Before I got into direct sales I was a Kindergarten teacher and loved it. When I found out I was expecting triplets, I decided to stay at home with them… but I soon realized I needed to get out of the house and have some girl time!

What has been your greatest challenge in running a business out of your home? Time Management! I have had to learn how to organize my time so I can build my business, spend quality time with my kids, take care of the home, and cheer on my husband (who is a high school coach) and his teams! This isn’t something I have completely mastered, but I try to stick to a daily schedule and I rely heavily on my planner!

“Take care of your customers! Follow up with them, make sure they are enjoying the products, and let them know you are always there if they have questions and need anything.”

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J AN/F EB 2 015

www.partyplanmagazine.com

What are your greatest rewards? Friendships! I moved to a small town and didn’t know anyone. With 3 toddlers it was not easy to get out and make friends. So I decided to jump into direct sales! Through parties, networking, and customers I have been blessed with so many friendships!

How did you decide which business to get involved with? I signed up under a college friend when they had a” join risk free” period. I joined for the free cloths that I had never used. I got them… used them… fell in LOVE! I didn’t enjoy cleaning, but the Norwex cloths made it so quick, easy, and fun, I had to share Norwex with EVERYONE!

What is your best business tip for fellow work-at-home moms? Customer Care! Take care of your customers! Follow up with them, make sure they are enjoying the products, and let them know you are always there if they have questions and need anything.

Any advice for those thinking of working at home with a Direct Sales company? Don’t be scared if you’re not super outgoing! If you find something you love you will find it easy to share. ♦


2 Team Building Tips

to IMPROVE TEAM RETENTION BY DEB BIXLER

|

WWW.CASHFLOWSHOW.COM

Friends do not let friends down, so developing friendships or camaraderie among team members will give your sales consultants motivation. Even phone call systems of training using conference bridges can develop long distance friendships that will improve your retention. At every team meeting dedicate time to networking between members so that they build relationships and become friends!

No one quits direct sales if they have a full calendar, so teaching new consultants how to book a solid show schedule is the surest way to build a sales team. Direct sales leaders can do 2 simple things that will greatly affect sales team retention and their ability to build a team.

#1: Branch Out

Stop teaching your new sales consultants that the best place to find business is with friends, family and acquaintances. A new business can never depend on friends and family to create a profitable business. In direct sales we are often told to make a list of everyone we have known since kindergarten and ask them to help us get started. This is an unrealistic approach to marketing and one that is never applied in the world of brick and mortar businesses. Team leaders should educate their direct sales team more effectively on finding business from a variety of sources. Each new distributor needs to tap into 7 sources or techniques to find business. Friends, family, school, work, neighbors, organizations and strangers should all be a part of the foundation that is put into place in a new home party plan business. The most important one of course is finding business with strangers, but most new distributors only use 1 or 2 of the above lead generation systems.

Finding Business – Becoming Friends!

When a new sales rep schedules 3–4 of the first thirty home party shows in every category, then they will create a business foundation that will be strong, stable and create a solid show schedule.

Teach your team members how to set up their first shows with a solid base of lead types as well as to encourage team friendships. This will get your distributors off to a great start and keep them coming back to meetings to see their friends! ♦

#2: Meet Friends

Put a training building system into place that creates team camaraderie. Meeting makers make more money. Use a training system as if you are a major corporation. All companies have a routine or training system. Putting a system into place for your new consultant, as well as your more seasoned consultant, will ensure that they stick around. New consultant training should be a given format that you follow for each new rep, whether that is a phone call series or a series of meetings, it should be a method of training that develops friendships that will improve team retention.

THIS IS PART OF THE DIRECT SALES RECRUITING UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM JOIN THE FREE VERSION AT WWW.CASHFLOWSHOW RECRUITING.COM

DEB BIXLER is a direct sales educator that teaches proven systems that work in all direct sales companies. Treat your business like a profession and you will get professional results.

www.partyplanmagazine.com

J A N /FEB 2015

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