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But you, Direct Sales Mom, have what many of those stressed out moms need this time of the year. You have the gift of GIFTS! Without having to battle the lines at Kohl's or the mall, moms can email or call you and have their holiday shopping done without even leaving the house! By adding a little sparkle of "extra mile" to your already excellent customer service skills, you can help busy moms everywhere bring back the joy and fun this holiday season.
So, let's talk about what you can do in your direct sales business to help these over the edge moms starting today!
** Give them a simple organization gift - Send out a blank wish list sheet to your customer mailing list. Offer it as a gift to new subscribers to your newsletter list too. This can be as simple as a chart with columns and rows for "Name" and "Gift" for them to keep track as they shop. It's a nice gesture and could be just what an overwhelmed mom needs to help her get organized with this part of the season. You can create one yourself in word or excel, or search the web for some fancier templates. Just make sure it has your resource box on there, "Compliments of..." so they know who to call!
** Offer gift-wrapping and "delivered to their door" service for moms who purchase gifts from you. Yes, it might cost you a little more, but think of the help you're giving to another mom and the potential for future business you're generating by the sacrifice.
** Group your products into gift packages. Get creative here ladies. Take a good look throughout your catalog and create lovely packages of complimentary products at various price points. Do the thinking for your customers to take away one more layer of stress. Go beyond just suggesting and up selling and create packages with package pricing so all they have to do is call or email you and say, "I want 3 of that $15 package you mentioned on your email". Offer the gift-wrapping above and include that in your package pricing to make it even easier for them.
** Provide gift certificate services so your customers can give your catalog and the certificate as a gift. Not only does this help your customer with her stress level, but it gives you the opportunity to win over a new customer as well.
** Most of all brainstorm about what would help YOU feel more relaxed about your holiday shopping this holiday season and then see how you can help other moms in the same way.
Make the most of your holiday selling season by reaching out and helping others. You'll be glad you did!
Now what? Do you just go ahead and jump into the first thing that comes along?
Of course not! You investigate and see which company will be the fortunate receiver of your talents and energy.
Because the cardinal rule of direct selling says: "You should absolutely use and believe in the products or services you sell.", you must first ask yourself whether you would buy this product or service if you were not part of the sales organization.
If your answer is no, on to the next. If yes, then ask yourself these next questions:
· is this product at the cutting edge of technology?
· is there something that sets it apart from all the others?
· does it improve people's lives?
It's now time to consider the 5 most essential criteria that should be characteristic of the company if you wish to make an intelligent and wise choice.
1. While you're in business for yourself but not by yourself, you must find out if there is a good support structure: marketing materials, training opportunities, online ordering systems, operations and most important emerging new products and technology?
This is not a 9 to 5 job you're going into. But it can be the part-time opportunity that has the possibility to lead you out of the 9 to 5 grind. It's easy to tell your boss goodbye, but not so easy to tell your many clients and associates that you made a mistake and want to change company.
2. So then the next obvious move is to investigate and assess the company's background. What is their track record? How long has this company been in business and what businesses have they run prior to this one? How committed are they to providing the best in information, training and education?
Not long ago I experienced a personal development course “The Millionaire Mind Intensive” offered by Peak Potentials' creator Harv Eker. It made me realize that a good company should also offer similar courses in order to help you broaden and deepen your skills. Other questions: Are they using the latest, best technology and what can you tell from their Internet presence?
3. Don't forget to also consider whether the company is suited for global expansion and what its present international exposure and plans are for future growth?
You are choosing a partner to do business with and you should leave no stone unturned!
4. This next one is not a must but should be greatly considered as an important quality of any good business. Does it belong to the Direct Selling Association (DSA).
The DSA has certain codes of business of ethics which insure proper conduct in the market place:
· Nominal start-up costs
· Optional purchases for inventory or materials
· The user earn money from sales of products or services not from the sheer act of recruiting
· The company allows for return of unsold inventory within a specified time reimbursing usually 90% of the price paid
5. The final criteria are patience and expectations. Does the Company expect you to get rich quick or does it provide you with all the tools necessary for you to do so and is willing to support you?. A mature, high quality direct selling company has its personnel present the income opportunity as a serious commitment that can yield results all dependent upon your efforts.
If you put in consistent effort for 2 to 5 years, it is very possible and probable that you will be able to create a significant stream of long-term residual income. After all, isn't this what it's all about? Retiring early with no worry of where the next dollar will come from in order to pay the bills.
As Harv Eker says: “If your goal is to be comfortable, chances are you'll never get rich. But if your goal is to be rich, chances are you'll end up mighty comfortable”.
And the direct selling industry of network marketing is almost the only vehicle out there that can help you to achieve your goals for the least amount of money invested. It has changed my life!