Does Your Company Drop Ship?

Instead of having an order sent to your and then you re-sending it to the customers, why not skip the middle man and have the order shipped directly to your customer? Many companies now offer dropshipping, so take advantage of it. For those of you that pass the added shipping costs onto your customer instead … be the hero and save your customer money too!

Money Saving Mini Series
Tips to Saving Money in Your Business

Money Saving Mini Series

Tips to Saving Money in Your Business

For the next few weeks we're going to do a little something different for our Direct Sales Info newsletter. This week is the first segment of our Money Saving Mini Series - Tips to Saving Money in Your Business. Each week we'll be sending out a new tip to help YOU save money in your direct sales business.

Time is of the essence... This is one of the very first things to keep in mind. Too often we've seen consultants who threw in the towel way too early. Even banks and accountants will tell you that a new business typically takes 3 to 5 years to make those red numbers black. Give your business the time it needs to become profitable. In the meantime, there are many ways to save money and become successful without breaking the bank.

Does your company drop ship?
Recycling Packaging
Outdated Catalogs
Party Plan Gifts
Outsourcing
Buying in Bulk

Outdoor Shows & Rain

Noone can predict the weather several weeks ahead of time. If you are planning to be at a craft show outside, you are taking a risk of it being rained out. While sometimes the whole show is a loss, there are things you can do to still gain sales.

1. Back Ups
Ask ahead of time if there's a place they'll let the crafters move should the entire day be completely rained out. Sometimes the event will be rescheduled if there is nothing but rain the whole day.

2. Tents
While a small tent isn't going to protect you from heavy rain or storms, it will protect you if it's just sprinkling. You can wait until the very last minute to pack up.

3. Check the Weather Ahead of Time
Know what the weather is that day, and let the organizer know. This way the organizer can plan early in the day for a back up if need be, and you know when to pack up. Also be sure to bring a towel.

3. Wait it Out
If you've had to pack up everything because of heavy rain, don't go very far. Keep up your tent, tables, and chair. Dump the rain off the top of your tent (yes, it WILL collect rain!), and dry off your tables with the towel you brought. If the rain has passed, set back up (at least half!)

Rain can be a major pain for outdoor shows, but they don't always lead to a loss. Our best outdoor show was actually rained out for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. We simply packed up and waited it out. Once the rain cleared in the evening, we made a whole lot more sales. I'm VERY glad we didn't leave like some of the other crafters! Stick it out and you'll always get the most out of your time and money paid for the table.

Direct Sales Helpers on the Road

Jenny Palasik - Tupperware

July Successful Consultant of the Month

Jenny Palasik
Illinois

Direct Sales Company:
Tuppware

Website Address:
http://my.tupperware.com/jpalasik

Please tell us a little more about the products you offer:
As I am sure many of you know Tupperware is a company that offers storage and organization solutions for kitchens. We do also offer a wonderful line of professional grade cookware and bakeware.

How long have you been with this company?
Since October 2005

What is your favorite aspect of this business?
I love the flexibility.

Why did you join your company?
To earn some extra money because the full time job I have just barely pays all of the bills.

Approximately how much time do you work on your direct sales business?
10 hours a week

Taking the Right Products

At offline events in local areas, you have the opportunity to show off your best products in front of huge crowds. However, don't pass up this opportunity by bringing the wrong type of products.

Since this is your local area, you should already have an idea of what type of people you are going to meet the day of your event. Also, knowing ahead of time what type of event it is can help you to better plan what to bring and how your table is set up.

Let me give you some examples to better understand this concept.

Example #1 - Colors

Take into account the area. Are they supportive of high school sports? If so, this would be a perfect time to pull out items which focus on the school.

Let's say the school colors are blue and white. If you sell candles, group together blue and white candles on your display. Selling scrapbooking supplies? Design a layout for the school with their colors and maybe mascot. Offer pictures or cards? Pull out the pictures of their mascots.

Even subconsciously, the colors of the school can stand out to potential buyers. If you have ever spent time in a small town, you know how big of a deal a high school football game or other sporting event is. Don't forget the local colleges either!

Colors also work for organizations such as Red Hat Society and others that use certain specific colors to tell them apart. Red and Purple items grouped together for an event where the Red Hat Ladies are roaming around will definitely catch their eye.

Example #2 - Specific Items

Be sure you know what's going on along side of the craft show. If there is a horse show going on, bring along anything with horses. Dog show in town? Bringing the pictures and items dog specific are a must. Is it a specific celebration? Display items that are specific to that event.

Sometimes you need to dig deep to come up with ideas which are specific to the event or area. If you find a connection, by all means use it Don't forget to take into account the upcoming holidays, since many go to events looking for gifts.

Most importantly, do the research on the area before you attend the event if it's not a town you are familiar with. Learn about the town and the community, as well as the towns close by.

Taking Products Outside

An outdoor event can be extremely profitable, but if you take the wrong type of products you might end up losing quite a bit of your stock.

While most products will be fine, there are many types of items which absolutely can not sit out in the sun or heat. Here are some ideas you can use to protect your products:

1. Use a canopy or tent
If you have color items, a tent or canopy can provide the shade you need to keep them from fading. Believer or not, as long as candles are kept in the shade they are not damaged sitting outside all day.

Keep in mind though, as the sun moves you still may have a chance of products being damaged by sunlight. Pictures, color paper, candles with color, and other items may be exposed. The shade SHOULD be enough, but you never know.

2. Use coolers and ice
Other types of products can possibly keep cool by sitting in a cooler of ice. However, this may not always work. If you are at an all day event, ice will melt.
Also, having the item too cold might damage it as well. Items like lotion and body butter probably wouldn't do very well getting too hot or too cold. Items that need to be kept at room temperature probably should be kept at home.

3. Test at home
If you aren't sure if the products will be damaged or not, do a test at home. Take just one item you feel you can part with, and set it outside in the shade or in a cooler of ice. See what happens after it sits out for several hours. It's possible it may become damaged, so be sure it's not a high dollar item or something you planned to sell.

4. Take orders
If all else fails, set yourself up to take orders instead of directly selling items. This even works at indoor events, but must be set up the right way.

If you have a few items which you know won't be damaged by the sun, bring them along for display. Give yourself plenty of room on the table to take orders, and bring along as much information as possible since you won't have some of the actual products out. You must be able to show pictures and give even the smallest of details. Make it so the customer can visualize the item as if it was right in front of them.

There are occasions where outdoor events just aren't possible, but this is rare. Almost all products can be sold outside with a little creativity and thinking outside the box.

Good luck at your next outdoor event!