Are you on the bandwagon???????

When the first signs of the economy going bad so many people jumped on the bandwagon and used it as an excuse not to do business. Many used it as an excuse as to why business was bad. Many jumped on the bandwagon without the economy even really affecting them because that was the easy thing to do.

Well in the past few weeks and month or so we have had signs that the recession is over or at least going in the right direction. I'm not an economist - OBVIOUSLY - BUT- here are a few things I have heard. New housing starts are on the rise in some major markets. Retail sales in August were much higher than expected. Unemployment claims in August were lower than expected and the growth of unemployment claims have seemed to slow. The Ben Bernakey guy - ok - I know his last name was misspelled but he even said the recession is over. Of course that doesn't mean a lot has to happen though before things are great again - but it's another sign we are going in the right direction.

So now that we have some good signs for the economy and we have some encouraging news - are you ready to jump on the bandwagon of a promising future? So many people are quick to jump on a band wagon of doom and gloom because it's easier to use it as an excuse to do nothing. Let's see how many people are as quick to jump on the bandwagon of the fact that the economy IS getting better. Things ARE turning around. It may not be happening as quick as we all hope and maybe not everywhere but it IS happening.

So be like a typical politician and flip flop - jump off the bandwagon of doom and gloom. Jump on the bandwagon that believes that things are getting better. Jump on the bandwagon that believes in a great future. Jump on the band wagon of excitement for our future.

The Longaberger Company has so many things to be grateful for and has so many reasons to look to the future. We are a direct selling company that has had some hard times. There have been many lay offs. There have been cut backs. There have been some tough times. BUT - there have been many direct selling companies that haven't made it and no longer exist.

The Longaberger Company has made it though. The Longaberger Company has survived. The future has never looked better. We have continued to offer Made in the USA products. We as Consultants have continued to be able to sell innovative products. The current Team Spirit both with the University and NFL versions are a huge hit and are only gaining momentum. Those that are working their business are having great results.

So! What are you going to do? Stay on the bandwagon that so many people jumped on because it was the easy route? OR - get on board with the new bandwagon of success and one that offers a great future. I challenge you all to jump on board. Be a success and have fun. Don't get left behind because if you don't get on board - someone else will take your seat!

I'm on board and I am enjoying the ride!

NFL Flyer Artwork

You can use this to create your own flyers to promote Team Spirit. Use the middle white space for your message!

I don't know if you can do anything with it from here so leave a comment and I will forward it to you. I will keep trying to change it to a format on here that you can use.

New Customers and Open Houses.

At my Open House last weekend I had 8 NEW Customers show up.  Judy Jasper and I emailed back and forth a few times and she wanted me to share with her what I do to get my current customers to bring their friends to my Open Houses. So I am posting it here for her and so I can share with everyone that would like the information.  I hope you pass this on to your friends.  They have changed this blog and now I can't do a spell check before I post - so I will keep checking it and make spelling corrections when I see them.  Don't make fun of me.  If you have ever had a conversation with me in person - I type the same exact way with everything coming out at one time. 

Getting new customers to your Open Houses is not as difficult as you might think.  Just about eveyone that buys Longaberger has a friend or knows someone that buys it as well.  Many of those people don't have a Consultant and don't avtively go out and seek one.  If your current customers are coming to your Open Houses and are having fun and enjoying them then why wouldn't they bring a friend next time?  Aks them to bring a friend next time.  So the easiest way to get NEW customers to your Open Houses is by having your current customers help you.

I have done several things in the past though as an incentive for my customers who bring someone new to my Open Houses.  If they are going to help me then I give them a little thank you or incentive.  I tell them about the incentive and ask them to bring a friend as part of the invitation. I give the thank you or incentive to someone that brings a Buying Customer.  A new customer isn't their 4 year daughter or grandma propped up in the back seat.  Although I have had customers bring their daughters who then do become good customers as well.  I have had daughters bring their mothers too so either way I appreciate having them both as customers. 

In the past I have given a coupon as the thank you or incentive that they can use at the next Open House.  I have also given some sort of Longaberger Product.  A few years ago I got my hands on some of those holiday crocks we had a while back.  I gave those to anyone that brought a new customer.  We have all sorts of inexpensive items we can give that our customers love.  They really do appreciate the gester.  I will say though that a Longaberger notepad, pen or plastic cup really isn't enough.  I also try to find things that when I buy them I get guest sales. 

Remember to use your Home Shows as a means of finding new customers as well.  At a home show you can talk about your upcoming Open House.  Have a save the date flyer or invitation at each Home Show that you do and talk about your Open House.  I alway have one on the calendar so I always have one to talk about.  Talk about some of the incentives you have at the Open House.  Talk about the drawings that you do.  Talk about what you might have on hand that they can take with them the day of the Open House.  If you set up an area similiar to my Super Sale area - talk about that too.

If you have joined my October Open House challenge and are doing an Open House in October you have plenty of time to put someting in place that will work for you.  Remember it doesn't happen over night.  Set a goal of maybe 2 or 3 NEW customers at your next Open House.  Set it higher if you already have something that is working for you.  If you have something that is working for you please share by posting a comment for eveyone to see. 

Good luck to all of you!

Open Houses - Tax and Shipping

I have been getting quite a few questions about what I do about tax and shipping at the Open House and how I price things.

First of all I don't price anything.  All cash and carry items are the price that they are in the Wish List.  My Bonus Buys which are mixed in with the Cash and Carry have their own sign.  There are no price tags on anything.  Many of my cash and carry items are even still wrapped in the plastic bags they come in.

The Super Sale items are not priced either.  I have a sheet that has a listing of all products and then it has what they originally cost and what the price at the Open House is.  How do I come up with the price of those items?  I look at what I actually paid for them (with discount out).  Usually at the factory store things are already at a huge discount.  By the time you subtract your discount you pay even less.  So you can still add a little to what you actually paid for the item and it will still be a pretty good discount offered to your customers at the Open House.  Sometimes you just have to pick a price that you know gives your customer a nice value but you are sitll making money on it. 

When someone is done shopping I then add up everything they bought.  I add in the tax but I don't charge shipping.  It's hard to charge shipping for items that are right there for them to take with them.  Do you lose money when you don't charge shipping?  NO!  Not only did I receive my discount when I initailly bought the item but then on that show I got the Hostess Dollars and the 1/2 price items.  So you aren't going to lose money.  Then when you sell an item that you are using as a Bonus Buy item - you got that at an even bigger discount and then when you mark it up a little at your Open House you will still make money.  It can get confusing so please leave a comment if you need something explained better and I will post that too.

You are following company guidelines when you are in your own home with your own customers if you choose not to charge shipping.  Please read the company guidelines on this policy though for further details.  This is my choice to not charge shipping at my Open Houses.  It's a benefit for customers to come to the Open House and they buy more because of it.  You do what you are comfortable with. 

This is all hard to explain so if you do have questions let me know and I will answer them. 

The dog in the picture is my bulldog Tucker.  I didn't have a picture that had to do with Tax and Shipping so I thought he would be funn to have on the Blog.