WAHM Forums

Is anyone changing the way they do business because of the gas prices? Are you limiting the area that you do a home party? Saving up all your chores and deliveries for one day of the week?

How are the gas prices effecting your business?

Tamra

I am really working to build a big business and team so I will still travel to do parties. (Up to 2 hour drive one way. I am 7 months pregnant or I'd go farther.)


I have always combined my other errands. I like to be able to do 3 or 4 things at once. I bank at my grocery store which is really close to our post office. This way I can get groceries; bank while I am there and still deduct my milage:-) I always piggyback my general household errands with business ones. Why not make every trip tax deductuble!


:-) Marianne Hanson

Hasn't changed anything.. just like I didn't change when it first went over a dollar.. or over $2 not is is $3 and I am not going to change. Thats the way it goes.. Just like stamps use to be 25 cents now they aren't. Everything goes up. If I am successful then it doesn't matter.. I am making the money back. Just my thoughts..


Kim smileys/smiley2.gif

I don't think it will change my business at all, but it has already changed my personal life. I'm not making any unnecessary trips any more.... no more running to the store just for one thing. It's not that far from home, but with a van that is a gas guzzler, I have to be smart about what it's actually costing me to go to the store.





Bev

No, it has not changed the way I do business. I don't drive, lol. My hubby does all the driveing but for the most part we only go somewhere if we need to anyway.

Not changing the way I do business. I'm willing to drive.DO keep track of mileage for tax purposes. Like Bev, I will cut back on personal driving (no big tripsfor now)smileys/smiley1.gif and I do combine errands as much as possible like Marianne.

I agree with Bev and Sarah. I do have 2 upcoming parties kind of far, but I"ll still do them and any others, but i will be better about logging mileage! LOL





Personally, I'm combining errands, one stop shopping and since i'm close to heart of town, walking to do errands whenever possible(at least its exercise)





just glad I don't own an SUV

Unfortunately a big part of my biz is driving so i have to be very careful when doing my deliveries and compact them as much as possible. It sure cuts into your profit!!


Chris smileys/smiley1.gif

Hey all!


With only 3 members of Noah's Ark in WV and no SIU distributors in Southern WV, I have been willing to travel 2-3 hrs for parties. Now, I am rethinking the biz. Unless I know that it is going to be a huge party, it's not worth the expense. The gas here is $3.35 today for regular. My husband actually found a station this morning selling premium for $2.89 (God bless that station!), but all the others are $3.30+ I have a party 3 hrs away next weekend and I am contemplating cancelling it.--or at least wishingTHEY would cancel.

Hi All,


It has not changed the way I do business at all. I am actually doing more offline stuff now. I am putting a window decal on my car and put things out as I do my errands.


Natalie

Because I'm often having to pay for a babysitter, the rising cost of gasoline is really cutting into my profits. I'm going to change what I do slightly. I'm in a really rural area, and everyone is quite spread out.


For one of my companies...the one that my shows have been very low with in this area, I'm no longer doing individual parties. I'll be offering quarterly multi-hostess events at one location.


For my other company which I fair better in the way of sales, my presentations are shorter, so I'm going to shift my schedule to accommodate 2 shows an evening...and book those that are in the same area on the same night.


I've already made cutbacks in my personal life, but it sure has been making me stir crazy on the days I don't get out of my house. I don't really live close enough to town to walk...not with a 3yo and 5yo.

Kassandra,


That's a great idea about having a multi-hostess event. When I sold Jafra (signing up again) years ago - we used to do a multi-hostess bingo event each month. Our hostesses were asked to bring their guests to a local restaurant where we rented the banquet hall. The hall was pretty cheap since it was always on a weekday night. A very slow time for them. Each hostess and her guests would get a round table for themselves - we'd play bingo and give prizes. Between each bingo game we'd talk about a product. After playing 5-6 games the guests could place an order and the hostess would get the hostess gifts. It worked out really well for about 6 months and then we did something else.


Tamra

I'm preparing for an upcoming party that is about 55 miles away but it should prove to be very profitable so it's worth the dirve. I am, however, trying to find more hostesses that are local and closer to me. I've rented a booth at an upcoming Fall Festival at a town that is just 12 miles from me with the hopes of getting hostesses who are closer to me. I have actually drove 2 1/2 hours one way for a party that turned out to be a disaster so I do need to keep the gas prices in my mind when hostess coaching. If I see a hostess not giving it her all and she happens to live very far away, I may suggest she turn her home party into a catalog party because it's $3.50 / gallon here.smileys/smiley19.gif

Hi Everyone!! This is a wonderful post in regards to everyone brainstorming to help us all find ways to help each other businesses. I just read something a few minutes ago in regards to this same situation and would love to share this with you. This is reallya awesome response !!


Ask her this, if someone told her there was $140 on the road an hour away would she drive there to pick it up ? I know I would spend the $15 in fuel ( $3.50 a gallon here ) and drive to get the $140. It's still a profit !!!


I worked in sales years ago and one of the sales rep's complained a lead was an hour away and that is the reply the Sales Mgr. gave him and it has stuck with me when I have to spend money to make money.



Delania Heller ~ At Home America HSS #13714


www.athome.com/delaniaheller (http://www.athome.com/delaniaheller)


T 608 787 8568


Changing Lives With At Home America Since 2001

Delania,


Thank you SO much for your post! That is priceless! And it makes so much sense.


Teresa

I have changed in respect to how many people I need to know are coming to a party before I'll drive to it. I used to go for one guest, but now I'm requiring 3 if I'm driving an hour or more. Plus I'm trying to close parties in the same area at the same time if possible. One trip, multiple errands. But really in this business, there's not a lot you can do to change the way you do things. You just have to be smart about it!