Let's Talk Turkey!

[TastefullyMI]

Hey ladies,
What would you say is the biggest challenge you currently face in your direct sales business? (either personally or with your team) I would love to see if, despite the different things we sell, is there a common theme? I know all businesses have challenges so maybe we'll leave this thread open for discussion all week and talk solutions next week.

Sound good? This way might be able to help each other out!

I would say the topic of retention these past few years has been a big one for my team. I don't see our minimums of $400 every quarter to be excessive (it equates to one party every 90-days) yet some find it difficult to reach so retention would be my answer to the question of the biggest challenge.

How about you?

[apbnash]

My company does not have minimums and so retention is not an issue. I would say one of the most difficult things for me is dealing with difficult people. I have some absolutely wonderful customers and hostesses but there are a few who just will drive you nuts. They are either impossible to get in touch with or you get in touch with them and they are impossible to schedule a date with for their party. Thankfully, the majority are not like that!

[TastefullyMI]

Oh I hear you Amy!
I guess the only solutions around that (if you know you held up your end of the deal) would be to just try to acquire a bit of a "thicker skin" when it comes to some of these folks. I had a team member who accidently e-mailed a newsletter to the ex-husband of one of her best clients (guess the e-mail account stayed with him!) and he just went totally off on my gal. Said she had her head up (a not so plesant place) and on and on. She was so upset. Told her that she needed to let him know that his response was uncalled for as it was an innocent mistake and suggested she then "let it go" and move on.

With some people you just have to wonder...
Thanks for giving me your feedback, Amy!

[Yuliya Mironova]

Originally Posted by TastefullyMI

What would you say is the biggest challenge you currently face in your direct sales business? (either personally or with your team)

Personally, and as a team, here: our biggest challenge is differentiating between those we're willing to sponsor and those we're not. Unfortunately, the economic climate has so significantly increased the numbers of people desperate to find additional home-based income sources that the numbers of "applicants" we're getting is higher than ever. Some of them are people for whom setting up a home-based business is absolutely no solution to their problems and would be extremely ill-advised at the moment. Of course, that's their responsibility and not ours, but the practical realities of the situation are that we don't want to waste any of our time sponsoring and training and supporting people who are destined to drop out at some point within the first 6 months, because in terms of "opportunity cost" that's a dramatic waste of time and money for us. So, we all need to be a little more rigorous all around regarding whom we accept and how "well qualified" they have to be, on the potential business start-up front, to earn our time and attention in the first place.

Just economic realities, I'm afraid.

[omahamom]

Mine this month has been getting bookings on my calendar. I think I'm struggling because so many of my January hosts had to cancel due to weather, then had a hard time getting them to re-book. So...it trickles down from month to month and it is looking bleak.

http://www.petlane.com/staceywatson

[TastefullyMI]

Yuliya -
Great comments as always. I appreciate your perspective on many of the topics we've had here on the WAHM boards in the past and enjoy reading what you have to say.

[TastefullyMI]

Stacey -
Boy! You can't be alone with that delimma. Anyone "out East" has to have had a tough quarter. Any thoughts or suggestions to help Stacey reschedule her January hosts?

What about a limited time offer, Stacey? Book "these dates" by "this day" and I'll give you a free ____ at your party. This way you can keep the dates close in and put a deadline on it?

Best to you!

[omahamom]

Great idea Jennifer! I actually extended that type of offer to a couple of people this weekend and plan on making more calls this week to try to sweeten the pot a bit. Letting them know if they book and hold by the end of March they will receive some extra goodies. Thanks for the feedback!

http://www.petlane.com/staceywatson

[TastefullyMI]

Good luck, Stacey!

[gotchocolate]

I think getting my team to actually hold parties is the hardest. I think they often believe they sign up and bam they are gonna get business! Even ones who have been around I think forget bookings are the life line. With our product being so new (and yummy) and most people never having been to a party, hostesses are out there!!

So I have tried a couple of things
1) Changed my personal language when working with new recruits
2) Helping my team to change as well
3) Focus any incentives I do on my team towards bookings and sales.

I hope this will help! Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks!
Nicole