Direct Sales Marketing & Mentoring- Nancy Sutherland

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Getting our home and office set up has taken much longer than I anticipated. Moving from approximately 3000 square foot to almost half of that presents it’s own unique set of challenges. We spent an entire day setting up our office, and then yesterday putting together my “studio” to see clients. In my previous home my dining room was made into a “Beauty Boutique” where not only did I pamper my customers, but they could all of the products on display. During the “staging” process of selling my home, I had to take it all down, but there was plenty of room in my training center to recreate it for my customers.

This home is much smaller, so my entire dining room set doesn’t fit in one room. So I chose to put the buffet with a display of some of the beautiful prizes that I have earned through the years ( including china and golden goblets) I put together a small cafe style table with four chairs to do parties around and used a small card table in the corner to make a small display. It feels femine and very welcoming and intimate.  Now I feel ready to go out and meet people!

Another aspect of my welcoming people to my home is a gourmet “coffee bar”. I have a 40 cup coffee maker that is always filled with specialty coffee and accumulate different flavored syrups. So when I talk to people, I can tell them to stop by anytime for coffee. I know that will become something that I will be known for here as well.

I contacted some of the other Sales Directors in my Company and have already made arrangements to attend some of their events. I know that I will feel very much at home here quickly.

So today we went out to run errands for the first time. I opened a bank account, and visited two other banks to cash checks that were drawn on their bank. Each time after introducing myself I gave them my business card, telling them all the information is still correct except the address that I wrote on the back of the card. I really think that these cards will do for now, the personal touch of writing my new address for them seemed to go over well.

I’m just about ready to begin now. I would love to hear from others who have relocated their business to share tips. As I continue to build my business here, I will be journalling for all of you to read.6

Many of my regular readers have sent me messages asking what has happened to me? Why was I not posting to my blog on a regular basis anymore? There are times when “life” just gets in the way. This has been one of those times.  My husband Alex and I put our home on the market about 9 months ago in an effort to downsize.  Our children are grown and being part of our grandchildren’s lives became a more important priority than a 3000 square foot home.

When we first put the home on the market, we began the process of “staging”.( For anyone who doesn’t know what this is, it is a basic de-cluttering and undecorating to make your home more appealing to the potential buyer) That led to a series of home repairs, painting, and just going through the entire home and start to decide what will go and what will stay. That sounds easier than it is, I might add. We built the home in 1988, raised a family there, and it seems like we never threw away anything. There was plenty of storage, with a complete floored walk up attic that we eventually filled.

As summer turned to fall, and we continued to drop the price of our home, we felt as though there couldn’t be anyone within 50 miles of our property who had not gone through at least once for a “showing”. Each time, we would leave our home for 1-2 hours and go somewhere wondering if this was the one.  Amazingly, I still managed to work my direct sales business, but nowhere near my normal level.

So we had to decide if we were to “wait it out” until next spring or be couragous and move now before winter hits, and attempt to capture the peak holiday season in a new part of the country.  We chose the latter.

The first weekend in October, all of our adult children assembled in the home to go through their things and decide what to take and what to leave behind. Then the move began. I thought this would be an excellent time to journal how I took my business from one location and start to grow it in another area. Today is the beginning of that journey…

Many women are faced with a decision whether to take time off from their education to make money for the following year. This is a difficult decision because it becomes easy to put off returning to school indefinitely. There is another option, that allows you to continue your education and build a business on the side. Take a look at this independent video to learn more. If this is something that interests you, fill out the contact form above and I will give you more information.

Technorati Tags: collegejobs, directsaleshomebusiness, workathome

I haven’t posted in longer than I should have, so I felt the need to get some encouragement out today to my readers. Many of you are feeling discouraged or going through all kinds of difficulties. Did you know that there is something that you can do RIGHT NOW that will instantly change things? Just smile!

When I first started my direct sales businesss, I had a mirror in front of the telephone. I discovered that my results were much better when I had a smile on my face, even though they could not see it! I have since discovered with doing Skype and other webcam communications how much better it turns out when you just smile! It helps to instantly make a connection with others, builds trust and a good start to any relationship!

If you are using social media at all, take a look at your profile photo. Are you smiling? If not, find a photo where you are smiling, and crop it if necessary. Taking the extra time to do that will go far in building your friends and followers relationships even across the miles!

I have been a bit distracted with having my home on the market and trying to continue to run my business. Although I appreciate the fact that I can do my business no matter where I live, I am getting anxious to find a new home and get back to focusing on other things. Thanks for continuing to subscribe to my blog. I appreciate you and hope to inspire you to do great things!

Technorati Tags: attitude, direct sales obstacles, look better and feel better, smile

LISTEN-mp3 (right click to download)

Today I was featured on Wendy Y Bailey as an “Exceptional Expert”. I was thrilled and honored to be interviewed by her! We talk about some of the steps that I have taken to achieve success. I would love for you to listen to the interview. You can also subscribe above to my FREE weekly ezine and you will be one of the first to be notified of any new podcasts, or my upcoming new ebook!

To listen to more of Wendy Y Bailey’s “Exceptional Expert” interviews, click here.

Technorati Tags: Interviews, Nancy Sutherland, podcasts, Wendy Y. Bailey

If you are still considering a home business in direct sales, but have not yet made that decision, today’s USA Today had an excellent article in the Money section. CLICK HERE TO READ IT

After reading this article, it should be a simple decision on which Company to choose. Here are a few questions to consider-

• Are the products sales a big part of the income? If so, are they quality products that you like, use and have a passion about sharing with others.
• Is it a consumable product, giving you a reorder business?
• Is it possible to make money WITHOUT recruiting? ( some people choose not to add that extra avenue of income for whatever reason)
• Is there a big turnaround in representatives, or do you know of many who have been in business for over a decade?
• Does the company do advertising for you?
• Does the company provide a web site for you?
• Is education available for you as needed, using whatever method you choose?
• Is it possible to find a mentor who has already been successful in direct sales?
• Look at other avenues of income for leadership positions, including cars, life insurance, retirement packages and other benefits.

Feel free to fill out the contact form above if you would like for me to give you a free 15 minute consultation. I’d love to help you decide what is best for YOU!

Technorati Tags: careerinformation, home business in recession, USA Today

If you are reading this you probably are already an entrepreneur in a direct sales home business. Or maybe you are still just “thinking” about it. There is NO perfect time. The lights are never all green at the same time. Maybe you just need to stop thinking and start doing. Whenever you make a decision from your heart, it is usually the best one for you and it comes quickly. Whenever you over analyize things, it makes your decision more difficult and you forget what your heart is telling you to do.
I can’t promise you success in my company or in any other direct sales company. What I can promise you is that you will never know unless you try. Give it an honest year of your life, and follow the lead of someone that you know has already been successful. Just do it! I’d rather be a person who says “I’m glad that I did “,instead of “I wish that I had!” Your investment of money is minimal for what you can get in return. Your investment in time will give you life lessons that you can always use and pass on to your family! I’m changing lives- one face at a time. What about you?

Technorati Tags: Inspiration, starting a home business, why to begin direct sales

Keep your dreams alive! YOU can make a difference in many other lives! This is so tender, it reminds me of my grandchildren. Sometimes it takes becoming childlike to believe in yourself again. Hope that you enjoy this. If you can’t view this click here.

Technorati Tags: Inspiration, motivation, movies

Most of you have seen all over the television and media how Direct Sales home businesses are the answer for many women who are looking to make extra money or replace income that was recently lost. Many of my family and friends have been asking me how this is possible during what many call a recession.  I believe that there are several reasons, but to me the most significant it the competitive edge! Not everyone is taking advantage of this, are you?

Now that I have your interest, I will tell you what that competitive edge is- the ability to get your favorite products FOR FREE when you love it , but just can’t afford it.  When I contact my customers to see if they are running low on any of their favorite products or if they would like some pampering, many of them say, “I would love to, but I can’t afford it right now”. I then proceed to get her “wish list”.  She then becomes my business partner as I coach her as to how she can get everything that she wants for free- as a hostess! This can be done in her home, or about 80% of my customers like to come to my Beauty Boutique for their pampering, and they love coming with friends, making it a party.

Others choose to do a web party. They simply send their coworkers, or family and friends to my personal web site to shop. They enter the hostess name in the comments section because I usually have more than one web party going at all times. With a web party, there is no limit to how many can participate, so all of those small purchases add up. (In my company there are 90 products for $10 or less!)

When a customer tells me what she wants for a reorder, I then I ask her would you like to pay for that or get it free? Most ask what I mean by free and I explain to her how she can get it. In my experience during recession times there is more women who are willing to do parties, and much more recruiting as a solution for many women.

Are you using that competitive edge? Or are you trying to make your money without it? You will notice an immediate increase in income when you DECIDE to take advantage of it!

(For more information on whether a direct sales business could help you with your financial situation, fill out the contact form above for a free consultation with me)

Technorati Tags: Directsales home parties, home party success, recession proof business

This is a perfect example of why I have the most loyal customers. The products are the best! I actually had some customers place orders on my personal web site while I was in Australia visiting my son and his family. ( I had contacted them all before I left to see if they needed any of their basic items.) Because we have an awesome Customer delivery service, I was able to have their products shipped directly to them! I normally have a very good supply of everything, but rather than make my customers wait for me to get home, it was a good decision for me to have the products shipped directly to them.

This kind of service is what creates customers for life. Serving them even when it is not convenient for you is what causes them to tell a friend, or even create a video like this one. (I do not know this person and she is NOT my customer) I am certain that just about any of my customers have had a similar experience where they ran out of something and didn’t want to “bother” me and bought something else. For that reason, once a year I have a Spring Cleaning Sale. I encourage them to bring their buying mistakes and trade them in for new products and get a discount by doing this. (I never figured out why someone would keep something that doesn’t work. It’s like eating moldy bread, isn’t it?) So what do you think?

Technorati Tags: best selling brand of eyemakeup remover, creating loyal customers, customerservice