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Does Your Business Have a Personality?
As business owners, we can all take a lesson from this company. If their philosophy and personality are shining through on a website – so much so that it makes customers want to throw money at them, then refer others, plus create quite a viral buzz, they must be doing something right.
I recently stumbled upon a company that is oozing with personality. I chose to do business with them because they had the item I was looking for at a reasonable price; but more so because of their fun personality. They made me want to give them my hard earned dollars. The fact that they are a fellow Michigan business was just an unexpected bonus.
For starters, I checked their return policy because I was purchasing a gift. Theirs is one of the best return policies I’ve ever seen:
OUR GUARANTEE
If you aren’t thrilled with your purchase, return it AT ANY TIME as long as IT’S IN SELLABLE CONDITION and as long as you aren’t dead. If you are dead, your heirs can still return the goods but they should probably keep them in your honor. We are fully available to answer all your questions and advise you. We were voted “Best Virtual Boot, Clothing, Gear fitters” by made up customer #323. Load bearing climbing equipment like a harness or carabiner, and all Gift Cards, are final sale and cannot be returned. So, if you don’t like your climbing stuff just hang it on your wall to impress your friends and if you don’t want your Gift Card, use it as a ruler.
Oh yeah, proof of purchase required for all returns. IF YOU RETURN THE PRODUCT(S) IN UNSELLABLE CONDITION we will ship the product back to you and will NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH A REFUND. Sorry for being so mean about it.
After I placed the order, I received this ditty:
Your Order Has Been Placed
Way to go. You’ve won the best email receipt we’ve sent out all day. We recommend either printing this receipt and framing it in your foyer or using it as a screensaver. It would probably also be nice for you to forward it around to a couple friends and maybe even an enemy or two.
If you’re bored, check us out on Facebook or Twitter. Our CFO said he doesn’t understand why anyone would use Twitter. He also thinks that a narwhal is a made-up animal. Please don’t tell anyone about it. Continue reading
Handing Out Business Samples to Trick or Treaters
Trick or treat, smell my feet; give me something good to eat.
Ah the time of year when all the little vampires and princesses make their way around the neighborhood to fill their pillowcases full of ooey gooey dentists-love-it goodness: Halloween, the candy lover’s holiday.
Yet each year, a number of direct sales consultants see this Snicker’s bar holiday as an opportunity for them to market their business to all the short people who approach their door. What do you think? Do you think it’s a good idea or a poor idea to suggest handing out samples of your candles, lotions, spices or coupons?
While you’re thinking about it, I’ll share with you my unsolicited opinion of this practice: FAIL.
I think it’s a terrible idea. Halloween is a children’s holiday. They are begging for something good to eat; not for anti-wrinkle cream and certainly not for an inedible discount coupon. Not only will the children be disappointed they didn’t get Skittles, they could possibly pop it in their mouth or the sample could contaminate their plastic pumpkin so that now their Tootsie Rolls and Milky Way bars all smell like the hunk of wax you plopped in with their stash. Continue reading
How to Approach Realtors
Marketing to realtors can prove fruitful in your candle business. However if not approached properly your efforts will not produce any favorable results.
So how do you approach realtors?
This is a frequently asked question when it comes to this particular niche. Another FAQ is What kind of letter do you send? I’ll answer the second question first – as this is a quick and easy answer: I don’t send letters to realtors. Working with realtors requires building rapports. Firing off a cold call letter will only cost you time and postage and will mostly likely end up in the trash.
Which leads me into the original question of how do you approach realtors. It’s all about building relationships. If you’re going to try to convince other sales professionals – the realtors, that they can trust their closing gifts to you, you’re going to need to take some time building that trust.
The ideal situation in working with realtors is to start with a realtor you know. If you don’t know any then perhaps ask friends or associates for referrals. Almost everyone knows at least one realtor or knows someone who does. Remember that you are not trying to sell a product. You’re offering a service and you’re solving a problem. Continue reading
How to Approach Strangers
Rejection stinks. Yet rejection is a natural part of of sales. You have to take the No’s so you can get to the Yes’s. Once you stop taking it personally and realize they’re not saying No to you – they’re saying No to your product or service …. for now, then you’ll be able to comfortably approach strangers without fear of rejection. You’ll soon realize “Some will. Some won’t. So what. Someone’s waiting.”
To get your feet wet and become more comfortable talking to strangers, our resident candle expert, Waxwell Smart, offers a Top Secret Tip on approaching strangers. No matter what your product or service, you’ll be able to use this TST (Top Secret Tip):
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Deutschland, Ireland and the UK. You can find Laurie at http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com
Assertive or Aggressive?
Don’t you just love it when you walk into a store or onto a car lot and the salesperson, who obviously works on commission, instantly pounces on you? You mean you don’t crave that instant attack of desperation? No – me neither. I don’t know anyone who does.
Yet I see it all the time from new direct selling consultants – both online and offline. These desperados are under the false impression that there is a race and the first person to pounce on a potential gets the big prize. Personally, I run the other way when I see someone chase ambulances. There are some who “call it” (remember when you were little … the person who “called” the front seat first, was the lucky person to sit next to Mom?) Hard up new consultants will be all over the poor innocent person who just has a simple question and will announce to the world “PMing you (sending you a Private Message) now!” Meaning to the other forum participants and lurkers: I am sitting here, desperate; doing my impression of a vulture, and by my “calling it” no one else can address this person who has questions.
Personally the passive stance works much better for me. I make myself and my candle business visible. I try to help others who have questions without expectation of them buying or signing with me. I can honestly say that I have never asked for the close – contrary to recruiting gurus. Yet I have a very successful team of consultants who are with me because they chose to be – not because I force fed them and shoved myself down their private message inbox.
Make sure you are not sending the message that you are desperate. There’s a difference between being assertive and well, just obnoxious. There are more leads available than anyone could possibly ever get to; chill, relax and enjoy your business.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan. She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working out of her home. She is currently an Independent Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. You can find Laurie at http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com and http://la.scentsy.us
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