Did you have a successful Black Friday sale?

[ChefCyndir]

/sigh - nothing ... not a single order all day only 1 hour and 15mins left to go. no calls no emails nothing... I'm so depressed... I've worked so hard this month...

 

[straitfan]

Blanket Special

I just realized that I skipped the 5 to 6pm hour in my email to everyone. DOH!

I have hourly specials until 8pm, then a blanket special from 8 to midnight tonight, so I'm hoping I'll get more...

I'm going until 10pm and only have about $130. Kim, I'm curious about what your blanket special is. (Starting to plan for next year.......this is only my 4th month, hopefully by this time next year I'll have a MUCH larger customer base!)

 

[supergirljennie]

Mine is over and I got no bites.

 

[lisacb77]

Well I got NOTHING. Zip, zero, zilch. Maybe I shouldn't have done 2 open houses (even though those were in one email).

I also think some people were off this week and maybe I should have emailed it last Friday instead of Monday. Maybe I'll get some people to contact me Monday and ask if it's too late. Hey I can hope

I also think next time I'm skipping mailing fliers to the 60-70 of my customers w/out emails. I have 130+ on email. All I did was just waste money.

Sorry I'm a little bummed. Thanks for your encouragement and I'm definitely going to try emailing some key peeps and maybe offer 10% off. Some of them are past hosts so that's almost like saving another 10%!!

 

[thechefofnorthbend]

I took my unsuccess from last Sat Virtual Open House and basically moved it to today for the Black Friday event and I have an almost 400.00 show now, so you never know who wants to shop for what when...

 

[Chozengirl]

My day is over w/ nothing.
I am soooooooo depressed!
I am trying to stay out of being innactive....
Oh Well, Keep Trying, Right!

 

[KimmyDarling]

Kim, I'm curious about what your blanket special is.

8pm to Midnight: Free Mini-Serving Spatula (AKA The Cutest Stocking Stuffer in the WORLD) FREE with every order!Nobody's ordered to get it, but I thought it was better than nothing. At least it puts the idea of stocking stuffers in their heads, if nothing else.Next year, I might do a Pick Your Special deal, and list my specials with no set times, other than a start & finish. I am thinking that will make it easier for them to actually sit down and order, rather than having to fit it into a certain part of their day, when they really might be doing other things (like shopping in actual Bricks & Mortar stores).I have $234 in orders at this point, which is less than I wanted, but I'll take it.

 

[KimmyDarling]

Kim, I'm curious about what your blanket special is.

8pm to Midnight: Free Mini-Serving Spatula (AKA The Cutest Stocking Stuffer in the WORLD) FREE with every order!

Nobody's ordered to get it, but I thought it was better than nothing. At least it puts the idea of stocking stuffers in their heads, if nothing else.

Next year, I might do a Pick Your Special deal, and list my specials with no set times, other than a start & finish. I am thinking that will make it easier for them to actually sit down and order, rather than having to fit it into a certain part of their day, when they really might be doing other things (like shopping in actual Bricks & Mortar stores).

I have $234 in orders at this point, which is less than I wanted, but I'll take it.

 

[lisacb77]

That's a good idea Kim...maybe offer like 3 specials that run anytime during the sale, and they pick their favorite.

I know these things take tradition of doing them every year to build, but good lord, I at least expected SOMETHING.

 

[PampMomof3]

I didn't get anything else. Oh well, I am happy with the $75 in orders that I did get. I will add them on to a fundraiser for the American Red Cross that I still have open.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!

 

[klsnyder]

I ended up $231 in sales. I actually left the house and went shopping so that I would not freak myself out about it. I have a catalog show that is supposed to be turned in on Tuesday. I have a feeling it is not gonna make a qualified show, so I will wait to close out my Black Friday show and see if I need to combine them.

What do you all do when a catalog show does not qualify? I mean in reference to the host? Any gifts?

 

[SusanBP0129]

$444 in sales for me! I did an Open House with a friend who sells Home Interiors and another who sells Gold Canyon Candles. I was pleased! The sold about $150 each. No bookings for any of us, but a few "maybe after the holidays".

 

[jaye]

I got nothing too... I just wanted $50 in sales to add to an existing show... but I got nothing, but a girlfriend of mine did order just because she came over last night. That gave me the $50.00.Jaye

 

[PamperedCrum]

Wow, some of you had LOTS of success! I'll work harder next year. As it is, I never did get around to contacting my customers (smooth, huh?) but I did announce my sale on a local forum I'm on. And I got two hits! About $100. Which is more than I started the day with, right?

 

[pchefsharron]

Well, nothing for me as well....Was really bummed! Money, time spent on mailing AGAIN- NO RESPONSE!!! wait, maybe not orders yet, but with the mailing they got a reminder I'm still at it, when they need something they may find that sheet with my info and give a call. I like the idea of "choose your special" day!!! I might even throw in book a show, take advantage of all the specials with a bonus when they close their own show.

 

[lisacb77]

So far, one response to my dozen emails I sent to friends or customers I knew might need something (I offered 10% off if they order by Tues). 1 email back so far but I think she read the email too fast LOL. I was telling everyone how I was $150 from my goal and if they were intrested in placing an order, it would mean a lot to me and I'd give them this discount. She thought I wanted HER to order $150 LOL! I wrote back and explained that I'd also wrote a few others and was hoping combined it would work out, that I never expected her to do the whole thing!

Thought y'all would get a laugh out of that one.

 

[jenniferknapp]

I didn't have anything all day either :-( ....so bummed, Nov is my last super starter month plus I wanted the incentive...oh well! there's always next month I guess...

 

[raebates]

Ya know, I'm with you on changing the name. Especially since I'm in a mutliracial marriage!!! I definitely notice it from that perspective. Why a color at all? Why not Fantastic Friday? Or Fabulous Friday? I mean, it's always on a Friday so it should still be easily understood.

Just an FYI. It's called Black Friday because many retail companies operate in the RED most of the year, but the extra sales on the day after Thanksgiving often push them into the BLACK for the year. Hence, Black Friday. It's a good thing.

(Answered this before I read all the posts. Just call me Redundant Rae. )

 

[sheenalane]

I got $260 in sales, but I was offering 20% from midnight to 8 am (of course that's the only time people called!) ugh, so really I'm out money, but it bumped me up to the first bracket for spring product

 

[jenniferknapp]

I offered 20% in the early morning hours, and then from there it decreased to 5% in the later evening...and nothing! I thought for sure people would jump on the 20%!!!

 

[lisacb77]

Well Rae I guess I should just be thankful my biz was in the Black before that Friday instead of being bummed about no sales !!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I got $260 in sales, but I was offering 20% from midnight to 8 am (of course that's the only time people called!) ugh, so really I'm out money, but it bumped me up to the first bracket for spring product

Your minimum commission is 20% so while you may not have made cash you didn't lose any AND you earned the $100 in free products (and lifetime sales toward your $15,000 career sales raise - if you aren't there already)! It was well worth it!! Congratulations!

 

[sheenalane]

Thanks.. but I had to pay the shipping!! uck... that was one of the other deals, plus a free pie gate! now i"m trying to get $55 in sales by midnight tonight to boost my cyber monday to $300,.. eck..

 

[AJPratt]

Don't be too upset. The only way you will be able to figure out what works for you in through trial and error. I think you did great!