Getting Business and Bookings When You Know No One.

[ShelbyMichalek]

Situation:
I'll be moving to a new area 1400 miles away from where I'm currently located. I'm moving because my husband is currently at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. I'll be relocating to Gulfport, MS and living about 10 miles from the base.

I need help! I would love to hit Gulfport with full Pampered Chef force!
I need to start up my business there RIGHT away and I need help figuring out how to do this.
I know NO ONE in Gulfport except my husband and he's a "Tech Trainee" on the base. He may know a few instructors who's wives would do a show, but I am NOT going to count on that. So I'm just pretending that won't happen and praying that it might. (Edit: I did meet one consultant here on CS that lives in that area)

Can anyone who has moved their business to a new area like this give me any pointers? And anyone else who thinks they can help me out, please do so!!

Thanks!

 

[scottcooks]

So you need to be a walking billboard. Have your catalog tote wherever you go. Take OLD catalogs and leave them all around town with your contact information and one of the old catalog poems that is around.

Do some door knocking. Be friendly and forward with people. Promise yourself you will have 3 live discussions with people about Pampered Chef a minimum of 5 days a week and you will see your business blossom!

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Thanks Scott, but I don't have word and can't open those documents:blushing:. I know, !

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Thanks Scott, but I don't have word and can't open those documents:blushing:. I know, !

I don't have Word, either - you don't need it!
Download Open Office (open office.org - it's free!) It works with any computer, and will open just about any document.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Becky, how does that work? I tried to download that 3 times and it never works.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Wow, I don't know, Shelby - I've downloaded it onto 2 different PC's and onto my MAC, and never had an issue. It just downloads, and then I use it.

It looks and acts just like a Word Program.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

I have heard of it before from a friend of mine and it never works.

Back to the original subject....anyone else have any good ideas?
By the way, thank you to DAVE for being an awesome friend and helping me out

 

[RMDave]

< AWESOME and bitchy!

 

[lorilynn95]

I saved Scott's documents as pdf documents. Hopefully you can read them now - they are really good and should be able to help you out. Good luck!

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Thank you Lori!! I really appreciate the effort you've done for that! Thank you so much.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Any more advice? I still need some help :O

 

[Chef Bobby]

Just in time for hurricane season. Lucky you.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Don't go there Bobby. I'm already freaked out about that.

 

[rosecrystalcat]

Shelby, If the base has a newspaper check to see how much the ads are. Most times they are free or pretty cheap. Join local clubs. If Hubby is down there now, ask him to pick up some newspapers or club info and drop it in the mail. If you will be in an apartment or base housing - ask about putting up a flyer or doing an open house (maybe at the club house). Once you get down there, get info right away for the spouse's group. Join a Mommy & Me group. Good Luck!
Beckie

 

[nikked]

Get connected with the PWOC group there (if you're not opposed). Our group here is awesome and very supportive.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Get connected with the PWOC group there (if you're not opposed). Our group here is awesome and very supportive.

I feel stupid asking, but what is PWOC?

Also, to a previous poster, I will be living off base but will have access to all on-base amenities.

 

[msmileyface]

Where do you leave the old catalogs? Do you ever catch flack from places for leaving them?

 

[nikked]

I feel stupid asking, but what is PWOC?

Also, to a previous poster, I will be living off base but will have access to all on-base amenities.

not a problem...I often forget that not everyone has heard of it!

PWOC is Protestent Women of the Chapel. Basically, a non-denominational, non-Catholic Ladies' Bible Study group. Our PWOC does an annual women's retreat, as well as weekly Bible studies and ladies' nights out once a month. It's a great way to connected at a new base.

Also, you can look for an Officer's wife's club (if your hubby is one of course), or enlisted wife's club, whichever is appropriate. Our base has an officer's wife club and an all ranks, all civilians, retired, etc. spouses' club, but no enlisted club.

Go to Yahoo and search for groups with the name of your base, and base acronym. For instance, I belong to a group that meets once a month for a game night and other adventures. We have a Yahoo group under "KAFBPO-KE-NO", so if someone types "kafb" into the search engine, they'll find us. Our spouses' group is listed under "kirtland", so that's how they're found. You might find some fun groups of ladies to join with and start networking before you get there.

Okay...apparently my brain is working again...

Your hubby should have a sponsor...see if that sponsor has a wife you can talk with. She just might be your first show! Let her know about your business and the trials and tribulations of moving a business when you don't know anyone in the new area...

Ask your friends/contacts in your current location if they know anyone at the new location and offer some sort of referral bonus if someone books a show with you...

See if your hubby's squadron has a booster club, and get involved with that. I have done fundraisers for our booster club and have had many successful lines of shows through those.

See if your hubby's squadron has a spouses' club...one of my first recruits came from our squadron's spouses' club...

Hmmmm...think the brainstorming juices just ran out...hope that helps!

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

not a problem...I often forget that not everyone has heard of it!

PWOC is Protestent Women of the Chapel. Basically, a non-denominational, non-Catholic Ladies' Bible Study group. Our PWOC does an annual women's retreat, as well as weekly Bible studies and ladies' nights out once a month. It's a great way to connected at a new base.

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm actually not thinking of joining the PWOC. I'm Catholic However everything else you said sounds interesting, I'll have to do some googling after the lil guy gets to bed.

 

[nikked]

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm actually not thinking of joining the PWOC. I'm Catholic However everything else you said sounds interesting, I'll have to do some googling after the lil guy gets to bed.

Just so that you know, even though it's technically "Protestant", at our base at least, we have many Catholic ladies joining the studies and retreats.

There may also be a Catholic ladies' group at your new base that may be a good place to check out!

 

[Usafwife10]

Hey,
Just to let you know you are NOT allowed to post flyers or leave catalogs anywhere on base. Its a BIG no-no!!! My husband is a cop on base so I know its not tolerated and your husband can get in trouble from you doing it. I dont want to be discouraging but ive had a hard time getting bookings here. My team leader and I even did a booth at a pretty big street fair and got NOTHING from it, we actually lost money from it. Ive had two shows down here since Oct. and all my other business has came from my customers that live in other states.

 

[Sheila]

My husband has 2 aunts who live in Ocean Springs (about 20 miles away), if you want I can ask & see if either of them would be interested in hosting a cooking show for you. If so, let me know when you would be there. Are you going to do the "DITY" (do it yourself) move or let the military pack up everything & take it for you? With the DITY, you have to pay for the u-haul, etc. & then be reimbursed, but you don't have to wait for your stuff to arrive. if you let the military do it for you, you have to sit & wait for your stuff to arrive. Either way, make sure you pack some catalogs, host packs, and enough stuff to start doing shows in your car! That way, you don't have to find the right box to unpack upon your arrival!!!

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

I'm doing the DITY move. It's really a volutary move so I actually wouldn't get reimbursed either.
I do plan on packing my small show kit (basically just the starter kit and my tta) in the car because I'm doing a show for my husband's aunt just 2 days (!!) before we leave for MS.
I'll consider doing a show for your hubby's aunts, but don't you think that would be unfair to you? They're really your customers Sheila and I love how you've been such a great supporter of myself and all the other consultants on here, but you don't have to be that nice!!!

I think I already knew about not leaving flyers or catalogs on the base. I'm actually not trying to focus my business to the base (although I will try to get business there). I'm more just wanting to get business THERE where ever "there" may be, in Gulfport/Biloxi.

 

[Grandmarita]

During Jan. and Feb. we were traveling, and staying at camp grounds in Florida. Out of the blue, at a pot luck, while wearing my Logo wear PC sweatshirt, a lady asked if I was an active PC, and said I should do a party while camping there. Fortunately, we were staying 13 days, so I booked a party for one week later. It was $550. I then mentioned that to a reservation clerk at the next campground, and she said she would be my hostess, and to plan on doing a party at their camp ground. That one was $400. I had better sales away from home than I had been able to do the year before when I was home. Look for a local CURVES, to join. That has been a great source of sales and parties for me. It is a great place to network with women of all ages.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

During Jan. and Feb. we were traveling, and staying at camp grounds in Florida. Out of the blue, at a pot luck, while wearing my Logo wear PC sweatshirt, a lady asked if I was an active PC, and said I should do a party while camping there. Fortunately, we were staying 13 days, so I booked a party for one week later. It was $550. I then mentioned that to a reservation clerk at the next campground, and she said she would be my hostess, and to plan on doing a party at their camp ground. That one was $400. I had better sales away from home than I had been able to do the year before when I was home. Look for a local CURVES, to join. That has been a great source of sales and parties for me. It is a great place to network with women of all ages.

Wow! Now THAT is inspiring! Thank you. Since I've been having really bad insomnia lately (3:30 a.m. some nights ) I've got a notebook that I'm writing stuff down, googling, searching the forums here, more googling, etc. I'm sooo serious about making this business BOOM while I'm down there that I'm going CRAZY. Thanks!! I'll look into Curves

 

[dannyzmom]

There used to be a CD on supply order called "Move it Don't Lose It" - it's FANTASTIC...see if you can order it or borrow it from someone

 

[purpleluvs3]

I too am in the process of moving, not as far but defientlty a new start... Yesterday, as I was going around the new town helping my daughter with her history homework, we walked into the police station, city hall, and public library and in each conversation, managed to add info about my PC buisness, now I have one order and 2 shows possible. Maybe that will work for you, also you could checkout local vendor events.

 

[Judy Theriot]

I live in Slidell,La. Not to far from Gulfport,Ms. What I find very successful is to present a business card or a mini catalog to the person behind the counter as you are checking out. They hand you a receipt and then you hand them a mini catalog or business card and say something like "This is what I do. Have you ever heard of the Pampered Chef". I have gotten so many leads for shows just by doing this one thing.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

I live in Slidell,La. Not to far from Gulfport,Ms. What I find very successful is to present a business card or a mini catalog to the person behind the counter as you are checking out. They hand you a receipt and then you hand them a mini catalog or business card and say something like "This is what I do. Have you ever heard of the Pampered Chef". I have gotten so many leads for shows just by doing this one thing.

Thank you! I may need to do that. I carry my tote with me everywhere and I hold it so obviously so that someone else will start talking about it. I may need to just make that first move!

 

[JustAMom]

Check this out http://www.keeslerspousesclub.com/
I bet you could do a party for them, even offer a fundraiser show!