Need Help With Staying Organized

[Kathytnt]

Need help with staying organized - What are your best tips

I jus tstarted a new job that has a bunch of paperwork that I am trying to get used to and I so a lot of remote catalog shows - I am trying to get organied - HELP!

 

[chefmary]

One of the best tips I have heard is to do a lot of things in advance. For example, if you do mainly catalog shows, have your catalog show packets done ahead of time, leaving out the only the monthly specials and order forms. Then all you have to do is add that in when you get a request for a packet. For my Cooking Shows, I use a recyclable host packet (I use a 12-page presentation folder, which has clear sleeves), which I get back from my host the night of the show. I update them all once a season with new flyers, but during the season I only need to add in monthly specials and order forms. Now that I send out the invitations for my hosts, I only give them the host packet once I receive the invitation list, so I don't risk losing the packet to someone who's going to cancel.

HTH!

Mary

 

[jrstephens]

I have all of my supplies divided into bins. I have one bin for supplies that I take to my shows, so, all I have to do is pick it up on my way out the door. I always try to replace what is used at a show when I get home from the show, so, it is ready to get for the next one. I have one bin for extra supplies such as order forms, catalogs, door prizes and things like that. In another bin I have my closed shows. I make a file with the host name on it and file my copies of the receipts in there and any outside order forms as well. My goal is to get an actual file cabinet to keep everything in. I have one basket that I put the PC products in that I am going to present at the show. And I also use the plastic PC backset you get from PC to put my dirty dishes to carry back home. In all I take three baskets/bins to a show. Two filed with stuff and the plastic one for dirty products.

Hope this helps!

 

[Kathytnt]

What do you do with shows after you have completed them and when you have a host doing a second show??

Do you make a file for completed shows and open shows???

 

[jrstephens]

I keep my open shows in the bin with my supplies and then when closed and I have made follow-up calls I put it in the closed bin. I have not had a repeat host yet, but when I do I will just put the different show date on the folder to keep them seperated.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Jennifer - always suggest to your hosts that they rebook 6 months out. That way they can get two host specials in the rebooked month and they get the benefit of having a new set of products at each show.

 

[jrstephens]

Sept will start my 5th month and first change-over. I am sure I will begin to have repeat customers. What do you mean by two host specials? Do you get them to book iunder their spouse's name or something so they can get their own special plus the booking benefit? I never thought about going ahead and getting them to re-book six months later from their show b/c of the new products - thanks for the idea!!!

 

[pamperedgirl3]

Jennifer-
Your host can rebook from her own show. Say she has a show on August 22. She can book another show, say on January 9. She can get two host specials at the January show-one as the current host & one as the past host (booking benefit). You can put it in her name-not as husband or anything. Last year, I had a host who had a show in July & rebook for September, so she got two stones at 60% off.

 

[beepampered]

I am still working on getting organized but here's some things to consider:

Keep track of your expenses so tax-time will be easier. You can do it in Pampered Partner. I do my in Quicken since I was already tracking my money there.

In PP, you can print the host info which I do. I then staple it to the front of a folder and write the hosts name on the folder. The phone number is right there and I can put directions, orders, notes in the folder as needed.

I also print names of people I need to call and put in an accordion folder. This still needs some work, but it's better than having tons of pieces of paper everywhere.

Stamp/label everything when it comes in so you don't have to worry about it later. Do not open a package of catalogs/Season's Best,etc. until you can stamp all of them.

Good luck. I need so much help in this area still.....

 

[jenniferp417]

Take a look at this thread, too: there's a "business in a box" idea that I started googling for, and it looks pretty good:http://www.chefsuccess.com/showthread.php?t=10583

 

[jrstephens]

Jennifer-
Your host can rebook from her own show. Say she has a show on August 22. She can book another show, say on January 9. She can get two host specials at the January show-one as the current host & one as the past host (booking benefit). You can put it in her name-not as husband or anything. Last year, I had a host who had a show in July & rebook for September, so she got two stones at 60% off.

I am so excited to know this! I have 3 or 4 host that will be repeats in the next few months. Theyhave missed out this time. But this is a great way to encourage rebooking over and over. THANKS!