Streamline Your Direct Sales Packing with These Tips

[dannyzmom]

Pack Less - Sell More...this has been THE biggest challenge for me. My team members will tell you, I practically MOVE IN when I show up at a host's home. Usually, I bring:

• -My briefcase with laptop & binder
• -Rolling tote FILLED
• -Show to Go Tote filled with DCB, C&STray, loaded TTA & MF Towels
• -A 10gal rubbermaid tote/bucket (I put the above tote bag into the bucket to carry in)
• -Dots rolling backpack-shaped tote filled with catalogs, order forms, name tags & pens

Wow - written out it seems like EVEN MORE...but seriously...it's A LOT.
So...tonight I am biting the bullet & packing WAY less. Tonight I've got:

• -All my tools in the Dots Picnic Basket - and THAT inside the rubbermaid
• -Show to Go tote filled with C&S Tray, Bamboo Platter, TTA & Catalogs/orderforms/nametags
• -My briefcase with laptop & binder

THAT'S IT!!
I am a nervous WRECK...but hell - I'm goin' for it!!
How much do ya'll shlep with you to your shows?

 

[pamperedlinda]

I'm so proud of you!

I take only what I need for the demo.

Products go in the Consultant Tote,
DCB in a padded carrier by itself
TTA, stuffed full (I can't break that yet) and it's in the TTA tote
Cranberry Striped Tote is my paperwork bag

that's it. My rule of thimb is that if I can't do it in two, comfortable trips from my car then it doesn't go.

 

[finley1991]

YOU GO GIRL!!!! You can do it!!!!Here is what I am taking tonight in the Carry-All Tote: I have the DCB in one pocket, flexible mats, 2qt collap bowl, 4-5 cookbooks, 2 oven pads in the big side pocket. In the middle pocket I have the mfp, fc, salad chopper, garlic slicer, garlic peeler, microplane, 2 cup easy read and veggie wedger. In the other pocket I have my pencil case, calculator, catalogs, order forms, host packs, etc.I take my TTA filled in the TTA tote. I take a PC reusable shopping bag with the groceries, large bamboo square bowl, medium SA bowl and a plastic shopping bag. I put my dirty dishes in the plastic bag to bring home and put that bag back into the reusable bag. 3 bags in.. 3 bags out.Normally I can take all of this into the house in 1 trip. Not tonight as I have 26 catalogs in my bag and that makes it pretty heavy. So I'll make two trips. Normally I don't take the bamboo bowl/sa bowl unless I'm serving out of it, which I am tonight. Can't wait to hear how it goes for you!!!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I bit the bullet and decided to jump in wholeheartedly with the Carry Less Sell More theme. I've done this for my last 6 shows. My last 3 shows now have been the Cool & Crunchy Chicken Taco Salad. I have fit all of the tools needed for the demo in the Picnic Basket,
except for the grill pan and press, which I've slipped into my paperwork bag (I use the cranberry and striped bag with pockets from a couple years ago) and my large bamboo tray, which I carry in. It's been AMAZING! The best part is, without all of the clutter that I was bringing with me before, my demo is quicker and sharper, and I can concentrate better on selling and cross-selling with the tools I have on hand, and I am out of there so much quicker - but without feeling like I am neglecting the host or guests. Last night, I was the last one to leave - with dishes all washed and repacked for my show tomorrow night, and having spent some time with the host one-on-one after the show, with $600 in sales (and outside orders still to come - one lady had an order for over $100 but wanted to show the catalog to her daughter who's getting married!) and 2 bookings for Aug. & Sept. When I got in the car and looked at the clock - it was 9:15pm! A good half hour to 45 min. earlier than I would normally be leaving!I would have never believed it. It was quick, it was simple, everyone had fun and got to try the mix n chop and the MFP (and besides selling the MFP, I sold 2 salad spinners by cross-selling the MFP!). Oh - and it's only ONE TRIP to and from the car! My biggest concern had been that people would be disappointed that I didn't have more products with me, but so far, no one has even mentioned it.

 

[finley1991]

My biggest concern had been that people would be disappointed that I didn't have more products with me, but so far, no one has even mentioned it.

AGREED!!!!

My bag is already in the car so I could take out the Veggie Wedger, salad chopper, garlic peeler & press since I'm not using them tonight...

 

[cincychef]

BeckyD, quick question, what time did your show start?
Thanks!

 

[cincychef]

Since I started PC I have had 2 babies and sprained my ankle 2 times and continued to do shows so I was on the carry less sell more bandwagon before it started!
My goal is to get into the house in 1 trip, but like Colleen said if my catalog tote is really heavy it takes 2.
I still use my red crate, I take my DCB, 5" and 7" santoku knives, my 8" non stick and stainless saute pan, the MFP, collapsible bowls, Cool and serve, at least 2 of the veggie wedgers and 1 stainless bowl filled with the tools I need for the demo. The only tools I bring that I don't use are the mix and chop and the corn kernal cutter.
I do my demo by month so I can wash and re pack my kit at the show(this transformed my business this year) and for july we are doing icecream sundaes with a cake in the DCB, fruit topping in the MFP and additional fruit in the C and S.
The only other thing I carry is an old tote with a long handle that I put my catalogs, host packets and a couple of cookbooks in.
My next plunge is to take my netbook and type the shows at the show, but I am not quite there yet!

 

[finley1991]

My next plunge is to take my netbook and type the shows at the show, but I am not quite there yet!

I took my laptop to shows about 5 years ago... then I stopped. One more thing to carry, had a hard time with kids trying to use it (and incidentally had a host yell at me when her teenage daughter and her friend took my laptop into another room when I had my back turned... I asked for it back and the host yelled at me for being rude to her daughter! ), and it was just one more thing to worry about. (I might rethink it if they do something for the ipad down the road).

This question wasn't for me but I put 6:45pm as the start time (pain with FB though, they only have top of the hour and half-past options). I start the demo at 7pm and am done no later than 7:45pm. I take orders and am out the door by 8:30. If it's a big show with lots of orders, maybe 8:45. I'm normally home by 9:30pm.

 

[baychef]

incidentally had a host yell at me when her teenage daughter and her friend took my laptop into another room when I had my back turned... I asked for it back and the host yelled at me for being rude to her daughter!

Un &*(!@# believable!!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I took my laptop to shows about 5 years ago... then I stopped. One more thing to carry, had a hard time with kids trying to use it (and incidentally had a host yell at me when her teenage daughter and her friend took my laptop into another room when I had my back turned... I asked for it back and the host yelled at me for being rude to her daughter! ), and it was just one more thing to worry about. (I might rethink it if they do something for the ipad down the road).

This question wasn't for me but I put 6:45pm as the start time (pain with FB though, they only have top of the hour and half-past options). I start the demo at 7pm and am done no later than 7:45pm. I take orders and am out the door by 8:30. If it's a big show with lots of orders, maybe 8:45. I'm normally home by 9:30pm.

You don't wash your dishes at the show then?

 

[finley1991]

You don't wash your dishes at the show then?

GOD NO! I just want to get home! LOL! :angel:

I come home and put what needs to be cleaned in my dishwasher...

 

[ChefBeckyD]

BeckyD, quick question, what time did your show start?
Thanks!

I got there at 6:30 to get set up, and the show "Started" at 7. However, no one except the host's Mom showed up until 7:15, so that's when we really started. I was done with the show by 8pm, orders done by 8:30, chatted with my upcoming hosts for a few minutes about their shows, and then washed dishes with the host while we talked too. Packed up and in my car by 9:15. Oh - and took another $65 order from someone who couldn't make the show - I'd forgotten about that! So actually, her show is at $670 right now!

 

[finley1991]

On a side note, this month I've really been motoring through my demo and getting out the house early. I've had two hosts book with me saying that they liked that the show didn't tie up the entire evening. At my last show, as I was setting up, I overheard the host telling a guest, "That's why I booked a show with her... you will be amazed at how quick she is and how much you'll learn..." And that was pretty much the same comment from the TW lady I posted about the other day who was talking behind her catalog... she was commenting on how short my demo is too...

 

[ChefBeckyD]

GOD NO! I just want to get home! LOL! :angel:

I come home and put what needs to be cleaned in my dishwasher...

That's what I used to do. But now it's easier to do it there, and then the only thing I have to bring in the house is my computer. When I get home, my son is asleep in bed, and it wakes him up if I'm messing around in the kitchen when I get home.

 

[finley1991]

That's what I used to do. But now it's easier to do it there, and then the only thing I have to bring in the house is my computer. When I get home, my son is asleep in bed, and it wakes him up if I'm messing around in the kitchen when I get home.

I get that... I don't leave product in my car though. So everything come in every time...

 

[cincychef]

I think I need to revisit how long my demo is!! Do you talk about the major product lines? I always talk about the stoneware and then the DCB, the knives, the cookware, and then this summer I have been demoing the MFP, and the cool and serve and a selection of tools.Also Colleen and Becky are your shows fully interactive. I would love to hear from anyone else too!
Tonight the show was supposed to start at 7, we started closer to 7:15, I was done with my demo close to 8:30 I think ( I wasn't feeling the greatest so I didn't keep a close watch on the clock) and I was out the door close 9:40, but a lot of nights it is closer to 10.

 

[akaskydebil]

GOD NO! I just want to get home! LOL! :angel:

I come home and put what needs to be cleaned in my dishwasher...

Amen sister! After NJ Ryan told us we should be doing our dishes there in order to continue "talking" aka recruiting - I tried it 'again' and I just cannot get into it. I take, or ask the host for, plastic shopping bags from grocery stores/walmart etc and I toss dirty into those and into my bag and voila! Done and home to where i have a garbage disposal (no worries about clogging drains or fishing floaters (stuff) out of the water (which grosses me out) and then into the dishwasher. I can repack in the peace of my home and not feel rushed.

I am TRYING the picnic basket concept tomorrow night but already having anxiety.

I thought my paperwork bag weighed a TON but Colleen...the DCB AND Catalogs in a bag? God love your shoulder! I'd have to split that. I am SOOOOOOOOO attached to my TTA that is like asking me to not take an arm with me and I take the Cool N Serve and that doesn't fit into the basket so it looks like I won't be down to the basket and paperwork bag but we'll see what it brings!

My AD did it tonite for our Directors mtg and even showed us how she is making the fajitas into a Deep dish pizza with the 12" Skillet to pimp cookware and eliminate the need for the large bar pan. She's had TWO $1500 shows so far and just started this 'new idea'.

Congrats to all who are doing it and proving it works!

 

[PamperedK]

I just bring what I need for the recipe (3 cutting boards usually), plus a couple of extra knives, all the scrapers, and lately the wedgers, the 2qt collapsible Bowl and the C&S Tray. Usually I only bring the Carry All Tote, sometimes the Consultant Tote, but never more than one bag plus my paperwork bag. I start my shows at 7:30 and my goal is to be out the door by 9:30. I do my dishes at the show - while everyone is shopping and before I do my ticket game / draws. I find if I don't have something to do, I'm sort of "hovering" and it gets awkward.

 

[Sheila]

I'm horrible about taking a lot of stuff, but I do the fully interactive shows AND depending on the size of the crowd, it's usually at least 2 (sometimes 3) recipes. So I have to have all the tools for those 2 (or 3) recipes. I'm like Melissa on the tool turn about, I feel I have to take it! I've cut back before & taken stuff out, but it never fails that we end up wanting something that I left at home. So I started bringing the whole thing with me again.I'm also the queen of packing! I get it all in the roll case, then have the regular consultant tote on top with the TTA (in the bag), all my (Merrill) clipboards (we do big shows in Japan, so I usually have 20 of those suckers), my on-time SBRC gifts, pens, etc. The exterior pockets of my roll case have my recruiting info, booking packets, booking/recruiting slide & upcoming specials folder.I have the guest do everything at my shows. I don't cook. That way if it's not "perfect" they can't blame me! LOL When they sit down to eat is when I do the B/R slide & specials. Then I start packing the dirty dishes back into the roll case to wash at home. I can zip out the liner & shake out any crumbs and use Clorox wipes to clean any food that might have been transferred to the liner. I really should consider a black trash bag in there that I could twist at the top. It would save me some work! LOLHubby used to do all my dishes, but when I was down for 6 weeks recovering from my c-section & only doing catalog shows, he got out of the habit.Now that everything is in Japan & I have a limited # of tools that I've purchased here in TX, I think I have no choice but to take less!

 

[PamperedK]

Sheila what is your show average?

 

[Sheila]

2010 it was $880, I haven't done any cooking shows since the evacuation from Tokyo and haven't even looked at a 2011 average, but there's not much there to look at! LOL

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I think I need to revisit how long my demo is!! Do you talk about the major product lines? I always talk about the stoneware and then the DCB, the knives, the cookware, and then this summer I have been demoing the MFP, and the cool and serve and a selection of tools.

Also Colleen and Becky are your shows fully interactive. I would love to hear from anyone else too!
Tonight the show was supposed to start at 7, we started closer to 7:15, I was done with my demo close to 8:30 I think ( I wasn't feeling the greatest so I didn't keep a close watch on the clock) and I was out the door close 9:40, but a lot of nights it is closer to 10.

I do talk about all major product lines. Even if I'm not using them. I always talk about cookware, stoneware, knives, and SA & Bamboo.

I encourage and have guest interaction, but I don't do fully interactive shows. I've tried them a few times, and they just aren't for me. I don't like the chaos, and plus I REALLY like doing the show. That's my favorite part of my business, and when I give it up for an interactive show, I'm not having fun anymore. So if I'm not having fun, then I would imagine it's not so much fun for anyone else either. I like to pass around the tools, and often pass around a knife and cutting board for people to use. With the show I'm doing right now, I have people use the MFP, the Mix n Chop, and a knife. I pass those tools around so everyone gets to try it if they'd like to.

 

[finley1991]

The other bonus of the taking less is less dishes to do!!!

Although I'd be REALLY happy if PC invented SOMETHING that would do our dishes for us! Oh wait, I guess it's called a catalog show!! LOL!

 

[PamperedK]

2010 it was $880, I haven't done any cooking shows since the evacuation from Tokyo and haven't even looked at a 2011 average, but there's not much there to look at! LOL

Wow that's awesome. Mine's about $750 right now. Would love to get it to $800.

 

[Sheila]

High Impact Host Coaching. It's a tape from National Conference in ... '07??? It knocked my average up by about $200. It used to be on the supply order, but isn't there anymore. My copy is in Japan. Ginger was nice enough to send me a copy of her CD. I just got it yesterday. I'm taking a lunch break right now from cleaning ~ the electrician put his foot through my ceiling & my whole dine-in kitchen & living room were COVERED in insulation & sheet rock! Then the laundry room has a lot of insulation from him crawling in & out of the attic. I got all the major stuff up, but am still doing the fine detail cleaning ... so when I get a chance, I'll post a copy of the CD.

 

[Ginger428]

Yes it is from 07!!

 

[PamperedK]

High Impact Host Coaching. It's a tape from National Conference in ... '07??? It knocked my average up by about $200. It used to be on the supply order, but isn't there anymore. My copy is in Japan. Ginger was nice enough to send me a copy of her CD. I just got it yesterday. I'm taking a lunch break right now from cleaning ~ the electrician put his foot through my ceiling & my whole dine-in kitchen & living room were COVERED in insulation & sheet rock! Then the laundry room has a lot of insulation from him crawling in & out of the attic. I got all the major stuff up, but am still doing the fine detail cleaning ... so when I get a chance, I'll post a copy of the CD.

That would be awesome thanks! I do know my host coaching could really use some help! I know what to do but I just don't. I'd love to listen to that audio.

 

[akaskydebil]

I failed miserably tonite with getting down to 2 bags. I whittled as much as I could (mental note, I MUST pack the night before a weeknight party or else I have zero time to 'think' and I just toss everything). I did use the picnic basket with tools in it. Then in a shopping bag i put the DCB, flex cutting mats, cooling rack (I set my DCB on it and then my laptop later on)and the groceries (the host earned that for amount of invites).

BUT...then i had ANOTHER shopping bag with the Cool n Serve and my 12" skillet.

THEN there was the carry all tote bag with my laptop, catalogs (25 as 18 were expected) and then 6 F/W for any September bookings. Add other things in the bag that I haven't taken out and... what does that get me?

4 bags (2 trips) and they all weighed A LOT! I won't ever carry the DCB and groceries in a reusable bag. It was extremely heavy. I did not bring one tool I did not use (fajitas and strawberry bruschetta) but in the end, its still A LOT! Although, I did pack up faster than the Silpada rep. LOL (yes, the host went and invited Silpada AND Scentsy....told her we had to invite 100 or it wasn't worth it for any of us and she did. She had about 15 -20 in attendance and Silpada and I both did well. My assumption is Scentsy didn't fair as well. My sales are at 800.00 and 4 bookings. Aside from not doing well at carrying less, I STUNK at recruiting tonite. So disappointed in myself. I did not ask everyone and there were so many people and no where to go, people filled out their orders right around me and again I had my 'anxiety' and got the bookings and the sales but dropped the balll on recruiting. *sigh*

Sorry for the ramble...first time I'm home since this morning and the dog went to bed on me so no one to ramble to.

 

[Sheila]

(((hugs))) Melissa!

 

[richsimpkinsg]

High Impact Host Coaching. It's a tape from National Conference in ... '07??? It knocked my average up by about $200. It used to be on the supply order, but isn't there anymore. My copy is in Japan. Ginger was nice enough to send me a copy of her CD. I just got it yesterday. I'm taking a lunch break right now from cleaning ~ the electrician put his foot through my ceiling & my whole dine-in kitchen & living room were COVERED in insulation & sheet rock! Then the laundry room has a lot of insulation from him crawling in & out of the attic. I got all the major stuff up, but am still doing the fine detail cleaning ... so when I get a chance, I'll post a copy of the CD.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE....pleading with hands clasped, tears running down my cheeks, knees scraped....LOVE LOVE LOVE a copy of that CD....PLEASEEE!!!!