Phoenix Trading - Hints and Tips

katchambers

I thought I would attempt to start a thread for Phoenix Traders all over the country to share ideas just like the avon and body shop at home thread. However, there are only 13,000 traders so its a lot smaller than avon, and therefore the thread might take a while to get going but it would be really good to share ideas and tips with each other.

First of all I would like to state the rules of Phoenix Trading and in some cases on MSE are that we are not allowed to promote the job opportunity, so if anyone who reads this thread is interested in joining, feel free to ask us questions, but do not ask us to PM you with further details or anything like that, you will have to go to the main phoenix website (google it) and request an info pack from the company rather than one of us as we are not allowed to promote the job opportunity online but we are allowed to take about being a trader and the company. The reason phoenix have those rules is because they are are proud of all their DSA awards, they are very ethical.

So, I have been a Phoenix Trader for a year now, and I totally love it. I have my own business and phoenix fits in really well with that, I love that there are no targets and I can leave it for months at a time if I wish.

What do people think of the new Christmas brochure? I recently got mine and some samples, I think the cards are great this year, some really gorgeous designs, I think they will sell well.

My first tip is that because I sell books on ebay, I include a little pack in with all my orders that includes a phoenix supplement, a sample card, a freepost card and sometimes a dvd, this has worked well on a sample of 40 customers, I received 2 information pack requests from that.

I hope we can get a nice trader chat going on here... calling all traders?!

Kat x

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kat81

Hi,

I recently received the information pack and hope to start in a few weeks time, so would be grateful for any tips you have.

I didnt realise you could sell through ebay though, sounds like a good way of getting interest.

Are you set up with their website, am also considering this, but not sure about paying £5 a month if i dont get many orders this way.

katchambers

Sorry Kat but I wrote that incorrectly, you can't sell phoenix goods on the internet at all, including ebay, sorry! What I meant to say is that I sell books on ebay but I include phoenix info with each order.

Have you received your phoenix starter pack yet? I am happy to answer any of your questions and am happy to give you advice.

The website is good for taking card payments, so it is a good alternative for your customers instead of them having to find the cash or a cheque, but I would suggest you hold off in getting the website for a little while until you see if you will need it. I have it and have only received one order through it so far and have had it about 6 months, although to be fair I haven't done much phoenix stuff for a while as I have been busy with my other businesses, but am picking it up now for christmas.

I have found that brochure dropping door to door is good. The only problem is my laziness, when I get around to doing it it works well.

I did lots of shows last christmas, like craft fairs and christmas fairs which were good, the cards are always well received and the price is amazing especially in this economic climate.

Good luck and let me know if you have any specific questions.

Take care
Katrina

kat81

Ah i get what you mean now, thats still fab idea though!!!

I've got the info pack, but need to wai another week or so before i buy the starter pack, am also buying the introductory offer of 86 of their best selling cards for £50.

Yeah i think i will hold off the website until i have a good base of customers.

With brochure dropping do you actually knock or just leave the brochure and hope they contact you. Do you also ask for the brochures back?

I would also like to do fairs etc, think it could be good fun, but not sure how to find out where they are in my area. I dont have a car so dont want to travel too far.

Elljay_2

Hi, I have just found this thread and just wanted to say hi!! I am also a Phoenix trader and like the fact that I can "dip in and out of it"!! Have just received my Christmas pack and am pleased with most of the cards. As always they are original and excellent quality. Am gearing up for a fun Season!! It's nice to get started early!!
Will watch this thread with interest. Thanks Kat!:T

skeeter_2

Thanks OP what a great idea for a thread!

I joined Phoenix Trading mid-July and I do quite like the products

I also like the way that the team support each other and share advice etc. although I am self-employed, I do not feel that I have to learn by my own experiences.

katchambers

kat81 wrote: »

Ah i get what you mean now, thats still fab idea though!!!

I've got the info pack, but need to wai another week or so before i buy the starter pack, am also buying the introductory offer of 86 of their best selling cards for £50.

Yeah i think i will hold off the website until i have a good base of customers.

With brochure dropping do you actually knock or just leave the brochure and hope they contact you. Do you also ask for the brochures back?

I would also like to do fairs etc, think it could be good fun, but not sure how to find out where they are in my area. I dont have a car so dont want to travel too far.

Hi,
I found the best place to find fairs was in the local paper, but because I had a car I got the local paper for 4 surrounding towns as well. Another place to find fairs is on the internet, and most schools have a christmas fair, so ringing and asking about those is a good idea.

Kat x

katchambers

skeeter wrote: »

Thanks OP what a great idea for a thread!

I joined Phoenix Trading mid-July and I do quite like the products

I also like the way that the team support each other and share advice etc. although I am self-employed, I do not feel that I have to learn by my own experiences.

Welcome Skeeter! One of the best things about Phoenix, other than the gorgeous products is the fact that there are no targets, this works well for me because I have my own business which has high and low seasons, so I don't do any phoenix stuff for part of the year and lots other times of the year and it works well, plus I can build my customer base at my own rate, I love that.

I was hoping there would be a newsletter this month, I love reading the newsletters. Did anyone go to the trader roadshow this summer?

Kat x

skeeter_2

kat81 wrote: »

Ah i get what you mean now, thats still fab idea though!!!

I've got the info pack, but need to wai another week or so before i buy the starter pack, am also buying the introductory offer of 86 of their best selling cards for £50.

Yeah i think i will hold off the website until i have a good base of customers.

With brochure dropping do you actually knock or just leave the brochure and hope they contact you. Do you also ask for the brochures back?

I would also like to do fairs etc, think it could be good fun, but not sure how to find out where they are in my area. I dont have a car so dont want to travel too far.

Hi Kat,

I recently did my first brochure drop at a neighbouring road.

I placed the brochure in a clear grip seal bag, with a freepost card, order form, and a short letter introducing Phoenix Trading and specifying the day which I will be collecting the brochures.

If the brochure was not left on the doorstep when I went to collect them, I put a note through the door specifying that I would return the following day to collect it. I did not knock on any doors.

I retrieved the majority of my brochures, and also a few orders, and the prospect of repeat business.

I think if you deliver brochures, and not collect them, this will be rather costly. Since 100 brochures will cost you £25, which could just end up in the recycling bin. Although I am happy to leave brochures with those who would like to keep them.

moo2moo

I work in a school where one of the mums is a Phoenix Trader. She leaves a basket of card in the staffroom all year round. She sells hundreds that way and regularly replenishes the basket. Means we can buy and write cards on our lunch breaks without paying 3 times the price at the village shop.

If you are near an industrial estate this may be worth a go in other compaines too (perhaps just leaving a brochure and order forms), offering the receptionist 10% of your sales or pointing out that the christmas cards support a charity may help to convince people.

Playgroups, preschools, brownies etc are always looking for ways to fundraise without outlay it might be worth trying them too.

londongirl

Hi all,

Thanks for getting this thread going. I became a Phoneix trader in May but so far have only really sold to family and friends and have therefore not made any money!!
I could do with some tips though I think a lot of it is down to time and effort and i can see it could do well if i put a bit more effort in! But it's difficult with a full time job and being out of the house 7 til 7 monday to Friday!

The Christmas cards are lovely but no one has bought any from me yet as i think they seem a little pricier than shop bought ones (although they are nicer). Whereas the every day greetings cards are such good value that everyone wants them.

I have bought just a couple of packs of cards and a few rolls of christmas wrapping paper as didn't want to be left with loads of christmas cards no-one wants. What have others done?

Also has anyone got any tips for doing a "party". I know its not like you need to demonstrate the cards like you would the products for Avon or Virgin Vie but a local mum has expressed interest in hosting a party in the next few weeks. What do i do other than turn up with my stock and sell? What do most people give to the host for hosting it? How many cards? Or a discount? Can anyone help or give ideas on this?! Thanks