Phoenix Trading - Hints and Tips

JimBear

Hi there Lalaladybird,

I'm also new to this and can't give much advice, but if I were you, I'd try your local library for computer/printer. There may be a small charge for printing, but the computer time will be free, and you can always print one copy then photocopy it somewhere cheaper.

If you contact your tax office, they are really helpful. I'm booked on a course about setting up a small business next month (organised by the tax office), which will explain what records need to be kept. Don't forget to ask for a 'small earnings exception' so that you don't have to pay self-employed national insurance contributions. Since you are at home with a wee one, your national insurance is covered.

So far, I'm having good fun with this. I don't feel I'm working terribly hard, but the orders keep trickling in. This forum is great for advice. Thanks everyone!

liveandlearn_2

Hi,

Well, after a LOT of procrastinating, my cheque is in the envelope waiting to be posted when I go and pick ds up from school in a minute......I am joining!

Thanks to those who answered my questions a few weeks ago.

Another one: can someone explain how you make up different folders from the starter kit? I have ordered only that as I don't want to get lumbered with stock I can't get rid of.

Look forward to chatting/picking your brains on a regular basis from now on!!!

LandL

drywhitewine

Hi

In the starter kit you get loads of sample cards and gift wrap etc, 2 Phoenix ringbinders, glue, a silver pen, black paper and A4 pockets.

There are instructions on how to do it, but basically what you do is take the staples out of one of the brochures and cut it in half. Go through the brochure 1 page on 1 pile, the next on a 2nd pile and so on til you get 2 piles. Then with your first pile, take the first sheet and find 2 matching cards from that page and stick them on a black piece of paper. Write the code no by it. Repeat as necessary til you have finished your pile. You also get some 'promotional' flyers etc which I inserted every now again. Do the second folder with the 2nd pile. (I made 2 and still had paper, wallets and loads of cards left). I also put a page in with card, matching giftwrap and tag and wrote £2.50 for card, giftwrap and tag - as it might not be overly obvious that its giftwrap.

Hope that makes sense

allIcouldwishfor

I'm just starting to look into doing Phoenix trading (along with other things!) and there have been some really helpful tips on this thread. :T I hope you are all enjoying it.

Lalaladybird

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

I'm just starting to look into doing Phoenix trading (along with other things!) and there have been some really helpful tips on this thread. :T I hope you are all enjoying it.

I am really regretting it. I must have spent about 12 hours working on it and £100 and I am realising that it may take me a long time and lots of work to just earn my money back. If I had taken on a part time job at minimum wage I'd be much better off by now. This thread is missing a lot of the original posters and I suspect many of them may have abandoned it. I have delivered brochures and posted them out to friends and family and no orders! I feel so discouraged. I might have more luck doing a craft fair but they cost at least £20 for a table and I would have to buy in loads of stock so I am reluctant to try that. There are posts on this thread that say toddler groups and the like don't really get great sales either!

allIcouldwishfor

Lalaladybird, I'm sorry you're not having a good time of it. Are you getting any support from Phoenix?

liveandlearn_2

Thanks drywhitewine, and yes, it makes perfect sense! One thing though, if I understand correctly you only put half a brochure in each folder? Is that because there wouldn't be enough room for the whole brochure plus sample cards? Or don't they give many brochures out in the starter pack?

Lalaladybird, sorry to hear you'e regretting it already. I know I can hardly advise you not even having got the starter kit back yet, but don't give up yet! You've only just started, and it's bound to take a while to cover costs then break into profit, but it would be the same with any other party plan, let alone a 'classic' business. I know what you mean about a 'normal' part-time job giving immediate returns, you are right. However I suspect one of the reasons you were drawn to Phoenix is the flexibility and the fact that you are your own boss, you decide how, when and how much you want to work. Obviously we all want to make money out of it, but for me the greatest attraction is that I can do it around my kids (one still not at pre-school). I don't know how it's going to work out for me yet, I may well be posting the same type of message a few weeks/months down the line, but I am honestly not expecting to make any serious money straight away. Rosemary posted a really helpful message to me few weeks ago and I did a bit of research on line afterwards, which was also very useful. I don't find it particualrly alarming that some of the earlier posters don't post anymore, it could be for any number of reasons, one of them being that they have stopped trading, which also could be for any number of reasons. Some people only do it for a few months anyway, from what I can make out, maybe just to make a bit of extra money for Christmas or their summer holiday, to fund raise for a school or whatever....
Anyway, you sounded really motivated and organised the other day, I'm sure with determination you'll make a success of it! Have you spoken to your sponsor about your concerns? If money is a big issue (when isn't it?!) why not try and limit expenses, for example instead of posting the brochures send an e-mail to your friends and family with details of the website, and let them know how to place an order through you, and that you can send them a brochure if they agree to pass it round at work or something? And as for not having a printer, the library is a good idea, or maybe your OH or a friend could print some stuff off for you at work?
I hope you don't mind me posting, but you sound so disheartened!
Let us know how it goes....

Wibblywobbly14

Lalaladybird wrote: »

I have delivered brochures and posted them out to friends and family and no orders! I feel so discouraged.

Hi, I think you just have to wait a little longer! You say you only started trading on Monday, you have to give it a chance! If you are worried about things, please contact your upline executive Trader or phone phoenix to find some one who can help you. You will not make money instantly from this business, it grows...

Earthengirl

Hi, I've just joined to.. should be receiving my starter kit tomorrow. This thread has been really helpful for ideas. I plan on doing a brochure drop asap and making up a couple of folders when I get the chance (I'm doing pheonix as a top up, during the day I'm a student nurse), also passing the brochures on to family and friends. I do plan on doing some fetes/fairs etc in a short while, which is why I brought the largest starter pack.
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling Lalaladybird. I found I had awful trouble getting sales when I did Betterware. I realised there was little else you could do other than brochure drops. Pheonix has much more potential... I'm looking forward to it, while at the same time aware it will take a while to build a decent customer base.

paulnjulia

Lalaladybird wrote: »

It is my first day Trading!!!!!!!

I have made up my binders (3 hours work :rolleyes:), I am going to go to costco today to get the grip lock bags and I have bought a lot of large stamps to post brochures out to family and friends (what a lot of expense for a job). Then I will post brochures round the neighbours.....one problem I have is that they didn't say you need to have a printer to do this job :eek: I don't know how I'll get along without enclosing a letter with my packs....any ideas anyone??? That has really thrown a spanner in my works and I feel very discouraged. I'm convinced people won't understand what to do or what is even about without a letter, my OH says he wouldn't bother reading the letter and people will know what to do

I will phone some toddler groups today and make up a basket to leave in a business How many baskets and brochures do you have circulating at any one time?

I started this hoping I could have a flexible part time job so I could stay at home with my dd (1) but now I think I'll have to get a normal p/t job and do PT until I can recoup my losses. The tax thing is also scaring me.

The tax thing is a little scary, but you can claim exemption form NI contributions and your personal tax allowance should mean you won't be liable for income tax for a few years !! lol

Paul n Julia