Phoenix traders - what is your most successful selling technique?

mindermum

AllIcouldwishfor Im going to take your advice and start giving away the brochures more freely. I'm impressed that you make your bv so quickly. Have you been a trader for long? Just wondering all long it takes to build up to that level of success

allIcouldwishfor

mindermum wrote: »

AllIcouldwishfor Im going to take your advice and start giving away the brochures more freely. I'm impressed that you make your bv so quickly. Have you been a trader for long? Just wondering all long it takes to build up to that level of success

Hi Mindermum,
I got my business pack on 14th March, so I've been a trader for 3 months (although that spans across 4 trading months IYSWIM). For the first month, I rang round and got a bookings for toddler groups and did loads of door drops in the meantime, but every month it has got easier to get to target, as people's awareness that I'm trading has increased. It's taken off better than I expected, after a long conversation with OH last week, I've decided not to continue with my other part-time work so that I can stop dithering about and commit to doing Phoenix properly. My aim when I started was to have 50 customers on my database by the time the Autumn/Winter brochure is released, which I am very close to achieving now and once I have got that sussed I will concentrate on sponsoring. I find I am more focussed if I have clear short-term goals, although ask me what my long-term goals are and I wouldn't have a clue!

For June, I had intended to put Phoenix on the back burner whilst I concentrated doing additional training for my other job, but then I had £100 of orders land in my lap, which I couldn't ignore. A couple of phone calls and emails later ("Just ringing to say I'm placing an order on ...day and wondered if there's anything you need?") and I hit my BV for the fourth month in a row! :j I always put an able-label on the back of every card (not the cello) that I sell and I've had people who've received my cards and requested a brochure, so there's a ripple effect!

I believe the brochures are our biggest selling tools (apart from the product themselves), so I always have a few of them in the car. I quite often just carry a brochure round in a Phoenix carrierbag when I'm dropping the children at school, because it's a reminder to people, although it does help that I am the Chair of our PTA and "enjoy" quite a high profile anyway. Whenever I'm delivering an order, I always try to do it in front of other people (eg, in the playground, go back to toddler groups to deliver orders rather than deliver to homes), to create more interest.

I know it can sometimes be a bit daunting asking people if they'd like a brochure, but you're not asking them for a favour, you're providing them with a service.

kaz1971

Hi There

Please could someone give me some info on joining, ie what the packs consist off and also costs.

Thanks

drywhitewine

Hi
There are different levels of starter packs. The most basic is £45 and consists of £25 annual registration fee as well as:
display folder
fact sheets on how to run your business
sponsoring info packs
samples
brochures
order forms and other business stationery
paper bags

then there are the kits which includes stock - which on top of the £45 are £50, £100, £150. They generally include all the best selling stuff, and give 35%, 40%, 45% discount.

To join, you need to find another Phoenix trader to 'sponsor' you into the business. It is a business - not a get rich quick scheme. It will take time to build up, but threads like this are really good for getting ideas! You make 30% commission on sales, but in the early days you may find you keep ploughing that back in. Plus if you don't already, you need a printer, labels etc.

Hope this helps a little, try the website too: https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/corp/joinus/overview.do Let me know if you need any further info.

What's your current situation?

skeeter_2

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

I always put an able-label on the back of every card (not the cello) that I sell and I've had people who've received my cards and requested a brochure, so there's a ripple effect!

This is a fantastic idea :T

Does the label only contain your contact details, or is there anything else on the label e.g. "to request a brochure please contact"?

Whereabouts on the back of the card do you stick the label (are you covering anything?) and have you had any complaints about doing this?

allIcouldwishfor

skeeter wrote: »

This is a fantastic idea :T

Does the label only contain your contact details, or is there anything else on the label e.g. "to request a brochure please contact"?

Whereabouts on the back of the card do you stick the label (are you covering anything?) and have you had any complaints about doing this?

To answer your first question, my able-labels have the official phoenix logo, my name, trader number, address, telephone number, email address and website.

If the card has the phoenix logo in a big enough box on the left of the back of the card (most of the 5"x7") that's where I put my sticker. If not (in the case of the 5"x5" cards), it goes under the card code and artist details. I don't cover any information with my labels and there are some cards which you can't do this on, eg. blue butterfly, the age cards and some of the cutout cards. I have never had a complaint about my stickering the cards but if I did I would offer to replace them.

I also put my stickers on the reverse of the gift wrap, unless the reverse is coloured.

The products sell themselves and if someone receives one of our beautiful cards and would like to buy some, then they need to know how to order and I'd like it if they'd come to me! I won't lie, it does take more time to sticker each card than to just shove them in a cello, but if you do it in front of the telly of an evening, it's really not a huge task. I'm trying lots of different tactics to build my business and in the words of my driving instructor 20 years ago, "If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick!!" (Thanks George!)

mindermum

"If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick!!"

Brilliant! I think this should be our threads official logo!!

:T

drywhitewine

Has anyone been to one of the roadshows yet?

Was supposed to go to Warrington one today but couldn't make it unfortunately.

skeeter_2

drywhitewine wrote: »

Has anyone been to one of the roadshows yet?

Was supposed to go to Warrington one today but couldn't make it unfortunately.

I attended one in January, which was very worthwhile. Unfortunately I am unable to attend one this summer.

troy775

Hi, I've read through the whole of the Phoenix Hints thread that's now closed and just found this thread - both have been really helpful to me as I'm seriously considering PT. I love the products and company ethos.

I wondered if anyone can help with my query - what's the position with people joining as a team of 2 working together i.e. joint traders?

My friend and I are keen to work together especially as we have children and other commitments that mean that we would probably achieve more working as a team rather than individually (i.e. sharing childcare whilst one or other is doing events, differing skills in marketing, advertising and sales skills). I know that in terms of the business model, PT would probably prefer one of us to sponsor the other but I have read that some couples work as joint traders... can anyone give their adice/experiences ...thanks x