Phoenix traders - what is your most successful selling technique?

the_little_one

Hi Eveyone.

I have had some success recently with some brochure drops but not been successful in arranging attendance at an event yet.
I feel I am constantly phoning or emailing organiser's from events websites and the local newspaper advertisements but either there is another rep attending or they are full.

How do other traders manage to bag a spot at a local event?
Which online sources do you iuse to find out about the events?

Starting to get a bit fed up.

Rosemary_Jane

the_little_one wrote: »

Hi Eveyone.

I have had some success recently with some brochure drops but not been successful in arranging attendance at an event yet.
I feel I am constantly phoning or emailing organiser's from events websites and the local newspaper advertisements but either there is another rep attending or they are full.

How do other traders manage to bag a spot at a local event?
Which online sources do you iuse to find out about the events?

Starting to get a bit fed up.

Hi,
sorry you're feeling a bit fed up. If it's any consolation to you, you may well not sell much at an event. You need a lot of stock, and many people will buy a few cards, or even only one. The advantages of events are in increasing visibility, and in sponsoring people.

The very best way to sell product is at coffee and cards mornings/evenings in people's homes (from the point of view of amount of sales/per hour expended). Have you had a party at your own house yet? You will be amazed at how much you sell, compared with door drops etc.

If you have a look in the downloads section of the website, in the back issues of the newsletters, particularly the Australian ones, you will find a host of inspiring hints and tips to increase sales.

It's important to look at several ways of selling, and not to only wait for one type of thing to come along. For example, if you've got a lot of stock waiting for an 'event', why not arrange it in a pretty basket, and do a basket drop at an office or school?

Another way to find events is to make your own. Go to the local weight watchers organiser, and arrange for her to have a poster saying you'll be there at the next meeting; arrange a day to attend at the local indoor playground or gym. See if the local village cricket team will let you have a stall at their next match, offering them 10% for the funds.

You could even look out for a local small teashop and arrange with them to have a table once a month where you can sell cards for a local charity or for the tea-shop owner. Remember that you must be there, a retail environment must not sell product for you when you are not there.

Have a think around various possibilities, you might be surprised what you can come up with.

Rosemary

the_little_one

Thank you very much Rosemary you have given me some really good ideas!

johanne

really impessed with the service so far from phoenix... got my kit 4 days after posting my application! Drumming up interest at the moment but not made any sales just yet... love the samples i got in the kit though! they are so beautiful!:D

Rainmaker_uk

I am a sales professional and this book has changed my life.

I would like to recommend this book to you all (don't worry I didn't write it...)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Grow-Rich-Original-Restored/dp/1593302002

Please read the Amazon reviews - this book really can change your life.

MAEM

Hi I emailed Phoenix yesterday to ask for an information pack as I am interested in starting up, they emailed me to ask me the name of the rep where I had heard of phoenix, I replied saying I heard a colleague mention it in passing and looked up the internet and found their site. They have now replied telling me to ask my colleague if the know the name of the phoenix rep they heard about it from, they said they need this information before they can send me anything!! I think this is ridiculous and has put me off dealing with them!!

glitterball

Please don't be put off the company would have been trying to place
you in a group with other traders close to you for support.

I have been trading for a year and love it. The company are
great to work with.

orangefleece30

Met a very nice lady at a craft fair who was part of PHOENIX TRADING. I must say that the quality and pricing of the products was very good , in fact i did make a purchase. I later went back and had a long chat with here about Phoenix and it pros and cons. She gave mea card and it been sent off so will be getting an info pack very soon. I do reallylike the idea of this and the products just speak for themselves too.

I think the thing that has attracted me most is the no targets ethos and the fact that you can pick it when ever you choose.

Will be interesting to read the pack when it arrives.

onceuponatim

Not a PT but might be able to throw my 2p in.

An old neighbour of mine approx 10 yrs ago was massively into hand made cards and she sold tonnes by having her little tea parties.

I conversely have in the past tried leaving Christmas items from our Kleeneze catalogue with businesses similar to the book guy etc. By offering the girl on the front desk a free gift or something, she would sometimes help with the admin. It done okay!!

From speaking to others companies, Trade Fairs can be good but you really need a good pitch and a suitable amount of stock up front.

benbenandme

I have been thinking about joining Phoenix for a while but tonight I saw that the cards are going up to £1.50 in the new year and this has put me off a bit, this seems like a huge jump from the current £1.20?? The appeal for me was the lovely designs at such a great price, but now that price seems fairly average?

Also, could any of you answer me a couple of questions please as i've tried finding the answers to them but have failed ... If you sell via your website to a custimer who isn't local to you, do the products get delivered directly to the customer or do you have to post them, and if so, do you have to pay the postage yourself?

Lastly, what is the average cost of a stall at a craft fair / fete? I have no idea how much this would cost and am trying to get some kind of idea as to how profitable this could be?

Many thanks in advance