PLANNING Your Stampin' Year!

Hi Chicks!

I've been meaning to post this tip for a while now, but got busy : /

What reminded me was a FB chat I was having with my downline last night, as well as a text convo my soon-to-be-assistant Brittny and I were having last week (well, as soon as I get to be a bigger-time demo, ha ha!!!).

We were discussing ways to build our customer base.

I firmly believe that looking active on your DBWS is key to drawing a potential customer/friend to you.  If you have classes scheduled, it definitely catches their eye.  You will appear to be a thriving demonstrator with fresh, up to the minute event offerings.

Will your classes actually be filled at first?  Maybe, maybe not!  But the KEY is to get them on your calendar, block out the time, and be prepared.  THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS.  Treat it like one!

I sat down in November/December and planned out my Events calendar through June.  WHY?  It forces me to be accountable.  If I know that I have a class/club/event planned, I DO NOT schedule something on top of that, or allow my "real job" to interfere.  Seriously!!  When I submit my tentative work schedule each month, I type in "Can't work - teaching card class" on those days!  I consider my Stampin' Up! demonstratorship just as important as my career as a nurse case manager.

You can see my Events calendar here

Now, are all my classes always filled?  Well, to be honest - no.  I recently added the first Friday of each month as "Freebie Friday" - a beginning stampin' class JUST for brand-new stampers.  I haven't had anyone RSVP to it yet, but I'm hoping to very soon!

I was at a craft/vendor fair on Saturday and will mail free class passes to each of the leads I got inviting them to "Freebie Friday".  Hopefully I've planted a seed while talking to them and my free class pass will intrigue them!

Interestingly enough to me, Lisa Pretto of Ink Big Academy recently had this subject as her Coffee Q & A on March 10th!  Love it!!

My existing customers LOVE that they know my classes/clubs are consistently planned every month.  My Calendar Club gals KNOW that they're meeting with me every third Friday evening, my Basic Techniques and Advanced Papercrafters plan the last Sunday of every month to be at my house, and my customers that enjoy Product Based Classes can't wait to find out what new Stampin' Up! goodie that I'll highlight every first Sunday!  I'm hoping some new stampers will soon come to enjoy Freebie Fridays with me too!

So get out that calendar, block out your time and stick to it!  Let me know how it works for you.  It's working for me!

That's it for now, my peeps!

"Mama Chick" Jeni