NCT #3 - What do you need to know?

Here's a little checklist of the things you need to know as a Consultant. If you feel you need help in any of these areas, check your Consultant Guide, review your New Consultant Training Notes, call your sponsor, or call your leader.

In no particular order, you need to know...

• How to manage your diary
• How to get a booking with a date and time
• How to hostess coach
• How to host a show yourself
• How to take an order
• How to set up a display
• How to process a show
• How to collect payments at the time of sale
• How to do a presentation
• How to calculate host benefits
• How to network
• How to ask for referrals
• How to identify leads
• How to burn all of our candles
• What is in our catalogue

Do you feel pretty good about all of those things? If so, great! Congratulations on your hard work and study. If not, it's not hard to learn. In addition to some reading and training, observing other people doing a show is another great way to become more familiar with our ways. Hopefully you watch two shows before you do your own. And I don't mean observing shows by going to them as a guest like you may have done before you decided to become a consultant; I mean using show observation notes and really thinking about what the consultant is doing from beginning to end. It is different.

The PartyLite way is to do things right, to not be pushy, to respect other Consultants, to respect our hosts, to respect our guests, to respect our competitors, and to be ethical in our work. We don't gossip. We don't cut down others. We want everyone to be successful.

Especially you.

Only One Week to go for the Rainbows Conference Early Bird Offer

Every time I get an email back letting me know that another Rainbow  is coming to conference, I get more and more excited. This is going to be so much fun!

For those of you who've come before, I know exactly why you're coming back. For those of you who've been part of our team for awhile and haven't been able to make it to conference - it's never to late to start. For those of you who are inactive and don't think that you should come to conference, I encourage you to rethink - conference is a great motivator and might be just what you need to start the ball rolling again. For those of you who are new to PartyLite.... I can't think of a better way to start your business.

(For those of you who aren't Rainbows, don't fret - there's lots of good information in this post that might help you make the decision to go.)

Kudos to you all for considering this investment in YOU. Now... let's get you some valuable information.

Conference Registration RAINBOW EARLY BIRD OFFER
Conference registrations are open, and I’d like you to make the commitment now. So here is my offer. Every Rainbow who registers for conference before the close of business on Thursday, April 22nd will get a fantastic early bird present when you attend conference. If you register after April 22nd, you won’t get the early bird present. New consultants who start after today will have 2 weeks from their start date to register, and, if they do, they will qualify for my early bird gift, too. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS THURSDAY – 22/4/2010.

Conference Registration RAINBOW OFFER
I will give all Rainbows who register for conference a pack of the new catalogues once they are released (value $27.50). REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2010 (or earlier, if capacity is reached).

Conference Registration RAINBOW CANCELLATION OFFER
If you need to cancel your registration (which you must do in writing before the close of business on Wednesday June 30, 2010) you will still receive the pack of new catalogues. (This means it really only costs you $22.50 to reserve your conference seat.)

Conference Accommodation ROOMMATE PLANS

Part of the reason we need to register now is so that we can organise our rooms and our roommates at the Royal Pines Resort. I will be happy to assist all Rainbows in organising a roommate. Rooms are discounted to $170 per night for conference attendees, so the cost per person for 3 nights is $255. I do not recommend sharing 3 to a room, because the third person gets a trundle bed and the trundle bed costs an additional $45 per night. It is available, but I think 2 per room is more comfortable.

Conference AIR TRAVEL
Conference Registration opens at 1:00 on the Thursday afternoon and the conference starts at 3:00. Airport arrivals after 1:00 pm are not recommended. The gala dinner on Saturday ends after 11:00 and it is usually a late night, so plan your flights out according to your sleeping requirements.  I won’t leave until about 2:00 – no rushing for me.

Conference GROUND TRANSPORTATION
You should definitely share taxis getting to and from the Resort. You won’t need a car.

Conference FOOD
Light snacks are served on Thursday evening, so we usually eat a pizza or something at the hotel bar after the meet and greet. Hotel breakfasts are discounted to $22, or you can be thrifty and bring your own breakfast to the hotel. I eat breakfast in my room most mornings, but on the Sunday morning, I usually go out. Friday morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea are provided, and we will go out to dinner as a region. Cost of dinner is usually less than $50 and the restaurants in the past have been BYO (so I bring a bottle of wine from home). Saturday, other than breakfast, all food is included: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and the gala dinner.

Conference SHOP
You are under no obligation to participate in conference shop, but there are usually some great bargains to be had – exclusive to conference attendees. I buy door prize items and small host gifts. You can also do personal shopping, gift purchases, and stock up on wax (usually discontinued fragrances). Extra credit if you can get a picture of Sandra, Nicole, and me sneaking down to conference shop in our pyjamas at 6 in the morning to avoid the crowds.

OK – I hope I’ve given you lots of reasons to ask more questions, get planning, and get your registration in! You will absolutely LOVE conference. Once you go, it’ll be something you’ll tell other people they shouldn’t miss. I promise.

NCT #2 - Bookings

The key to this business is bookings. New consultants need to organise 6 shows in order to get started. These shows are very likely to be with friends or family as hosts. These shows should occur in a 2-3 week period. The point is to use these shows as training. Most importantly, the goal is to get 2-3 bookings form each of these shows. That way you begin to expand your business outside of your immediate circle.

How?

1. Be honest. Put learner plates onto your display (yes, literally - they're free at the RTA) and from the beginning let people know that you are new to the company and in your training period.

2. Be yourself. If you practice your presentation a few times before you do your first shows, you'll be more relaxed at the shows and you'll be able to be yourself.

3. Be direct. Let the guests know that you'd love to get more bookings so that you can meet more people. Tell them that the best way for them to refer people to you is to host a show. Be sure to explain the host benefits during your presentation. Through our host program, most hosts get $150 in free products and qualify for savings on more.

4. Be prepared. Have your diary with you, have it marked with the days you are available, have a pencil, and have your Bonus Hostess Vouchers. (I have all of these things wherever I go - not just at shows.)

5. Be helpful. Rather than let someone struggle to choose a date or time, make suggestions.

"I find that Thursday night shows go really well - they are casual late night shopping."
"Most people have family plans or footy on the weekend, you might want to choose a Tuesday evening - that's a night most people are available."
"I suggest that your show starts at 2:00 - that's after lunch and before any night time plans."
"I suggest that your show starts at 7:30 - that's after dinner, but not too late if they have work in the morning."

6. Be relaxed. Don't take any no's personally. Don't force people into dates. Don't beg people to book. Don't worry if they don't.

7. Be inquisitive. 

"Did you see some items you like?"
"Did you learn something about candles that you didn't know before?"
"Did you have a good time?"
"Would you like to have $150 in free products by hosting a show?"

8. Be referred. When you arrive at the show, talk to your host. Ask her why she decided to host a show. Ask her if it was difficult to organise the party. Ask her if your help before the show was helpful (providing invitations, literature, and advice). Ask her what her favourite product is. Ask her which Hostess Special she would want. Then, later, in front of everyone, ask her to share those answers again. She will, in effect, be referring you to her guests.

9. Be professional. After taking orders and bookings, calculate the host benefits, take the host's order, confirm the shipping address, pack up quickly, thank everyone, congratulate and thank the host, and leave.

10. Be positive. You can do it. You have a great offer. You have great products. You have support from your leader. You have training in how to overcome objections (Section 5 of the Consultant Guide). Keep a positive attitude and a smile on your face whether people say yes, no, or not now.

For Your Diary: Consultant Training Dates

Hi. We've grown. And we're growing. The only boundary we have is a national one. We can sponsor anyone, anywhere in Australia. So instead of listing only the dates for Sydney, I've put the dates for all Consultant training across the nation. Action: Add the appropriate ones to your calendar and remember that all these dates are here (and on the CBC).

April 2010
19 Melbourne Area (VIC) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
21 Adelaide Area (SA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
22 Perth Area (WA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)

May 2010
15 Toowoomba Area (QLD) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)
17 Brisbane Area (QLD) Leaders’ Day Seminar (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)
19 Sydney Area (NSW) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
22 Rockhampton Area (QLD) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)
24 Cairns Area (QLD Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
25 Cairns Area (QLD) Leaders’ Day Seminar (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)

June 2010
15 Brisbane Area (QLD) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
21 Melbourne Area (VIC) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
23 Adelaide Area (SA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
24 Perth Area (WA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
26 Kalgoorlie Area (WA) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)

July 2010
29-31 National Conference ~ Gold Coast, QLD

September 2010
4 Coffs Harbour Area (NSW) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)
9 Cairns Area (QLD Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
15 Sydney Area (NSW) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
18 Wollongong Area (NSW) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)

October 2010
16 Bundaberg Area (QLD) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)
30 Darwin Area (NT) Consultant Training Day (9.30 am – 3.00 pm)

November 2010
15 Melbourne Area (VIC) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
17 Adelaide Area (SA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
18 Perth Area (WA) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
22 Brisbane Area (QLD) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
24 Sydney Area (NSW) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)
29 Cairns Area (QLD) Consultant Workshop (7.00 pm – 9.30 pm)

Wendy Lloyd Curley - Independent PartyLite Consultant and Senior Unit Leader
www.rainbowsandcandles.com

NCT #1

Welcome to the first of a series created especially for new consultants. I intend for these to be short and sweet suggestions, information, ideas, and actions to do in your first 30 days as a consultant. Perhaps you have good suggestions that I should include? Send them to me at wendy@wlcenterprises.com and I'll incorporate them into a future post.

Here are 5 things you should do when you get your PIN from PartyLite.

1. Log into the Consultant Business Centre (from here on in, called the CBC). You can find the CBC by going to www.partylite.com.au and clicking on the consultant log-in button in the bottom left of the homepage.
2. Click on the PartyLite learning centre and watch the Welcome to PartyLite video.
3. Make your first consultant order online and order the $30 printed version of the Consultant Guide (NOTE: all consultant orders incur a $9 shipping and handling fee). (If you are in the Rainbows, I will reimburse you the $39 when you qualify with $2000 in sales before the end of your first business month.)
4. Find online, print, fill out, and send in via mail or fax (1) the direct debit/credit form and (2) the Candle Connection registration. They are in the Downloadable Brochures section under Forms and Sales Aids.
5. Add all unit meetings, training dates, and conference dates into your diary.

That's a great start!

Wendy Lloyd Curley - Independent PartyLite Consultant and Senior Unit Leader
www.rainbowsandcandles.com