Be Open for Business!

Be Open For Business During the Holidays



As you prepare to see friends and family during the holidays, be sure you’ve got your Longaberger business along with you. Pack up your favorite basket or Sisters bag with the following items:


Woven Traditions® Travel Mug
Fall/Winter WishList®
November/December Flyer
Holiday Supplement
A few order forms, calculator and pen
January 31, 2011 Retirement List
2011 Fundraising Flyer (click to view)
And your calendar… for bookings!


Talk about your business, our products and opportunity and you can turn ordinary conversations into extraordinary sales and bookings. And … be sure to stay tuned to your email for an exciting offer you won’t want to miss! Here is a calendar to help your planning:


HOLIDAY SALES CALENDAR ia now available online. 

Hold The Date — Thursday, JANUARY 6, at 7 p.m., CST


Please come to my home at 6 p.m. for a bowl of soup and fun as we prepare for Spring!  There will be prizes for all who attend!  And you will be home by 8:30!
Too far away to come?  Plan to attend via webinar! 
Be the first to see "what's new" at Longaberger for Spring and Summer, 2011! Complete details will be forthcoming, but please make plans now to gather with your fellow Home Consultants, customers, friends and family for a special webinar that will have you shaking off the cold and looking forward to the bright and fresh days ahead.

Booth at Bushland

I just wanted to share a few pictures

of my set up in Bushland.

And we have a winner!

Great November, Team!

Thank you.

We had a total of $6,731 in guest sales.

Thank you so much for each sale.

 There was a total of 52 entries in the drawing

and it was handled very scientifically.

In house.
Literally.

And the winner is...

LYNN!

Congratulations, Lynn! 

Lynn, watch your mail

for your Basket!

December Don't and December Do...

December is nearly here and it’s time for you to shine in your business. So, what will you do? Here is a checklist that can help navigate you toward success and avoid common holiday rush pitfalls.


Do Not’s

• DO NOT wait until Wednesday, December 15 to follow-up with customers who said they wanted to order! You will frustrate your customers and yourself. 
• DO NOT assume your customers, friends and family will call you if they need something. Take charge of your business and make the call. 
• DO NOT let sales go by because your customers, friends and family are uninformed…

Do they know you have an online store that ships gifts to anywhere in the U.S.?


Do they know you have 100’s of great gift ideas – many under $50?


Do they know you can save them money this holiday season with a fabulous Hostess Program?


Do’s

• On or before December 1, send an email, newsletter or post card to your customers, friends and family reminding them you CAN support their holiday gift needs. Remember, Christmas guarantee delivery date for shows and online orders is Wednesday, December 15. 
• Place a phone call to your customers who typically order in December for special gifts (i.e. secret Santa gift exchanges, teachers, pastors, friends, mailman, etc.) 
• Schedule a fun, quick "stop and shop” event that allows your customers, friends and family to stop by and order their holiday gifts with you personally. Have a few Longaberger food items or other great products on-hand for guests to cash and carry. 
• Plan to join us Tuesday, November 30 for our Tuesday Trainings session that will focus on Open Houses from A – Z.  Be sure to be at your computer at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the webinar to ensure the link is downloaded and you are registered before we begin promptly at 8 p.m. ET. 
• Carry a product and flyers with you everywhere you go! Listen for cues and make your move to share Longaberger!

For example:
I need the perfect gift for…
I am looking for a really unique gift…
I wish I could call someone and tell them what gifts I want…
I am tired of looking through stores and malls…
My holiday budget is limited, so I am looking for great gifts at a great value…


According to research, December 15 is one of the busiest online shopping days. Do make sure you get your share of the sales by ensuring your customers AND their friends know they can shop online with you!


With two days left in November and 15 great shopping days in December, you can be a Holiday Hero! Your extra touch will lead to great business, which results in money in your pocket!

Jingle In December

The holiday season is upon us, which provides plenty of fun ways to incorporate that fun into your business. Just as December is usually the big month of the year for retailers, so it can be for your Direct Sales business. Use the following tips from Beth Jones-Schall to provide fun and keep your business jingling during December!

• Holiday diva parties - Pick 2-3 friends or customers who you know love to decorate their homes for Christmas - those holiday divas - and invite them to host a party so everyone can come to enjoy all her creative talents, and enjoy Christmas shopping with you at the same time. 
• Holiday Hero Night - Invite the husbands of your hostesses, customers, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors to your home for a men's shopping night. Contact your customers to get their wish lists and their hubby's contact info. Maybe even ask your hubby to be the host and have it on a Monday Night to enjoy the football game while they shop. Offer free gift wrapping, and serve "guy food"! 
• Gift certficates - If your company doesn't provide them, design your own so guests can decide their price point. Be sure to clarify how to redeem and expiration date. Make great stocking stuffers. 
• Cookie exchange parties - Suggest your hostesses theme their December parties to do a Christmas Cookie Exchange party where guests bring 2 dozen of their favorite cookies (even from the bakery is fine!)and everyone swaps at the party. Then they do their shopping with you! Great to boost parties and attendance! 
• Suggest gift sets - Help your customers do their shopping by suggesting gift sets of various price ranges. Have a list of suggestions at your parties and to email to your customers. Make it easy for them to shop with you! 
• Host a December Opportuni-Tea - Invite your recruit leads to your home to enjoy Christmas cheer, a fun holiday tea and learn about your career opportunity. Encourage them to join now FREE and get started with holiday sales and so they can tell all those they will see at Christmas to get their January Calendars filled!
• Cards and coupons - Send Christmas cards to your faithful 2010 hostesses along with a coupon from you to use when they see you at a January 2011 party.

Here is my December schedule: 

• Wednesday, December 1, the wonderful Wednesday online special!  
• Thursday, December 2, I am headed to Bushland for a Ladies Night out at the middle school. 
• Saturday, December 4 brings our annual Wrap It Up Party!  Please come and bring a friend, family or customer to my house at 9AM!

Now, will you share a comment with your December sales plans?

December Gift Giving

December Excitement!

My favorite is the Monogrammed Basket Set.

This is our gift to our daughter and to our daughter-in-law!

Inside will be notecards.

I love to support my business with gift purchases!

What are some Longaberger gifts that you are giving?

Please leave a comment to share with us.



More Secrets to Success

Be your own customer!  Shop with yourself.  Purchase gifts from your own business. 

Recent email correspondence, "Cenci, another great online sale day? or a show? or what?  Inquiring minds want to know and need your success secret and encouragement!  Please share."

"Hate to say it, but just me!  :) or :( ?  LOL   I got several of those little  Gift Basket sets!  We give money for Christmas to  kids, nieces and his parents, and then gift certs to sisters.  Nine right there.  Also, got one for myself, my mom and then just got four extra since these little gems come in very handy for the last minute "oops, I forgot someones".  So, since grandchildren toys are ordered and shipped, and I have hit the Wednesday sales for my friends and service people gifts - my Christmas shopping is done done!" 

These are a few of my favorite things

• WI Expandable Trivet
• Large Picnic Basket
• Large Recipe Basket
• Sort & Store Fabric Bins
• Measuring Cup
• Butter Dish
• Utensil Caddy
• White Chocolate Amaretto Mix
• Fall Wreath

I will be sending this list to my customers and encourage you to put together your list and email it to your customers.  Your favorite things are what you usually sell the most because you love them and talking about how you use them comes so easy. 
These items are retiring in January.  :(  
But, don't fret, my pet.  Product is always retired to make room for new!  I can hardly wait to see the new Spring WL, but I definitely will be promoting the retiring products first!   

Success Secrets from our Team!

Cenci, "My secret this past Wednesday was family. I bought one of the baskets, but that was the only basket I sold. Everyone else got the insulated liners. The Market Basket is all of our go-to basket, and we like to keep an insulated cooler in our cars for various things. Then I also got 5 for gifts this Christmas for friends who have a Market Basket - $24 kept me round my $25 limit. :) This just happened to be one of those Wednesdays where there was something that was a great "add-on". I do hope they put that insulated liner in the regular line.



I truly do not always have sales on Wednesdays. They seem to go in spurts. The trick is to just get it out there to them. You will be surprised who will call you or send in an order! Sometimes it is people who have never bought from me before. And I need to keep posting the specials on Facebook. I have had two Wednesday sales from fb friends who have never bought from me before. All it takes to do that is a few minutes of my time. The company has done all the prep work for us!"

Leslie, "I had a home show last night!! This is one of the first times I have been really relaxed! Rachel had a total of 5 guests plus her made 6 with one outside order. Still have 4 guests that want to HOPEFULLY place an order. So much to look at when it is Holiday time! Right now it is at $100.00 with only 2 orders so far. Will close the show Sat. and hopefully submit by Monday."

Andrea, "Just wanted to give you a quick update on my sales for November. As you might have seen, due to an adjustment, my sales started off -$44. However, today I sold 3 coolers for the med. mkt. bsk. for a net of $46. Also, have a show for a minimum of $177 I will submit at month's end.



The fundraiser is going ok. Most people are just ordering a few food items each. It has to be submitted nlt Dec. 1 to guarantee holiday shipping." 

Have you seen the January Flyer?????

Baskets.. Pottery.. Wrought Iron & Wall Art - OH MY!  

CHECK IT OUT- 

• Save up to 30% on select Baskets and Wrought Iron!  (I found a piece that I don't have and really want it at this sale price) 
• Save up to 40% on all American Home Pottery (never before on sale like this) and select Woven Traditions Pottery! 
• Save up to 40% on select Wall Art! 
• A sweet Sweetheart Basket
• Beautiful Collector's Club 2011 Member Basket 
• The January only Sister's Get Away For The Day Tote, introducing the three new Sisters fabrics not officially launching until February! You will be so pretty carrying this new fabric! 

Go there now - http://www.mylongaberger/ - news and information - January 2011!  While you are online and for your convenience, order your January Flyers on mailexpress by 11/20!
And, please leave a comment about your favorite sale product! 

Longaberger comes to Dallas!

Don't you wish that Longaberger would come to your city?  We all do!  How far would you drive for a good Longaberger fix?  I found a great fix in Dallas.  I always enjoy seeing old Longaberger friends and making new ones.  Nothing can stand in the way of Longaberger love!  Tina Smythe, Rachel Mackey and Judy Jasper came from the Big Basket to share a little Longaberger joy!  Elizaeth McCormick (2010 Spirit of Longaberger award) and her team put together the beautiful displays. 

 Signature Baskets.
 GIft Giving

 Fundraising

Design a Basket

 Let it snow... Let it snow... Let it snow..

Ho... Ho... Ho...

TLC Comfort Food 

 The most wonderful time of the year

I'll have one of everything!

 I played with the displays a little.
Is this adorable?


Make a Basket

My guests...
Steve Richardson
Debbie Richardson

Mickey Richardson

Do you see the common thread?

Debbie received a special gift (she's holding the bag).

Mickey won a door prize

(his favorite TLC food, Southwest Seasoning).

Steve and Debbie took home special thank you gifts from their consultant (that would be me).

Thank you for taking a look at Longaberger in Dallas!

Vendor Booth

Would you like to participate

in a bazaar or craft show?

The one I just did was a holiday bazaar for

America Supports You Texas

(a support group for our military).

This alone made me happy.

Here are a few things to think about:

• a corner booth is more inviting
• place your product in the back, inviting attendees to come in and visit 
• be sure that the area is well lit
• have WL and Flyers to hand out
• offer mints or hard candy in a basket
• offer a give-a-way to secure customer information
• take along your computer, if possible to take orders
• dress a step above your normal
• display flyers (NFL, Collegiate, American Valor, Fundraising)
• display with all the imagination you can muster (hard for me)

Here are a few pictures that may be helpful.

I am sorry that I did not get an overall shot.

The two long tables were L shaped.

The little table stood alone at the outside corner.

Top Hat

The Top Hat is a hat for every season:

• Halloween, cover red with orange ribbon 
• New Year/ Formal, cover red w/ white ribbon
• Valentine's Day, just as it is
• St Pat, cover red with green ribbon
• Spring, add a plant in the basket 
• Cat in the Hat, add white & red ribbon 
• July Uncle Sam add red, white and blue

Medium Metropolitan Baskets

Mixing and matching wood and stain choices with the Medium Metropolitan Baskets can create a whole new look!  Yes, the lid is the Medium Metropolitan Basket Lid w/ tissue opening and could be accompanied by cold meds and hand sanitizer!  The Black Basket with a White Lid is my favorite!  What do you think?

And the winner is...

Andrea!

Your mug will ship as soon as I receive it!

Thank you Andrea and Leslie for your comments

and for sharing your sales plans!

Happy Holiday Selling!

Have you been here? 

It is your one-stop holiday shop on myLongaberger.com. This site will be updated weekly to include product and promotional tools, videos and activities to keep your business fresh and exciting through December. Happy Holiday Selling!

Love this TRAVEL MUG?

Who wants to win this

Candy Corn Travel Mug?

You, of course!

I love mine and

I found my husband's coffee in it one day!

Please leave a comment

with your plan for October sales ~ 

a home show, catalog party,

online sales, a booth,

a cash & carry order, 

whatever you plan to do

 in October to generate sales

and you will be entered!

In-house (literally) drawing

will be held on Monday, October 11!

Sisters - Flirty, Fun and Fabulous!!

Flirty, fun and fabulous!! This is the excitement the new Sisters™ bags are creating. The sales have been sensational from all three of the prints and the accessories make great add on sales!

We all love to be matchy matchy and the cell phone case, wallet and make up bag complete that need. What a great way to get people talking about Longaberger and to find new customers. 

Have a Sisters party where everyone brings their sister or their closest friend that they consider a sister. Everyone who brings a sister or bff to your next home party could be entered into a special door prize drawing for a Sisters product. Our business is a sisterhood so invite your sister, your best friend or a co-worker and have a blast sharing and chatting about this new product line.

I have a brother that I love dearly, but
You are my Longaberger Sisters!

And the winner is....

Leslie!

And her prize is this

Chocolate Pottery Chip!

Leslie is a self proclaimed "Chocoholic!"

Loving chocolate at anytime

 during the day or night,

her favorite is  the

"Dove" Dark & Milk Chocolate.'

"Baskets of Chocolate" to you, Leslie!

Watch your mailbox!

And remember...

I love each of you more'n chocolate!

Who Needs a Little Chocolate?

When do you need a little chocolate?
What is your favorite chocolate?

Leave a comment

and you are entered

in the drawing for

a little Chocolate Pottery Chip!
Comments make me happy!

Hey, I love ya
more'n chocolate!

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE NEW LONGABERGER

And why not? It's FREE!
That's right! FREE!

This offer is running alongside the Kit Kick Back program that runs through the end of September. For the REALLY serious I WANT to make MONEY NEW Consultant! The Kit Kick Back is BY FAR the BETTER offer for them.

Back to FREE, NEW consultants can now join for FREE from Now until December 31st. This offer is perfect for the New Consultant that just can't afford to take a risk right now. Not even a $259 risk.
So? What do you get for FREE? A new business, where you can instantly start earning money. There are NO products in this New Consultant offer. But where else can you start a business and start earning money for FREE? And the only stipulation for the new consultant is that they need to sell $500 by December 31st to remain a consultant or they will go back to being a customer and hostess!

This offer is good for the new consultants because... It's FREE!!
And it's good for us because if the new consultant doesn't work out, they're back to being our customer by the end of the year!
START SHARING! PLEASE. : )

Who loves CHOCOLATE?

Invite all chocolate lovers to a

September Chocolate Lovers Party!

Intruduce our new Chocolate Pottery

and serve the White Chocolate Amaretto Mix!

Don't have Chocolate Pottery?

Borrow mine!

Order the mix (2 in a package) for your hostess

so her work is easy or

be your own hostess

with a few friends over for chocolate!

Remember that you can order any five items

on a cash & carry order.

They are discounted 30%

will ship quickly,

and count as guest sales!

The Power of Suggestion

Pictured below is the TLC food sample display

from my open house.

Study it carefully.

Do you notice anything?

Yes, I know that the Beer Bread packet

is not turned toward the camera.

Look again.

There is more.

Mickey really enjoyed the taste test

Mickey loved sampling the TLC foods.
His favorite was the Key Lime

(or so he thought) even though there

was not a very strong lime taste. (teehee)

OK, here it is.

Unknowingly, I switched the Key Lime

and the White Chocolate Amaretto packets.

Oooops!

After a couple of hours,

I replaced the frozen platter under these dips

and placed the packets properly.

Mickey changed them.

I changed them back.

As he studied the display,

he asked about the dips.

I didn't realize that they were

improperly marked from the beginning.

This picture is proof.

He likes both,

but is very glad to have more lime flavor

in the Key Lime mix!

and we had a good laugh!

And the Goodbye to Summer winner is...

Kim Keys!

Thank you, Kim

for being a Blog follower

and for your August sales!

Congratulations, Kim!

Your Summertime Stripe Travel Mug

will be in the mail to you next week!

Boost your Business with the retiring Beverage Barrel!

This Hostess Exclusive item is retiring at the end of August. Now is the time to get some last minute book shows so your customers or you can get the Beverage Barrel.

A $250 show in August is so easy.

Let's look at using just the August FLyer

for generating sales.

Sell 5 Candy Corn Combos or

9 sets of the Appetizer Plates or

16 Candy Corn Mugs at only $16 each

(all your friends will want one)
to get the Beverage Barrel at 1/2 price!
But, wait - don't stop at the $250 level! When you get to the $350 level and get two bookings, you can purchase one of the Framed Wall Art or Mirrors (up to a $99 value) for only $30.


So, take advantage of the retiring Beverage Barrel by using it to get a few more sales. I love my Beverage Barrel and use it all the time in the mountains to serve cold or hot drinks! 

Bittersweet Fall!

Fall is my favorite time of year!

Longaberger in August offers

fabulous fall products:

Horizon of Hope

Trick or Treat

Bittersweet 

Goodbye to summer give-a-way!

Be a team member and follower,

with an August sale by August 31

and your name will go in the drawing

for the Summertime Stripe Travel Mug!

The drawing will be done by my

in house (literally) counter.

BACK FROM THE BEE 2010 MEETING!

I have been home for 24 hours,

resting and planning our meeting!

Wednesday, my home, 6 PM.

Please let me know that you can come!

Conference Call, Wednesday, 8 PM (central)

See you then!

BEE 2010

Day 4

Road Trip!

Kayla, Christina, Lynn, Shari, Leslie, Theresa

Off to the Big Basket!

Inside for the first time!

Isn't it beautiful?

Aren't we pretty on these stairs?

The Big Basket is BIG!

Off we go!

Woodcraft Tour

Sanding the lids.

Cutting them out.

Lathing.

Do you recognize this handle?

These blocks of wood will become...

Hersheys Kiss Lid (right) or

Cornucopia end (left)

Hope?

Lids for the baskets!

How the imprint is made.

Staining process.

Several runs are required.

The stain is actually applied

in the big white machine to the left.

Another form of lid art. 

This requires high heat.

Quality In Everything We Do.

We shopped at the Factory Store

and The Homestead,

ate a snack at Popeyes

and headed back to Columbus.

Good night!