It only seems fitting...

for the last week of the pottery sale to post the interesting facts:

Vitrified Pottery
Features:
• Vitrified, non-porous body created from special raw materials and extreme firing temperatures.
• High quality glazes.
• Exclusive ball and petal motif and embossed weave pattern.
• Available in décor-friendly colors.
Benefits:
• Vitreous pottery is stronger than typical stoneware so it resists chipping, cracking, and crazing better. It is safe for the dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer.
• High quality glazes provide a beautiful yet durable finish that makes clean up a breeze.
• Trademark designs and logos symbolize our commitment to high quality, long-lasting pieces that coordinate with both Pottery and Fabric pieces.
• Pottery colors coordinate perfectly with any decorating style for everyday use, and can be dressed up for formal entertaining. It allows customers to mix and match with the comfort of knowing that their pottery complements each piece and adds a splash of color.
Care:
• For baked-on goods, allow the pottery to soak in hot, soapy water and clean with a non-abrasive scouring pad.
• Using metal utensils, such as beaters or whisks, can cause black / gray marks (called metal marks) to form on the surface of the pottery because the crystals in our glaze are harder than the metal in the utensils. To remove these marks, use a non-abrasive cleaner such as Bar Keeper’s Friend or Zud.
• Even though our pottery goes through an extra foot polishing step, scratches may still occur due to stacking or use. These marks will show as a white line that contrasts with the glaze color.
• Do not use Longaberger Pottery on top of the stove, under the broiler, or over an open flame. Avoid extreme temperature changes; pottery pieces can safely be taken from the refrigerator and placed directly into a preheated oven or from the freezer to a cold oven for heating.
Good Things to Know:
• Most pottery pieces are hand finished to remove mold seams, giving them that hand-touched, quality finish.
• Place your pottery in the freezer or oven prior to serving to keep cold foods cold or hot foods hot.
• Solid Color Pottery requires more glaze to be applied to achieve the rich color and is fired on its foot (free from glaze) to avoid sticking to the kiln shelf during firing.
• Pottery that has been heated up to temperatures of 400º F can be safely placed directly into Longaberger Baskets. Pottery that is 300º F or less can be safely placed into baskets with liners. Hot pottery should not be placed directly into a plastic protector.
• Your Longaberger pottery is oven safe, which means it can go from room temperature to a hot oven or from a refrigerator to a cold oven. It is not oven proof, which allows for an item to go from freezer to hot oven and withstand extreme temperature changes quickly. • Unglazed areas are completely food safe as all Longaberger Pottery pieces are fully vitrified. There is no porosity in the fired clay body, so there is no place for bacteria to grow, even in unglazed areas.
• Pottery making is similar to basket making in two critical ways: there are variations in the raw materials since they’re obtained from nature, and many of the processes used to make the pottery are still done by hand. This means that no two pieces of pottery are exactly alike. Subtle yet appealing.
• Variations in design, color, and texture help ensure that each piece is unique in character and a true one-of-akind Longaberger collectible.
• Longaberger Pottery, like our hand-made baskets, are made to be used, cherished, and handed down.
• All Longaberger Pottery made by our Chinese supply partners will have a blue and white CCIB sticker on the package. To receive this China Commodities Inspection Bureau approval, our suppliers must:
1. Have their factories inspected and certified to be lead-free, and
2. Perform regular lead-release testing on the product they will import to the USA ; in this way, we insure that our suppliers’ suppliers continue to meet our safety requirements. Longaberger Product Quality monitors our suppliers’ test results and performs additional spot checks of the pottery in the CFC as well. All Longaberger Pottery meets and exceeds all FDA safety requirements, as well as the more stringent California Prop 65 standards.
Note:
Woven Traditions Pottery made prior to 2006 in the USA contained “pin-marks”, the points where the plate is supported during the glaze coat firing. They have been ground for safety, but cannot be removed completely without destroying the plate. During 2006, all Woven Traditions pottery transitioned to unglazed feet with no pinmarks.


High Quality Stoneware
Features:
• Longaberger offers only the finest Stoneware Pottery and is fired at high temperatures to achieve a bisque quality and to assure durability.
• Although it is fired to a lower temperature than vitrified pottery, the clay body has a 2-4% absorption rate anywhere that it is not covered by glaze.
• The lower firing temperature allows a much broader glaze color palette, allowing fresh, new hand painted decorations that are not possible for vitrified pottery. The composition of stoneware allows for highly detailed and brightly colored designs.
• Our stoneware is safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher.
Good Things to Know:
• After the first firing, the bisque is decorated to exact Longaberger design specifications and colors.
• A second firing process seals in the color and then a third firing takes place with glazing applied to finish the stoneware pottery
• Each piece is quality controlled and inspected at the factory origin.
• Our Stoneware accessories are lead free and comply with FDA and Prop 65 rules and regulations.
• The backstamp on each item distinguishes whether or not the item is vitrified pottery or high quality stoneware. The High Quality Stoneware backstamp states that the item is microwave and dishwasher safe, while the Vitrified Backstamp states that the item is oven, microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.
Care:
Why can’t I use my high quality stoneware in the oven?
Even though Longaberger’s Stoneware has been fired to a low absorption rate, some water from dishwashing can still be absorbed through the unglazed surfaces of the pottery in an oven, it will expand, causing stresses within the pottery. Over time these stresses can lead to premature cracking, chipping, or crazing.

A Satisfied Customer!

I received this email today from a customer/friend in CA!  I love my customers and their babies!  What a cutie!

Just thought I’d share our Easter picture of Nicholas with his Longaberger basket! I love that basket! He turned 3 at the end of March. He is so much fun right now.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Medium Market Basket Scoop

Can you believe that I have customers who do not own the Medium Market Basket?  Do you?  Well... here is the scoop...

You know that cute Americana Medium Market Basket with the FREE Insulated Cooler that is available May only?  WOW - what a deal, saving $40!  That is a great buy and I think we will sell some of them.  However, not all customers are all 'that' about the Americana.  (I know, "why not?")  But, what if we could offer the Warm, Rich or Black Medium Market Basket with the FREE Insulated Cooler in May?  It's true - WE CAN!  I think that our May sales of these baskets has increased by 75% by adding the stains!  So, I challenge everyone one to sell one Medium Market Basket (Warm, Rich, Black or Americana) in May!  Who can turn this down?  Only our customers who don't know about it.  So, let's get the word out for May!
 
And, umm, just in case I want to offer an incentive, send an email to me for each M Market Basket w/ cooler (include the color) that you sell!
 
Here are the numbers:
Warm 6240939
Rich 6240933
Black 6240965
Americana 62364

Make May Marvelous!                

FREE WISHLISTS?

It was such fun to offer FREE WishLists to you all!  Here are replies that I received:

I would love some. I will be able to use them if I get any home shows booked, it will also allow me to carry a few in my car. If I get the Sisters Summer Lovin' Tote when it becomes available I will put them in there!
Mahalo,
Andrea

I would love the wishlists if you still have them. I want to try taking them to Curves and try to get some orders from there.
Nancy

I would love to have some free wishlists.
Terri

I still have one set of five!  Who wants it?  Send an email to tell me how you will use them!

Popeye's Chicken Salad - a summer favorite at my house!

Popeye's Honey Pecan Chicken Salad

1 C Mayo

1/2 C Relish

2 T Minced Onion

1 T Honey

1 1/2 T Sugar

1 t Salt

1/4 t Pepper

3/4 C Chopped Celery

3/4 C Toasted Pecans, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 # Chopped Cooked Chicken (about 4 cups)

Combine mayo, relish, onion, honey, sugar, salt and pepper in bowl and mix well. Stir in celery and pecans. Fold in chicken.

Longaberger is meeting our needs!

Need tech support?  A digital marketing group is working to help us utilize technology!  I am excited about this!  Anyone with me?

Need a Longaberger FIX? 

• Tami will be Barnstorming America highlighting 12 cities from May 16th - June 23rd.  Watch for Tami coming to a city near you!
• BEE attendance can increase your paycheck!  Attending home consultants sell 4-5 times more and tend to be the best sponsors!  REGISTER NOW FOR THE BEE!

Need April Red Hot Happenings?

• Pottery Savings Event, of course! Get the Pottery Savings information to your customers!
• Now going out in EACH shipment - a WishList and Hostess Bundle Flyer!  Follow up with a phone call to each customer who receives any order to check on her order and ask about her personal 'Wish'List! 
• All inactive consultants will be receiving a WishList and pottery sheet from the company!
• Hot April Shows - entered by 4/18, $500 show hostess receives all the fabulous hostess benefits + a FREE basket!

Need bookings?  Wilda Schneider BL, OH needed bookings. So, she planned a Mystery Hostess Party, advertised in the paper (check the guidelines online) and added a note in her mailing (and/or mail or email invites and post on facebook).  She had lots of guests, orders and excitement.  With each $500 show order, there was a drawing for the hostess benefits!  Schedule your own Mystery Hostess Party in a way that will work for you! 


Need MORE TIME?
Sizzling Timesavers  (Implementing Terri’s suggestion that I took to JLM!  Thank you, Terri!)
Coming Soon!  MailExpress Subscription Service - May 10-20.  Establish your Mailing List to auto send!  You can cancel or change your list at any time.  This will be announced in Longaberger News next week!  Set up and use MailExpress!

My Office

Sometimes, it's just fun to snoop a little, isn't it?

I have been working for more than a year to simplify my life.  Cleaning, organizing, disposing, selling... and it is paying off.  Here are some pictures of my organized Longaberger.

My display of current products in a glass front cabinet.  It is in the laundry room, just off and visible from the kitchen.  Guests can easily see what's new, but I don't knock them down with my Longaberger business.

My current WishLists and Flyers set on the counter just below this cabinet, obvious and easily accessible.

Yes, most of my business takes place on my lap!  At a home show, I love not having my guests fill out the order form.  Book party?  So easy to enter the orders as they come to me.  Online orders?  Yeah, baby - all right here!  Yes, I still have a few order forms, but I have really greened up a lot by using less paper! 

However, nothing takes the place of personal contact.  I still make time to make a phone call, have lunch with a customer, invite a customer to have a glass of wine after work, make a date for coffee at Starbucks, or even take a new flyer by her house.  This is the personal touch that matters and makes a sale.  

Please leave a comment to let us in on how you are promoting your Longaberger business and/or how your office looks.   

Buzzin' by to see how you BEE!



I am registered for Bee 2011!  Are, you?  Why not?  We have so much fun together each year as we learn, share, shop, eat, laugh, congratulate, encourage and love each other!  Please join us this year.  I am inviting each of you to come and encourage you to bring a friend, husband, mother, or daughter!

Leave a comment to let us all know that you will BEE there!

Turn Up The Heat!

Turn Up The Heat!



Beginning in April, we’re turning up the heat and giving you three months of rewards that can’t be beat! With our HUGE POTTERY SALE, April is a spectacular month in your business and the perfect time to begin earning our Turn Up The Heat incentive. When you consistently sell and sponsor April through June, great rewards are waiting for you:


Turn up the Heat Sales Incentive: Earn up to $150 in Just for Business Shop Online credits by submitting $500 in Sales Credit during the months of April, May and June, 2011.

Summer Premiere Comments

Andrea's thoughts...

• I like the new product very much. I love the Summer Lovin' Village Basket and Sisters Tote. I think they are both a good value, the basket even more so.   
• I also like the melamine, I just wish there were more pieces available and that the small size storage bowl was available separately so you could have one for each small basket.
• The Oasis pottery is very modern and nice.
• The Americana Market Basket with free cooler is a fabulous deal.
• Not sure how I feel about the sample offer and having to spend $35 to get the special offer.
• Best announcement would be the half price Village Basket and Market Basket/cooler offer.
• I think many people will like the market basket offer and the Americana line.

I would like to promote the June hostess offer by getting the Village basket and Sisters tote on sample however I don't see the tote available and the Village Basket is not available until May 4 so I can't use it to qualify as my purchase for the special sample offer.

(Andrea, supplies will count for qualifying, too!)

WOW - Early April Hostess Bundle!

Summer Lovin'

Thank you for your preview responses to the Summer Premiere:

Cenci's preview response~
I got my Summer Flyer today as well!! I am amazed - since I live in po-dunk holler!!

Yes - the new products for summer are Fabulous!
I am always a HUGE fan of anything that is red-white-and-blue! A Market Basket?!?! Yeah man! And more and more and more (baskets and pottery and accessories)!
The Drink Mixes? I think this will be HUGE!
The Summer Lovin' Weaves? Gorgeous!! The colors are SOO on target !
The New Bright White? OMG!!! How did we miss this? It has GOT to be a HUGE seller . . . .
And . . . . the May and June Hostess specials? TOTALLY awesome!
May is going to be as BIG a pottery month as April - - - completers and retireds, in unavailable pieces? How cool is that?
I am pumped and ready to sell!'
Go Longaberger!
Cenci

Leslie's preview response -
Thought the new Summer Breaks Flyer was really nice!!!  Of course the Med. Market Basket in the Red White and Blue is just outstanding!!!!

What a Deal - Mother's Day Basket and Mugs!

This month's special for our customers is if they purchase the Mother's Day Basket or Basket Set, they can purchase up to 6 Mother's Day Mugs for just $10 each. It's a great offer! We do have a cut-off date for guaranteed delivery for Mother's Day:

Mother’s Day Guarantee

To ensure your customer’s receive their Mother’s Day Baskets and Sets in time for Mother’s Day, all orders must be received on or before April 21. All orders received on or before this deadline will be shipped in time  for Mother's Day gift giving.

And the Winner is...

Andrea Owen

And her prize is...

Watch your mail, Andrea!

And how to be entered?

Simply copy me on your customer emails!

Turn Up The Heat!

Beginning in April, we’re turning up the heat and giving you three months of rewards that can’t be beat!

April is a spectacular month in your business and the perfect time to begin earning our Turn Up The Heat incentive. When you consistently sell and sponsor April through June, great rewards are waiting for you.

Your Tools (all available at myLongaberger.com)
•April Home Show Video
•Awesome April Campaign Kit
◦April Hostess Bundles
◦Pottery Sale Price Sheet
◦Search For Pottery Customers
◦Four-Step Hostess Coaching
◦Creating A Hostess Thank-You Program
◦Easy Steps To A $500 Show


Your Incentives (details at myLongaberger.com)
•Turn Up The Heat Sales Incentive
•Bring On The Bee Sponsoring Incentive


Your Tips
Have a great idea for turning up the heat this month and throughout the spring? Share it with us as a comment!