Laurie Ayers Scentsy Independent Consultant Blog

Growing Your Business

18 July 2017 By LA Leave a Comment

I saw the following come through on my LinkedIn newsfeed. It was posted by Sheronde Glover, M.ED. It is so applicable to our business that I wanted to share.

Entrepreneur Growing Pains Hurt

If you think starting a business is hard or challenging, then try growing one. Ouch! I want to share a few “musts” for moving past your pain points when it comes to growing your business.

You must be willing to make TOUGH decisions.

You must be willing to PIVOT when required.

You must take ACTION consistently. Momentum breeds results.

You must be willing to ASK for help. [Read more…] about Growing Your Business

Historically in February and August of each year, most current Scentsy products are 10% off to make room for the upcoming new season. There are a few exceptions such as our licensed products like NFL and Disney. Also, our charity products are not discounted. There may be a few others, but for simplicity, remember most are 10% off in those months.

Enhanced Starter Kit

Also, historically new consultants who join Scentsy during one of the transition months will get the current season catalogs and scent testers in their starter kit and as a bonus they will also get the new upcoming season catalogs and scent testers. This is something to think about for consultants who are considering joining in July or January, because if they wait a few more weeks they can get the extra contents.

However, that said, the best time to join is when you are ready to get started. That new excitement is gold and you don’t want that to wane while you’re waiting for the enhanced starter kit. Consider this: It’s 5 July and you want to join Scentsy. If you wait a little more than three weeks you can get the upcoming new testers and books. But you’ll have three weeks to potentially doubt yourself or to lose the excitement. Or you can join on 5 July, get the current season starter kit and start selling right away, earn a commission for July sales to purchase upcoming catalogs and scent testers and already have new customers who want to re-book or reorder in August or September.

Whereas, if it’s 18 July, then you may want to reconsider since 1 August isn’t that far away. You could still lay the ground work for the launch of your new business 1 August and let your contacts know to watch for your Grand Opening. Weigh all your options when you are nearing a transition month.

If you have someone who wants to join your team and asks when is the best time they should join, your response should be something like:

“The best time to join is when you’re ready to jump in. Here are a few factors to consider …”

It’s their business, their life, their situation, their wallet, so give them all the facts and let them consider when it is the best time to join.

New Business Supplies

Also during transition month, all current consultants, except those joining during February or August, will need* to purchase new business supplies for the upcoming season. Business supplies are things like catalogs, showcase brochures, product sheets and scent testers. They are 10% off during transition months.

*I say need, but actually these purchases are all optional. The point is if you don’t order them, you won’t have them. I would definitely recommend getting some paper products to market your business. If you’re working vendor events or doing mailings, you may opt for the product sheets for most people and then have a small stash of catalogs for those who specifically ask for a catalog. That’ll save you some money in both postage and your supply order.

As for scent testers, you have a number of options. A “transition set” contains just the new or returning scents for the upcoming season. If you have a full set of testers for the current season, you would pull out those scents that are being discontinued or retired for the new season, keep all those that are remaining, and then add the transition set. Then you’ll have a complete, full set for the upcoming season.

Testers are available for purchase in party or mini size. Party size is the size that is included in your starter kit. Minis are smaller, approximately the size a Carmex lip balm pot. I’ve heard some consultants get the new scents in the mini size so it’s obvious to customers which ones are in the new season. For other consultants, the mismatched sizes would drive them nuts.

You can also purchase an entirely new set of testers that contains ALL the scents in the upcoming season. This is a good idea if you plan to have multiple basket/pouch parties out at once. Or lastly, another option is not to get any testers. It really depends on how you are mainly working your business.

If you are working it mainly with vendor events or online, then you may not have a need for testers. You can use your cash and carry inventory for customers to sniff and purchase. However, if you’re doing home parties or mobile parties you really should have testers.

How do you know which scents are gone for good and which ones may return next season? You won’t know for sure, which is why you want to encourage your guests to stock up as they may not return the following season. There have been some popular scents that return each year. For example, it’s likely you’ll see some pumpkin and cinnamon scents return in the fall and some floral scents, such as gardenia, return in the spring. It really depends on how overall sales of those scents were the previous year, as well as continued availability of the fragrance oils.

Last Chance, First Glance

If you’re an organized consultant and have a host who will be good for getting shoppers to the party, it’s a good idea to have a Last Chance, First Glance party. If you don’t have a host for such event, you could host your own.

This is an event scheduled near the end of the transition month, typically last week of February or August. Guests will be able to order from the current catalog at 10% off AND they’ll be able to place orders out of the new catalog. But they need to be separate parties on paper. You can’t combine the orders into one big party order.

The Last Chance parties absolutely have to be closed out by 28 February or 31 August and must meet the minimum party order to qualify for host rewards (currently 200 PRV). I would strongly, strongly encourage you NOT to wait until the very last day of the month to put orders in. If you’ve experienced a transition before you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, trust that it can be frustrating trying to get orders in before some discontinuing products sell out, and you always risk system slowdown with the masses who didn’t heed this advice.

You also won’t be able to enter any First Glance orders for the new catalog until the official start of the new season. You only have five (5) days to submit orders to Scentsy once you collect the order and money. Therefore, you have to time your Last Chance, First Glance party so you’re within this standard. The First Glance party also must be at least 200 PRV to qualify for host rewards.

As you see, you’re looking at a minimum total of 400 PRV to submit within a few days of each other, which equates to even more rewards for the host.

Stay Informed

Keep an eye on your email and the news tab of your workstation for specific transition information such as dates and prices. If you have any questions about this, ask your sponsor or your director. Embrace change, and remember to focus all you’ll be gaining, not on what you are losing.

See you at the top!

Please Like, Share or Post a Comment!

About the Author: Laurie Ayers (that’s me) is a Superstar Director with Scentsy who started in 2006. Be sure to connect with me on Pinterest

My Head is Going to Explode

15 July 2017 By LA Leave a Comment

I’ve been working on the backside of WordPress all morning and now I think my head is going to explode.

I have used WordPress for my blog for more than a decade. I am very much a plug and play person. Except now I am trying to do all the coding and programming myself and it’s pretty much gibberish to me.

You should see all the tabs I have open right now, both literally and figuratively. I’m trying to use The Googles to help me figure out how to do things. Yet WordPress updates often therefore I need to make sure I am reading only the most current helps.

Oh my my.

This hurts my head. I want to give up. I want to say, “Screw it, I don’t care how much it costs, I’ll outsource this.” [Read more…] about My Head is Going to Explode

Blog Post Every Day?

10 July 2017 By LA Leave a Comment

You may have you noticed it seems like someone lit a fire under my butt and that I’m blogging every stinkin’ day in July.

That is true. That someone is me.

I got out of the habit of creating regular blog posts on here and my traffic suffered because of it. So I’m going back to basics. But I’m doing so with a vengeance so I can create a new habit.

I’m also challenging myself and holding myself accountable to the 30-day commitment I made to myself. And it has to be a post that I put thought into. I’m not going to just slap up a graphic and call it good – unless it’s so poignant that no editorial is needed. Besides, I like to write too much to just pop up a picture and call it a blog post.

I’ve scheduled a few posts for when I will be at Scentsy’s annual convention later this month. However for the most part, I like to write daily based on whatever is happening or whatever I come across in my life that would make a good post.

Want to know what I’ll post about next? Stick around … you’ll find out.

What about you? Have you fallen out of a good habit you had going? You can start a self-imposed 30-day challenge at any time, y’know. You don’t need to wait until the start of a fresh calendar month. If I can do it, you can do it!

Beach Bonfires

9 July 2017 By LA Leave a Comment

Don’t you just love the beach, and bonfires? Even better is a bonfire on the beach as you listen to the crackling fire, and waves hit the shore, as you sit nestled with your feet in the sand.

Want to hear a funny story about a beach bonfire?

Years ago, about thirty to be exact (I’m no spring chicken), I was at the beach at night; never you mind what I was doing there. Also, that summer there were a lot of underage kids drinking on the beaches at night. Local law enforcement was out in droves doing beach sweeps picking up minors who were drinking. I was in my 20s at the time, so I wasn’t one of the minors they were targeting.

I watched a whole slew of sheriff’s deputies approach a large bonfire and bring all the kids up to the parking lot. They all received a summons to appear in court. I suspect their parents were also called that night. I was also swept up in the “sting.” I explained to the deputy that I was neither drinking nor underage.

Apparently though I missed the sign that said that park closed at dark. Alas, I too received a summons to appear in court. However, my ticket said that I was on the beach at 4pm, not 4am. [Read more…] about Beach Bonfires

Laurie Ayers Scentsy Independent Consultant Blog

Growing Your Business

I saw the following come through on my LinkedIn newsfeed. It was posted by Sheronde Glover, M.ED. It is so applicable to our business that I wanted to share.