Sometimes we all need a little help and there is nothing more to this tip than the fact the suppliers shown below want to help you sell more orders, and make more money off the ones that you are selling!

The first (200) distributors that respond to this tip will receive the following samples and incentives from:

Warwick–Free Sample kit of Best Selling Products!

Ariel–Stress reliever selling samples!

GMG Pen–Free Pen selling kit!

Fey–Peel-n-stick Calendar and Weekly Planner samples!

Totally Bamboo–Free shipping coupon!

Riptaw Graphics–Introductory Art Job offer!

Essent–Free Company Store consultation!

Reflectix–Neon Pet Tag sample kit!

Towel Specialties–($20) off an order coupon!

Windbrella–Free screen on umbrellas!

Quikey–Free Key Tag sample kit!

Idol Memory–Special offer on credit card flash drives!

Dooley–Free Cup & Megaphone selling kit!

Senator–Anti-Bacterial Pen samples!

Leanin’ Tree–Seed Paper selling samples!

Vonco–(40%) off screen charges or Free Virtual sample!

Cloth Promotions–Free screen (up to $50.00) on lens cleaning cloths!

American Zebra–Free sample of New Neoprene Can Holder!

Headwear USA–($20) off coupon on your next order!

A La Carte–QR Code Selling samples!

If you would ike to receive these offers, please respond with your contact information to don@sellpromoproducts.com

The Answer is “NO”

Do you want to maximize your potential? Then you need to be saying “NO” on a regular basis. Salespeople, who can’t do so, always find the path to success harder to travel than those who have learned the art of being able to say “NO” at the right time and in the right circumstances. If you’re ready to sell more orders at higher margins, then continue reading.

What “NO” really means

Using that word during the selling process means that you are setting boundaries on people with whom you deal. When you impose limits, you’re demonstrating to others the way you run your business. By doing so, you will be able to operate more efficiently and make the most from your sales opportunities.

What happens when you don’t say “NO”?

Many of us have a tendency of taking on too many projects at a time. We do so mistakenly thinking that by doing many things simultaneously, we are more productive. How many times have you heard the saying, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person!”? But the reality is that most of us over schedule our lives and that leads to failure. When you learn to say “NO” at the proper time, you make sure that your efforts are channeled in the right direction for you.

How Boundaries define you

Are you one of the thousands of salespeople who will take orders from anyone who will give them one? They don’t set standards for themselves because they only want to book the order and are not concerned about the selling price, the terms of the sale, or when they will get paid. These salespeople only care about writing orders, many of which are either unprofitable or more trouble than their worth or both! Distributors who take this type of business operate on lower margins, and end up spending countless hours being frustrated.

Here’s who needs to hear “NO”

1. Customers who want a Bid

Distributors who have to bid on orders spend too much time trying to figure out what price they need to quote. If they bid too little and end up getting the order, then they badly for leaving money on the table. If they lose jobs because their bid was too high, they beat themselves up trying to figure out how low of a bid they should have submitted!

2. Suppliers who sell only on price

There are hundreds of suppliers who only know how to do business based on price.
They try to attract distributors by offering products at prices cheaper than their peers. Unfortunately, suppliers who do business this way are rarely able to back up their cheaper price with either service or quality, which leaves both you and your customer suffering the consequences.

3. Customer who ‘slow pay’

Customers who slow pay are always full of excuses. Their stories run the gamut from claiming their business is slow or that they are suffering problems with receivables. Here’s the bottom line: customers who don’t pay on time should be eliminated from your account base. Once someone becomes 90-120 days past due, sue them in small claims court. You’ll be amazed at how fast you will get paid when you show them that enough is enough. The majority of people with whom you use this collection method will call and say, “You didn’t have to sue me to get paid; I was just about to write you a check.”

4. Prospects who ‘shop’ you

There are thousands of prospects that will use your ideas and then place orders with someone else. Avoid giving away your expertise by only dealing with people whom you know. To make sure that new customers don’t use your ideas, and then buy from your competitor, ask a series of qualifying questions before you show anything to anyone. One example of such a question is to ask the prospect who they’ve been buying from in the past. By asking the right questions up front, you will be saving yourself the heartache of being used.

5. Factory reps who offer nothing

There’s a wide variety of abilities among supplier representatives in this industry. Make it your policy to only spend time with multi-line or factory reps that you find to be sincere. You will know how well they will stand behind you by the way they follow up on their meeting with you. If a rep comes to see you and fails to send a thank you note and/or email or follow up phone call, beware of placing orders with the companies they represent. If they can’t t follow up on their meeting with you, chances are they won’t be there when you really need them.

There is an art to saying “NO”

Use the “NO” word politely

In their efforts to please everyone, some salespeople end up getting themselves into difficult situations. They take on too many tasks, or accept orders that offer low profit margins. In some instances, they place orders with bad suppliers, which causes nothing headaches. To keep yourself out of situations like these, learn to tell people that you deal with exactly what you expect. If they cannot provide what you need, learn to tell them “NO” in a diplomatic way.

Tell Customers “NO”, too

Being able to say “NO” also applies to taking orders from customers. If the margin on a sale is insufficient, don’t be afraid to tell the customer that you will not be able to sell them at that price. It’s better to be honest with people. If someone doesn’t want to pay your price, politely walk away from the order. It’s best to let people know up front that they will never get a cheaper price from you, but they will get better ideas and superior service.

Saying “NO” brings real Success

Distributors who are able to set boundaries on customers and suppliers are more successful than those who say, “yes” to everything. By wisely picking and choosing your customers and suppliers, you are setting standards for your business practices. When you do, you will be joining the list of distributors who sell orders that offer really big margins and a greater sense of satisfaction.

School and PTA groups are always trying to raise money for their efforts.
If you are looking to sell some fast orders, then you should be showing schools, PTA’s and youth athletic teams imprinted cups and megaphones. These items can be printed with the school or team’s logo and can be re-sold by team members and supporters in their neighborhoods.

Imprinted cups and megaphones would be excellent sellers since parents and friends can only buy so many cookies and gift wrap!

If you would like to receive a Free Cup & Megaphone selling kit from Dooley, please contact: don@sellpromoproducts.com

Order from: don@sellpromoproducts.com

If you would like to receive a sample of American Zebra’s new Neoprene Can Holder, contact: don@sellpromoproducts.com

Is a Home Office Right for You?
Thousands of people operate successful distributorships out of their homes. They do so for different reasons, but nearly all of them say that the practice is both convenient and profitable. A home office situation can offer you many advantages over conventional office environments, such as more freedom, more flexibility, and the opportunity to be at home with family.

If you want to make it work, you have to have discipline and you have to make your office a designated workspace — even if it is in your bedroom or the kitchen. Put it in a place where you like to be. If your basement is dark and dreary, it’s likely you’re not going to enjoy working there. Bottom line… use the room that will be most conducive to getting work done. The designated work space should be well-organized and in a quiet location away from the distractions that being at home will always have– the refrigerator, TV, children, lawn work, dishes in the sink… you name it. For most people who successfully work at home, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Let’s look at a few of each.
Advantages

• Easy access
Just walking around the corner or up the stairs is a pretty easy way to conduct business. You save time and eliminate stress by not having a congested commute to an office; and you save in gas, wear and tear on your car.

• Lower business costs
Besides lowering travel costs, people who office from their residence eliminate the need to rent or purchase office space. They are also able to do away with hassles related to landlords.

• Flexible schedule
People who work at home are often more productive because they benefit from being able to work when they are most productive. Doing work on the weekends and in the evening is easier when your business tools are only steps away. If you remain disciplined, you can adjust your working schedule to best meet your personal obligations.

• Improved quality of life
When combined with proper disciple, people who work at home tend to live a more balanced life. Not only can they eat a better diet that includes less fat food, but also they have more opportunities to get physical exercise when needed mentally. A more relaxing work environment also reduces stress.

Disadvantages

• Less space for home life
When a home and business exist together, there is obviously less space available for you and the rest of the family. To overcome this problem, boundaries must be defined and adhered to by all parties.

• Motivational issues
If you have problems staying motivated or handling distractions, a home office may not be for you. It takes a concerted effort to separate your free time from your work time because your work is always “there.” On the days when you begin to feel isolated because you’re always home alone, it’s time to go out and make sales calls.

• No place to meet clients
You have to be prepared to meet clients in your home. If this is a problem, you need to find an alternative meeting place such as conference room at an executive suite, or at a restaurant for lunch or coffee to discuss business. The easiest solution is to always go to your client. That’s also the most accommodating and convenient approach.

• Organizational challenges
You must be organized to succeed in home office settings. Failure will follow if you are prone to leaving important documents in places where you cannot easily retrieve them. You’ll also have less administrative and managerial support than you’d have in a conventional office situation.

If you’ve now decided that you have what it takes to run your distributorship from your home, here are some pointers to help make the operation a success.

1. Separate yourself
The most ideal setting is one that physically separates you as much as possible from other family members. In our case, we turned an upstairs den into an office by installing counter tops and phone stations. This room was large enough to accommodate an assistant, the necessary filing cabinets and me. My wife turned another bedroom into her office.

Action Step: If you don’t want to invest in an expensive desk, you can create one by purchasing an unfinished wooden door. After painting it, lay the door across the tops of two filing cabinets (one at each end) to create a flat surface. Not only do you have a work surface, but you also have places to file correspondence. Buy a comfortable desk chair on rollers and a carpet protector, if you’re on carpet, and you’re ready to go.

2. Create a screen
If you can’t dedicate an entire room to your office, you can use an office divider between your desk and other parts of the room that is used by others. Have an understanding with family members that this certain area of the house is reserved for you during certain times.

Action Step; Buy an erasable board and hang it on the divider or the kitchen wall. When you need to use a certain part of the home for business, write that time on the board with an erasable marker. In order to be fair, offer this same option to other family members.

3. Keep it neat
The ability to find things when needed is essential if you are going to run a successful business. One effective strategy is to create files for everything. Whether it’s an invoice or a catalog, all documents need a proper place in your office.

Action Step: If you have limited space for filing cabinets, you can purchase plastic or paper file boxes or bins at office supply or discount stores. These make excellent receptacles for everything from files and catalogs to office supplies and promotional product samples.

4. Keep yourself on track
Just as people do in traditional office settings, set and maintain regular office hours. Try to arrive and depart from your work area at consistent times. That way you’ll remain fresh and be less likely to work too many hours. You’ll make fewer mistakes and avoid “burnout.”

Action Step: This structure even applies to work done on the weekend. If you need to catch up on things, plan to do this on Saturdays at certain times, say from 9:00AM until 12:00PM. Make every effort to stay on your schedule.

5. Work with children
The best way to do business around children is by giving them a small task. Pay them for small jobs so they can feel like a part of your efforts. Even elementary aged children can be taught to open mail, file certain things, or complete other small assignments.

Action Step: When our younger daughter turned thirteen, we gave her the job of making follow-up calls. She was mature enough to do so; and her efforts generated several nice sales. As an additional result, she’s working on a college degree in Marketing.

6. Be safe rather than sorry
Many people put themselves needlessly at risk by thinking that their homeowner’s policy covers business-related damages. Since most policies cover only a small amount of them, it’s essential that you add additional coverage to protect yourself.

Action Step: Don’t ever put off the question of insurance. If you aren’t taking steps to address this situation, do so immediately by calling your insurance agent.
There is no better way to go out of business than by being sued.

Finally, to have more time for business, organize and simplify household routines. Start by holding a garage sale to get rid of unnecessary possessions. Next, have a family conference and divide household duties, making sure each person does his or her part. Then set up a planning notebook to keep track of appointments, things to do, calls to make, errands to run, shopping, etc. By adhering to a work schedule, you won’t get sidetracked by TV, neighbor’s visits, snacking, and telephone calls. Operating a home business is a wonderful and rewarding challenge. The satisfaction is not only in the money earned, but also in doing what makes you happy.