15:12:50 [ModKay] so looks like 3o f us for a bit. We will be talking about recruiting, building a down line, etc

15:13:14 [ModKay] and you have to forgive my typing - I really do spell well, just type bad

15:13:33 [ModKay] so tell me about yourself and what you are looking for on this subject

15:14:11 [BJ] How to guide my Reps... I'm thinking of ways to do this

15:14:31 [ModKay] how many reps do you have now

15:14:45 [BJ] 9

15:14:53 [safetylady] I'm going to reboot, the screen keeps flashing. Be back soon!

15:15:11 [BJ] couple of wholesalers as well

15:18:07 [ModKay] welcome back LOL

15:18:30 [ModKay] bj have you set up the selling process and have you sold in the ways you are having them sell

15:18:42 [safetylady] Thanks! I'll just try to catch up and jump in

15:19:04 [BJ] yes

15:19:15 [BJ] it's Barb Kay lol

15:19:28 [ModKay] I think that is important. When I started encourage them to do home parties, I first did some home parties so I could work out the bugs

15:19:52 [ModKay] it helped me se what kind of sales materials I needed to provide for them

15:20:07 [ModKay] and what customers responses would be

15:20:32 [BJ] hmmmm, that's idea thanks

15:21:08 [BJ] I'm also adding puppy and kitty cakes

15:21:20 [ModKay] the one thing I underestimated would be how much time and effort it takes to keep a rep force trained, encouraged, motivated

15:21:28 [ModKay] cute LOL

15:21:41 [ModKay] I spend several hours a day just on rep stuff

15:22:14 [safetylady] That's what I'm finding, Kay. These facilitators are really looking to me to help them! A lot of hand holding!

15:22:31 [ModKay] it is important to have all the sales materials they need - flyers, catalogs, post cards, recruit stuff, hostess stuff

15:22:42 [ModKay] a LOT of hand holding

15:23:02 [ModKay] it can be worth it if you plan for the time and keep enough profits to make it worthwhile

15:23:17 [safetylady] I actually need to back up and develop some more materials to help them`

15:23:34 [ModKay] set up a yahoo group for them to interact and help each other

15:24:09 [ModKay] and as they grow you can give some of the training responsibility to one gal in exchange for a higher profit or something else

15:24:19 [safetylady] is that like what we do at 1christian

15:24:23 [ModKay] I have handed off the rep locator to a rep like that

15:24:32 [ModKay] yes Julie - set up your own group

15:24:36 [BJ] I have MSN board so we can keep posting away

15:24:55 [ModKay] and I am going to ask 2 reps to take over training for a higher percentage

15:26:03 [ModKay] my rep group started slow but is now very active. I have one set as announcement only - required for all reps - lets me post announcements to all at once. When you are under 50 it is not an issue but over 50 you can not email at once unless on a group

15:26:25 [safetylady] are your sales ever to retail people or just non DS people?

15:26:38 [ModKay] and the other group is interactive for reps to talk to each other, ask questions, and where I do training

15:26:52 [ModKay] I do have some wholesale buyers - stores

15:27:21 [ModKay] but now I am changing it so they can only sell online thru rep program, will sell wholesale to a few brick stores w/o web base

15:27:27 [safetylady] so do you just keep stores and reps separate?

15:27:38 [ModKay] yes

15:28:12 [ModKay] but if store has a web site to sell on, then they must also join the rep program so I can keep tabs

15:28:22 [ModKay] and make all sign a non-compete agreement

15:28:52 [ModKay] so they agree to to copy your products, help others copy or start a similar business while a rep and for 2 yrs

15:29:00 [safetylady] What exactly does that say?

15:29:24 [BJ] sorry I have to go see ya next week

15:29:30 [BJ] bye

15:29:42 [safetylady] Bye BJ

15:31:48 [safetylady] Did you just come up with how to run your business on your own God, or did you read a book or something

15:32:45 [safetylady] I have done quite nicely the last 5 years with just the video, but now that I'm branching out, it's a little overwhelming to me

15:33:11 [ModKay] http://www.mypreciouskid.com/salesreps.html 

15:33:41 [ModKay] it was really one day at a time, first me, then a few products, then 2 gals who asked to do a business too, and some wholesale

15:33:54 [ModKay] I have learned as I have gone, made some mistakes

15:34:23 [ModKay] it can be overwhelming - especially the record keeping and having controlled growth

15:35:02 [safetylady] I;m real impressed with what all you do. You have a lot of balls up in the air!

15:35:23 [safetylady] Explain "controlled growth"

15:37:19 [ModKay] prayer!!!!!!!!!

15:37:34 [ModKay] so you do not add too many reps too fast and are unable to keep up with orders

15:38:27 [ModKay] some companies start with reps and ended up collapsing because they can not keep up

15:38:54 [ModKay] and having to do it all, production, orders, shipping, training, bookkeeping, marketing, etc

15:39:30 [safetylady] That's hard to understand because couldn't they just hire more people to help fill the orders?

15:39:50 [ModKay] asking for god's help in what to do when and how

15:40:06 [ModKay] because in the beginning there may not be enough profit to pay workers

15:40:25 [ModKay] and starting the employee thing can be expensive and time consuming

15:40:33 [ModKay] I still have no employees

15:40:52 [safetylady] You are soooo right. God has got to be all over smartkids or I'm in trouble!

15:40:55 [ModKay] I use two business women as admin assistants

15:41:07 [ModKay] they have their own business license and so not am employee

15:41:18 [safetylady] Are they in office with you or web ladies

15:44:23 [ModKay] they come to my home - one picks up stuff and takes it to her home to assemble the products. The other works here organizing, filing, etc

15:44:54 [ModKay] each gal has different strengths

15:45:33 [safetylady] Do you pay them per hour?

15:45:50 [ModKay] I helped them both get set up in business so I can use them - they each have at least one other client too

15:46:08 [ModKay] sometimes per hour mostly per project - they bill be for their services

15:46:15 [ModKay] bill me

15:46:23 [ModKay] like an accountant or a plumber

15:46:48 [safetylady] That's great! I'm looking forward to graduating to that

15:46:53 [ModKay] and I pay their invoice

15:47:09 [ModKay] do you have any help yet

15:47:24 [ModKay] they have been very helpful to me

15:47:49 [safetylady] No, my daughter has been home from college and she's been a big help.

15:48:06 [safetylady] She goes back on Sunday.

15:48:14 [ModKay] are you paying her?

15:48:38 [ModKay] My 15 yr old helps me too - I can pay her up to $4400 a yr (since she has no other job) and it is not taxed for her

15:48:54 [safetylady] I feel like a have a lot of "irons in the fire" with wholesalers, facilitators, and creating more product

15:49:13 [ModKay] do you get your products produced by someone else? or do you do them

15:50:01 [ModKay] it can be overwhelming finding the balance

15:50:24 [safetylady] Well, I create them and then have video duplicators and publishers step in

15:50:52 [safetylady] Then the product comes back to me to ship out

15:51:06 [ModKay] that helps but increases your inventory cost

15:51:33 [ModKay] I am still doing most of the assembly here - although have 2 printers do most of the printing now - I use to print too

15:51:36 [safetylady] Yes, but to be in business, what else can you do

15:52:27 [ModKay] only find the balance

15:52:41 [safetylady] Good Answer!

15:52:41 [ModKay] next step will be to find a fulfillment house to do the assembly

15:53:00 [ModKay] but then I know my cost per product will increase

15:53:23 [safetylady] Are you here every Tuesday...any other days

15:53:58 [ModKay] every Tuesday - but there are other chats here

15:54:20 [safetylady] How do you find out what they are

15:54:29 [ModKay] join WomansNetworkingCommunity-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  to get the announcements

15:54:47 [ModKay] bookkeeping is Monday nights at 6 pm west coast time

15:54:56 [ModKay] affiliate marketing is Tuesday night

15:55:27 [safetylady] Oh, that's why you were so fired up this morning about quicken! :-)

15:56:38 [safetylady] Well, it's been fun! I can honestly say that I have entered a chatroom!

15:56:44 [ModKay] yes bookkeeping chat is very helpful - she knows quick books well

15:56:57 [ModKay] I use QuickBooks for me sales - awesome program

15:57:29 [safetylady] I'll bug out here but see you at 1christian

15:57:42 [ModKay] okie dokie

15:57:46 [ModKay] hope it was helpful

15:57:56 [ModKay] bye

17:11:04 [kaygreen] free advertising here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNC-Chat-Advertising/ 

17:11:13 [kaygreen] and http://www.123homebusinessguide.com 

17:11:55 [kaygreen] and on Monday at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1ChristianWAHM/ 

Chat by Kay Green of http://www.MyPreciousKid.com  , http://www.123HomeBusinessguide.com  , http://www.KayGreen.com  at kay@mypreciouskid.com We meet every Tuesday 1 pm PST, 4 pm EST
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