Marketing Barefoot

Pop Up Green Bookcase

via www.crateandbarrel.com

I like this one too - site doesn't mention weight but I have to assume it's lighter weight than similar shelves made of wood.

These would look STUNNING in a pair on table clothed in solid red or orange or purple! Don't be tempted by the blue ones (blue is NOT in the Barefoot color palate)

Cubitec Shelving

New display inspiration!

Lightweight? Check.

Colorful? Check.

Offers Height? Check.

Collapsable & Movable? Check.

Decent Price? Check.

Not sure what's stopping me from ordering these....... I think they might be the PERFECT solution! What do you think?

 

find them here!

 

 

 

 

Questions Answered :: Success Story

Laurie, I am an ambassador on your team under Tammy B. (she's great by the way). I am relatively new to Barefoot but am excited about building a team with the new compensation plan. I think you have done an amazing job building a team for Barefoot and I would love to hear your success story. How will the teams that you have built and the new plan effect your compensation? I'm hoping to get an idea of what the income potential is in reality for the leaders of the company. I realize that this isn't a guarantee for anyone, but I do think it helps to hear some of our Leaders Success Stories. I truly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks so much, Kara B.

 

###

 

Kara - thanks so much for the question, for stepping up and inquiring and for setting your sights forward.  That's as much part of it as anything.  I answered a similar question a while back.  Similar in that it was focused more on team building.  You can read that one here.  Though you question is a bit more how it relates to our new comp program.  Spot on!

When I started with Barefoot our comp plan then was quite similar to the plan we have just engaged in.  I was a big fan of the old plan and a bigger fan of the new.  My approval is mostly due to the far greater exponential earning potential.  The current plan simply offers more in the way of incentive, motivation and serious earning.  The plan we just left, I felt lacked much in all of these categories.

When we left the old plan I was on my way to earning significant income.  Income that direct selling dreams are made of.  The last month in that plan I had made it to the top rung of leadership and earning benchmarks and it was really starting to pay off for me.  That plan, similar to the new had clear set goals to achieve and made moving up the ladder very exciting and motivating for me.

At that time I had an incredibly active and motivated team.  So many of us were running great businesses and had our sights set high.  It was picture perfect.  Things change, as they always do and some of the most active and high volume people on my team at that time changed, moved and others left the program.  At the same time the comp plan changed.  My income took an immediate drop and has remained at 1/2 if not less of what it was at the highest time.

The biggest motivator for me in the old plan (and the new) was realizing just how great the income potential truly is.  It is significant, I assure you.   I think you can easily follow the plan by looking just one step ahead of where you are.  What is the first benchmark to achieve?  Write your goals to fit that benchmark, stay focused and work to achieve it.  Managing yourself is important, you must always keep your goals at the forefront. 

I like to look at the comp plan as a game.  As any game you must tailor your strategy to win the game, excel and maximize.  I can be known to do things that might not make perfect fiscal sense in the short term, but I always have my sights set on the plan, maximizing the plan.

The fundamental key to success in this program is to do $300 worth of business every month.  That is GOAL number 1.  It is indisputable.  This should be the goal for you and for each member of your growing team (more on this in the previous post as noted).  You can obviously do more, but never accept less for yourself.  When you and your team are consistently active at this base level your business and earning will grow.  It just does.

I too have a lot to do in this new program.  To get back to the status and earning I left behind in the old, I have to change and modify how I have been working.  The program we just left allowed too much space for sitting back, in my opinion.  It was not as motivating and I took advantage of that.  We all have our work cut out for us, but as I did before, I look forward to striving high in this plan as well. 

These programs can and will pay off for those to take them head on and use their personal savvy to maximize the program in front of you!

FEB Team Challenge Winners!

Do you know me - then you know I run a bit late......

I do know what the March Challenge is...... (same qualifying statistics) - but before we dive into that shall we celebrate the winners of the FEB Team Challenge!!

Each team member who achieve $300 in personal sales / $200 in Web Referral Volume / Signed up a new team member - were all entered to win.  Each person was entered to win for each time they hit any of the criteria.

Here are the entries:

Congratulations to each of you for all of your efforts in FEB!!!!

The Winners (selected by random drawing) are:

JEAN VAN'T HUL

JOANN PIKERAMENOS

LARA WENN

Crongratulations to you three! Your new sassy sign kits are hitting the mail this week!  Thanks so much to all of you for all you do!

Check back soon for the March Challenge - AS ALWAYS - the goal is $300 a month in Personal Sales / $200 in web sales / new team member.  Achieve one or all, one or more times and be entered to win!

 

AMBASSADOR WORKSHOP - THIS SATURDAY

Public Service Announcement!

For those of you in the New England Area - if you chance to find yourselves free this Saturday 3/10 - we are hosting another Ambassador workshop at the Concord, MA Barefoot Books Studio!  Workshop is from 10a -12p  Please E-mail/ RSVP Marsha Mitchel to confirm.  Details and other info are on the the website and your weekly updates!

Hope to see you there!

 

Auction Donation

So every now and then we Ambassadors are asked to offer Auction and Raffle donations.  I have gone through many phases of how big and how small I donate.  It all depends on .... well, my mood I guess. 

My boys school is having an auction this month and of course I will be making a donation.  I am actually on the Auction committee and since it is my boys school - I decided to go kinda big.

Just wrapped up my two donation baskets and thought I would share.  These are probably the nicest ones I have done, and I must say I was very grateful to have the new sign kit to really make a punch! (I have been finding many uses for the sign kit since I ordered my set - hope you guys have gotten a sample too!)  I will also include some of my cards to have on the table. 

This is a k-5 School so I wanted to have two options that meet the broad age of kids/families.

1.  Travel the World Set:

 

This set is in a simple blue/green basket I got at container store (it was $7.99 in store and not featured on their website or I would link you).  I cut slits in both sides of a "Travel the World" table top sign - took satin ribbon I had at home - slipped it through the slits and tied it in the back.  The collection includes the obvious - Atlas, Laurie Krebs Series in PB, 100pc Around the World puzzle, Putumayo CDs, and Lin Yi's Lantern.

 

2.  Independent Reader Set:

I put the chapter book collection in a little decorated suitcase I had at home (pains me to part with - but it's for my kids right?)  This one was easy, so cute and colorful already, I simply clipped the "Independent Reader" 5x7 table top sign on it.  Includes one copy of each of our chapter books.

* * *

Auctions and donations are a marketing great opportunity (and a tax write off as a Marketing expense at year end)  - It's up to you to do your best, making the most of the donation.  Include your catalogs, sticker the books with your info, include your business cards!

I'd LOVE to hear and see how you guys do it!

 

 

Workshop Recap :: Part 2

As I mentioned in the first post about the recent Ambassador workshop, the second part of our gathering was focused primarily on self management.  The key to being self-employed is being an effective manager of oneself.  Oy, is this ever my constant struggle.

There is only one you and the biggest task at hand, I think, is being most effective with the time and resources you have to devote to your Barefoot Journey.

Here is how Marsha Mitchell presented it to us:

Starting with a quote:  "Choice not chance determines your destiny."

Powerful right?  Feel free to write that down and post it a few places around your home.  It's the truth if I have ever heard it.

Here is how we see it working - a 5 step program for self management, business style.

1.  Planning with Purpose

- block 30 minutes to plan each week - put it on your calendar.  Take time to make notes, appointments, calls and connections to make, calls and chats to attend, create a list that will carry you through each week when you have time to devote to Barefoot.

- have a daily affirmation - something that sets your mind frame (the one listed above is a great place to start) get yourself centered and begin.

- keep a journal, keep your lists here, write down what you want to do, what you get done, ideas that come to you.  Keep it all in one place and when you carve out time to devote to Barefoot - it's all there ready for action!

2.  Prepare with Intention

what activities are you going to set out to do that will actually drive your business, Get the contacts you need, get the phone numbers, who are you going to follow up with, how and why.  Talk to your team members, move forward in a prepared and thoughtful way.

3.  Proceed with Positive Belief

Attitude is everything and You have control over your own attitude.  Know that you are setting out to receive positive results, believe in yourself and your efforts.  Approach your tasks with the knowing that the outcome will be good!

4.  Pursue with Persistence

Timing is everything.  Today's no is tomorrows yes.  You never know when and where you'll get your yes unless you keep trying!  Most people need multiple introductions to an offer before they accept or act upon it.  Don't give up.

Ask yourself:  What can I do more of, What can I do less of, What are the habits I can change.  Take control of what is working, walk away from what is not!

5.  Systematic Follow-up.

He who follows-up wins.  We all know this is true - make the time to do it!  Make follow up top of your list each week!  Follow up with customers who purchased from you, potential party hosts, potential school leads, potential team members.  Of all the things you devote yourself to each week - this might just be the most important!

*****

We talked a lot about most of these steps.  We brainstormed ideas, pointed our personal weaknesses  - but in general we all agreed.  The 5 steps are pretty darn clear.  Devote to them and manage ourselves not to work harder, just work smarter.  Be prepared for when an extra 15 minutes presents itself and be powerfully productive!  A consistent and thougthful effort, ever heard me say that before?

Marsha ended with another saying, something like this:  An apple a day keeps the doctor away, this saying we know.  What we also know is this.  Eating 7 apples on Sunday does not a whole week of benenfit make!  Plan and be ready, manage yourself to productivity and make the most of what you have to give!

Happy Valentine's Day

From my heart to yours, have a wonderful day!

photo credit: wallpapersup

Workshop Recap

We had a wonderful Ambassador Workshop on Saturday at the Barefoot Books Studio in Concord.  While it is obvious that most of you cannot attend - I want to make sure that everyone gets to take something away!  I'll do my best to recap.

We started off with a product & sales overview. 

It's simple, you need to know the product to sell it.  We passed around many ideas of how to familiarize yourself with the vast product line.  The 1st tip : check product out from the library!  You can do a publisher search in the on-line catalog at the library.  Search by Barefoot, check them out and read them all - a few times each. 

Finding an event, setting up and being prepared are the important first steps to selling. Once you are there and ready - you need to actually sell the product!  You simply must educate yourself!

2nd tip - , this is an easy one - read the catalog.  Actually READ it.  Read the product summaries, compare them to your own opinions.  Read the summary then read the book and read the summary again.  What a great way to solidify your knowledge of the book!

***

Sales tip:  When a person approaches me, or uses the rebuttal "My toddler/young child doesn't sit for books, doesn't like to read".... I use the following suggestion:  "I find that even the most reluctant reader enjoys our seek and find books!  Engaging them into the story with seek and find can be very effective. 

Examples of a few preschool books with seek and find elements:

    One Moose Twenty Mice

    Secret Seahorse

    Hidden Hippo

    Elusive Moose

    Skip Through the Seasons

    Home for a Tiger, Home for a Bear

    All illustrated by Miriam Latimer

    to name a few.....

Another great way to encourage reluctant readers is with our ever popular sing a along series! - You can read, sing and play the cd - it's a great way to engage! The list of sing-a-longs is almost endless and we have them on subjects for every child

Truck lover?  The Journey Home from Grandpas, The Magic Trainride

Animal Lover?  The Animal Boogie, We're Walking Through the Jungle, There is a Dragon on my Doorstep

Pirates?  Portside Pirates

more more more....

We discussed having a mantra - a boiler plate statement that you can use to introduce new customers to Barefoot.  Always open for modification, yet a foundation should be in place so that you are never at a lost for words.  Mine goes something like this:

Also in regard to product we discussed the need to know and understand what is so different, unique and special about Barefoot Books.  There is so much you can find out yourself.  Spread a few Barefoot Books out in front of you along with some products by other publishers.  What do you notice is different about our products?  Spend some time doing this and you will really start to notice some great points to show your customers.

Some of things I like to point out to my customers are:

How thoughtfully produced our books are, no detail goes over looked.  Every inch is designed and well crafted to make a special and unqiue book that the child and adult reader can both appreciate and enjoy (notice the title pages, how beautiful the illustration frames the title)

Fully illustrated end pages.  Pay attention to this detail in each book (barefoot and non barefoot alike that you open) This makes for a very visually pleasing presentation.  I often found my children, at various ages, spending time looking at all of the pages (end and otherwise).  It makes a difference.

Paper quality - what do you notice?

Fine Art.  Barefoot doesn't just seek children's book illustrators to illustrate the books, they seek fine artists.  The proof in in the pudding, are there any more richly illustrated books on the market for children?  When I present this concept to parents I usually pull out a copy of the Tear Thief and turn to page that has a close up of the girl's face.  That illustration takes my breath away.  (What is your single favorite illustrator or illustration - make sure you point that out with your opinion to everyone!)

End notes.  I could write volumes about our end notes.  Great for mixed age kids (toddler walks away when story is over, older children can sit and explore more)  It makes the learning and conversing different every time you read.  Wonderful for elementary age projects.  Affords and incredibly long shelf life (and all for a $6.99 paperback - what value!)

Some books I often use as examples of great end notes:

    Mama Panya's Pancakes

    Off we go to Mexico

    Portside Pirates

    The Beeman

What book has your favorite end notes?  What have you learned from reading??

There is much more on this topic and much more we discussed on Saturday, but I think I'll space that out for a few more posts.

The second part of the workshop, lead by Marsh Mitchell, was all about managing ourselves, working toward productivity with the limited time we all have.  We gained some great insight and many usable tips.  Stay tuned for details on all of that coming soon!

 

February Team Challenge

whoops - I am running a bit late and many of you have already qualified...... (lucky ducks)

I think signage is king.  Having a great display, looking professional, effectively communicating the offer are all componenets to being sucessful in your retail efforts.  That is why (and thanks for the idea Richele) This month you have 3 chances to win the Table Top Sign Kit!

 

 

 

Same qualifying rules apply for this team challenge as in November.  Be entered to win for every $300 worth of qualifying retail sales you achieve in the month of February.  Be entered to win for every $200 in web (referral) volume.  Also be entered to win for each new team member registered in the month of Feb.  GOOD LUCK!

 

Are you up to date on all of the marketing materials available?    There are 3 places to look for your marketing materials, which can be a bit confusing so I am going to do a round-up for you here:

1.  The sales aids tab on the Barefoot Books site.  These are all the items that are done, made, existing items that you can purchase:  Shopping bags, sign kit, post card packs, order pads, catalogs, fliers, etc.

2.  Printable Marketing Materials - this is a tab in the MyBarefoot section / Marketing / Printable Materials.   There is a hosted list of PDF files you can download and print at home.  New things get added from time to time, so it's a good exercise to check there often for what's new.  Many of the files hosted there I think are MUST HAVES.  One being the "Display Sign : Earn Money" - this is a great way to introduce the Ambassador Opportunity at all of your events.

If you don't have a great printer at home you can easily upload to the PDF file to your local office supply or print shop (staples.com or fedexkinkos.com for example) -  print very nice color outputs at a very reasonable cost.

3. The Vista Print Shop - this is the place where you can order customized items: business cards, post cards, event signs and larger scale vinyl banners to name a few.

What are you waiting for, go forth and market yourself!

Ambassador Workshop 2/11/2012!

Hopefully you have read about the upcoming workshop in the Weekly Update - Hopefully my attempt to send a team email reached you...

If not - here is yet another attempt to communicate:

 

Ambassador Workshop

Saturday, FEB 11, 2012

11 am - 1 pm

Barefoot Books Studio, Concord MA

 

More to come - hope you (who live locally) can make it!

 

Why Didn't I Think of That!

Today is the first day of a new project.  I am committing to be the "Ambassador in Residence" at the Concord, MA Barefoot Books Studio.  I was mostly motivated to come and be here twice a month for rather selfish reasons.  My focus needs more focus.  I thought that by committing to be in this place a few times a month that I could manage myself a bit better.  Focus on Barefoot and mark things off my never ending list.  I've been here 2.5 hours now and WOW - it's working!

I wanted to share a little display tip I found here today.  Activity Decks can prove a problem, at least they always have for me.  Customers always want to look at them (of course) I always forget to have an "open sample" - worse yet, I sell my open sample by accident ......... I am sure you can all concur.

Look what they do in Concord Studio:

A sample set is removed from the box completely - holes punched (in a clean and orderly fashion) in one consistent corner.  Then they are connected on an office supply ring.  They display nicely and you can clearly keep track of your sample!  THIS, I WILL BE DOING FOR EVERY SINGLE ACTIVITY DECK!!!!!!!!!!!  Now why the heck didn't I think of that.  And, if some of you already did - shout it out!

 

Do you know all of our Activity Decks:

Yoga Pretzels

Yoga Planet

Kids Kitchen

Kids Garden

 

 

 

Hey - That was MY goal!

I am giddy, giddy I tell you!  I love watching the amazing things that happen on this team and all across Barefoot for that matter.  Seeing the successes of others does so much to inspire me.

This brain of mine is so full of ideas, more than one human (with insufferable ADD) can set out to accomplish.  It takes a village, people.

Team Member Veronika R. has a new team member - maybe you know her?  Jean V. is a influential blogger of the wonderful blog The Artful Parent.  Jean joined the ambassador program this month and has done a couple of great, out there, honest posts about Barefoot and her new journey (here and here).  It makes my heart sing!  

The story is so beautifully told, wonderfully photographed and obviously well received by her readers!  Jean, in less than a month has achieved (and surpassed) my own long standing personal goal:  Achieve $300 a month in personal sales on-line.

Jean - you are my hero!

Granted she's been hard at work for many a year writing an amazing blog, captivating and engaging and building readership.  That is no easy task, but her work is paying off and working by design.

I have a long list of bloggers that I have wanted to reach out to - their names have made way on to many a list, lists that in my unique fashion, never seem to be tackled.  I have new found motivation in this story.  This is the most shining example of exactly how this journey is supposed to unfold.

I welcome Jean, I hope we all learn much as we enjoy her blog and watch how she continues to grow with Barefoot.  I congratulate Veronika on her effort and sponsorship. It's picture postcard perfect!

 

 

Recruitment Tool

As I mentioned yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend a meeting at the Barefoot Studio last week where a great group of us were sharing ideas and brainstorming about ways to ignite our businesses in 2012.  One idea that came up was brilliant.

Recruitment tools.  Recruitment has never really been something I have to focus on.  With the new plan changes and the evolution of my business it is not lost on me that growing my team must move to the forefront.

The idea was to make a book telling our barefoot stories.  Something clean and simple that would illustrate what it is to be a Barefoot Ambassador. I can have this book with me when I do events and have it out for my visitors to see.  What is more, we discussed creating a a library at the Concord Studio where Ambassador created books can be on display for visitors to look through.  How cool is that.

I made my book yesterday in Iphoto and I can't tell you what a great exercise it was!  I am sure I will continue to change it (I am certain to find type-os) I fought with the template a bit, but all in all I think it's a great frist stab.  I turned it into a slide show to show to you - but the true intent is to use it as an actual printed book....

  

Are you taking photos of your events?  Do you have a photo of yourself in all of your barefoot glory?  Do you save thank you notes from organizations, press hits that you may receive?  Do you have photos of your kids living barefoot with you?  These are all things I hope you do to chronicle your efforts and then SHARE IT with people who might consider joining you on your journey!

 

Upcoming Workshop!

Hello Everyone!  

I have some exciting news to announce!  One of my personal goals for 2012 (of which I will highlight in greater detail soon) is to commit to working from the Barefoot Studio in Concord, MA on a regular basis.  This is something I have wanted to commit to for a while as I see so much opportunity for benefit and advancement for our team and program by just being there on a consistent schedule.  Much more to come on that....

Last week I had a the great opportunity to meet With Marsha Mitchell (Director of Ambassador Sales), Stefanie Callahan (Community Relations Director), Carolyn Wilkins (Studio Manager), Carie Miele (Ambassador)  and Michele Mclean (Ambassador) at the the Concord Studio.  We had a wonderful brainstorming session about how to use the Studio.... and I mean use it, for growing the Ambassador Program!  I think we came up with some great ideas that will benefit each and everyone of us no matter how close, or not so close you live to Concord, MA.

1st Up, for those of you who are local, is an AMBASSADOR WORKSHOP/Concord, MA!  Saturday Feb 11th from 11am-1pm.  This will informational meeting will be hosted by yours truly & Marsha Mitchell  - look for full details coming soon in the My Barefoot Section of the web office.

2nd - a pilot program "Ambassador In Residence".  I am committing to be on site in the Concord Studio two Tuesday's a Month starting in Feb.  My wheels are really spinning on how to use this time (and, yes, I have ideas for ALL OF YOU)  I am so very excited about this opportunity!  Scheduled dates for now are:  2/7, 3/6, 3/20, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22

Can't wait to fill you in on all the ideas - but best spread myself out here - don't want to spoil you with too many posts in one week......

We are enjoying the first bit of snow here today - time to shovel!