Most people are still worried about the economy, hunkered in, saving more than they have in years….. just not spending.  Even though most economists and business leaders think the worst has passed, that growth will start again in the 4th quarter, if it has not already, many consumers remain in the “bunker” mentality they have been in for the past year or more.  And that folks is the perfect time for you to really step up your direct selling business!!!!.

Sound crazy?  Believe me it’s not.  I have been a direct seller through the last three recessions, 4 including this blockbuster and I know the signs and what works for us.   We are entering the “jobless recovery” phase which means that the folks with jobs (9 out of 10) will soon begin to feel better about things because the pundits are saying that the worst is over, the stock market is doing better and housing prices are stabilizing.  However, the unemployment rate will continue at or near 10% for months to come perhaps well into the second half of next year.

But those 9 out of 10 with jobs haven’t been spending for a year or so.  When they feel better they will start spending again.  For direct sellers this means hosts will be more willing to book, more guests will be willing to come to a party and spend more than they have and more folks will be open to a one-on-one sales pitch.  But what about those 10% without jobs or who can only get part time work.  Well with the job market still slow, more and more of them are willing to think about starting their own businesses, perhaps as part of your team.  Have you asked?

Right now… right as the economic tide is starting to turn, is exactly the right time for direct sellers to dig in and do their thing: showing – selling and sharing the opportunity.  Get folks just as they want to come up and out of their bunkers and spend again.  Grab folks who can’t find a JOB and give them an opportunity to make $100 a night as many good party planners do.  Some of your colleagues are already hard at it and experiencing great results. Don’t get left behind.

Now is the time!  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Alan Luce

Few people in the direct sales industry can match the experience, expertise and successes of Alan Luce. With over 25 years in senior management, guiding start-ups and established companies alike, Alan has met virtually every challenge a direct sales executive can face.  Learn more about how Alan can help your company at http://www.luceandassociates.com/Alan-Luce.html.

by Alan Luce

Alan Luce

What a year 2009 has been so far!  For direct sales party planners this year of recession has been challenging in many respects.  A few companies seem to be blowing right through the economic downturn as though it isn’t there.  Other companies are struggling to keep their businesses on course.  It is a year of anomalies: for many companies the surprise is that the all important retail-sales-per-guest and party average retail sales figures have held steady or dropped just slightly, but the bottom has dropped out of the activity rate.  In these companies the primary obstacles seem to be a lack of confidence among the sales force that hosts will book in this economy and that the hosts will  be able to get guests to attend the party.  Though the statistics from the parties held dispute this belief, once that lack of confidence invades the sales force it is hard to displace.

The best solution that I have seen to the booking and attendance “confidence” problem is to find great “good news” stories and publish them frequently to the sales force.  Do not wait for your traditional communications vehicle schedule.  Create short attractive story templates and tell the stories about great new Consultant first party results, hostess success results where they set a goal to get $100 of free stuff and surpassed their goal.  In addition to publishing these good news stories out to the field weekly, put the same stories with new Consultant, new leader and host testimonials on the company public web site.

We all know that we are working with mostly part-time volunteer sales forces.  But sometimes we forget just how much of their party plan business activity is driven by their “confidence and belief” in the business.  The more that we can give them proof that their peers and colleagues are enjoying success when they choose to work in this economy, the more our sellers will get their sales “mojo” back and our businesses will grow again.

Few people in the direct sales industry can match the experience, expertise and successes of Alan Luce. With over 25 years in senior management, guiding start-ups and established companies alike, Alan has met virtually every challenge a direct sales executive can face.  Learn more about how Alan can help your company at http://www.luceandassociates.com/Alan-Luce.html.