Here's a question for you

[LindaBabe]

As many of you know, we recently moved from upstate New York to northwest Georgia. The only thing remotely 'crafty' here is a small Michaels, and an aisle section at Walmart.

I'm thinking about becoming a Stampin' Up! demo - first off because there isn't one here and shopping on line isn't near as much fun - and second - to meet other crafty types.

So, the question is - for those of you who have been a rep for a company like SU, do you have any advice for me? What did you do that you wish you hadn't? What did you not do, that in hind sight would have been a good idea?
How did you generate "cold" customers?

For those of you who, like me, have been a loyal customer, what do/did you particularly like about about your group/leader/process? What did you wish s/he had done differently?

(My personal experience has been - My former demo was extremely creative and innovative, but not very well organized or reliable. )

Thanks for sharing your insights!

 

[laura&fam]

I was a rep for a few years for a craft supply company. I got lots of ideas, learned new techniques, met some great people, and accumulated lots of great crafting supplies.

I quit because it turned into a job for me. I ended up making pages or cards just to display and not for my own use. I felt like every contact was a potential customer not another crafty person I could just scrap with. I ended up buying products I didn't love to try to promote them (not bad products just not my style). Also there was stress to meet certain sales goals. It was great to quit and finally be able to work on projects I wanted with whatever products I wanted.

So, am I glad I did it? Yes. Am I glad I'm not doing it now? Yes.

 

[Jenn]

What part of Georgia are you in? There is an Archivers store in Marietta that is awesome! In addition to Michaels,we have a lot of Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby locations in GA.

My sister is a Close To My Heart consultant but I haven't run into a Stampin Up consultant in the 7 years I've lived here.

 

[LindaBabe]

What part of Georgia are you in? There is an Archivers store in Marietta that is awesome! In addition to Michaels,we have a lot of Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby locations in GA.

My sister is a Close To My Heart consultant but I haven't run into a Stampin Up consultant in the 7 years I've lived here.

Rome. We're about 70 miles due west of you, and 60 miles from Marietta.

I could probably stamp and scrap forever with the stuff I've got, but I'd love to get together with other crafty people.

However, I can see where Laura is right - one would probably tend to think of everyone one met as a potential customer. The minimums aren't very high, but I'm sure i couldn't meet them by myself on a sustained basis.

 

[LindaBabe]

Well, I did it. Signed up last night and then was immediately overwhelmed by all the "business" details. Maybe I should have dithered a few months longer - Like until I knew more than two people, maybe?

 

[laura&fam]

If you have a Cricut you can cut vinyl for your car with your website info. I don't think I'd want my phone number plastered on my car, but some people do. Also you could try an open house for people in your neighborhood, although I didn't have much luck with that myself. You're not out much in either case except your time.

Good luck!

 

[LindaBabe]

Thanks, Laura. I never thought of using the cricut to do that.

Still wallowing in details, like figuring out the website and how to put a business page on facebook. I KNOW it will pay off down the road, but right now, it's a PITA to me.

Lots of ideas for getting the name out there, but each one requires something else to happen first. The website needs to be finished. And, today, I went and bought a tracfone, that will have a Georgia number just to use for business. I'd rather be stamping or scrapping!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

Double post, sorry!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

Hi Linda! I'm in Ga too, between Atlanta & Athens, about an hour or so away from you. MickeyTeacher is also here, a little closer to you. I'd be happy to meet with you and arrange a get together with my "scrappy" friends. Just send me a PM if you're interested. Also, I don't know much about Rome, but if there's a Hobby Lobby nearby you should definately check it out. Also-Archiver's is the best scrapbook store around here.

 

[LindaBabe]

Hi Linda! I'm in Ga too, between Atlanta & Athens, about an hour or so away from you. MickeyTeacher is also here, a little closer to you. I'd be happy to meet with you and arrange a get together with my "scrappy" friends. Just send me a PM if you're interested. Also, I don't know much about Rome, but if there's a Hobby Lobby nearby you should definately check it out. Also-Archiver's is the best scrapbook store around here.

Cool! I'll be doing that. It's 130 miles from Rome to Athens . . .

There's no Hobby Lobby here, only a rather small Mikes - but I rarely find anything there I need or even want. When we went to buy dh's new used car from Car Max in Kennesaw, though, I found the Archiver's . . . with a bike shop next door for the man That could be VERY dangerous.