If you're a parent, you know what happens when there's no routine. CHAOS and crying. Lots of crying. And your kids aren't happy either.
Getting your business on a consistent schedule will help you get more done and make your customers excited to order again and again.
Think about it: The first time your customers order from you, they aren’t exactly sure when they will receive their items. They are probably less-than-sure about how ordering through a Rep works and, unless they know you well, they're less-than-sure that YOU will reliably deliver. No one wants to be ghosted and it takes time for them to be sure that you're here to stay.
The more you build trust with your customers, the more they will recommend you to their friends, and think of you as a first-stop for everything they need.
Planning, communication, and consistency builds that trust.
And Avon’s tools can help!
1. Start with a Plan
Let’s look at the ordering calendar. (Pssst. You can always find it on Avon.com>manage business>manage orders>campaign calendar, or download it here.)
Notice how each campaign has a start date and an end date.
Think of these as ordering dates.
For example, 10/25 is the first date you can place an order for campaign 22. But selling can happen before that.
For orders you will be placing for your customers and delivering, it's best to pick one date early in the campaign to place all of your orders.
Why all together? Orders submitted together will ship together, so you'll only have to pay shipping once.
Why early in the campaign? Ordering when the campaign opens gives you and your customers the best chance that all of the items will be in stock.
"Think of these dates as ordering dates. [...] Selling can happen before that."
If your customers will be ordering through your online store, these dates are still important.
You can pre-promote the items launching in the following campaign so that customers are rushing to your store the minute they hit the site.
Having an ordering date in mind organizes your whole campaign.
Plan when you'll place your Rep Order. You'll be ordering your business tools like paper books (you could also go with the free digital option), bags, samples, and demo products at the same time.
Plan to get brochures (paper or digital) to your customers before that order date with enough time for them to look through them.
Pro Tip! Order your paper brochures 2 campaigns in advance so you'll always have
the next one on hand. Ex. Order c4 books with your c2 order.
Plan to follow up with your customers a few days before your order date. (More on communication below.)
Schedule social media posts throughout that build excitement, spark curiosity and spur engagement.
2. Communication is Everything!
As a consumer, I can't stand when I order something, wait forever for it to come in, call the store to check on it, and then hear, "yeah, it came in last week. It's been sitting here."
Were they ever going to call me???
It doesn't matter how well you've planned if you don't keep your customers in the loop.
Communication is important at EVERY stage:
When you give them the brochure, let them know when you'll be placing your order or when the campaign will be live on your online store. (Check the calendar for dates). If you're promoting a particular item, let them know when it will launch.
Reach out to them just before your order date. Ask what caught their eye and recommend products that would be a good fit for them.
Pro Tip: Do NOT wait for them to reach out to you. They have tons of things on their to-do list and remembering YOUR schedule is not one of them. Customers appreciate knowing that you will contact them to make sure they get what they need. It's one less thing for them to think about.
If you'll be delivering their products, reach out to let them know when your order arrives and arrange to get their things to them. Give them the next brochure at that time and repeat!
Follow up to see how they like what they ordered. This shows that you actually care about them and their needs and not just making a sale.
3. Be Consistent!
The more you put these steps into practice, the more your customers will trust you. It's all about that relationship.
Remember this is just the beginning!
As you build, these practices will keep your customers happy, give you opportunities to help them find more products they will fall in love with, and open doors for new contacts. Don't be shy about asking for referrals ;)
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