Introducing AromaGraphics!

I have hinted around at this new side business but now it's time to officially announce it! I am so excited to provide all UB Fragrance Designers with custom marketing materials through AromaGraphics!

With the blessing from the corporate office, I can now provide a whole slew of materials to help you market your UB business. While I am still putting together my website, I thought I didn't want to waste any more time and let you all see the new flyers for the UB Fall promotions.

I have one for the Home Fragrance Collection and one for the U.B.You Signature Fragrance Collection. They both mention the October special of the free oil warming plate. Both flyers are designed to be 8.5x11 so you can print these on your home printer.

These flyers are perfect for tucking into customer bags or handing out at your UB parties. You can also slide them into a plastic sign holder (like $6 at OfficeDepot) to make a nice display for parties, vendor fairs, etc.

I will customize the bottom section with your contact information. And because we are nearly half-way through October, I will send you another version to use in November (if the promo continues, or if it doesn't, I will update accordingly).

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Introductory Specials!

Package A $25.00

Both October special flyers emailed to you as PDFs, customized with your contact info. I will also send you another set to use after the October promo so you really get your money's worth! That's four custom flyers for just $25!

Package B $45.00

>> Both October special flyers, plus a second set to use after October (second set emailed at a later date).

PLUS....

>> UB Product Info sheet. This great to use at big parties, birthday parties, or when the UB products are bought as gifts. I tuck one in with every bag!

>> Generic UB marketing postcard design. The specs are set up so you can print these at VistaPrint, usually they have a 100 cards for free coupon! With a blank back side, you can use these cards for invites, to handwrite a note to a customer, to include with product samples...the choice is yours!

Six marketing pieces to you for $45!

NOTE - Because I don't have the shopping cart function set up yet, I will email you an invoice through PayPal. Once I have payment, I'll send you your PDFs.

To order or if you have questions, you can reach me directly at kelseymfoster@yahoo.com!

Exciting Happenings!

With the latest exciting announcement from corporate about the revamped DIY oil kits (UB You system) that will be available for purchase online, I have a renewed sense of excitement with my business. Not that I was ever "not" excited but now I'm even MORE excited about the possibilities (if that was even possible!).

I am working on two projects to build online awareness for UB so this is perfect timing!

I also have a personal but UB-related announcement that I'm getting ready to make about an exciting new venture and I just have to say that I'm really, really thrilled about it.

Stay tuned for deets in the very near future... :)

Junebug Weddings writeup

I have been MIA on my blog lately but that is due to being so busy! First, I'd like to report that I had an amazing writeup by a local Seattle wedding website that is beyond gorgie. I met with Christy at Junebug Weddings and we had so much fun chatting and creating her signature scent. I also ran a small giveaway on the site that was well-received. Click here to read all about it!

Personality Plus!

I thought I'd blog today about personality types and how understanding someone's personality type can help you in your Urban Botanic business.

There are lots of different assessments and quizzes out there that can tell you about your personality type - heck, we even have our own! ;)

Here are a couple of other models for determining personality types that can help you to understand your hostesses, teammates, potential recruits, and yourself!

The first is the well-known Myers-Briggs test. Here is a link where you can take a version of this test:

http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpersonalitytypequiz/. I'd love to hear what your results are (leave a comment)!

My result with Myers-Briggs is that I am a ENTP. Here's a snippet of what that means:

The Visionary

You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

If you want more information about Myers-Briggs, just Google it and you'll find a wealth of information.

The next personality assessment is in the form of a brief article I found on a direct sales website. This is an unfamiliar model to me and a little simplistic but I thought it was interesting because it is so focused on how it relates to potential recruits. After reading it, I think I'm a cross between a D and an I (but a nice D - haha).

What do you think you are?

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DISC Personality types for Better Recruiting

by Kristie Tamsevicius, Webmomz.com

article found at http://www.webmomz.com/Direct-Selling/direct-selling-disc-personality-types.shtml

What if when you were talking to a potential recruit you were able to speak their language and share the opportunity in a way that really appealed to their unique personality type?

While your potential recruit may not fit into a single, neat personality category understanding they personality style will help you cater your message to cater to their specific, individual needs, goals, and concerns.

DISC is a profiling system that breaks down personalities into 4 basic types. Here is the breakdown to of the personality types to strengthen your direct sales recruiting skills.

D – Dominant

How to spot an "D":
The "D" personality is usually very independent, direct and to the point. They want to know what kind of results they can expect. They will probably tell you to "get to the bottom line". They dread routine tasks and delegate routine chores to someone else. A “D” type personality doesn’t like wasting time.

Adjectives to describe an "D" type include:

Confident

Authoritative

Goal Driven

Demanding

Determined

Decisive

Delegator

Results-oriented

Quick Decisions

Control People

Power/Authority

Makes own rules

Focused

Assertive

Hard Working

What "D's" care about:

Let the D type be in charge. They love to do all the talking. They will tell you exactly what questions they have and what they want to know. Tell them about how they could be in charge being their own boss. Let them know how they can become a director.

I – Expressive

How to spot an "I":

You'll spot an "I" type a mile away. They are the life of the party. They love to talk, crave attention, and are really upbeat and fun around. They are very talkative and outgoing people and are quite persuasive. They love to be recognized and praised for their accomplishments.

Adjectives to describe an "I" type include:

cheerful

bubbly

optimistic

talkative

inspirational

influencing

inducing

impressive

interactive

interested in people

people-oriented

loves to talk

motivational

enthusiastic

recognition-oriented

What "I's" care about:

An “I” type personality will want to hear about the great prizes, awards, girlfriend time, and recognition. Share about the kind of recognition they will get as a consultant. Let them know that they have the perfect personality for this business

S – Steady Eddy

How to spot an "S":

The "S" type is always there when you need them.

Adjectives to describe an "S" type include:

Quiet

Love when things are running smoothly

Want everyone to get along

Easy-going

Dependable

Neat

Efficient

Supportive

Submissive

Stable

Steady

Sentimental

Shy

Family-oriented

Loyal

Slow to change

Security minded

Goes by the rules

What "S's" care about:

With an S type, you'll have to do most of the talking. They may not ask questions. Focus on the flexibility of your opportunity. Share how it gives you more family time. Tell them about the training and support they’ll get.Talk about how being your own boss gives you stability in an uncertain economy

C – Analytical

How to spot an "C":

If you want to picture a typical "C" type personality, think of your accountant, an engineer or a computer programmer or analyst. The "C" thrives on details, accuracy and takes just about everything seriously.

Adjectives to describe an "C" type include:

Likes to have everything in order

Good listeners

Reserved and introverted

Perfectionists

Cautious

Competent

Calculating

Concerned

Careful

Contemplative

Detail-oriented

Critical

Analytical

Takes time to change

What "C's" care about:

They don't care much about results. What C types want is the facts of your opportunity. They might want to know what is its how to get started, what products you sell etc. Since they are shy, don’t get too personal. Give handouts for them to review at home so they can decide for themself in their own time.

I hope these DISC personality profiles strengthen your recruiting skills by helping you speak the "language" of your prospective recruit!

This Direct Selling Article by Kristie Tamsevicius - Speaker, Author, and Online Business Expert, Kristie Tamsevicius. She is the author of several books including "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home" and a contributing author to the upcoming book, "More Build it Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Direct Selling Experts" by Dearborn Publishing.

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What does it mean to be a business pioneer?

Does the word pioneer conjure up images of covered wagons, funny bonnets, and the "old west"? Well, circle your wagons and don't get your pinafore in a twist, but all of us in UB are pioneers RIGHT NOW in 2007!

For many of us in The Hive, this is our first venture into direct sales. For others of us, we come to the table with direct sales experience. But for most of us, this is our very first time pioneering a product and concept that is totally new to the market.

I personally have worked with several start-up businesses. During the dot-com heyday of the mid-to-late nineties, I gained a TON of experience with start-ups. And so did many of my friends. And we all shared stories and learned valuable lessons.

Bringing a new product to the market is a thrilling experience for some. It can be absolutely terrifying for others. For most people, the comfort level falls somewhere in the middle. I would venture to guess that for most of us involved in UB, we have an above average tolerance for risk. We also are quick to understand innovations and recognize a hot trend before most people.

Otherwise you probably would not have taken the plunge and become a Fragrance Designer. Right? (take a moment to pat yourself on the back, you hip trendspotter!)

The ride with a new company can be somewhat of a rollercoaster. As Shawna has said, it isn't a sprint but it is more of a marathon. I think it is really helpful to understand the mentality of our customers. Not from a customer service or demographic standpoint, but to understand how people tend to react to "new" ideas.

There are several theories out there but one I have seen used in several disciplines (from eLearning, to healthcare) is the Theory of Innovation Diffusion that Everett Rogers published in 1962. I grabbed a concise snippet of what it is from Wikipedia.

I personally haven't read his book, I've just been exposed to it by several presentations I've attended over the years. I do, however, highly recommend The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. It's a great mix of culture and statistics about how trends really take hold in society.

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From Wikipedia:
Theories of Innovation Diffusion

French sociologist Gabriel Tarde originally claimed that sociology was based on small psychological interactions among individuals, especially imitation and innovation.

Diffusion of innovations theory was formalized by Everett Rogers in a 1962 book called Diffusion of Innovations. Rogers stated that adopters of any new innovation or idea could be categorized as innovators (2.5%), early adopters (13.5%), early majority (34%), late majority (34%) and laggards (16%), based on a bell curve. Each adopter's willingness and ability to adopt an innovation would depend on their awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adoption.

Some of the characteristics of each category of adopter include:

1. innovators:venturesome, educated, multiple info sources, greater propensity to take ris
2. early adopters:social leaders, popular, educated
3. early majority: deliberate, many informal social contacts
4. late majority: skeptical, traditional, lower socio-economic status
5. laggards: neighbours and friends are main info sources, fear of debt

Rogers also proposed a five stage model for the diffusion of innovation:

1. Knowledge - learning about the existence and function of the innovation


2. Persuasion - becoming convinced of the value of the innovation


3. Decision - committing to the adoption of the innovation


4. Implementation - putting it to use


5. Confirmation - the ultimate acceptance (or rejection) of the innovation

The S-Curve and technology adoption


The adoption curve becomes a s-curve when cumulative adoption is used.Rogers theorized that innovations would spread through society in an S curve, as the early adopters select the technology first, followed by the majority, until a technology or innovation is common.

The speed of technology adoption is determined by two characteristics p, which is the speed at which adoption takes off, and q, the speed at which later growth occurs. A cheaper technology might have a higher p, for example, taking off more quickly, while a technology that has network effects (like a fax machine, where the value of the item increases as others get it) may have a higher q.

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So what does all of this mean? It means that it might take a little longer to see a boom in party bookings or new recruits. It means that for almost everyone you tell about UB, they might need to hear about it several times (and in different ways) because they have never heard of it before.

Try to think about those people you know who "know" everyone and know every trend (they are the innovators and early adopters). Seek them out. They will help you tremendously in getting the word out.

We are the ones spreading the word about this amazing company. And it will likely take longer for us to see definite results in our businesses (than it would if we were in a more established company with major brand awareness). But for those of us who stick with it, the rewards will no doubt be absolutely worth it!

Hopefully you all find this information useful!

You Just Never Know

I posted a week or so ago about word of mouth advertising. And I have an amazing story to share that proves you just never know how it might work.

Just last weekend I did an Urban Botanic birthday party for an extremely delightful 12 year old and her group of friends. There were also two adult women who took part in the fragrance making, too. Well, it turns out one of the women works for my city's parks and recreation department.

At the end of the party, she asked for some of my cards and said she thought this would be a great workshop to offer through the city center (year-round they offer classes for people of all ages on a variety of topics). Needless to say, I gave her a stack of cards and told her how interested I would be in doing that.

This week I got a call from the program coordinator who asked if I would be interested in running UB workshops in their fall series.

My jaw hit the floor.

YES! YES! I absolutely want to be included in the fall series!! He emailed me the paperwork and I am sending it back to him Monday. The workshops will be listed in a magazine that goes out to nearly 100,000 households in my area!!

I am also figuring out how to thank my word-of-mouth angel. The fact that she enjoyed herself and saw value in the process enough to refer me to her co-worker just blows me away. Thank you doesn't begin to describe how grateful I am.

So, it just goes to show that you never know who might be in attendance at a party and how powerful word of mouth can be!

For Laughs

I got this in an email the other day and I laughed so hard I nearly cried.
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Here are the winners of the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational, which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.
The 2006 winners are:

1. Cashtration: (n.) The act of buying (or building) a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an *sshole.

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize that it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

5. Bozone: (n.) The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes and it's a serious bummer.

13. Decafalon: (n.) The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

14. Glibido: All talk and no action.

15. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

16. Arachnoleptic Fit: (n.) The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

17. Beelzebug: (n.) Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

18. Caterpallor: (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:

1. Coffee, (n.) the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, (adj.) appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, (v.) to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade, (v.) to attempt an explanation while drunk.

6. Negligent, (adj.) absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

7. Lymph, (v.) to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle, (n.) olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence, (n.) emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash, (n.) a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Oyster, (n.) a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

12. Frisbeetarianism, (n.) the belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

13. Pokemon, (n.) a Rastafarian proctologist.

Approaching the Media for your Urban Botanic Business

I had the opportunity to attend a great workshop on Monday that featured three Seattle-based journalists. Let me tell you they had a lot to say about what to do (and what NOT to do) when approaching the media (aka pitching a story) for publicity for your business.

First, let me explain a big concept in marketing - earned media. Earned media is basically anything that appears in the media that you didn't pay for. An advertisement is media space you buy (i.e. paid media). Earned media is when a journalist for a newspaper (or magazine, website, etc.) writes about your business, product, or cause in an article or story. You didn't pay for it, hence the term "earned."

Many people consider earned media to be more credible because it came from an unbiased source (vs. an ad where the company can tell you anything they want). The product or company does not get to approve what is written so the journalist is trusted with giving a fair assessment (good or bad).

Honestly, being a graphic designer I was only aware of paid media for the first 7+ years of my career. It wasn't until a few years ago when I was simultaneously finishing up my degree in business and working in a corporate communications department that I understood the concept. The PR Director was all about generating earned media whereas I was primarily concerned with paying for media (designing and placing ads).

Okay, now, I will share with you about how to pitch to journalists (aka "the media") to generate press (aka earned media) for your business.

Email is the preferred mode of contact. Phone calls can be intrusive. Snail mail still works but depending on the person, may or may not be timely. Most publications will have links to email addresses on their websites. If you aren't sure who to contact, it is totally fine to call the main phone line and ask the receptionist who you should contact.

Brevity is your friend when contacting a journalist. Don't wax poetic on all of the virtues of the product. Briefly tell them who you are, why they should be interested, how to contact you, and give them a link to your URL. These people receive A LOT of pitches and simply don't have the time to wade through all of your descriptive adjectives. As one writer on the panel said, "Don't bury the lead."

Be authentic. There is no need to act more formal or "business-y" when talking to a journalist. Be articulate. Use spell check. Be friendly. And act "normal" as one writer said.

Be persistant. If you don't hear back after one pitch, it is acceptable to ping someone again. Make sure to reference who you are, even just resend the exact same email. If you don't hear back after that, there may just not be any interest.

Do your homework. Be prepared to explain why your business is ideal for their readership. Read back issues and know what other products and companies have been featured over the last year or so (at a minimum). It is also smart to understand the demographic of their target audience. You can usually find this info on a publication's website where their advertising information is (i.e. "Advertise With Us").

Understand their timelines. Magazine articles are generally 3+ months out. Blogs and online media are one-two weeks out. Newspapers generally are one-two+ weeks out for features (longer if it's a weekly or monthly paper), unless of course, there is major breaking news.

If someone else has covered it, another publication likely won't. Journalists (whether online or in print) like to be the ones to break a story or be the first to report it. No one likes to play second fiddle or run secondhand news. Trust that the writer you pitch KNOWS what other publications have already featured. Unless there is a unique angle or new development, once you've been featured in one genre of media (i.e. wedding-related, or kid-related), that literally could be "all she wrote" for the time-being.

Do not send a "mass" pitch (with the exception of a press release, which is entirely different). Along with knowing what their colleagues have already featured, these people network with each other and have close relationships behind the scenes, across publications and websites. They share with each other (especially in the blogosphere) and can sniff out a "canned" email a mile away. Tailor your approach by following the steps I've outlined here and you should be just fine.

Being a paid advertiser does not guarantee or even help in getting written about in a publication. The ad salespeople and the writers are usually completely separate and don't know what the other is doing. However, there are some publications that offer their advertisers "advertorials." I won't go into detail about it but here is a wiki that explains what an advertorial is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertorial. But, still, an advertorial is paid media and still has less "cred" than pure editorial.

Samples: sometimes yes, sometimes no. Be aware that some publications have very strict rules about whether or not they can accept samples. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the publication, the less likely they can accept freebies. The best idea is to wait until you've conversed with an interested journalist and ask them the policy rather than just blindly sending someone a sample.

The bottom line: It's about relationships. That is the key point that the panel on Monday stressed over and over again. The media is approachable (even though the idea of pitching a story does seem really overwhelming). They are people just like you and me.

Word of Mouth Advertising for Your Urban Botanic Business

Do you know that for all of the new kinds of media out there (social networking, ezines, message boards, print magazines, email newsletters, online banner ads), that good old-fashioned word of mouth is still by far the most effective way to promote your business?

Think about it...word of mouth advertising automatically has a higher level of credibility because usually the source is a friend, family member, neighbor, or other acquaintance. This is where it can get tricky - a negative referral from a trusted source can do a lot of damage. But a positive recommendation can do wonders for your business!

Word of mouth is so low tech and so easily understood. But the difficulty that marketers face is how can you go about getting it? It's not as though you can just pay someone to go around raving about your business.

While you can't easily buy word of mouth, what you can do is treat every contact and social interaction with word of mouth in mind. Act as though you are a walking billboard for your Urban Botanic business. I don't mean you should literally slap the UB logo on all of your clothes, but carry yourself as an ambassador for your business. At all times (not just when you have your UB apron on in front of a party!). People like to do business with nice, friendly people. They want to do business with someone they actually like.

Another tactic you can use is to ask your happy customers to recommend you to their friends. Yes, it's just that simple. At the end of a party, ask them to let their other friends know how much they enjoyed Urban Botanic.

One very smart thing to do is determine who in your sphere of influence are the "connectors". You know, those people who seem to know everyone, have holiday card lists a mile long, and tend to be influencers when it comes to personal style. Offer to do a one-on-one consult with your connectors, since they tend to have very busy calendars and might not be able to make a party or open house. A connector is exactly the person you want evangelizing your UB business!

And, it goes without saying that outstanding customer service with a personal touch is absolutely key!

Here are some interesting statistics about word of mouth, or buzz, marketing.

When an interesting new product is discovered:

43% will try it with no recommendation

37% wait for a friend to endorse it

16% wait until it is on the market for a while

When a product or services impresses them:

55% percent will tell close friends and family

38% will tell anyone who will listen

2% keep it to them selves

According to research done by Osterman Research, some of the most important things about a brand or product that encourage word of mouth are:
satisfied customers (53%)
great products or services (27%)
an exciting brand (13%)

Interestingly, low prices ranked at 0%.

Your word of mouth buzz will work in conjunction with your other marketing efforts. Consider it one point of contact. Bolstering your small army of word-of-mouthers should be other marketing tactics - direct mail, email newsletters, social networking, print ads, and other efforts. All of these activities will build awareness about your business and bring in party bookings and new team members.

UB Heatin' Things Up!

I am in the middle of a virtual UB whirlwind and I LOVE IT!

Here is what I have on deck this week:

• high school fashion show fundraiser tonight
• tween birthday party Friday night
• youth birthday party Saturday afternoon
• grown-up UB birthday party Saturday night

Plus... I have new mailers coming to me from VistaPrint this week. I have 600+ local addresses of women between 25-48 who I will be sending those to.

Monday, May 14th Shawna has her Crave Shop '07 event that I'm going to help her with. I am so excited to see the reaction to the UB affiliate program she has designed for boutiques!

I have another party coming the first week in June. AND my mom is getting back in town and she will get her first taste of UB this week. I know she will likely do at least two parties for me and those parties will most definitely spawn more bookings.

Woohoo! It's gettin' hot in here!!

Mama-Do List

I am using my blog today to keep track of kettles in the fire. Somehow posting things publicly helps ensure I stay accountable! ;)

Also...the postal rate goes up on May 14th so there is no time like NOW to do my direct mail activities and use up cheaper stamps!

1. Send out 100 party lead postcards to my neighborhood.
2. Send out staff appreciation flyers to targeted businesses. I have pulled together a list of women-owned businesses that are likely to have a mostly female staff.
3. Follow up on my bridal mailing. I haven't received any bites yet so I think it's time to call the folks I mailed cards out to.
4. Begin building my boutique list. The new flyers Shawna posted to TeamBurst are great (kudos to Miss Lauri for designing them!).
5. Dedicate one uninterrupted hour to investigating the new networking site I joined called Ryze.
6. Follow up on three party leads! :)

Let's see how far I can get on these tasks by tomorrow evening...

Kids Parties and Urban Botanic

Happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo...

I posted a while back about why Urban Botanic is a great idea for birthday parties. Now that I can talk the walk, or walk the talk (or however that saying goes!), I thought I'd share a few insights, procedures, and lessons learned about doing UB birthday parties.

To get the word out about doing childrens parties there are lots of options. You can spend money on a classified ad in a local parenting publication (I ran one through the year with a parenting magazine here in Seattle). Better yet, you can list your UB business for FREE on an online parenting resource for your city or region. A popular one that I used is GoCityKids.com (they have listings for other cities besides Seattle). One thing to note is because these are free, don't be surprised if your listing is edited for length. Parents go to these types of resources in droves because, even in larger cities, there aren't a gazillion birthday party options. And best of all, UB offers kids something completely NEW that hasn't been done a gazillion times.

Once you have advertised that you do birthday parties, be prepared for inquiries. And especially be aware that these inquiries might come directly from the birthday child. I recently had a very industrious young 12 year old contact me directly via email about scheduling her party (!!). It took a few emails back and forth before I realized I was conversing with such a young customer. My intuition told me to ask her if it was for a special occasion and she replied that it was for her birthday. So, I now routinely ask in the first correspondence if it is for a special event or occasion!

You should also think about your policies surrounding birthday parties. Because we don't (as of yet) have set guidelines from corporate, I looked at the policies that other party entertainers in my area list. I ask that the birthday parent decide what "package" they want (i.e. what products they are purchasing for the guests) and an estimate of how many guests will be attending. I then invoice them (using PayPal) for 50% deposit of the estimated party total before the party (up to two weeks before). This secures their date. Then, the remainder is due the day of the party.

If a party host needs to cancel an event giving me two weeks notice, I reserve the right to retain the 50% deposit. If an event needs to be cancelled with less than 48 hour notice, I reserve the right to bill the host for the entire cost of the party. If for some reason I need to cancel an event due to an emergency, I will refund their deposit.

I also spell out that I don't provide food or decorations and that a UB party typically lasts two hours.

If the expected attendance for a party is more than 6 children, I let the host parent know that I would appreciate their being present during the workshop to help out if needed. If a party exceeds 10 children, depending on their ages, I would actually bring a second Fragrance Designer and would tack on an extra charge (I haven't had a party be larger than 10 yet, so I don't have that part totally figured out).

Okay. All pre-party duckies are lined up. Now, on to the actual party...

I structure my birthday parties a little differently than a regular UB party. For example, I don't follow the flip book, I don't do the personality test, I don't explain about becoming a Fragrance Designer, etc. If the parent (or parents of guests are there), I might hand them a business card if they seem interested in UB. But I don't go over that info during the party.

Here is what I have done:

• I set up the table like normal. If the product package is more than 2 products, I put it in a fun gift bag**; if it's just one product I tie a cute ribbon around it with a cute tag**.


• I briefly explain about the product that they will be taking home (what it is, that it's hypoallergenic, etc.).


• I have the party guests smell some of the sample recipes. I specifically bring the "lighter" ones and include a recipe I call Sugar Cookie (similar to Shawna's Just Baked). I have extra copies of those scent recipes that I can hand out if that is what someone chooses.
  
• Before they start smelling, I tell them to make sure and write down which oils they like. I also ask that they narrow that list down to their favorite 3-5 scents after finishing the smelling.
• Then I explain that there are 66 oils in different scent families. I point out that the Woodsies might be ones they won't like but I encourage them to smell them anyway.


• They begin smelling. It's so fun to watch and listen to their reactions!


• Once they've pretty much smelled them all, I stop them. I will ask them again which of the samples they liked and if the party is small enough, I will look at their lists to offer guidance.


• Then they begin creating their scent.

MAKE SURE to demonstrate (with each child if possible) what a drop looks like. Then watch and make sure they are writing down each drop. This is where they get to play and have fun! I suggest having a lot of extra mixing glasses as there will likely be a lot of "do-overs". Just like a regular party, offer advice and encouragement in helping them create their scents.

Once they have their recipes decided, I suggest having the party switch gears and move on to another activity, like cake and presents (in another area of the house). Then you can batch and blend their scents into their products. Also, write up names/recipes and tape the backs of bottles.

If the children are more mature, and they want to, you can let them help batch and blend. I suggest doing the math for them and writing out their batch recipe line by line so they can follow it and count out the drops. I would only do this if the party was less than 5 guests total and you had another adult to help.

**One idea I came up with is to have some product info that goes home with each party guest. Parents of these children might be curious (and possibly concerned) about the product their child has brought home. I suggest including a card of some sort that explains about the products (hypoallergenic) and says that if they have questions or want more information, they can contact you. Then give them your web address, etc. This also helpful if they want to book you for their child's party! :)

I have been pleasantly surprised at the creativity and sophistication that children show when creating their own scents. It is so much fun and very satisfying seeing the joy they get from UB!

Giveaways and Contests

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

There is a lot of advice out there about how to gain exposure for your Urban Botanic business. Of special interest to most of us are ways to gain exposure and new customers on the cheap. One of the methods that is suggested quite often is to run a contest or sponsor a product giveaway.

Do contests and giveaways "work"? Well, it depends on your goal or what you want the outcome to be. I think the important thing that you ought to be realistic about is whether your goal is to make sales by doing a giveaway or contest or if your goal is simply to get your name out there.

Think about it. Are the people who clamor for free things really looking to buy something if they don't win? Or are they really just looking for a cool new thing for free?

My feeling is the latter.

Is there anything wrong with that? No.

I'd like to share with you my experience doing an online UB giveaway. I had the great privilege of being asked by a well-known blog to sponsor an Urban Botanic giveaway. And I can tell you, I think I may have had my goals mixed up at first. My naive assumption was that the nearly 200 women who signed up for the giveaway would immediately become customers once they found out they didn't win. I was actually quite wrong in that assumption. I did not receive the rush of orders that I expected at the conclusion of the giveaway.

Now...I don't want to give you the impression that I consider the experience a failure. I did achieve a very important goal of getting exposure for my Urban Botanic business. The blog owner told me she had hits averaging 800-900 each day of the giveaway which is fantastic! And through this exposure, I added a team member who otherwise might not have heard of UB. I also gained awareness with an incredibly savvy audience of women. The blog who featured the giveaway has a readership of amazingly creative, sophisticated women.

So I wholeheartedly view my experience a huge success. And, depending on the venue or who the audience might be, I would consider doing another giveaway. But this is key - who the audience would be and whether gaining more awareness to them is going to be beneficial to my UB business.

Here is one other important consideration...don't assume that just because someone signed up for your contest or giveaway (and perhaps gave you their email address or other contact information) that they really do want to receive more information from you. Be mindful about what other people might consider spam. In Washington state, for example, sending spam email is actually against the law. And it could cost you a bundle of money if someone really decided to pursue the matter. I say this because if your purpose for doing a contest or giveaway is to gather contacts for your marketing newsletters or promotions, you should think carefully about that.

All in all, I do recommend that you consider doing a giveaway or a contest as a way to market your business. I just suggest you do it with realistic expectations, clear motives, and really think about how implementing this tactic could benefit you.

Start Now for Urban Botanic School Fundraisers

Didn't it seem like the time between Spring Break and the last day of school took FOREVER when you were a student? I can remember in elementary school just being filled with anticipation E-V-E-R-Y S-I-N-G-L-E excrutiating loooong D-A-Y for Field Day, our annual end of the school year ritual where we actually got to wear shorts to school (shorts! to school!!!) and win ribbons for exciting feats of athleticism like the 3-legged race.

Now, doesn't it seem like as a parent those last 6-8 weeks of a school year just fly by in an absolute chaotic blur? I work at a school, too, so it really feels like a blur where we are all running around in a manic daze just trying to get things done.

And then BOOM it seems like in no time at all, it's the beginning of a new school year.

For most school groups, they begin planning out their year at the beginning of a school year if not before. And they do this during all of the hubbub and buzz of a brand new year. It stands to reason that this could be why many groups tend to do the same fundraisers year after year. If it ain't broke, why fix it? There are so many other things to think about and crossing your fundraising plan off the to-do list is even easier if you stick to what you've already been doing.

This is why I recommend that if you want to approach a school group to do an Urban Botanic fundraiser, you get in contact with them now. The group coordinator (usually a school administrator or teacher) will likely have some time to mull over the idea during the summer break. You might even be able to meet with her or him to go over questions and work out a plan for implementing an Urban Botanic fundraiser before the new school year hits.

Now if you are reading this thinking "but, Kelsey, I haven't even THOUGHT of using Urban Botanic to do a fundraiser!", let me outline some of the reasons you should consider it:

• It's great exposure for your business.
  
• It gets your name in front of people right in your own backyard
  
• There is a high likelihood of repeat orders


• You stand a great chance of booking some parties
  
• You also stand a great chance of building your team through meeting new potential consultants
  
• It's great PR to say you helped raise money for a youth organization/group/team

How you would structure the fundraiser is up to you. A great example is Lauri Hetzer in Ohio. She has a plan to do a cheerleader fundraiser where she is giving them a cut of her commission and is selling a 3-product set as a presale. Then, she will be scheduling workshops for people to come make their scent and blend it into the pre-purchased products. I think it sounds like a winner!

I also found a great template letter that you can use to send off to a group who might be interested in doing a UB fundraiser. I suggest calling the school or organization and getting the name of the person coordinating the group so you can address it directly to her. You can customize the wording on the letter as you see fit but it gives you a great starting point.

http://www.mymommybiz.com/party/fundraisers/sampleletter.html

Now, go forth and fundraise!

Office Decorating Daydreams

Just doing a little online visualization about my future home office setup for my Urban Botanic business. I recently purchased a new computer, new flat panel monitor, and a color laser printer.

Now if I only had a swanky space to put it all in...

Like these options from Pottery Barn and Home Office Furnishings (cabinetry by Taghkanic Woodworking in the bottom left):

And just look at this sexy desk from ScanDesign...oh MY! It has Melrose Place written all over it!And these two options shown in Blueprint (Martha's new mag which I lurve...). I would mix a little of each style to fit my own.

And finally, a super-sophisticated, sleek home office...maybe a little too minimalist for my taste but SO gorgie! From the portfolio of Valenta Taber Architects....YUM!

Getting More Hours in a Day

I have not been posting as often as I normally do. This is mostly to do with a big deadline on the magazine I design at work. I'm happy to say it has gone to the printer so I'm able to have a little more balance in my life right now.

But this got me thinking...how are some ways I can better manage my time? I know that I have a lot on my plate and I consider myself to be a productive person. But we are ALL busy...isn't that the phrase you hear all the time? Sorry I didn't do X, I've just been so busy...if only there were more hours in the day!

I found an interesting article that gives some tangible ways you can build more time in your day and be more productive. Personally, I am going to adopt two ideas from the article. I'm going to start getting some books on CD to make my commute each day more educational. I also know I could save a lot of time if I could stop compulsively checking my email every 10 minutes!

And some day I very much plan on having an assistant! ;)

Here's an idea: I think for many of us, that hour we could save by turning off the TV (as suggested in the article) should be an hour we spend nurturing ourselves. Because when we say we are so busy, I think we are really saying we are stressed and could use some "me" time.

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Ten Ways to Save 2 Hours A Day or More!
by Chris Widener
article found at http://www.mlm.com/mlm/user/mlmarticles

When you gain 2 hours a day, that is 14 hours a week and a whopping 728 hours a year or 18.2 workweeks!

Take a look at the list below and implement a few - if not all - of them and see how much time you gain this week and how much more you accomplish! (Note: The time saved listed is per day! They are also very conservative estimates.)

1. Turn off the TV. We may as well start at the easy one. The average person watches 3 hours a day. So turn it off for one of those hours. Do something else instead. Read a book. Better yet, start writing YOUR book! Time saved - One hour.

2. Group your projects together. Do all you email at once or make all your calls at once. Starting and stopping wastes a lot of time. Time saved - 15 minutes.

3. Don't answer the phone. Let it go to voice mail. Then, at a set time, listen to the voice mail, delete liberally, and write down the info on a pad to call back when it is best for you. Talk to them only about the issue at hand. Time saved - 30 minutes. Another 30 if you count the telemarketers you avoid.

4. Get up 15 minutes earlier. Go to bed 15 minutes later. If your alarm goes off every day at 6 am, make it 5:45. You don't need that much sleep anyway! Time saved - 30 minutes!

5. Enroll in what Zig Ziglar calls "Automobile University." I have a friend that uses his library card like nobody's business and always has the best cd's with him. And it costs him nothing. He listens to close to ten hours of great material a week. All while in the car. Time saved - 1 hour.

6. Cut your lunch short. No matter how much you take, shave 15 minutes off of it. Side benefit: You'll lose weight without the dessert! Time saved - 15 minutes.

7. Hire an assistant. Let him or her do the smaller tasks like answering email, copying, screening calls, and filing. Time saved - 1 hour.

8. Focus. Different people are distracted by different things. Whatever it is that distracts you, cut it out. Tune it out and lock in like a laser on your work. You will save time and your work will be better! Time saved - 30 minutes.

9. Shift you work hours to include time when others aren't at the office. Being there alone will help you stay on task and you will be shocked at how much you get done. Time saved - 15 minutes.

10. Plan. Spend 15 minutes a day planning your day to work on the most important tasks in the most efficient way. You will lose 15 minutes but gain an hour. Total saved - 45 minutes.

Total if you do them all: 6 hours a day of time saved, improved focus and a dramatic increase in productivity! If you will just implement a few of these - those that work best for you - you will see a dramatic improvement in your time management and productivity - I guarantee it!
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What can you do right now to gain some time in your day? :)

Coaching (and I don't mean the handbags!)

With several of us, myself included, recently reaching our goal of UB Scentsational, we are now in the position of leading a team. Of course we are so fortunate to have our fearless leader of The Hive, Shawna Straub, keeping us all organized and on track. And she is a tremendous resource, as we all know!

I found this article that talks about Principle-Centered Coaching which I thought was very apropos. I imagine that a lot of us bring to Urban Botanic a track record of leadership and management. However, several of us are new to direct sales and we are ALL new to Urban Botanic. This articles describes a method of mentoring that I felt was very in line with the company mission and values.

Enjoy!

_____________________________

Open Your Heart To Coaching
By Jane Deuber
President and Co-Founder of the DSWA
article found at http://www.mlm.com/mlm/user/mlmarticles

Leading in the Spirit of Service
If you’re a leader with a growing organization, you’ve probably been told that you should be coaching your team members. Perhaps you’re wondering, “Be a coach? What does that mean and how can I expect to coach others when I’m just figuring it out for myself?” The answer lies in something called Principle-Centered Coaching—a way of working with your team that opens your heart and expands your capacity to lead in the spirit of service.

To Coach Is To Serve; To Serve Is To Succeed
The foundation of Principle-Centered Coaching is built upon five core principles that present an image—a model if you will—of the kind of coach you want to be. Using these principles, you will cultivate a supportive, safe environment in which your team will flourish.

· The Principle of Trust: An environment of trust is defined by faith, confidence, and belief in your team—and to keep a confidence. Trust is the basis of meaningful, healthy relationships and must be present to create openness, learning, and growth.

· The Principle of Respect: When you show respect for another, you interact with dignity and kindness. You honor others no matter their accomplishments or perceived abilities. Giving and receiving respect builds self-esteem and confidence.

· The Principle of Service: When we serve others through our actions, we express the essence of leadership. By helping others get what that want, we experience the joy of making a difference.

· The Principle of Integrity: Do you do what you say you will do? Integrity is when our thoughts, words, and actions are the same and we follow through on our commitments.

· The Principle of Authenticity: An authentic leader is comfortable being herself and does not put on appearances. Strive to be natural, genuine, and honest in your dealings with your team.

Rich Rewards
Once you weave these five principles into the fabric of your interactions you will see shifts at many levels. Some subtle, some obvious, but collectively they are transformational. Here is just a taste of what you can expect.

You will…
· Enjoy coaching your team so much more when you call to support rather than to fix.

· Sense a deeper connection with your team as they see your willingness to serve and support.

· See your team grow as you see each new team member as a gift instead of more work and responsibility.

Your team members will…
· Feel confident in their ability to build their business.

· Be accountable to themselves and their goals.

· Be true to their word because the team values integrity.

· Remain clear, focused, and on track toward success.

Ways to Explore the Five Core Principles
Beginning today, hold yourself to the standard of keeping these five core principles at heart in all team interactions. At day’s end, reflect on how you have lived these principles, and then marvel at the magic that results.

This is an excerpt from the best selling book Build It Big – 101 Insider Secrets Form Top Direct Selling Experts, brought to you by the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (DSWA). The DSWA provides industry-specific education, resources and support to direct sellers in more than twelve countries, representing over 275 companies. To learn how you can receive $850 in bonus gifts by ordering the Build It Big book, visit http://www.mydswa.org/bib.asp. To learn about the benefits of becoming a member of the DSWA, visit http://www.mydswa.org/member_program.asp.

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Wed, Thurs, Fri...etc.

The last part of my week was a blur. Here is just a brief list of what happened and what I accomplished...

I received my cards from VistaPrint and I have to say they look great. They are going out today (Monday)

We got our car back from being fixed - new front brakes at 26K!! I can't believe it. I think I want a new car!

I added a new team member - Avis from California. Yay!

I heard from a lifestyle editor of a popular local wedding blog. I am just waiting to set up a day/time to meet with her. I'm super excited about this!

I sent out a promo for Mother's Day to 40 women. I did this through Constanct Contact and used a direct link to PayPal.

My daughter continued to get sicker, adding a severe cough to her fever. I spent 3 hours in urgent care with her yesterday. She had chest x-rays done to rule out pneumonia. Luckily she doesn't have pneumonia, just a really, really bad cold.

We finally tackled the garage. We hauled out a truck full of junk that was just trash to go to the dump. Of the remaining items in the garage, over 2/3 are earmarked for a garage sale (maybe this upcoming weekend?) and the remaining 1/3 are things to keep. Phew!

And the last bit of news is that I qualified for UB Scentsational with a week to spare! Hooray!!! It certainly feels good to achieve a goal like that! :)

Tuesday & Wednesday

My how this week has just flown by...

My daughter has caught some kind of virus and has had a fever off and on since Sunday. Yesterday it was 102.7! Poor thing, not a very fun spring break for her.

Tuesday
Booked two parties
Emailed boutique for customer appreciation event
Spoke with an awesome potential new fragrance designer

Wednesday
Got a tentative booking for a birthday party (very exciting!)
Sent out a lotion sample to the potential new team member
Developed list for customer appreciation leads
Have two more tentative parties scheduled, just need to nail down the dates/times

I think my VistaPrint postcards should arrive today so I can do my wedding mailer!

Monday's Progress

Here are some of the things I accomplished today:

Attended The Hive Talkin' call
Posted ads on Craigslist
Followed up on three party leads

I also did a few hours of housework, took the car to get fixed, went to the post office, and minded two sick kiddos.

I did not begin to tackle the HUGE disaster area that is my garage...LOL