Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Paperwork Organization

At PRU training on Monday (9/17/12) Janna offered the following tips which I'm working on right now- yes, this ADD Gemini is multi-tasking (hey, at least I remembered my Adderall today!).

Ok, here we go- label 12 file folders with the months of the year.  Staple all of the order forms from the party with the hostess's on top.  I actually add a sticky note to the top with the date, hostess's name and the order number if I've had to order products- which I have had to do for all parties except for my inventory revelation last night.

Another consultant in attendance, suggested adding a 13th folder for back orders (this will help me GREATLY since I totally suck right now with the whole back order thing).  Note- the ENTIRE packet from the party goes into the back order file so it stays together.

Place your parties for January in the January folder, and on and on and on.

Label 12 envelopes with the months of the year and place these in the corresponding file folders- this is for your receipts.

Previously I had my file folders in alphabetical order by hostesses first names.  This was working well for me because unfortunately I've only had 1-3 parties a month and, at present, I can name all the hostesses.  BUT, I'm making lots of changes which WILL result in me having more partie.  :D

Tried 3x to rotate it grrrrr




When we were discussing this someone asked about remembering when the party was if a guest called you at a later date.  So I printed out a calendar to place in each file folder with the hostesses name on the date the party was held.  This was very depressing for me to do because I had to see how few parties I've held each month.....which actually turned out to be a good thing because it's motivated me to get off my non-calling-crappy-follow-upper-unorganized-getting-organized-lazy butt and make a bigger effort to book more parties.



Because I tend to stick stuff in piles, then pile those piles into more piles, then move those piles to places unknown, I added file folders for order forms, hostess packets and recruit packets (I still need to find a spot for catalogs which I also misplace).  I decided to do this after spending three days looking for my new small order forms that I was really excited about using but couldn't find- they were under a pile of who knows what under some pillows on my bedroom floor (I have no idea how that happened).  So now when I go to restock my bag for a party I know where all of my forms and packets are- YAY!! 

Some of you are going to cringe while reading this next part but I promise you I got it now!  Receipts- I'm horrible at keeping them and to make matters worse, I've tossed all my invoices from past orders.  I didn't know I needed to keep them until the day poor Sharee spent over an hour with me on the phone helping me get organized.  I was very proud of myself for keeping my gas and toll receipts from my party last night!  Well, the toll receipts at least.....I think the gas one might be in my wallet.  I'm not sure if the invoices should go in the same monthly file folders with the party orders or in a separate folder so maybe someone can comment and offer a suggestion.  I promise I'll keep them from now on!!

Oh wait!  I just found four of them!  See?  I told you I'm multi-tasking!  I saw a file folder I'd taken out labeled "original sales order sheets."  Not sure why I thought that was a good name for that file but the ones I found.............................................are now safely tucked into the months I received them (unless they're supposed to go somewhere else, then they'll be moved).

So, yes, Christie, I did it.  Your words stuck in my head from Monday night about going home and implementing what we'd learned at PRU and it may have taken me 2 days but I did it!  I still have a few more things to organize but my paperwork portion is finished!!!

The importance of inventory!!!

First let me say that I started Pure Romance to pay for my 6 year old's dance classes.
Second, what that means is I don't get to put much money back into my business.
Third, after my party last night that's going to change.

We've all heard that women are impulse buyers.  I learned just how true that was last night.  I had 9 women there on a Tuesday night.  When it was time to go to the ordering room I was hearing a lot of "Can I pay you on Friday?" because more than half of them didn't get paid until then.  I told them I'd leave the party open until Saturday so they could call or email me with their payments.

About ten minutes later while I was packing up my demo one of the ladies asked what I had with me.  I had my pitiful 'store' laid out in the ordering room and suddenly 'Vegas' was hopping!!!  My inventory is very small since, when my money comes in, it goes directly to the dance studio (or to my massive Hemi gas guzzler).  How small?  I had Peach Coochy, Pink Cupcake Coochy, Dust Me Pink, Thumbs Up, More Drama, 2 Micro Bullets, New Silver bullet, Seventh Heaven, Great Head, ExTCee, Privacy Please, Come Clean, Burning Desire, Twitter, Whipped and Booty Eaze.  After last night it's now even smaller!  I would have walked away from that party with all I.O.U's for Friday but instead I drove away with over $140 in my pocket.  I know it doesn't seem like much to those of you with big inventories and lots of $1000 parties but for me this was a very nice surprise AND it REALLY opened my eyes to how important having products at every party is.

So with each order, instead of putting $30 aside to get your nails done or buying yourself a nice lunch- stock up.  I'm not saying place a $3000 order (unless you're able to do so but many consultants are like me and just don't have the cash to fork out) but start small.  If you can, take advantage of the 6 packs!!

When you sell that inventory don't do a happy dance and sing "Look at all my money!!  Mall here I come!!" <or is that just me??>  Stick it in the bank and leave it there until you have to do your next order and restock what you sold. 

I'm EXTREMELY happy with what I sold last night and will be making phone calls (yes, I'm actually going to dial numbers and speak to people directly) on Friday and following up with the ladies who said they wanted to order this weekend.  However, I have another party on Saturday and I'm kinda pissed I'm down to such a low inventory!!!!!!  LOL

I've heard Karey, BJ, Jessica and several other consultants say how important having inventory is but didn't realize just how much of a difference it can make until I witnessed it myself last night.

Inventory- GET SOME!!!!!!!

Pure'Romance Kathryn