Inspired Spring

If you haven't already ordered your new spring catalog, the time is NOW! I already got mine and I'm so excited! I just LOVE all of the awesome new stuff and can't wait to show my customers. I've already placed a $450 order and anticipate more once I get more of these catalogs dispersed! The cover features a brand new scent in our Comforts of Home line called "Citrus Garden Herbs". It's a pretty soft yellow color and has a crisp, natural blend of rosemary, sage, lemon and thyme. The perfect fragrance for your home this new year!

Out of all the new offerings, some of my FAVORITE new releases (how can I list them, there are so many!!!) are... First, the *Eco-Shopper*. I've seen these great reusable bags at all the markets, and I have a few, but NONE are as cute as ours! This stylish lime-green color with pretty colorful flowers is too pretty and practical to get just one. I know what I'm giving all my girlfriends for their birthdays this year!

Another fave is the *Diffusers Refill*. I am so glad Gold Canyon is doing this. The diffusers are one of our more expensive products, and who would want to throw away something so beautiful when it's gone? Now you don't have to! And offering the 12 *Changing Seasons Appliques* is a cute addition to our amazing diffusers.

Along the lines of of "refills", isn't it WONDERFUL that all of our Homeology products can now be refilled with the new *Waste-less* concentrated cleaners! I love saving money and helping the environment, so these are a perfect match for me. I'm sure our customers are going to feel the same.

The final thing I LOVE about the new catalog is all of the tips and hints throughout that pertain to earth-friendliness, such as creative uses for jars & pods, and directions to clean, decorate and reuse with them. Even the catalog's paperweight has been reduced - I love that Gold Canyon is putting such an effort into "greenliness".

ORDER YOUR NEW CATALOGS and samples today! Log in to Essentials and click Action/Order Entry/Supply Order. Catalogs are item #96801, pkg of 25 for $15. Update your kit by ordering the New Spring Fragrance Sampler Set #96818 for $16. If you know of any demos close by, buddy up and share your supply order to split the shipping cost. For a complete list of available supplies, go to Action/Sales Supplies & Forms/Supply Item List (at the bottom).

I hope you all have an "Inspired Spring" with Gold Canyon!

Traci's Simply 2 and Diffusers

Traci, don't kill me for this! An entire post about YOU! :o)

One of our team demonstrators has taken Gold Canyon's Simply 2 Challenge to heart! After our team tele-meeting, Traci organized a monthly worksheet to map out her goals with Simply 2. The worksheet is separated out into weeks with her customer contact goals, party goals and sponsoring goals. She did a beautiful job on it, and I don't know how to upload Adobe files to this blog so you're going to have to email me if you want a copy. She simplified Gold Canyon's expectations to fit her level of activity. She says, "My own personal goal is 2 customer contacts per week (for me this means outside of my school because I make several customer contacts there every day), 2 parties per month w/ 2 bookings from each party and then 1 sponsor & 1 fundraiser (1 + 1 = 2!)". Traci put the form on her wall to remind and motivate herself. She has already completed a fundraiser and is sponsoring her first demonstrator this month. By the way, if any of you would like to meet Traci, I have listed her MySpace site in the right margin with demonstrator websites. If any of you have a business-related website, please share with us.

Traci also sent me an email this week with some feedback about Gold Canyon's awesome new diffusers! She says, "I put a diffuser in the staff bathroom at my school. Several people had questioned me about it before it came in... was it really as good as it was supposed to be? how long did it last? was it a strong smell? Well, everyone at my school LOVES it. No more stinky bathroom and they can't believe how well it works. This is the perfect solution to teachers not being able to burn candles in their classrooms."

Thank you, Traci, for the great ideas and testimonial! I hope all of you can incorporate these ideas to help grow your business!

Demonstrator Meeting 8/28

Traci, Katie, Erin

Our teammates who attended the recent meeting

Last Thursday we had a combined meeting with a few local Gold Canyon teams. Our theme was "Movin' and Shakin" and all of the convention attendees shared their "ah-ha" moment from conference. I brought home some new great ideas to share, read on!

First of all, our Regional Sales Manager, Kathleen Quirk was visiting from the home office. She announced the dates for next year's convention so you can start planning for it now. Please mark your calendar for Aug 12-14, 2009 in Phoenix.

Catalog Idea: Include a cover letter with every catalog you send out! Personalize it to your style, taste and customers. I've already incorporated this into my business, I feel great about it and I can't wait to see how my customers respond.

Party Favor: Print out little slips on your computer (or hand-write if you're neat or crafty) "Be a Smartie, have a party!" Attach each slip with stickers or ribbon to packages of smarties candies and fill a cleaned-out candle jar with them at your next party.

Another saying to use on a handout or write in catalogs, "When money's low, have a show!"

Customer Care: Remember to stay in touch with your customers. Get to know the people at your parties. You'll gain their trust and respect. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Feedback on our new diffusers: Some customers who haven't used this type of product may initially hold back because they're "too expensive". At our meeting, some of the demonstrators reported that they have shopped and compared diffusers from other companies. Pottery Barn sells similar products for $40, and Pier 1 Imports also sells expensive diffusers that aren't as fragrant. Personally, I found a $21 diffuser in ABC Distributing, with a few desirable fragrance choices, but I know from experience that the products have a tendency to be "discount store" quality. I think that Gold Canyon has priced ours well, and everyone is excited about the appliques and long-lasting 3-5months!

Product versatility: Our cute new tealight set "Tree Squirrels" don't have to hold just tealights! Home Goods store sells little acorn salt & pepper shakers that fit on perfectly. Our squirrels are only available while supplies last, so buy yours now!

Lysol vs. GC's Suddenly Scented Sprays: One of the demonstrators in attendance had a family member who works for a leading brand disinfectant spray company. All of the workers there love to purchase Gold Canyon's room sprays because the quality and fragrance is so much better than what they have to offer. Some of the employees actually attempted to break down the makeup of Gold Canyon's spray to figure out how they can improve theirs! I thought this was an exciting selling point for us!

Employee gifts: Now is the time to approach business owners and offer them ideas for their employee holiday gifts. Create a packet with a cover letter, catalog and some gift suggestions to deliver for presentation. Provide 3 price-point packages (they usually pick the one in the middle - make it count!) You may consider offering a discount on quantities and/or gift wrapping. Be sure to include your cost on gift wrap to your sales prices. Contact local doctor's offices, banks, realtors, law firms and other businesses you frequent.

Approach holiday parties this way - instead of focusing on how busy the season is. Invite your customers to party now and do their holiday shopping with you. Have wish lists, make lists of "who" their shopping for, etc. and then "save them from the mall" by helping them shop for everyone on their list WITH YOU!

Holiday Idea: Offer a 12-Days of Christmas program. Predetermine 12 small gifts from Gold Canyon and sell them in a gift bag as a ready-to-give gift. All the purchaser needs to do is slip one on the recipient's desk, pillow or doorstep each day for 12 days leading up to Christmas. (You may also wish to offer 8 days of Hanukkah).

Party Idea: Drop fliers off at businesses offering Lunch Parties where you can set up your display and have a few games in their office while it's closed up for lunch break.

Gift Certificates: You can make your own fancy gift certificates on your computer, or stop by the local office supply store the next time you drive by and pick up a pack of gift certificates. They come in so handy in this season, and it will give you another selling point to your customers who might worry about picking the wrong scent for a gift.

Advertising: Our Candle/Body/Home products are PERFECT for the person who has everything! We make shopping easy! Plaster this idea all over your fliers, newsletters, emails, catalogs, party invitations, etc.

Conference attendees at recent local meeting, sporting our "movin & shakin" t-shirts and sharing ideas and helps we brought back from convention.