Okay, Ladies! (Gents? You, too!)
Let's talk about facial boxes and fishbowls for getting leads.
Love 'em? Hate 'em? Never used 'em? Used 'em but never got good leads? Got leads but never any sales?
This is your chance to tell about your results (or lack of results).
Talk about where you placed them, how you followed up and anything else you want to share.
Posts
Okay, I'll start. I've been in almost a year but never used them -they've not really been discussed at our unit meetings (other than casual mentioning) so I've never been taught how to use them. Very interested in others responses -- good question!
ReplyDeleteI am going to be putting some out soon - that's why I wanted some input. I know they have been discussed on this blog before, but not at length. I was hoping to get some detailed discussion going.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to put some out go to
ReplyDeleteIHOP they are very nice.
I don't like to use them. The reasons are:
ReplyDelete1. I don't know what I'm getting.
2. I can't talk to the people ahead of time.
3. I don't like making cold calls.
4. The leads I have gotten aren't the strongest.
5. I don't like talking to the management of the establshment.
What I like as an alternative to fishbowls is having a table at an event such as a bride show or craft show. The reasons are:
1. I talk to the people.
2. Pressure's off because they expect people to approach them about a product or service.
3. I form a mini relationship up front and they are expecting me to call.
4. I can ask people if they are over 18.
5. I might be able to book them on the spot.
Good points, Shades! ;)
ReplyDeleteFor me, I feel alot like Shades, however, I have had several unit members that have had great luck with facial boxes/fishbowls. They seem to draw in better leads in bridal shops and beauty salons because of the clientelle. So, sometimes I think location can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteAnother item I found that makes the results better is to make sure that is is clear that the facial/ makeover is what is being offered, I mean it is okay to offer a gift certificate from the establishment but if that is what the focus is then you get more people that register more for the gift certificate than for the facial. So I put the focus on a product gift certificate redeemable at the time of the appointment (and the gift certificate from the establishment secondary) if one is promoted.
The important thing with any leads, is just make sure you
CALL THEM! - they aren't going to call you. :)
I have used fish bowls a LOT. My experience was hit or miss. I found that I could work the numbers and get bookings by calling the leads and making everyone a winner of $20 in free MK or $75 for $25 with 3 friends at their makeover who do not have a MK consultant. The prob with that was...they often had friends just to get the "free" stuff or did it alone, took the $20 free and that was it. Very frustrating.
ReplyDeleteI found craft shows much better. For one, you get more leads in one day instead of having to check your fishbowls. I also put a star on the names I wanted to call. Some I did not call at all b/c you could tell they had zero money or I would be uncomfortable being in their home. Sometimes weird ones go to the craft fair. LOL. Anyway, Shades is right, it is better to see what you are working with up front.
At one craft show, I got over 50 names in a day...booked 10 parties from that. 3 held. With leads (people you don't know personally), you need big numbers, but you can make it work.
The best way I got bookings was referrals. See my links at MKRules to read about that:
http://mkrules.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/how-to-get-lots-of-referrals/
http://mkrules.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/what-i-say-when-calling-referrals/
You will still have to call the referrals and get lots to work the numbers, but you will not have to place fishbowls or go to craft fairs. Hope this helps you!
Fish Bowls were almost as hard for me to put out as warm-chatter booking. Why? Because I still had to talk to the store owner or manager about setting it up!! My stomach would be sick every time.
ReplyDeleteWhen I did work up the nerve to put out boxes, I rarely called the entrants. I would call the winner and get her stuff to her but that's all I could do. So I had names sitting forever and then finally threw them out after a couple of years of doing nothing.
Last fall I came up with a different idea and one that I was comfortable with. I was involved with lots of craft fairs and of course I had a prize to give away. I did call the winner, who was estatic to win the basket but I didn't offer to facial her (as that is not part of my prize). I gave her the basket and we chatted for about 10 minutes, I left her a catalogue and I was on my way. I felt great, she felt great and everyone was happy.
The rest of the names, I mailed them a nice letter, a catalogue and a pile of samples. If they call me, great. If not, I'm not concerned. I have received new customers so far this way and it's without any pressure on myself and more importantly, them.
:)
IF you are going to put out a fishbowl (and I have to concur with shadesofpink, the leads generally are not strong), for pity's sake remember that you have it out there and pick up the leads from time to time! By not doing so, you really squirrel it up for the next consultant who wants to put one out...
ReplyDeleteWhen I would go around trying to place them, I'd run into the occasional proprietor who'd refuse simply because the last person to do a fishbowl there never picked up their leads. And I got to see a classic example of this at a bridal shop I visited. The pages that had been cut out of the Look Book and pasted onto the bowl were at least 6 months old, the bowl was almost overflowing and the consultant hadn't left any contact info with the bridal shop. The manager offered me the fishbowl, just to get it out of their shop! I told her that if the consultant didn't come for it by the end of the month (it was around the 2nd of that month), I'd take her up on it. And yes, the manager did call me to take it off her hands. I was able to do fishbowls there for several years before I left MK and do you know, the manager told me that this consultant NEVER came by or by any other means contacted them to check on her fishbowl.
Even though I no longer have any vested interest in MK, I will tell you that a fishbowl that has been obviously unattended is a pretty pathetic sight to see. So if you're going to do fishbowls, do the job right; schedule when you are going to pick up your leads and then DO IT.
Curious -
ReplyDeleteMy mouth literally fell open when I read your comment.
How on earth can a consultant can do that is beyond me.
***note to self: please write down where all fishbowls are placed and service them regularly.
LOL
I'm not sure where to put this suggestion, but since the board has the new section off to the right, I know this will show up.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was becoming a Director, I needed to meet more people and for me conversational booking or doing fishbowls was extremely difficult.
But I did have about 150 customers at that point so when this idea came across my desk I thought "I can do this!"
It's the 100 surveys in 7 days. I packed up 10 surveys with 10 samples and 10 candies into 10 bags. Then I asked some of my customers if they'd like to earn a gift certificate or products just for passing these surveys around to people they knew. They had a week to do it.
All my customer needed to do, was find non-mk users among her social circle and have them fill out the whole ballot. The entrant could then take a candy and a sample.
Once I had all 10 packs handed out, a week later, I collected them with the completed ballots.
In a week I had 70 new contacts and I didn't have to warm chatter any of them.
Now follow up is really key here...which I also had difficulty doing however, the point to the story is if you're working MK and you need to expand your customer base, this is a great game to play.
I'm going to do it again shortly and slightly modified. I'll still offer my 10 customers something...like a $20 gift certifcate. But the bigger change will be to offer the person filling out the ballot a $10 gift certifcate at the time of their first facial or something like that.
If you'd like a copy of the ballots and scripts email me at pinkunited@yahoo.ca. They're in MS Word so they can be modified.
Happy Easter everyone!
:)
I know this is an old forum, but I tried to email you for the information. I would love to try this as I am trying to become a director by the end of the year.
DeleteHope you can help me with the scripts and survey.
Thank you,:)
I realize this is old article but I like the idea of name referrals. It sounds like it would work great !! I also emailed a request for the scripts and ballots..
DeleteThat is an AWESOME idea!
ReplyDeleteI am emailing you!
LOL
mkshay,
ReplyDeleteI've emailed you back. There's two attachments.
Have a great Easter,
:)
Thank you so much, Lookingforanswers.
ReplyDeleteIt really is an awesome idea!! Great job!!
mkshay, you're most welcome.
ReplyDeleteLet me know your results after you try it.
:)
I need help with Calling the people. I have a ton of numbers but i dont know what to say when i call! for example, Hi is _____ there? great this is cassie smith, im a mary kay consultant and im calling you because _______ gave me your number..... and then im lost. any help would be great, thank you.
ReplyDeletecassie, I will be working on some I use as soon as possible for you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Cassie, I need to find a scrip that doesn't sound/feel fake. I love the craft show ideas. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of a craft show!
ReplyDeleteAny ideas on how to set it up? What to have on display? How to generate leads from it?
I'm doing one this weekend and at the beginning of December. I never have before, and some guidance and advice would be wonderful. I've looked in the forum because I remember reading something about it, but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.