Recession Proof Tele-Seminar with Richelle Shaw Millionaire, African American Mompreneur and BBWO Founder LaShanda Henry coming up October 21st, did you sign up?
Richelle & LaShanda did a Live Q& A in the BBWO Chat Room, you can read it below:
9:50am ---- Lydia good morning
10:52am ---- SONYA,AMERIPLAN good morning
11:01am ---- R. Lee Gordon Top of the morning, ladies
11:17am ---- Nicole Delamore Good afternoon from The Netherlands
11:49am ---- Makeup Artistry Hello Ladies
11:54am ---- Terri Tillman Hello everyone
12:01pm ---- Richelle Shaw Good morning everyone! Good to see you here
12:02pm ---- LaShanda Henry Goodmorning ladies!
12:03pm ---- LaShanda Henry I am so excited about tomorrow's teleconference, what about you Richelle?
12:04pm ---- Richelle Shaw I was just finishing up the checklists all participants can take home
12:04pm ---- Richelle Shaw It is going to be full of great useful info I am sure
12:04pm ---- LaShanda Henry Would you like to give the ladies a quick preview of what's to come?
12:05pm ---- Richelle Shaw Did you see LaShanda that we had to add an additional line for callers?
12:05pm ---- LaShanda Henry Really! I think people are still signing up today.
12:05pm ---- Richelle Shaw WOW - I will have to remind them to call in early to make sure lines aren't busy
12:06pm ---- Richelle Shaw Sure about the quick preview - do you have any questions?
12:07pm ---- LaShanda Henry I think I will let you all chime in with your questions to start....
12:08pm ---- LaShanda Henry No questions ladies? This is your opportunitiy to get a head start on the QnA before tomorrow.
12:09pm ---- Richelle Shaw Well let me ask - how's business? Are you beating this recession ladies?
12:10pm ---- Sondra Briggs Wright Richelle, just rused in from voting to ask a quick question. When participating in a trade show, what's the best way to generate leads?
12:10pm ---- Nicole Delamore At the moment we are not in such a severe down turn as the states, but as a start up I am not getting to much interest in my company
12:10pm ---- Richelle Shaw Alright alright, I will be gentle - OH, just got notification another 16 registrations for tomorrow's call
12:11pm ---- Richelle Shaw Sondra - yeah! for early voting. OK my favorite to do at a trade show is have a contest
12:11pm ---- Richelle Shaw but use the contest as a way to give away a great first prize
12:11pm ---- Richelle Shaw then, give everybody else that submitted their name - second prize which is a discount off of your services...
12:11pm ---- Richelle Shaw great way to get money from the trade show!
12:12pm ---- Terri Tillman Hi everyone. I just started my business and I was trying to market online first before I had start up money to buy products and it's not going so well. Any suggestions?
12:12pm ---- Makeup Artistry Do you have any tips on marketing a service business? I have a website and basic marketing materials.
12:13pm ---- Richelle Shaw Nicole - you gotta get the word out. Start writing your own articles, tell your own story AND, create your own media if you can't get things printed ini a traditional one. For example, I write my own newsletter to showcase my business.
12:13pm ---- Sondra Briggs Wright I normally do a drawing Richelle and historcally it has worked well but how do you feel about a very direct approach. The bottom line is, I'm looking for self motivated. goal oriented, driven people tojoin my team and I just want to be direct about what I'm looking for and just put it out there. Yiur thoughts???
12:13pm ---- Richelle Shaw I picked top business owners that I wanted to do biz with me and send them my newsletter.
12:13pm ---- LaShanda Henry We've got quite a few questions, hold on two seconds ladies so that Richelle can make a few responses, and then we will request a new round of questions.
12:14pm ---- Nicole Delamore Thanks for the tip ... I actually was a guess speaker at a school on Friday and I received an invitation to be a guest speaker once again
12:14pm ---- Richelle Shaw Direct approach is good, so give away a gift that is similar to your business, like the top 5 ____ that way you can weed out takers from people who are really interested.
12:14pm ---- Richelle Shaw OR make sure that you only do tradeshows that have your target market there
12:15pm ---- Richelle Shaw WHEW.... ok my fingers are being worked.
12:15pm ---- Richelle Shaw NOW for the next q
12:16pm ---- Richelle Shaw Terri: A business is a business so the internet is just another medium. You gotta do more than one thing to really test your idea
12:16pm ---- Nicole Delamore Along with this ... I am looking to do a wedding showcase, but not looking to spend to much on it... how do I attract sponsors in such a downturn of the economy?
12:17pm ---- Terri Tillman Thanks Richelle.
12:17pm ---- Richelle Shaw Terri - I started with nothing 3 different times and built the business to millions however, you have to be able to make some money without anything so you gotta make a deal with someone to purchase something. Look for logical partnerships!
12:18pm ---- Terri Tillman I've been targeting my family to purchase somethings but right now with money so tight it's just kind of hard to get people to buy
12:18pm ---- Richelle Shaw MakeUp Artistry - I would do the same as I suggested for Terri - find logical partnerships. For example, I have a private client who is a doctor. We partnered with a SPA to share clients. Its worked well and cost nothing.
12:19pm ---- Richelle Shaw Well, Family is the hardest to sell believe it or not. My mom was the last to switch to my telephone company (smile) Find someone else to sell to. Your family has other thoughts like why is she doing this
12:19pm ---- Richelle Shaw SHe should be focusing on her job right now
12:19pm ---- Makeup Artistry When you say partnership? What types do you mean?Like Discounts to customers.
12:20pm ---- Richelle Shaw You can't let this get in the way
12:20pm ---- Terri Tillman OK
12:20pm ---- Richelle Shaw Partnership meaning a way to go after the same client to bring people to you
12:20pm ---- Makeup Artistry Ok, Thanks!
12:20pm ---- Richelle Shaw SO what I mean is find someone who is selling already to your target client. Ask them to allow you to sell to their clients for a discount or for a commision
12:21pm ---- Makeup Artistry Great Idea.
12:21pm ---- Richelle Shaw Oh, I got a hundred of them!
12:21pm ---- Terri Tillman That makes sense, thanks
12:21pm ---- Richelle Shaw OK ready I think for the next question
12:21pm ---- LaShanda Henry Quick Chime In - Ladies don't forget to listen to the 1st Call With Richelle, you can find featured on the forum page! Once you listen, you will know why you can't miss the call tomorrow!
12:22pm ---- Nicole Delamore i sent a question about finding sponsorship in these times for a showcase event?
12:22pm ---- Richelle Shaw Sorry I missed it with all the typing...
12:23pm ---- Richelle Shaw FInding sponsorships in these times are HARD. I would focus on making sure that the showcase event suppports itself
12:23pm ---- Richelle Shaw THese times call for changing your normal business model.
12:23pm ---- Sondra Briggs Wright Richelle, I feel very strongly that the people we do business with..shou;d be willing to do business with us (ex. our insurance agent, dentist, etc). If not, we should be prepared to move our business elsewhere. How can we nicely verbalize our expectatons?
12:24pm ---- Richelle Shaw I think you did a great job just like that! I feel exactly the same way. I am very direct with asking people I pay money to, to use my services.
12:24pm ---- Richelle Shaw Don't just bluff though, be ready to make a move.
12:24pm ---- Katrina May What ideas do you have for throwing a networking mixer? So the participants can benefit and want to return
12:25pm ---- Richelle Shaw NOW - before you go and ask them to open their client base to you, be careful that you have proven yourself!!!
12:25pm ---- Nicole Delamore thanks ...
12:25pm ---- Richelle Shaw Trust is the hardest thing. If you do not follow up or show up on time, don't bother asking even if you do pay them money
12:25pm ---- Richelle Shaw Katrina - good question. I hate going to networking events. Everyone just wants to sell me. They don't understand the rules
12:26pm ---- Richelle Shaw The rules being, it is not the cards you give but the cards you GET that makes a difference.
12:26pm ---- Richelle Shaw SO - be very clear in the set up, promotion and during the event to get rid of the takers in the group
12:26pm ---- Richelle Shaw People who just give cards because they think ooohhh, she is dying to do business with me.
12:27pm ---- Andrea I have a question: I am looking for a mentor. I have approached a few women who are in the same business as I am and either there were honest in not having the time or not knowing what it involved or they felt it would be competition. How would you suggest I go about finding a mentor or even an accountability partner?
12:27pm ---- Katrina May Thanks Richelle
12:27pm ---- Richelle Shaw This only comes from training. BUT if you don't train your participants, you will end up with all Network marketers, realtors and mortgage people
12:28pm ---- Katrina May How do you train them?
12:28pm ---- Nicole Delamore I had the same experience ... no one wanted to connect with me!
12:28pm ---- Richelle Shaw Finding a mentor is tough and you may need to find someone in another industry. BUT - in your local town there should be someone!
12:29pm ---- Richelle Shaw Keep asking! But be ready to give back. GO to a charity and give your time. THis is a great place to find a mentor because the people there have a different agenda
12:29pm ---- Richelle Shaw TRAIN them - Katrina by making sure that in all of your promotional material you let people know what this is all about. Don't be scared to start small!
12:30pm ---- Sondra Briggs Wright Follow up, follow up follow up. The fortune is in the followup. What is good time spacing between followup calls?
12:30 ---- pmKatrina May Ok. Gotcha. Thanks
12:31pm ---- Makeup Artistry I am in the The Makeup Industry What type of events can I or another type of business host or have to spark interest in a business or client?
12:31pm ---- Richelle Shaw Well Sondra, follow up and persistence is GREAT however, sometimes, we are ready for the client but they are not ready. Listen to cues from the client. If they say call back on WED, then call back on WED
12:32pm ---- Tanesha Clark Richelle, Im in a direct selling company that makes perfect replicas of REAl designer perfumes. WhatI mean by real is that we add more perfume oil in the fragrances than the perfumes you buy at the department store. Real perfume normally costs $200-$400 an ounce. People who spend this much would be excited about what we sell at a fraction of the cost. People who dnt usually spend this much arent excited about the products. How can I market to those who know about an appreciate real perfumes?
12:32 ---- pmRichelle Shaw Also, Stay in touch with other methods. I have a deal with the VP of MGM MIrage Casino. She is very busy but how I stay in front of her is that I send my newsletter, articles she might be interested in, make it all about her. Then she calls! It is crazy how that happens
12:33pm ---- Sondra Briggs Wright Thanks Richelle. You Rock! Signing off now!
12:33pm ---- Nicole Delamore Makeup Artistry .... There are many individual who are having inhouse spa parties, this can also incl. make overs. This may be an idea!!!
12:34 ---- pmAndrea Thank you-Richelle. I know several am pretty involved in charities and other outreach programs in addition to my career. It just seems as if the mentor concept is foreign to most people unless you are in certain industries.
12:34pm ---- LaShanda Henry Quick Chime In: Loving all the specific questions but here is a more general one. Richelle, most entrepreneurs are barely surving, let alone thriving right now. What's the one big mistake they are making right now? Tomorrow we can talk about how to fix it!
12:34pm ---- Richelle Shaw Makeup - you can create any event you want to - why not go to places where people that appreciate makeup go. Like the mall or a small boutique
12:36pm ---- Richelle Shaw Tanesha, first I would say that you need to make sure that people who normally spend 200+ would really be excited. I happen to know that people don't buy because of price ... only 10% do. Just like the people who buy imitation purses
12:36pm ---- Richelle Shaw they are buying them because they can not afford a real one.
12:37pm ---- Richelle Shaw so really think through who is your target market! I would target those same ones who do buy knockoffs or those who shop at TJ Maxx looking for designer without the cost. Leave flyers on the cars in the parking lot
12:38pm ---- Richelle Shaw OK LaShanda - The one big mistake I think is not knowing really who their target market is ... Not generally but specifically who is buying. NOt in your mind because we can make all things seem logical but look at who is buying before or right now and imitate them
12:39pm ---- Richelle Shaw Of course I have 7 recession buster tips , 3 ways to grow and 20 free things to do right now and they will be detailed on the call tomorrow to help!
12:40pm ---- Richelle Shaw OK so I said a lot in those last few answers... any other questions?
12:41pm ---- Nicole Delamore How can one target the market when ... across the bord everyone is hurting?
12:42pm ---- Richelle Shaw I went to the mall yesterday and it was full - so not everyone is hurting.
12:42pm ---- Nicole Delamore I know my market ... but even in Europe they are not even up to hearing it!
12:42pm ---- Andrea not to hijack this but for makeup artistry- i am aware of someone that holds style seminars-where it covers topics like air, skincare, makeup and styling. she charged a small amount for the participants-she also used it to sell some of her products. you could do something like that and/or you could partner up with someone like Tanesha and through it together. That way you are being exposed to her clientele and vice versa.. Sorry to hijack. I just thought of that.
12:43 ---- pmRichelle Shaw Nicole -So find a different market - not to be flip but sometimes it has to be different! Great idea Andrea!
12:43pm ---- Richelle Shaw Same principle I was talking about earlier about starting with nothing.
12:44pm ---- Victoria D I just would like to comment. I am so blessed to have found this network. LaShanda you are doing a great job. Richelle, because of this network I have found you and you are great. Thanks so much
12:44pm ---- Nicole Delamore my computer frooze, so I think I missed your comment... will go back and read
12:45pm ---- Tanesha Clark Richelle, I think that aprt of the problem is that they think that these are knockoff fragrances but they are not. There isnt a patent on the fragrance itself only a patent on the name( ex. Chanel No.5). Anyone who has the $$$ to by the perfume can from one the perfume houses. Because the company cant use the designers exact perfume bottles becuse of trademark laws people think that these are knockoffs and that is where my dilema comes in.
12:45pm ---- Richelle Shaw Thanks Victoria! Is there a question I can help you with today?
12:46pm ---- LaShanda Henry Thank you Victoria.
12:46pm ---- Victoria D You're pretty much answering them all. Thanks
12:47pm ---- LaShanda Henry Well hopefully not all of them. lol. There is alot more information to come on the call tomorrow.
12:47pm ---- Richelle Shaw Tanesha - buyers are funny. People buy for various reasons. Who is your typical buyer now?
12:48pm ---- Victoria D LaShanda - Lol. I will be on the call too.
12:48pm ---- Richelle Shaw For example a car is a car however, there are Kias and there are Mercedes. They do the same function but have a huge difference in price. People like the perfume bottle
12:49pm ---- Richelle Shaw I personally love Escape. Will not buy anything else- I love the bottle. It is only $45
12:49pm ---- Richelle Shaw Has nothing to do with it being a knockoff or not. Gotta think farther than what you think. Testing is the only way to truly know
12:49pm ---- Richelle Shaw My mom does not get to make any decisions, only people who pay me. Those are the only results that rule.
12:50pm ---- Nicole Delamore Richelle - besides cutting cost, what would be the next number one for any business to do to survive in this down turn?
12:50pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 Richelle I am entering into the Mind, Body, Soul Seminar business. More like taking care of oneself from the inside out. Do you think this is an opportune time to begin this business?
12:51pm ---- Richelle Shaw ACtually Nicole I would not be cutting costs. Do you mean, cutting expenses?
12:51pm ---- Richelle Shaw This is a time where I would be testing the market and raising prices!
12:51pm ---- Nicole Delamore yep ... expenses
12:52pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 how do you test the market?
12:52pm ---- Richelle Shaw OK, the next thing I would do is raise prices! Ethel M Chocolates here in Las Vegas is having a hard time with the store in the airport. Less traffic so they raised prices 40% and things are fine now. Don't be afraid to raise prices.
12:52pm ---- Richelle Shaw Hey Ms. Motiv8! I think this is a perfect time to start a business
12:53pm ---- Nicole Delamore I was just going to say ... that would be frightening to do ... raising the price
12:53pm ---- Richelle Shaw NOw as far as the seminar business. It is hard to get butts in seats!!! Really hard
12:53pm ---- Nicole Delamore but I get what you are saying .... Thank you
12:53pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 what would you suggest for getting butts in the seat?
12:53pm ---- Richelle Shaw Is there a way to sell something else in the mean time to build your following
12:54pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 yes, i have ebooks and natural skin and hair products
12:54pm ---- Richelle Shaw I would first get a great list of followers people who could refer me and believed in me. BUT if you are dead set on the seminar business, make sure that you are not doing a stand alone event. Couple it with an existing event. So if someone in your town is already bringing people to town for ________ invite them to your event too
12:55pm ---- Tanesha Clark Actually I have one customer that continues to buy. Peolpe have bought the product but are not repeat buyers. We have Escape for example, when you buy it at the department store for $45 you are only getting 8-12% perfume oil in your bottle, for $59 with us you get 28% perfume oil. People have tested the perfume and said the next morning when they woke up the fragrance was still there but still decide not to buy it.
12:56pm ---- Richelle Shaw My favorite is adding an event to a trade show. It gives you something you can promote at the trade show and then invite the people to your event. I do this often when speaking to a group. I hold another event after the original event or sometimes before to get people already there
12:57pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 Great idea!
12:58pm ---- Richelle Shaw Tanesha - that is a tough business. I would work on educating your prospects. I would create a free consumer report - how to buy perfume for less. Keep telling the same story and offer incentives to get them to try. If you don't have more repeat buyers, this is a problem. It may be the product. Be sure and ask why are they not buying again! You may have to find a new product to promote - sorry
12:58pm ---- Andrea General question: When you are starting a business where there is alot of competition. What are some ways you would go about setting yourself apart?
12:58pm ---- Richelle Shaw Just a few minutes left....
12:59pm ---- LaShanda Henry We'll be wrapping up after Richelle gives her last answer.
1:00pm ---- Richelle Shaw Oh Andrea - lots of competition! AND I have a commodity - telephone service but I found a market that needed my service. I targeted, people who had been disconnected before. Everyone told me but you should sell to _______ and ______ and ________ but I remained focused on my target market and continued to make money with them. SO - be different. If everyone in your industry is bundling services, sell them individually and vice versa. You gotta do something different.
1:01pm ---- Richelle Shaw My fingers are dead tired!!! I can talk so much faster!
1:01pm ---- Andrea Thanks.. I
1:01pm ---- Nicole Delamore Thank you Richelle and LaShanda for your time .... I am happy that I was able to join in and really benefited from your answers.
1:01pm ---- Tanesha Clark You now what Richelle, I was thinking about doing something else! I just didnt want to give up so easy. Im also a hairstylist and I need to know how to market my own haircare products. I dont know where to begin. Any suggestions?
1:02 ---- pmAndrea Thank you for your time. I am in Las Vegas also. This was very informitive. Thank you LaShanda
1:02pm ---- Lydia Thank you ladies took some time to catch up sorry I was late. Excited about the call tomorrow.
1:02pm ---- Ms. Motiv8 Thank you Richelle and LaShanda
1:03pm ---- Richelle Shaw Tanesha - email me and I will give you some additional stuff.... Andrea - email me too, I teach a class here in Vegas that can help you! Great to talk to you. Hope to "see' you tomorrow on the call!
1:03pm ---- LaShanda Henry You are all very welcome, I am so excited about tomorrow! Be on time for the call ladies, space is limited.
1:03pm ---- Andrea Tanesha if you are a Hairstylist in a salo. you have a captive target. I think if you do a little brainstorming you will come up a way to get more sales
Sign up for the teleseminar with Richelle and LaShanda tomorrrow. Don't Miss It! Click here to sign up.
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It was great participating on the call tonight. Thank you for sharing and being real. The call tonight changes how I look at my own challenges on success and failure. I learned how the power of significantly reducing unnecessary expenses and finding new ways to increase my revenues. Also, to focus on financial benefits in our businesses through relationship building. This was a time productively spent and my gratitude to you both.
Peace, Winnie
LaShanda Henry > Winifred Quire GiddingsOctober 22, 2008 at 3:11pm
Thanks Winnie, we loved having you and all of BBWO on the call! So happy you got a wealth of information, more wonderful resources to come! -lhenry
Replies
It was great participating on the call tonight. Thank you for sharing and being real. The call tonight changes how I look at my own challenges on success and failure. I learned how the power of significantly reducing unnecessary expenses and finding new ways to increase my revenues. Also, to focus on financial benefits in our businesses through relationship building. This was a time productively spent and my gratitude to you both.
Peace, Winnie