...Well, I guess it had to start some time. After being in business for over 28 years, Linen World Home Party Plan has it's own blog.
The purpose of these postings is, hopefully, to create a dialouge regarding direct sales in general, and Linen World in specific. The explosion of the direct sales industry over the last decade has created both opportunities & obstacles. Since the mid to late 1990's, the reputation of home party sales (i.e. direct marketing) has risen from the backroom to the boardroom.
I have been involved with building a home party plan for almost my whole life- The company was started by my dad (Al Chavanne) on a wing & a prayer out the the basement of my parents home in the late 1970's - No catalogs, no order forms, and to call the operation pre-historic would be too generous.
Over time, and with a lot of hard work, a little luck & some truly great friends & sales consultants, Linen World has evolved into a leading supplier of home textiles, decor, gifts & quality merchandise for every member of the family.
We have always followed a few simple guidelines- Treat everyone with courtesy & respect, Understand that our sales team is our most important asset & provide them with the tools & resources they need for success & longevity - Our goal is to create a rewarding, professional opportunity where Consultants can achieve a significant & lasting source of supplemental income without pressure and without investing their own financial resources.
So, I would love to hear your comments, theories, thoughts, horror stories, etc. about direct sales - I would also be glad to address any questions you may have on the industry, as well as provide insight into some key topics for consideration before working with Linen World or any direct sales company. Take care!
Michael Chavanne / President
Linen World
19 comments:
Thanks Mike! I think this is a great idea,I can use the info and added inspiration without tieing up your phone lines>
Yes Thanks Mike, this is great. I just started so I need all the help I can get :-)
Hi Mike I think this was a great idea especially for the new consultant like myself. This will help keep lines open for the new to meet the experienced in this line pf work. I am happy to be here and I need all the advice I can get, thanks Mike. I want be able to make the show, but let me know haow it went!!!
Melinda Cross Georgia
This is GREAT hopefully we can get information on here when we are stuck on something after hours.Does anyone else get confused when they are doing their paperwork? I think it would be great to have a chat once a week or month. What would be even better is to be able to do our paperwork on the internet then submit it. That way it would cut out most of the paperwork! LOL.
Teresa - Thanks for the feedback - you can also email info@linenworld.com after hours & someone typically gets back to you within a few hours - We really belive in the value of providing timely answers.
As for the paperwork, when you look at it for the first time, you need to break out three components:
>Customer Order Form-
>Hostess Order Form
>Hostess Summary Sheet
& Finally, Consultant Sheet
The information from the customer order form(s), and hostess order forms flow thru to the Summary Sheet (note this can be done electronically with the disk sent wtih your showcase). The Sumamary Sheet figures then get transfered to to the Consultant Sheet -
It is really a simple, intuitive process (especially if you use the program we provide). The key is getting one or two shows under your belt & then the papwerwork becomes second nature.
Finally, the main reason we don't file the paperwork over the 'net is because we Individually bag, tag & separate each order for easy distribution - We provide the order forms (and all supplies) free of charge so that your customers (and hostesses) have a smooth & rewarding experience @ your shows.
If you have any questions on the paperwork, please contact Mary Lynn @ 800-536-2457 during business hours. thanks
Mike
As a new person--I appreciate all the help offered by Linen World. It will be great to be able to visit or ask ? of more experienced consultants also. Thanks Mike
Everybody there has been a great help. Thanks for the info on after hrs. Just trying to do it and the kids and dogs won't leave me alone.
Sorry,Just got carried away.
Just got my kit and am sooo impressed with the quality and affordability of EVERYTHING!! I am excited to get started. Thanks for all the help, and a HUGE thanks to Mary Lynn for always being so nice and professional when I call. I am looking forward to getting a "few shows under my belt" so the paperwork is not quite so scary looking :) Thanks again for the blog site addy and I look forward to updates!!
Hi Brenda:
Thanks for your comments on the products - This is why we ship showcases for just $20 shipping - We KNOW if your customers & hostesses see, touch & feel the merchandise, they will respond in a positive manner in terms of sales & bookings.
As for the "paperwork", it really is quite easy & intuitive - The Office will walk you thru closing your first shows.
Also, you can use a spreadsheet file http://www.linenworld.com/consultants/showcalculator07.htm that makes is VERY easy to close shows - timply enter data in the blue boxes & the paperwork completes itself! Looking forward to working with you. Mike
woops - Link for spreadsheet is:
http://www.linenworld.com/consultants/showcalculator07.htm
(copy & paste into your browser)
Just wanted to say "Hello" to everyone!
Received my kit recently; first show is Saturday and is set to be a good one!
Excited about doing this...sorry I can't attend the Open House!
The Blog will be a great thing for communication and ideas...thanks!
I just started in January and I am so excited about having other consultants to talk to. New ideas are always welcome. No one else in my area does Linen World and I have never even been to a party before I started selling. I am so excited to be bringing the wonderful procuts to my area. And so aren't all of my hostesses! Thanks again for all the help from the staff. I look forward to talking to everyone and can't wait to hear good ideas. Here is my question for everyone. What games do you play for prizes at your parties and what items do you tend to give as the prizes?
Thanks!
I have sold for other party plans like Longaberger, Home Interior and I also sold Avon. Let me tell you from my years of experiences and I have been involved with party plans/direct sales companies for 28 years. After just attending the Linen World Open House I have never came across NO company as welcoming as Linen World the staff as friendly as theirs MaryLynn and
Louise became Sue and I host on Thurs. evening because we came in a day before the Open House and Friday night MaryLynn & Linn from Vermont again took us under their wings. Michael and Al and JoEllen open their arms to you and talked to you and spent lots of times to hear your comments and it means alot when the owners go out of their way to listen. All the times I have attended other conventions for the other party plans you were on your complete own and never did you get a representive from the company to host you while you were in their area and didn't know anything at all. Thanks to these girls it made it more welcoming.
Never in the years of party plan / direct sales companies have I been asked as a consultant my opinion on products. I just started selling Linen World in August 2006 and I am very pleased with the company. Anytime I had a problem and I called Linen World always the staff was caring and respectful. And if they didn't have the direct answer they asked Michael and they got the answer for me. If you have sold other party plans or direct sales company asked yourself when have you ever called the company and was able to speak to the president of the company direct. Like I said in the years of experience I have had the other companies I sold for I never had the opportunity to speak directly to the president. That is why they have representives answering the phone to do the work for the president. But Linen World is much more personal and cares about you as an individual and not the dollar signs that follow behind like the other companies.
For the representive that are getting started YES the paper work becomes much easier as you do your shows. It's like anything else. The more you do something the better you become at it.
Also I would like to point out to all representative the brand new ones newer ones and the older ones. From my experiences of the past party plans (IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ATTEND AS MUCH OPEN HOUSES AND HONOR WEEKENDS)You will be surprise by attending these functions how much it will help your business. Take this as a serious business. Even if you have to pay to come it's well worth it. Even if you had your own company if it's a mechanic shop or body shop, beauty shop, accounting firm, etc. These business must attend seminars and classes to keep them updated on the changes and of course these business must pay to do that but it's all part of them doing business. That is how you should treat your Linen World business. The more you put into it the more you will get out of it. And trust me you will get more out of it then what you put into it.
Melinda Cross GA and Judy from Iowa attening the Open house and/or Honor Weekend you will have the opportunity to talk to experience consultants on a one on one base. Again Sue and I attend the Open House this weekend the first time for both of us. We talked to consultant that you will find pictured in the back of the Linen World Catalog. And we went out to dinner with MaryLynn and Linn from VT on Friday night and we end up staying up to 2am in Linn VT (she is pictured off in the back of the catalag )room and talked to her how sucessful she has become and what she has done to come this far and she gave us pointers. Thanks Again MaryLynn, Linn VT & Louise. So yes at these events you get to met and network with other consultants.
Sue or I haven't attend the Honor weekend yet but for sure I am attending.
Sorry I wrote a book Michael, I'll keep it much shorter the next time. I'm sorry I'm so EXCITED
Hey Michael, just wanted to say I love this whole blog idea, I have never been on one before and I am amazed at how easy it is to use and I think it is a great business tool. You know I am a big fan of email but this is even better. Thanks! Keri
Anyone reading our blog don't forget to send Birthday wishes to Marylynn her birthday is coming real SOON. If I remember correctly it's May 25. She will love the birthday wishes Marylynn@linenworld.com.
This is awesome! I think a once a month, once a week, "blog meetng" would be great. The boost with other consultants really helps!
I have been in the business for over a year and I'm so pleased with everyone and everything about Linen World!
Sue
Maybe we can get this blog started again.
I just want to say I had a GREAT weekend in New York for the annual Linen World Honor/Recognition weekend! It was great to meet everyone!! Everyone is so sweet and very friendly, including Mike, Al, JoEllen, and MaryLynn! Friday night was wonderful with the dinner (excellent meal) and the honor/recognition ceremony. Then Saturday was very informative, and the anticipation of seeing the new catalogs was finally over when we got them and had first chance to see new products! I love the new catalog and am anxious to start selling! Saturday eve at the Niagra Falls was just simply wonderful (Thanks to MaryLynn for planning it all). Dinner was so nice at the Skylon Tower's revolving restaurant! Then some of us went to the casino - some of us contributed to Canada with our losses, but others won (good for them).
I highly recommend everyone to try and make it to next year's Honor/Recognition weekend - you will not be sorry!!
My roommate, Gail Wittmer, was great too, very friendly and from the Midwest too (Missouri), as I am from Illinois. We had a lot of laughs together (our ghost in our room).
Again thanks for a GREAT weekend and thanks to everyone for your suggestions and stories! I love you all!!
I am new to Linen World and I am so excited about the future here. Thanks to those so far who have helped me out.
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