SALES TAX

Just a reminder that beginning April 1st -- you are required to charge sales tax on all purchases "according to the applicable tax rates in the state to which the shipment is destined."  

Please Remember:

• every state/county/city has a different tax rate. 
• some states do not tax food (ie. Arizona) or tax food at a different rate
• use the TOTAL tax rate calculator for the zip code the order is shipped TO.

 To Calculate Tax:

1. Determine what tax rate to charge based on zip code using this tax calculator
2. Convert the percentage rate to get the tax rate:  % divided by 100 (ie. 9.1% = .091)
3. Total the items that are taxed.
4. Multiply total taxed by tax rate:  (TOTAL TAXED ITEMS) x (TAX RATE) = TAX    (ie. 25.00 x .091 =  2.275)
5. Round off and add to total order (25.00 + 2.28 = 27.28)

Note:  as of 4/1 there are some discrepancies between the tax calculator regarding how much tax to charge and what is actually being charged on the orders.  Be sure to check for accuracy before submitting an order.  I'll post an update on when that is resolved.

Update 4/3:  The tax calculator is the most accurate TOTAL tax rate (the form shows only state tax), however it doesn't differentiate between food and non-food tax.  As of yesterday they were still making changes to the online orders.  

Follow-Ups & Customer Retention

One important part of customer satisfaction and retention are FOLLOW-UPS.

Once a week or every few weeks, take a moment to call previous Party Hosts and Q Customers.  If you've done that already, pick some customers to email or phone.  Here are some ideas on what to ask:

1.  Did everything arrive on your last order?
2.  Did you open it and how did you like it?
3.  What have you made with it?
4.  Do you have any problems or suggestions?
5.  Do you have any questions about what you received?
6.  (and if the Q customer is inactive) I noticed you haven't scheduled your shipments for the last few months, is there anything I can do to help you with your orders? 

If any Concerns arise, be sure to take the time to resolve them.  We want everyone to have a positive experience with their purchase!  The training manual is an excellent source for resolving concerns.  Be sure to review it regularly.  The Discussion Forum is another great resource!  And ALWAYS feel free to call me with questions!

Take the opportunity to tell your customers about new products or current sales.  Ask them if they'd like to order anything from you at that time.  Better yet, ask if they'd like to host a party to TASTE the new foods and get them for FREE and 50% OFF!

Cost Comparisons

At every party someone will ask about comparisons between other similar companies.  I ALWAYS encourage this!  Here are a few things to consider when comparing:

1.  Serving Size
2.  Weight
3.  Taste/Freshness
4.  Shelf Life
5.  Discounts (Sales, Host Benefits, Case Orders)

Click on Cost Comparisons to see one example of food prices from four different food storage companies. 

Here are some posts from consultants who took the time to make comparisons:

When having a skeptical customer who isn't sure of the food prices being higher than other companies, don't be afraid to help them out. Almost always, ours is equal or a better deal. I just helped a lady who was trying to compare food from a competitor which had a #10 can of blueberries for a couple dollars cheaper. I assisted the lady by telling her the amount of grams in their can verses our can and she was able to calculate the cost per serving and find that ours was actually significantly cheaper. (.20 per serving, so at 26 servings she was actually spending about $5 more for the competitor's can of food!) PLUS, our food actually had more grams per serving, making it an even BETTER deal. You could get 288 grams of BB for 27.50 there or 500 grams here for 35.89. Don't forget to add the fact that most of our food is grown in the US so it makes it an outstanding deal!

I actually took a very popular catalog and compared. There were a few items of their that were comparable but mostly, their #10 cans did not contain the same amount of food ours do. Not only is that a waste of money, it's a waste of space, something I always point out. Even if their cans are a tad cheaper, who has the room to store 6 of theirs vs. 4 of ours? Space is almost always an issue when talking about food storage. Then of course, there's the taste. I've done side by side comps. with friends for FD strawberries. Not only from other food storage brands but from snack bags Target and Wal Mart have started carrying. Ours are AMAZING when compared to others.

Helping Q Customers

I recently sent this letter to all of my Q Customers.   You may have noticed by now that some people do better with computers than others.  I've made a few changes and created a letter that I send to all NEW Q Customers (click here).

****************************************************

It's come to my awareness that some of you are having a difficult time managing your Q.  It's meant to be easy and stress free, so I'm going to explain a few things below that should help!  Please read through this important tip:

At Shelf Reliance there are TWO tools to use for food storage calculating:  1.  The "THRIVE PLANNER" and 2. "the Q".  It's important to know the difference between the two:

The THRIVE PLANNER (or food calculator) is for first-time users who have never calculated their annual food storage amounts and want to know what they need to purchase to have a complete storage.  When they enter in their family information they have the option to "SET UP monthly shipments" (this is the Q).  DO NOT click on this -- it is meant to set up a Q for you if you DO NOT have one already.  But since you have a Q, it will add the items you just calculated to your current Q.  As a Q customer, you have already set up your monthly shipments, so do not use this planner.  REPEAT:  as a Q Customer, DO NOT use the THRIVE PLANNER.

INSTEAD, always go directly to the tab: THE Q (your home store)
http://www.shelfreliance.com/productqueue/customer/summary/

EVERYTHING on YOUR Q is managed through this tab.  From THE Q page you can view/edit your monthly shipments, edit your entire list of foods, change shipment date/amount and see past orders.   It is very important that when you make changes to your Q and list of foods (Home Store), that you change it using the Q and NOT the planner.  (Remember that date/amount of monthly shipments can only be changed after 90 days).

For those of you who have set up a Q (either intentionally or not) but have not entered a shipment date or payment information, please let me know if you would like to participate in the monthly shipments so that I can get that working for you.  Otherwise, let me know and I can remove you from the Q emailing list.

I hope this makes your food storage purchasing experience easy and stress-free.  That is its purpose!   I'm always here to walk you through the process.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I love hearing your ideas and suggestions!

Business Cards and Personal website

Some of you have asked where I get my business cards.  I order them from Vistaprint.com using their 500 for $1.99 coupon.  I create my own by uploading some of the images from the marketing kit that is available in the consultant materials.  Usually when you order from them, they will offer other incentives, like address labels, etc. at a very big discount (I designed my bag with the SR logo for $5).  I realize a picture would probably work better, so I'll post those tonight.

Remember that when you make printed material, to always refer to yourself as "Independent Consultant" and include shelfreliance.com -OR- if you set up your own home store url, use that instead.  Take a look at mine:  amythrives.shelfreliance.com

Which brings me to the personal website.  Despite the $9.99/mo. user fee, there are some major advantages to having your own home store website: 

1.  Easily collect out-of-town orders
2.  Easily collect orders from people who couldn't attend a party
3.  New Customers -- when anyone goes to your home store instead of the main website, they are assigned as your customer--no password needed.
4.  Have online/catalog Home Parties from ANYWHERE
5.  Post events for everyone to see or keep it private
6.  facebook "Like" button
7.  Personalize with your "story"
8.  So much more!!!

Party Checklist for Consultants

What is the best way to have a successful party?  BE PREPARED!!!  Here is a checklist of things I do to get ready for a fun night talking about food storage!

Click HERE to view Consultant Checklist

UNDERSTANDING the QQQQQ

I can't believe it's taken me this long to figure this out, but hopefully I'll save you a lot of grief by sharing what I just learned.

1.  THRIVE Planner is the food storage "calculator."

• Customers should use this FIRST before they set up the Q and to calculate how much food their family  needs.  

• The Planner can be edited and customized.  If the customer is NOT going to sign up for the Q, they should stop here -- they can still access it any time they log in.

2.  THE Q is the "monthly shipments"

• If the customer wants the monthly shipments, they must then click on "set up monthly shipments" on the same page that they customized their "planner".  This will transfer their planner to their Q.  Follow other directions as noted.

• Once the Q is set up, DO NOT return to the Planner -- instead, always return to the Q and edit shipments/quantities from the left side of the screen.

• Of course the EASIEST way to set up the Q for a customer is for YOU to do it through the consultant 'back end'.  This will ensure that the process is carried out from start to finish.  They can then log in and return to the Q to edit shipments, etc.

3.  USING/UNDERSTANDING THE Q

• Reminder:  There is a 3-month commitment and $50 minimum monthly purchase.  After the 3 months, the customer may pause, cancel, or change shipment date/amount.  If you are a consultant, you must be on the Q for a $50 minimum shipment each month so that you receive a commission.  If it falls under $50, the amount will simply be deducted from your paycheck.

• Current Promotion as of 3/1/2011:  Everyone who signs up for the Q, will have Q Club Platinum membership for life of the Q as long as they don't pause or cancel  -- IF -- their Q is over $100/month; 2 or more people sign up for the Q at a single party (everyone who signs up at the party will receive the platinum membership); OR they sign up as a consultant.

• Again, DO NOT return to the Planner -- ALL editing should be done from the Q page using the left-hand column:  add products, edit shipments, etc.  This is because the Planner is not linked to the Q, but the Q is linked to the Planner (in other words, changes to the Q will be reflected on the planner, but changes to the planner will NOT be reflected on the Q).  This will save customers a lot of headaches.

• hint:  I always encourage customers to choose a date somewhere between the 15th-25th of the month.  Too soon and they won't have enough time to view sales and change shipments accordingly.

• I also send out a monthly email reminding Q customers to check their shipment to be sure they receive the items they want that month.

• I've noticed that some people who are less computer saavy tend to get very frustrated by using the Q.  In this case I offer to go to their home and walk them through the process.  Others get it set up on their own, but then ask that I come help them organize their shipments for the first couple of months.  The key here is to teach them to be able to do it on their own.

• Occasionally check your list of Q Customers to be sure that dates are scheduled.  Follow up on anyone who has paused their shipment for more than a month to see if there are any concerns.  

• Sometimes you will need to manually tie a Q to a party -- do this through your list of customers by clicking on the Q Customer tab.  Be sure that you do not tie any Q's to a party until they have set up a shipment date and are 'active'.  Otherwise, customers who are only using the Q as a calculator and not for the shipments, will inadvertantly give credit to parties when they have no intention of using the Q.

Read more details about the Q in the training manual on page 62.

Getting Started

Getting the basics checked off your to-do list is key to getting your business started!

To get started as a consultant

1.  Register as a Consultant 
 
This seems obvious, but it's much easier to walk through the registration process over the phone with me so that I can answer any questions that come up.  I'm also happy to discuss the pros & cons of the different kit options.  You also have the option of creating a convenient "home store" website that allows anyone to order through YOU without needing a password or customer id.  There is a $9.99 monthly fee for using this private website.

2.  Use the THRIVE Planner to sign up on the Q (minimum $50/mo. purchase)

This is key to getting your commissions!  Not only do you learn how to USE the Q shipments, but you also get the perfect chance to learn how to use the food storage.  If you go under the $50 minimum, that difference will simply be subtracted from your commission.

In order for the Q to be complete, you must follow the process all the way through to selecting the shipment date, monthly amount, and your credit card.

3.  ADD an Event

This is the REALLY fun part!  Creating your FIRST Party! 

1. Go to your consultant page and log in.  
2. On the left side, click on "events"
3. On the right, click "add event"
4. Choose "this is a party"
5. Fill out ALL of the information (as much as possible)

Be sure to list the party number that you are booking from (so the benefits are added to the correct party)

4.  Read/study the Training Material and become familiar with the customer and consultant websites.

5.  TELL EVERYONE!!!

Email, phone, talk about it!  Be excited and enthusiastic -- tell everyone that you are now an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance and tell them why.  You may want to tell everyone about your first party, or you may want to be selective about inviting only a few close family & friends to use as "guinea pigs".  Whatever you're comfortable with.

Also:

• Review the entire handbook regularly, along with the policies and procedures
• Order your business cards (always include "Independent Consultant").
• Make labels with your name, phone number and e-mail to put on brochures, forms, etc.
• Assemble meeting supplies – pens, calculator, planner(calendar), price lists, etc.
• Create a Presentation (follow examples from the video or create your own)
• Listen to conference training calls on Tues. and/or Fri.
• Participate in a local training meeting.
• Set your party schedule a month in advance 
• Stay stocked on food & supplies that you need for parties.
• Sponsor your first individual
• Send monthly emails to customers, telling of sales and to update their "Q"

WELCOME!!!

I'm creating this blog for all of the consultants on my team so that you can get the most out of your business!  Feel free to use any of the fliers & helps that I'll be posting.  As always, you can contact me with any questions that you have!

Congratulations on your new experience with Shelf Reliance!