Be prepared

Here are some things you should either have on hand or have ready to update and get out the door in a FLASH:

• Business cards; either through MDS (marketing opp for MDS!) or from a vendor 
• Current promotion flyers
• Samples to hand out or display
• Preformatted press releases
• Thank You For Asking packets*  (see below)
• Giveaways or donations
• Prize drawing slips
• Hostess Packets
• Recruit Packets

Also think about:

• Putting the SU! logos on you car with other DE motifs (check with your automobile insurance company first!)
• Carry SU! reusable shopping totes, your SU! event bags, deliver EVERYTHING (even non-SU! stuff like things for school, etc). in SU! plastic bags
• Wear your SU! apparel and Simply Adorned items
• Carry one of those window totes with card or page samples showing

*Thank You For Asking packets are these little packets that I make batches at a time.  They consist of our card sized flat cello bag with several (2-3) blank-inside cards, a business card, a mini, any SU! promotions printed two to a page and sliced in half, a half sheet flyer I make up listing my classes and a "FREE PARTY!" coupon.  I hand these out to EVERYONE!  If the cashier is a peach, give her one and say something like "You have been so nice today, I would love to give you one of these!".  And if the cashier is nasty, give her one and say something like "You seem like you could use some cheering up, I would love to give you one of these"!  And then turn to the person behind you and say "My mom told me that unless I had one for everyone, I shouldn't offer something, so here's one for you too!"  If anyone asks "What's Stampin' Up!?" you say  "Thank you for asking – here's a little gift that will tell you all about it." 

 Here is a list of places that might need: cards to send – remember that when you do this you have DOUBLE exposure – the people for whom you are making the cards and the people who are receiving them, PLUS anyone else they show it to!; may have inexpensive advertising in newsletters, at events or on their websites – many offer a discount or free ads to people who offer discounts to their members; may need someone to come in and be a guest speaker or provide an activity for their group

1. Realtors – offer to put together little "We've Moved" kits with stamped post-it notes for the new people to put on their bills, etc. with some stamped postcards and a Welcome to the Neighborhood or Thank You card for the realtor to send to them.
2. Teachers – thank you notes, good job notes for students, postcards for events, post-it notes; offer to teach scrapbooking or stamping to kids
3. Nursing Homes – for the residents to send to their families, for the employees to send to families; offer to hold a monthly mini camp for the residents with the nursing home paying only for supplies
4. Chamber of Commerce – thank you notes, congrats notes, etc. for members to send to customers and clients
5. Rotary Club – ditto
6. Mothers Groups – Mothers & More, MOMS, M.O.P.S. – offer to be a guest speaker about scrapbooking, stamping, etc at one of their meetings; offer to hold a special event for the members
7. Adult Education Centers – teach classes!
8. Fundraisers – offer baskets – fill with as much retired stuff as you have with a current mini, current catalog, promo flyers AND A COUPON FOR A FREE PARTY!
9. Libraries – while many won't allow you to "sell" you can teach classes!
10. Consignment Stores – see if you can set up a little area with cards and gift packaging
11. Gift Stores – any independent store that does not already sell cards (and some that do might still be interested!) has that need – go fill it!
12. Florists – make up a bunch of business card sized cards (that's the size of the envelopes they have and what their stands fit) along with some greeting card sized items; show them around!
13. Candy stores – cards and gift packaging
14. Hair Salons – make up some fun, blingy, girlie cards
15. Wedding Stores – see if you can display a board with everything from save the date cards to thank you notes
16. Maternity Stores – show off baby announcements, congrats cards, enclosure cards for gifts
17. Tutoring Centers – parents sit there with nothing to look at – give them something!; tutors may want congrats and good job cards to give to students
18. Monument Stores – Sympathy cards, thank you notes
19. Nursery Schools – make up albums of party invites, announcements, thank you notes
20. Greenhouse – same as florists
21. Jewelry Stores – cards, gift packaging, set up display for shoppers
22. Knitting Stores – gift enclosures, cards using the knitting set for the knitters to send, set up display for shoppers to buy
23. Sewing Stores – WAHOO!  All our new sewing stuff – PERFECT!
24. Garden Clubs – Offer to be a guest speaker, demo garden related projects, see if they need cards to send to members, etc.
25. Civic Groups – thank you notes, congrats, etc.
26. Women's Groups – cards for members to send
27. Red Hat Groups – be a guest speaker, cards for members to send
28. Attorneys – cards to send to clients
29. Medical and Dental offices – cards to send to patients
30. Nutritionists – cards to send to clients, set up display for clients to buy
31. Health Clubs – cards to send out to clients, set up display for clients to buy

Remember, OFFER don’t ASK, make it all about the other person and LOVE WHAT YOU DO!!!