Staying busy during slow times

By Lyssa Zwolanek

I get asked all the time for ideas to kick start a dying business or get a brand new one off the ground. It's a very common direct-sales place to be–either just starting out and already discouraged, or several years in and beginning to lag. We hit a dead period where no one wants to book (like the holidays, or right when school is starting) and things slow to a crawl.

Whether the first blush of excitement has begun to wear off, or you are established but feeling like things might be stagnating, try one or two of these tips and keep that enthusiasm going even during a slow period.

1. add one new event to your lineup for the year
2. work on recruit packets or replenish your workshop folders
3. send Shelli Gardner a card
4. create a game for your next downline meeting
5. weed out your email inbox
6. create a Facebook business page and get your friends to "like" it
7. send a card to each downline member or especially out of state ones
8. browse a blog long enough to get just ONE idea and go do it before you browse again
9. go through and update your mailing list
10. repaint your stamp room a cheerful, inspiring color
11. hold a booking blitz
12. make up quarter sheet ads for Online Ordering to go in each order bag
13. put together a basket for the next charity raffle/auction you will be asked to do
14. work on swaps for an upcoming event
15. hold an open stamping night once a month
16. write your name and number on all your order forms ahead of time
17. print off flyers for upcoming promotions or go get copies made
18. change up the samples on your display board
19. hold a week of color challenges for yourself
20. start a blog or start a new feature on your blog
21. open Customer Manager and type a couple things about each person into the Notes box
22. work on some cute but simple hostess gifts
23. start your Christmas Cards for next year
24. volunteer at the local Ronald McDonald House
25. send in a suggestion (or two or three) to the Suggestion Box
26. register for a craft fair in your area
27. create your own blog header with My Digital Studio
28. submit something for the monthly contest in Stampin' Success
29. wheel all your order forms with a pretty stamp
30. put some Decor Elements on your car
31. look into starting a class at the local library or senior center
32. visit Stampin' Connection with the sole purpose of answering five basic questions from some clueless new demonstrators
33. take a package of cards to a local shop to consider for consignment
34. wash your demo apron
35. go back and add a link to your store to every blog post that didn't have one
36. make a card using the Ala Carte template in Stampin' Success
37. buy some new digital downloads and play with them right away
38. make up a coupon sheet
39. invent a new technique by combining two of them
40. pick a charity and plan a benefit event for it
41. sketch out some rough ideas for the next Artisan Award contest
42. inventory your pads and papers
43. stamp with your kids and don't sweat the mess
44. hold your own workshop
45. pick a troublesome stamp set and go look through Stampin' Connection for ideas
46. make yourself a flower brooch on the Big Shot
47. run an email-only 24 hour special
48. send out a customer satisfaction survey
49. check all your pens and markers for dry ones and order new if needed
50. join an online swap or start your own
51. go over your downline and see who is close to promoting and call them with encouragement
52. choose one old set and challenge yourself to use it three new ways
53. actually read all the articles in this month's Stampin' Success
54. visit mydigitalstudio.net
55. send a reminder email about the fabulous Clearance Rack
56. do one of Shelli's creative challenges
57. take a downline out for coffee
58. do a big co-event with an upline or sideline
59. arrange a time to come in and make a craft at your child's school
60. get a family picture and make up a photo card
61. mark your catalog with all the sets, wheels and punches you own
62. set up a "paper scraps only" recycle bin next to your stamp room trash
63. make up a handout for your next downline meeting
64. put up a chalboard or a white board for your office to-do list
65. make some business card refrigerator magnets to put in orders
66. separate out your retired stamps
67. plan a rubber rummage sale
68. send a card to any dropped downlines
69. start scrapbooking, or start an inspirational quotes scrapbook
70. pick a motto for the year and stamp it in a pretty frame
71. send an elderly relative some cards and postage stamps to use
72. read through recent Current Updates to make sure something fun didn't slip your mind
73. order yourself a fun new embellishment in a color you normally wouldn't
74. start a referral program, 50/50 board or a frequent buyer card
75. call up a past hostess and ask her if she'd like to schedule her yearly party
76. weed out your swap basket of everything that has retired colors or sets
77. make a piece of Simply Adorned jewelry just for you
78. schedule a scrapbooking retreat at a local retreat house
79. wipe down every surface, doorknob, handle in your office with an antibacterial wipe
80. clean all your stamps and wipe out the cases with a baby wipe
81. submit entries for a color challenge on Splitcoast Stampers
82. print out some templates from the Printing Place and make them up
83. make a sample ring for the Big Shot with different materials
84. arrange a family picnic, couples' night or Christmas event with your downline families.
85. plan a road trip to an SU event
86. google "free demo inspiration blog" and have fun browsing
87. contact your local Welcome Wagon or Chamber of Commerce
88. call your last hostess and ask if everything was great with her order and if she had questions
89. trade parties with a friend in another home business
90. send your upline(s) a card
91. make a piece of home decor or framed art
92. write up a little article on what wish you had known when you started
93. plan a shoebox swap for area demonstrators
94. send a reminder postcard about gift certificates to your customers' significant others
95. "Like" Stampin' Up and Shelli Gardner on Facebook
96. improve the lighting or wash your curtains or blinds ad windows in your stamp room
97. buy a clock, mug, tissue box cover, photo cube or other alterable item
98. plan out what you will need for the next quarter's classes
99. work on items to sell at a craft fair, coffee shop or Etsy shop
100. order a stamp set and plan a product-based stamp camp around it.