WAHM Tips

Here are some tips for approaching large businesses about setting up a table to sell your products in their cafeteria:

1. Call large office buildings, mainly those with cafeterias. You can also get leads through word of mouth from fairs and when customers ask if you would want to come to their workplace. This works well because you can use the customer’s name as a contact when you approach the business. Ask everyone, “Who do you know?” whether they are interested or not, to receive even more leads.

2. Book at least 2 months before Christmas. Two weeks ahead is usually fine for the rest of the year.

3. After doing a few businesses, you will have references.

4. Ask for the General Manager or the Manager of the Cafeteria. Ask if they have a vending program. Usually they want 20% donated to their cafeteria fund. You can offer them 15%. They usually won’t agree to a donation to charity.

5. Don’t just give your company name, instead explains what you are offering. Be specific and explain why this is a great product for their workers (holiday gifts etc.)

6. “Do you have a date when I can come in and show you?” Sometimes they will want you to come and show them first before scheduling you to sell there. Businesses seem to talk to each other, so you may not have to do this very often.

7. At Christmas time they are pretty choosy about whom they allow to come in because they want big bucks for their company.

8. Arrive there around 7am and is set up by 8 am. In the morning, customers are mainly looking and deciding. You may sell between $100-$200. You will sell the most at their lunchtime. It’s usually pretty dead between 10:30 and lunch. Pack up around 2 pm when the cafeteria closes. Some businesses only allow sales M-W-F, with only a few different vendors at a time.

9. Ask the other vendors there where they have been selling and where they are going next. This gives you an idea of who else you can contact.

10. Don’t go to the same place too often or you could wear the place out.

11. This way of selling can be a lot of work, but is usually worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

Independent Story Time Felts Consultant

Independent Story Time Felts Consultant
Executive National Director

Here is a fun felt board story that can be used for any home party business as a fun recruiting talk!

Independent Story Time Felts Consultant
Fun Felt for Kids: www.FunFelt.com

Business Opportunity Felt Board Story
Using Story Time Felts Cottage Classics felt board background scene and People felt figures.

Tonight I want to invite each and every one of you to think about joining me by starting your own family-based business.

I know many of you are stay-at-home moms, and are thinking, “How can I add a business to my already crazy hectic life!?” [Put up mom with baby figure and a child figure.]

You know, children get more expensive as they get older – braces, scout camps, athletics, band instruments, college… [Put up the Asian mom with 2 teens.]

Would you enjoy a business that you can do alongside your family and other activities and at the same time be adding income to your family budget?

Many of you have full or part time jobs outside the home and you might be thinking, “Why would I want a business after working all day?” Would you enjoy a business where you are the boss and you make all the decisions, after having worked for a boss all day? This is a great way to try something new! [Put up African-American felt mom figure in suit with kids]

Some of you are retired, or thinking about retirement and you are thinking, “Why would I want to work after working so many years?” Would you enjoy a business where you can have all the time you need to do all the things you’ve been waiting to do, and the extra income to do it all? A home party business is also a way to continue to grow professionally and personally. [Put up older African-American felt mom figure, plus felt man in striped shirt, felt mom in green dress, and felt man in wheelchair figure.]

I know most of you are seeing our products for the first time or are not familiar with us. There are lots of people and children we want to share our products with. We could really use your help! As you can see, I feel this business fits into ANYONE’s lifestyle, and I do hope you will all think about joining me!

Independent Story Time Felts Consultant
Executive National Director