Wow this is a busy business week! I am having so much fun! On Thursday, my friend from Little Earthquakes Photography came over and we had a Story Time Felts “felt photo shoot!” Lindsay had her two little girls and I had TJ home with me, and we invited my new local Consultant, Christina and her son, and Liz, one of the co-owners of Sitters Place and her 2 sons, and Tina, the owner of The Parent Pack and her son and daughter. It was like a work at home support group! LOL!
Lindsay took so many adorable pictures of the children playing with my felt products, and captured some great shots I am sure. I can’t wait to see them. We had a really good looking group of kids, if I do say so myself! 
I will be using them to enhance my product descriptions on my website.
Then on Friday I got to go out for a fun felt party at my new friend Heather’s home. She had so many friends and their kids, it was just so much fun. I can’t believe how every time I leave a home party I always feel like I made some great new friends and met some fantastic people! I loved Heather’s guests and their kids were just so good! A lot of them were in the 9-12 range which made it even better. They already knew a lot of the stories and helped with the pieces. Then the little ones around 4 or 5 were SO enthusiastic about the felt, it was just a fun high-energy demo and I loved it. One of Heather’s sons was so into the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, it was so cute! We also did St. George and the Dragon, Hansel and Gretel, and played some games with the dolls and Create a Face. I just had so much fun. Heather’s sister used to sell felt with us, but hasn’t for years so her kids already had a lot of our stories and could sing along!!
Then today I am setting up a table at a holiday shopping boutique out in the Sacramento area. There will be vendors from so many different direct sales companies - I think we were up to 15 last I checked! My friend Louise from Barefoot Parties told me about this event, and I thought it would be fun to see Louise and meet the other direct sellers out that way. I have been building up an inventory by placing outside orders together and turning them into a “party” so I’ve gotten a lot for free or half price! I’ll also be looking for a new consultant in the area since I believe we only have 1 out that way! I am really looking forward to meeting all the other Consultants as well as the customers. Connie, who is with Tupperware, is the one running it and she has been fabulous!!
Then to round out the 4 Fun Days of Felt, tomorrow we are going to a birthday party for one of my mother’s club friends’ daughter. I already know she loves our felt, so she is getting our big Castle Tales felt board. She is going to love it. She already has the Cinderella toggle book and plays with it before bed, so this one will knock her socks off!
I am really loving all this felt activity! It feeds my addiction and lets me increase my circle of influence. I don’t mean to sound like a pusher or anything but I guess I am!! LOL
Until next time...
Karen,
I just found your blog. There is so much information on your website and I have been reading with interest. I had a question about what boutiques are, but you answered that for me in your blog. I just talked to my sister in law last night about doing one with her in November. She sells Mary Kay and has a friend selling baskets. I’m going to offer our STF and trying to find a few others to join the boutique. I went to one of these last December and thought the concept was very doable. Do you know how I can find out about other types of boutiques in my area that I could join in? How can I search the net or other media outlets for this kind of information? What “search words” would I use? I love this business already and I’m still waiting for the Break Away Kit to arrive. I’m hoping to offer STF at a church bazaar in November too. Waiting to hear back on that one. I’m also curious about how to use the STF website to advertise. I saw Deanna had a page there and a few others too. Would I have to sell so much before I could have one too? Let me know. I absolutely love all the knowledge you share with us. That is why I wanted to have you for a sponsor. Thanks! Vicki
Hi Vicki!! I am so excited you are out there trying to learn everything you can! One of the best ways to find boutiques and vendor events is through other vendors. If you find out about one happening in your area, go to it as a customer and talk to the vendors. Give them your card and ask what other events they have coming up. Since you are planning one of your own you can invite them to yours as well.
Here are some other sites you can use to network and find other consultants and vendor opportunities by posting to the message boards. You will need to find the groups in your general area:
http://www.meetup.com
http://www.tribe.net
http://www.craigslist.com
Then there are the “work at home directories” where you can search by state. I googled “direct sales directory by state” and came up with this one that has some in IL:
http://www.cwahm.com/ (You can also get listed there for free)
There are others if you take the time to browse around. I would use the word “directory” or “listings” and either “direct sales” or “home party”.
For the contact page on my website, all you have to do is ask, and provide 500-1000 words in content including your 6 favorite products, something along the lines of the others who have them at http://www.funfelt.com/form.html I’m a little behind on putting these up and there are a few people in line ahead but I will get it done asap after I get your info!
Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to see where your efforts take you!