Happy New Year

Wow, has it really been that long since I last posted??? Yikes. ok, New Year's Resolution #1, post more often on the blog.

Needless to say, the holidays with 2 small children and a small business are nothing short of chaotic. Throw in hosting parties and dinners and life is just turned upside down. I guess that leads to Resolution # 2, be more organized.

I am actually working on that one. We have a room in the basement that is separated from the main part of the basement. In an effort to get more organized and not look like our house is a vandalized Toys R Us, we have decided to turn that room into an office/playroom. Mainly for now we are cleaning out the old boxes and lingering crap. We did get a lot of the toys in there organized in some fantastic bins/shelves from IKEA. They have various sized bins that slide into tracks on the shelves. This allowed me to separate the legos from the little people from the puppets. I'm hoping it stays that way and we can work on other areas of the room!

Are you giving it away?

Are You Giving It Away?
By: Jenn Givler

When you first start your business, one of the best ways to market yourself appears to be giving away your product or service for free. You figure, if someone has the chance to sample your wares, they are sure to become customers. But will they? What does this tactic really do to your business?

Some entrepreneurs employ this tactic because they don’t yet see how much value they provide for their potential customers. They feel insecure about how good they really are, so they give it away hoping for positive feedback. You can get stuck thinking that this tactic will bring you validation - that it will reinforce that you’re doing the right thing, and that you should keep moving forward.

Other times business owners give things away hoping deep down inside that it will producemore business for them – that the potential customer will try their product, fall madly in love with it and come back again, and again, and again. Sometimes that happens, but more often than not, you end up never seeing that person again, or they don’t purchase from you.

When you give away your products and services, you are subconsciously telling yourself that you don't value your products. You’re also reinforcing to yourself that, somehow you lack confidence around what you're creating. And, you are subtly sending those same messages to the people you’re giving your services to.

If you keep giving your products away without getting anything in return, you risk burning out. There's no reward for your hard work - there's no reciprocity. You keep giving, and giving, and giving - and not receiving. It's like a neighbor that constantly borrows your garden tools and doesn’t return them.

You put your potential customers in an awkward position when you give away your products. As a society, we expect to pay for things. Your potential customer expects to give you something in return for your items. They may avoid coming back to you because they don’t want you to feel that you have to give them something. Also, they may not want you to think they expect to get something for free all the time.

Many times, people don’t value what they receive for free. Think about it, when was the last time you received something for free? What did you do with that item or service? How did it make you feel? We feel better about the things we receive in exchange for something of equal value. So, when you pay for something, you tend to value it more. The same is true for your customers.

If you find yourself giving your products or services away, ask yourself why you keep doing that? How are you hoping this will serve you and your business?

If you need help to bolster your confidence in your products, ask your current customers what they like about the products. If you don’t have customers yet, ask family members for feedback. Then, really hear what they have to say. If they tell you your products or services are great - soak that in; believe them! Use that information to build yourself up.

To build up your confidence in charging and accepting money for your products, you can offer an introductory price. Or, you can offer a discount of some sort. Tactics like this imply that this is a special, one-time-only price. That way, customers understand and are prepared for purchasing the product at a higher price next time.

You must believe that what you're creating is wonderful. Your expertise, your knowledge, your care - goes into everything that’s created in your business. You are providing value to the people that you serve through your business. That's worth something in return. Without making money in exchange for your products, you won't be able to be of service for very long.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Jenn Givler is the Catalyst for Thriving Businesses. She teaches entrepreneurs how to break through fear, frustration and overwhelm in their business. Visit her web site and receive your free report: The 5 Reasons Your Business Is Still Stuck – Even though you’re doing everything right. www.jgivlercoaching.com

Reinventing the Avon Lady

Andrea Jung shares her experience as Avon's first female CEO during a lecture at Harvard Business School:

Reinventing the Avon Lady - News

Do you Squidoo?

Squidoo? What's that you ask? It's a website that has many pages or lenses as they call them, written by users. These lenses allow people to see a certain subject or topic through your eyes. You design it, you put the content and links you want on it. It's your lens.

Check it out here.

You can check out a squidoo page that I made a while back here.

Happy Squidoo-ing!!

Over 100 uses for AVON's Skin So Soft!

Uses for Skin So Soft*
(As compiled by my fellow Avon Reps and their customers).

PERSONAL USES
1. It's a bath oil and after shower moisturizer.
2. It can be used to remove makeup.
3. Great tanning oil (no sunscreen).
4. Hot oil treatment to soften cuticles.
5. Great massage oil for tired muscles.
6. Cleans off tape marks left from bandages on skin.
7. Cleans ink off the skin.
8. Insect repellent.
9. Helps relieve itching caused by dry skin.
10. Cleans oil and grease off of skin.
11. Painting something? Use SSS to remove paint from the hands. (Instead of turpentine).
12. It soothes light sunburn.
13. Rub hands with it before washing, it helps get them cleaner.
14. Rub on dry, cracked skin.... helps heal skin in 2-3 days.
15. Put 1-2 cap fills in liquid soap and use it for shaving legs and under arms. Helps razor glide and leaves skin feeling smooth.
16. Pour a little into your Foot Saver to help moisturize your feet while you relax them.
17. It removes chewing gum from hair, skin, and most nonporous surfaces.
18. Cleans permanent ink off stamps.
19. SSS Original Bath Oil works GREAT on Head Lice!!!!! Saturate head and let it set for 15 minutes. Then rinse under an outdoor faucet, but the lice were gone!!!!!!! Of course shampoo hair a couple of times to get the oil out, but the lice were gone and stayed gone!
20. It kills ants instantly.
21. Spray on skin to relieve dry itching skin. Helps skin retain it's elasticity.
22. Wash hair with shampoo and conditioner like always and after it dries.... Use about the size of a dime of SSS and rub it in your hair. It goes straight in and leaves hair as shiny as the ads on TV, not greasy at all, just soft and shiny.
23. Use bath oil towelettes -- cover windowsill with towelettes to keep ants out.
24. (LICE) Sometimes, using a bath oil, like Avon's SSS, will work to loosen the glue, which holds the nits to the hair. There is a product called Neon Nits, which when sprayed on the hair, will highlight the nits so you can see them to then snip them out with a small scissors.
25. This is to let you readers known about something that helped me for a mild case of psoriasis on my elbows. My internist recommended that I try Avon's SSS bath oil spray. I did and it eliminated the psoriasis on my elbows.
26. Bath use, fill bath with water and a little SSS, very relaxing and gets rid of dry skin.

HOUSEHOLD USES
27. Sponge it around doors, windows, and on screens to keep crawling bugs out.
28. It's a good wood cleaner and conditioner for natural wood.
29. It removes glue and gum left from price tags and labels on glass, metals, and most plastics.
30. It removes soap scum from shower doors and curtains, and bathroom and kitchen figures.
31. It removes lime and hard water deposits from fixtures, tile, shower doors and windows.
32. It's an oil lubricant for fitting pipe joints that won't slip together.
33. It cleans ink off most vinyl and painted surfaces.
34. It cleans heavy oil and grease from nonporous surfaces.
35. It takes fur off of clothing.
36. Rub on brass ornaments or figurines to help keep them from turning dark.
37. Removes crayon from appliances and most painted surfaces.
38. Wash cupboards with it mixed in your cleaning water to keep ants off and out of the cupboards.
39. Use it to discourage hornets from building their nests. After using a hornet killing spray, remove the nest and keep the area sprayed with SSS. They will not rebuild there.
40. Use it to clean leather; it will also keep it soft and supple.
41. Use it on your air conditioning screen (filter)--your incoming air will smell fresher and the filter is easier to clean.
42. Rub all over windowsills to keep ants out.
43. It cleans paintbrushes easily and leaves them soft as new.
44. It removes gum from carpets.
45. It removes scuffmarks from patent leather shoes.
46. Use it on running rails for sliding glass doors and windows.
47. It removes "ring around the collar".
48. It removes liquid nail (paneling glue).
49. Two glass bowls or glasses stuck together? Drizzle a little SSS down the sides and they'll come apart easily.
50. It removes candle wax from furniture, carpets and clothing.
51. Hummingbird Feeders: To deter bees try rubbing SSS on the feeder surface by the feeder ports.
52. Maggots too!! You squirted SSS in can and lid, then later flushed with soapy water, you shouldn't have any bugs in cans rest of summer!!!
53. It is a great furniture polish!
54. Ok, we have a new use for SSS bath oil. Put it in one of the bottle that you attach to your backyard hose and then spray down the back yard! Will cut down on ants, mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies.
55. People around the outskirts of Eureka and surrounding areas (and sometimes in town) spray it on their rose bushes to keep the deer from eating them, and at the cemeteries on the flowers they put out there for the same reason.
56. Kills spiders.
57. It cuts grease and cleans dirt from range hoods.
58. Add a capful to wash water of clothes...acts as a fabric softener and keeps the bugs off clothes.
59. Spray on orchids and other flowers for moisture and to keep bugs away.
60. Cleans baseball caps. Just spray on and rub with toothbrush.
61. SSS I used this recipe mix one part SSS and 2 parts water on my tomato plants and kept those ugly old tomato worms off. I think that adding the vinegar would be fine too and would be nice not to have to shake the spray bottle all the time. I sprayed my plants about every 2 or 3 days. Worked grand!! Too late for most this year, but file this for next.
62. SSS bath oil also does a great job cleaning cherry wood cabinets.
63. Put a little in your mopping water to help keep crawling bugs out. (Not too much or the floor gets slippery.)
64. Use to clean windows.
65. Removes crayon from most surfaces.
66. It's a great insect repellent (or you can use Bug Guard, the actual SSS repellent)
67. Screens can be lightly sprayed with Avon SSS to repel no-see-'ums and tiny gnats that otherwise might slip though the screens.
68. Another use for SSS is it will kill those pesky earwigs. Spray it on & they don't return to life.
69. Also if you ever make candles, use clear wax and melt put SSS in it and harden works great for out side in the summer.
70. As a deodorizer, spray into air and let settle, kills those nasty pet orders.
71. Kids rooms if a child wets the bed, spray the bedding and sheets before washing and will give it a fresh clean smell.

ANIMAL USES
72. It's a great insect repellent for your pet. (As recommended in "Outdoor Life" and "Field and Stream")
73. Mix 5 parts water, 1 part SSS and mist on animals. Brushing it in makes their coats gleam and keeps insects off so the animals don't fidget in the show ring.
74. Mix in your pet's bath water. It takes the fleas off of them...and in between sprays them with the same mixture as in #2 to help keep them off.
75. Rub on your hands before and after working with your pets and farm animals. It will remove the strong smells.
76. Black Fly Spray For Dogs: Use as a spray or a dip. 1 cup SSS, 1/2 cup liquid detergent and 3 gallons of water.
77. For dogs dry skin mix 1 tablespoon of SSS per gallon of water and use as an after bath rinse. Or spritz your pet's coat once per week.
78. If your dog should get tar or asphalt on the pads of their feet rub on SSS and then wipe off.
79. Flea Bath: Use a flea and tick shampoo. Rinse, rinse, rinse so no soap residue is left. Follow with final rinse of 2 gallons of water mixed with flea dip and 1 capful of SSS. The SSS helps replace the oils lost in bathing and has the added benefit of repelling insects.
80. Flea Repellent: Avon's SSS Bath Oil. 1-1/2 ounces per gallon of water; used as a sponge-on dip (or as a spritz) has been tested and proven to have significant, but not complete, flea-repellent activity for a 6-day period. It should help those dry coats, too.
81. Does anyone use the Avon SSS bath oil on his or her chows? I have begun using it on Chancey and it has done wonders for her skin. Like, many chows, she has very dry and flaky skin, especially for being black. Since I started using that product, her dandruff and itchiness has improved tremendously and her hair has become shiny and smooth. It also serves as a great flea and tick protector. I use it about twice a month and I just spray it on her. I really like it.
82. I use the following on my horses and on my dogs when necessary. 1-cup Avon SSS bath oil 1-cup white vinegar 1-cup (or more) water 5 cc of essential oil of citronella (from the health food store NOT the type you burn to keep insects away that is available in a drug store) Mix in a spray bottle. Straight SSS works well for mosquito_s too but really makes your dog greasy.
83. (Barns) Use of an inexpensive fly control spray or a diluted mix of Avon SSS in water can be sprayed on barn walls and floor to discourage insects from hanging around or to eliminate them before putting in the new bedding. As time permits, and if you can keep your goats out of the barn for a few hours - let the barn stand and air out before re-filling with bedding.
84. Rub on your hands before and after working with pets and farm animals, takes away pet odor.
85. Avon's SSS bath oil massaged directly into the skin of your Rottweiler acts not only as a successful repellant and makes their dogs smell good but helps prevent drying and itchy skin.
86. A natural way to help cats with flea problems and flea allergies is to rub Skin So Soft into the skin. Once a bug, always a bug. Fleas don't like it either! Spread the word!
87. Cats: SSS IS SAFE FOR FUR LICKING -------The SSS plus is safe as long as it is the one without sunscreen.
88. Don't overuse the SSS. I just use the lotion, and rub it into the skin, not more than every few days. My cat's sensitive and we're being careful. Common sense is the rule. Sprinkling Yeast on the cat food helps, too. My cat's fur is medium-length; he's part Persian, and he's doing fine, no ill effects from the SSS. You can check with your vet to be sure if it's okay...

USES FOR HORSES
89. SSS can be used as a hoof polish. This will put a nice shine to the hoof without drying it. The farrier's wife will appreciate this one!
90. SSS can be used as a muzzle, eye, and ear enhancer. Generally we used baby oil but it was so messy. I tried SSS and it works great and still helps keep bugs away.
91. I have a show mare that has allergies and also gets dry skin very easily so I started giving her baths in SSS. What I do is bathe her like normal and then I put a capful of SSS in a 5-gallon bucket of warm water and sponge this all over her. Her hair coat dries silky soft and she quits itching. Works for her.
92. The bug guard towelettes we had last summer work great on the horse_s ears and around their eyes.
93. When I have to band (braid) their manes I use the Techniques Oil Sheen. It seems to help hold the braids a lot better and they don't try to rub them out.
94. The dry end serum works great in their tails as a detangler. Everything I have mentioned here I use faithfully on our show horses. The products are a heck of a lot cheaper than actual horse products. People see me using these products at the horse shows and start inquiring about them. I usually let them take my bottles and try them on their horses at the show, which usually ends up in a sale for me.

AUTOMOBILE USES
95. It removes tar spots from the car without damage to the paint.
96. Use it to clean vinyl dashboards, seats, and tops. It not only cleans, but also keeps it soft and helps to prevent any cracking.
97. After washing your car, use it as a tire dressing to keep them looking like new.
98. Put some on a small washcloth and leave in the car to help keep the air fresh and clean.
99. Wipe down vinyl surfaces inside your car. Cleans nicely and removes smoke odors left by cigarette smokers.
100. It gently cleans heavy grease and oil from skin and nonporous surfaces (great for Mechanic's Hands).
101. It removes tree sap.
102. Prior to traveling...rub SSS on headlights and grill. It makes insects and bugs easier to remove.
103. Shines vehicle tires
104. Open a towelette and use as an automotive air freshener.

*SSS bath oil is approved by the FDA/CDA only as a bath oil. This list is compiled by Independent Reps and Customers. Avon makes no claims of these uses, nor have they.

ALL or NOTHING day

I saw on the news this morning that today is one of those lesser-known or, UN-official holidays. It's All or Nothing Day. Who comes up with these things? On one site I found, it's also Aunt and Uncle Day. So, happy day to you if you are an aunt or an uncle. If you have an aunt or an uncle, combine both days and go ALL out and do something great for them!

As a rep, I think it would be great to take advantage of ALL or Nothing Day. So today, I'm going to give it my ALL and put some hard wark into my business. Hopefully, I will get a few new customers out of it. If not, at least a few orders! My goal for today is to get all the older catalogs I have labelled and ready to send out as sample catalogs. Doesn't sound like much, but I have A LOT of them!! I would also like to get a list of the inventory I have on hand and send it out to my customers.

I found this info about All or Nothing Day on HolidayInsights.com:

How would one describe All or Nothing Day. It is certainly as day of extremes. If you're a gambler, it's a day to go for broke. A little drastic day, perhaps. There's definitely no grey area in how you spend this day.

We hope you have it all on All or Nothing Day, and every day.

Other Uses for Avon Bubble Bath

Disclaimer: These uses have been compiled by Independent AVON Representatives and their customers. This list has not been endorsed, nor approved, by Avon Products, Inc.

AVON's BUBBLE BATH USES

1. Zillions of bubbles that leave NO bath tub ring.
2. Does a beautiful job on washing cars, mobile homes, RVs, and boats.
3. Great as a laundry detergent, no fabric softener needed.
4. Better than "Woolite" for hand washing delicates.
5. Heavily soiled laundry? Pre-soak in bubble bath for a few minutes. Can even remove ring around the collar and get the grease out of work clothes.
6. Wash windows.
7. Give pets a bath.
8. Wash no wax floors.
9. Wash dishes.
10. Wash walls and ceilings.
11. Clean bathroom fixtures and mirrors.
12. Wash appliances.
13. Use to shampoo carpets (whole room or a spot).
14. Cleans chandeliers and light fixtures.
15. Use bubbles and sponge to shampoo furniture or vehicle interiors.
16. Cleans china, windows, etc. (all glass).
17. Wash your plant leaves, they will shine. Then pour into soil as a fertilizer.
18. Upholstery stains come out by rubbing with a damp cloth dipped in full strength bubble bath. Do not wet the sponge with water. Water may leave a stain, the bubble bath won't.
19. Clean your jewelry - even costume jewelry.
20. Splatter grease (butter too) on a good blouse? Put straight bubble bath on the spot, let sit a few minutes and wash. No spots!
21. Wash Venetian blinds.
22. Wash paneling - no rinsing, no streaks.
23. Clean your eye glasses.
24. Put some bubble bath and a bit of water in your potpourri burner.
25. Clean your painted or real wood cupboards.
26. Fill your pump "hand cleaner" in the bathroom and kitchen, as well. It's not antibacterial, but it sure works good and smells great!

Sandy
www.youravon.com/smottola

Harder than I thought

Ok, so being an Avon Rep is harder than I thought it would be. I still love it though. It's harder than I thought it would be to get customers! I think it might be a little easier if I was more outgoing. Its still incredibly hard for me just to walk up to total stranger and strike up a conversation. Funny though, I have no problem striking up a conversation with a stranger online!

I think its fear of rejection. If I can't see the person, I guess the rejection won't feel so bad. I know it seems silly. So my goal is to find the courage to approach more people with Avon.

It shouldn't be hard, I love the products. I think they are great and a great value! Of course I want to share that with people! I need a game plan.

Off to brainstorm!