Here are some coupons you can use for your AP business! This is a sample of what they look like. There are many to try. Pick and choose the ones you think will work best for you and your customers. Please read these coupon guidelines for details on how these work: Coupon Guidelines
Stepping into a new year always brings reflections on the past year and a determination to make good changes or improvements in our lives and our businesses. How did we do? Where can we improve? What do we want to accomplish this next year?
Many of you have expressed that a goal for next year is to grow your customer base and one area that could and should be considered is reactivating Lost Customers (past customers who are no longer ordering).
Why did they stop ordering? How long has it been since they last ordered? How do I encourage them to start ordering again? Research shows it costs five times more to attract a new customer than it does to keep an existing one, even if the customer has strayed for a few months. So what can we do to re-attract lost customers?
First, determine how many past customers are no longer ordering and how long it has been since their last order. If known, note why they stopped ordering (family grown and gone, less money to spend, unhappy with product or services, unknown). Then, based on time and finances available, decide which type of offer to try and how many past customers you will make the offer to.
1. The Bundle Offer
One of the best ways to encourage past customers to order again is to make them an offer they can’t refuse. A marketing professor at Georgia State University, V. Kumar, conducted a study to see what kind of offer wins the most customers back and found that a “bundle of freebies” is the best way to go. (https://hbr.org/2016/03/winning-back-lost-customers)
Consider offering customers two freebies, like a discount and a free gift. Offering a single incentive was effective, but not as effective as the bundle, according to Kumar’s results.
Be very specific with your promotional offer so there aren’t any misunderstandings and your past customers know exactly what they need to do to qualify.
EXAMPLE offer: I/We Miss You! Get FREE Shipping, plus a free gift, when you place an order of $50 or more on Catalog #1. *
*The offer states what they will receive when they order, how to qualify for it, and when it is valid. Setting an expiration on the offer generates excitement. If they don’t take advantage of the offer NOW, it won’t be available later. It also helps you to see how effective the offer is so you can try it again with another group of lost customers or if you need to offer something different to get past customers to start ordering again. The FREE gift can be anything you choose, something that would compliment what they order, or you could let them choose their own gift up to a certain $ value.
2. The Cool Perks Offer
Create a promotion that offers a cool perk or experience. The idea is to offer something that is out of the ordinary – something that’s cool enough to bring customers back and ordering from you again!
For instance, win back customers by giving away tickets to a local event (pro game, concert, performance, etc.) with a minimum purchase, create a scavenger hunt for your customers out of the catalog and give away the prize to everyone who finds it or put their name in a drawing to win it, purchase an AP branded item (oven mitts, cooler bags, shopping bags) and offer it exclusively to your past customers if they place an order with you again.
EXAMPLE: It’s a new year and we miss you! Come back, place an order of $100 or more on Catalog #1, and get 2 FREE tickets to the Star Stadium ARQ Theater!
OR
We’ve missed you! Place an order of $50 or more from Catalog #1 and receive a FREE AP oven mitt!! Don’t miss out on this HOT deal!!
3. The Customer Feedback Offer
What would it take to win back customers? ASK THEM. Run a special promotion that asks lost customers to call you and tell you what they need to become a customer once again.*
*This kind of promotion should only be sent to customers who were loyal for 6 months or more and then stopped ordering. You want to target customers that had a strong purchasing history with you. These parameters will give you the best chance of turning lost customers into ordering customers again.
When past customers call, talk with them about why they aren’t ordering anymore. You will get valuable insight that you can use to minimize current customers from not ordering for long periods in the future.
Ask them what it would take to get them to start ordering again. If their suggestion is within reason, grant it. If their request is a little too crazy or outside your means, negotiate with them to come up with a deal both of you are happy with. Or let them know what you are willing to offer them to have them back as a customer again. Obviously, this promotion is personalized and time-consuming, but it could provide feedback that can drastically change your customer retention in the future and that is well worth it!
EXAMPLE: Let’s start anew in 2017. What would bring you back? I want to know. Call me at 1-555-555-555 and tell me how I can improve. All feedback is good feedback! I’ll give you $25 in FREE product on your #1 order.
These are just a few ideas on how to encourage past customers to start ordering from you again and I’m sure many of you can come up with better ones. Please share your ideas on our Facebook Groups and Good luck with building your customer base!!
My name is Jacy Stolem from Malta Montana. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 15 years, together for 19 years. We have 3 beautiful children Chayana 16, Hunter 11, Trace 5 (no I didn’t plan the age gap haha). We have 7 animals and yes live in city limits (4 cats, no mice, 3 dogs). As if we are not busy enough, we decided that we needed another home business. haha.
I have been selling Avon for almost 15 years, and when I heard that my Alison’s Pantry rep was going to hang it up, I contacted her and let her know that I was interested. After a lot of measuring and arguing the rest is history. I have been with the company for a year now and I can say it is one of the easiest companies to work for. I love having a completely different product at my finger tips; plus we love food. I love the fact I don’t have to go grocery shopping as much and the convenience of the products. We love the pickle chips, the chicken stuffed products, and all the snacks like gummies, nuts and candy.
My biggest tip for being successful is COMMUNICATION; calls, text, email and Facebook. I remind people of orders on multiple levels and also use the notes feature in my phone. If I am at the post office and someone says, “Oh I have an order,” I quickly type name and order AP, (because of multiple business I do need to specify haha). Another big thing is customer service. No, that person ordering might not be your favorite, but it’s an order and your business. So when people ask me how I do everything I am involved in, I tell them my family backs me and helps every step of the way. So you have an idea of my involvement in business and community, here are my duties: I sell Avon, Sass N Frass, and Alison’s Pantry. My daughter sells Paparazzi and Lipsense. My husband works for the local ready mix, and I am the president of our local Merchants committee that is in charge of all store fronts and special promotions, including the Christmas calendar of events. I am the secretary of Cattlewomen’s and still manage a clean home and children schedules. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Thanks all and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year
Jacy Stolem
Our AP warehouse staff does a tremendous job at sorting and packing our orders, they double check each order to make sure that the order is correct and accounted for. Occasionally a product goes missing or gets damaged in the transport.
We all know that mistakes happen and sometimes they can’t be helped, however, as AP reps we can do our part to aid the situation. When you receive your order from the truck or as a local from the warehouse, rest assured that the order has been checked and should be correct. Occasionally you may find a mistake; maybe missing an item or an extra item may have found its way into one of your boxes. It is in these times that we ask you to assist us in being a solution to the problem.
One of the most important things you can do in your Alison’s Pantry business is to learn to do a complete inventory(click here for a video on doing your inventory) when your product is delivered to you. It is the only way to know if the entire order is complete and accounted for. An order should be inventoried before any product is delivered to your customers. When you inventory the products with in a 24 hour period, you will increase the chances of finding a short or missing product. In the past we have asked you to post on Facebook — this has not been as effective in finding the lost product as we would have hoped for. Instead please contact the 2 reps in front of you and 2 reps in back of you from the current delivery schedule to help in locating your missing product.
We understand that often the product is located miles down the road; in this case, please contact Rep Support to let them know where the product was located. They will let you know what to do from there, it is handled on a case by case basis. Contacting the other reps helps us to locate the product easier. If the missing item is not located with those contacted reps, then please contact Rep support within 48 hours to ask for an adjustment on your invoice. Please don’t post on Facebook any longer about missing items.
If you are a local pickup rep, this is also applies to you. While you won’t contact the previous reps, you will however be required to do an inventory and then let Rep support know if you are missing or have any extra products. If you are missing a product and it is still in stock, you may make arrangements to travel back to the warehouse to retrieve the missing product or to take back any extra product you may have received. Please return any extra product within a 30 day period.
If any of you find an extra item in your order and aren’t sure why, please contact rep support to let them know. As we know that freebies are a fun thing, realize that nothing is free. This extra item belongs to another rep or to the office, someone has to pay for it and it must be accounted for. If you receive an extra, you will be asked to try to sell it to your customers or friends. We ask that you advertise it at the regular retail price, then after 48 hours if you can’t sell it to anyone, you can adjust the price starting with a 25% discount. When you sell the item you can let Rep support know so that they can adjust your invoice.
When it comes to damaged items, this same principle applies. If the damage occurred before it reached you, please contact rep support. If it occurred while in your possession, like slicing a bag open when opening boxes, or not getting the product into the freezer in a timely manner, this is your responsibility. You will need to work out the problem with your customer. In the case of a sliced bag, (we’ve all done it), quickly tape up the bag and let your customer know of the accident when they pick up. You could offer them a discount on the product if they still want it. This discount comes off of your profit, not AP’s. It wasn’t AP’s fault. In most instances your customer will be happy with the 25% percent off, and we want happy customers. If the situation is handled professionally, then your customer will respect you and will continue ordering from you.
If your customer doesn’t want the product then it becomes your product. You can use it as a sample, a demo, or for your own family use.
We appreciate all your hard work and are here for you if you need any assistance. If you have questions about any of these situations please feel free to contact your RSM or Rep Support for the answers you need . Happy Selling!!
Memes for Moms: Saving families, one meal at a time!
Post these photos on your social media pages, email or text to give your customers a little laugh towards the end of the week. And since people like to share funny things, they will help spread the word about Alison’s Pantry!
You can even print them for parties or booths or make a slideshow!
Did you miss the first webinars for 2017?! If you couldn’t find a time to join us this week, be sure to watch the recording and download the great printables. Webinars offer great, hands-on ideas to help your business and grow your product knowledge.
We’re so excited about our 2017 plans to help families enjoy mealtime more! We’ve designed this new set of gorgeous marketing images to kick off the new year. Please put them to work in your social media posts, newsletters, and emails.
We’re also excited to share these new printable meal planners. Customers can easily print a clean sheet as they need one, or they can print one on cardstock, slide it into a sheet protector, and write with a dry erase marker for a reusable meal planner.
My husband Travis and I have been married for 18 years. We both grew up in Lusk then went to college before moving back and getting married in 98′. We have 2 boys…Ryan is 13 and in the 8th grade and Cory is 10 and in the 5th grade.
We are proud to be a part of Niobrara County and very glad we are raising our boys here too.
I have been an Alison’s Pantry rep since Oct of 2009. A customer approached me about it and I decided to look into it. She said my location was good and I have a nice sized garage area that works well for this. There had been reps here in the past but I had not personally ordered AP until I became a rep.
I love this company, I cannot express how nice it is to know who you work for. Josh, Jessee, Kim, Vicki, Lori and Becky are all available for any question or concern, etc. They will answer a phone call or email instantly, respond personally to Facebook questions no matter how simple or complex the question is 🙂 and appear live on webinars….what more could we ask for! 🙂
There are many things I like about being a rep but mainly I would have to say that it’s as close as you can get to being self employed. I like that I can set my own work schedule and be able to do so many things that you cannot do when you are at a 9-5 job. It allows me time to substitute at our schools and work with my family during haying and other things we do.
I have been doing this for a few years now and I usually get asked the question, “What do you do to have consistently high sales month after month?” AND I always have a hard time answering that! I do not think I do anything “special” or have a “secret” method for selling. I think that doing the work pays off. Yes, AP takes effort. I use the printable customer list from Portals and don’t quit contacting customers until 5 pm on the day the order closes. I make phone calls, email, text and Facebook msg every possible customer on that list. I dread getting catalogs to those customers that don’t have an order that particular month but I get out and do it anyway. I promise I don’t do anything that other reps aren’t doing and I know other reps are outdoing me on the tasting parties and facebook posts but I think my customers just respond to good old fashioned customer service!!
I have several favorite AP products…I have ordered the #4835 and #9137 Daily’s Precooked Bacon the most I would say. I love the Soup Supreme soups and honestly my personal order each month is a mess but I like to try so many things and be able to tell customers what my family thought, etc.
My advice is to be organized, take care of your customers and get the job done each month. Customers like the products and if they have a catalog to look at, chances are they will mark some pages and eventually place an order. If you would like someone to become a customer but don’t have a connection with them, ask one of your current customers that might be friends, etc., to share a book with them and offer a referral credit if they place an order.
My husband Travis and I have been married for 18 years. We both grew up in Lusk then went to college before moving back and getting married in 98′. We have 2 boys…Ryan is 13 and in the 8th grade and Cory is 10 and in the 5th grade.