Category: Sales Tips

My name is Jennifer Hilton, I live in Velva, ND with my husband, two girls Kylee 18 and Ashlee 9 and our dog Max.  Velva is a great community that is 19 miles SE of Minot. I enjoy the small town environment. My husband is the Pastor at our Methodist church and also works at Dakota Midland Grain as an accountant. I  home school our oldest daughter, it’s her senior year! Our youngest daughter is in 4^th grade.

I love that Alison’s Pantry allows me to provide great quality food and extra income for my family while being able to stay home.  I started as an Alison’s Pantry rep in May of 2014 when the rep in Voltaire, ND asked if I would like to take over for her.  At first I was like there is no way I could do it. Then one day out of the blue I looked at my husband and said, “What do you think?” and he said “Let’s do it!” We have been a team since. Becoming a rep has given me more self-confidence and I have come out of my shell. I love the friendships I have gained and the blessing this company has been to my family.

I get my truck on Wednesday’s so on the Monday and Tuesday before the delivery day I contact all my customers and let them know when orders can be picked up and work with them to schedule pickup and delivery days and times. My husband delivers my Minot deliveries for me and helps me unload the truck and put groceries away.  When customers pick up their orders he helps me then as well. I choose to hand deliver my catalogs. I do mail some but not many. When my customers pick their orders up I give them the next catalog and ask them if they know someone who would like one. I try to be as flexible and available as I can be to my customers.

 

I have a Facebook page called Jennifer’s Alison’s Pantry and I post order reminders, and use the wonderful marketing images that are provided for us. I like to post pictures of meals I have made using Alison’s Pantry. I text, message, or call my customers 3 times during the order week. If I know a customer is wanting to order and I have not heard from them I will contact them until I hear. I will look for items my customers like and if it’s on sale I will send them a message with a picture of it and say I know you really like this and I just wanted to let you know about this great sale. I pray every month for my sales and for my customers.

 

Some of my family’s favorite items are the frozen fruits we love them for smoothies and just to eat as a frozen treat. We also love the frozen vegetables, my favorite is the Normandy Blend and the buttery delight spray is great when steaming them. We like the frozen chicken Breasts, Mac in cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, Macaroni & cheese frozen pouches, chicken tenderloins, precooked bacon, corn dog bites, bacon wrapped pork fillets, V8 splash Berry Blend,  I love all the spices! The Ole’ taco seasoning is amazing!  I could go on and on!

 

We are here to help you have a successful Alison’s Pantry business!  Many of you are doing a GREAT job and we applaud you!  Unfortunately, there are some of you who are struggling and we want to help you any way we can!

Below are some reminders of what is available to you each month to help you with your AP business and the requirements for order delivery and to earn commission on your sales.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU?

Your RSM (Regional Sales Manager) – We are here to help you and are available to visit with you and brainstorm ways to grow your AP business.  If you have an idea, a problem, or are struggling with something, please give us a call!  We want to visit with you on the phone at least once a quarter to see how you are doing and to see if there is anything we can help you with.  Please take a few minutes to visit with us because YOU are important to us!

Monthly Marketing Helps – https://pantryacademy.com/category/sales-tools/monthly-marketing/.  These are updated bi-monthly with ideas on how to grow your sales;  product sample suggestions; a list of products that will be leaving after the two catalogs highlighted; text scripts; marketing images that can be shared through Facebook, email, and text; catalog shortlinks; and email templates.  These are SO easy to use because we’ve done most of the work for you. 🙂

Monthly Webinars – We produce two product webinars and one rep-only webinar each quarter – all created to help you market our products and grow your AP business.  We put a lot of time and effort into these webinars because we want to help you.  They are well worth your time to attend!

Facebook Groups for Sales Reps – We use these groups to post important information, reminders, recipes, ideas, etc., to help you with your AP business.  Make sure to check them daily so you don’t miss out!  Please feel free to share ideas or ask questions.  We want these groups to be uplifting and helpful to our sales reps so we ask that you keep posts on a positive note.  *If you are having problems or need help immediately with something, please contact your RSM or the office so we can address the issue right away and get you the help you need!

AND we continue to look for more ways to help you grow and achieve great sales each month.

DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS –

We are a unique business that provides restaurant-quality food, including frozen items, to our wonderful customers!  This food is delivered on a semi-truck each month.  Because of this unique process, our sales reps are required to meet an order minimum to get delivery to their home or delivery location (except for our local reps who pick up their orders from the warehouse).  **This order minimum is the total of product sales BEFORE shipping and sales tax are added.

On-route sales reps – you must have a $750 minimum order to receive delivery at your location.  *If you fall below this amount but are above $300, you will still receive delivery but may have to meet the truck at another sales rep’s drop location.  Please pay close attention to your loading orders each month so you know where you will be meeting the truck.  If you have any questions about this, please contact the office.

Off-route sales reps – your minimum order amount to get delivery is set by the office based on how far from the current truck route your delivery location is.  Generally, it is calculated at $30 per mile round trip.  Until you reach the required minimum order to get delivery to you, you will need to meet the truck at a designated location with another sales rep or in another town.

COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS –

Sales reps begin earning commission on their product sales (before shipping and sales tax are added) once they reach a minimum order.  Commission is NOT paid until a sales rep’s order reaches this required minimum.  We have 2 commission structures – Local Reps and Delivered-to Reps.  Local Reps must have a $500 minimum order and Delivered-to Reps must have a $750 minimum order to start earning a commission.  Your commission is available once order payments are processed each month.

If you are struggling with reaching your minimum order requirements or would like to grow your Alison’s Pantry business, please contact your RSM.  We are eager to help you and we have a lot of great ideas that could help you.

Good luck with your AP business!

Becky Price, RSM

Darla Owens in Havre, MT won the new customer contest and got 13 new customers by going on Facebook live.  Here is what she said in her own words,

“New customers this month took me to a whole new level!  We did a couple of live videos to highlight some back to school products.  Seven of our new customers bought the Mac and Cheese because Julie (her daughter) explained how easy it was for soccer nights, ect.”

Facebook live can really help your business!

Facebook live is a fantastic way to let your customers know about AP products they will love, to get them excited, and to really grow your business.  But it’s so scary! I totally get it.  I have complied a few tips to make going live easier and more successful.  Enjoy!

• Promote your live video before you start. Post an announcement on Facebook letting people know when you will be going live and what you will be covering.
• Prepare an outline in advance.
• Have a great topic.
• Be real and connect with your audience. Interact with your live viewers.
• Make sure you have good lighting, audio, and an interesting background.
• Have a call to action! Ask your customers to place an order, check out the catalog, or contact you with their order.
• Embrace mistakes. Mistakes are what make Facebook live so interesting!  Laugh at yourself and move on.
• Put your phone on do not disturb.
• Begin speaking immediately, don’t wait for people to show up.
• Introduce yourself and your topic at the beginning and then again in the middle for those who are just joining you.
• Try to relax and have fun with it. The more Facebook live videos you do, the easier it will get.

*BONUS!  Did you know you can do a PRACTICE Facebook live video to check lighting, audio, and to make sure you don’t sound like a dork?

Create a practice video by going to your own Facebook profile, and selecting “only me” (it’s in the drop down box) before recording. Then you are free to play it back, check it out, and get the food out of your teeth before you go live for real jk.

Even though it feels really scary, Facebook live can be a great way to grow your business.   Try it!  You might be surprised at how well it goes!

Julie, RSM

 

 

 What does it mean to represent?

rep·re·sent

verb

1. be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), especially in an official capacity.

“for purposes of litigation, an infant can and must be represented by an adult”

synonyms:

appear for, act for, speak on behalf of; informal go to bat for “her lawyer represented her in court”

As an AP representative you represent Alison’s Pantry, when a customer conducts business with you, it’s as if they are conducting business with Alison herself. What responsibility does this place for you as a representative?  Here are just a few of the most important responsibilities a representative should demonstrate while conducting business as an AP representative.

 

1. To promote and sell AP products and to provide each consumer with the Alison’s Pantry 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* and to promptly honor it upon request.
2. To maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and responsibility in dealings with the company, consumers, and other representatives, and to offer the highest customer service to customers.
3. To provide the customers with high quality AP products and deliver properly stored and handled AP products. Delivering frozen/ refrigerated products as received from the truck and as the customer purchased. If products mistakenly thaw before delivery to customer is completed, it will be the responsibility of the representative to pay for the replacement to the customer.
4. To provide truthful and accurate information to customers and potential customers regarding AP products and provide advice, answer questions, and teach customers how to use the products using product information and educational tools approved and provided by the company for use by AP representatives. Provide contact information to customers allowing them to contact their rep in the event they have a question about a product or product purchase.

 

A couple of months ago two situations regarding frozen items arose, the first one was a rep that had her freezer quit without her knowing for a week, of course the food was UN-salvageable. Not only was she not able to get the products to the customers that had ordered them, but she was responsible to cover the loss of the products, causing a financial strain on her business.  Once a representative receives delivery of the items from the warehouse or off the truck, it becomes their financial responsibility, another reason why orders should be delivered as soon as possible.

The other example has to do with a rep that was not mindful of a customers’ order and didn’t take proper care of the food.  Upon delivery the customer received thawed and soggy frozen items, she was not very pleased and ended up notifying the AP office of the situation. This person is no longer a representative for AP. Conducting business this way is a reflection on the company and will not be accepted. Not only is it not in keeping with our policies, it is not helping to build the customers’ trust and relationship with AP.

Of course, these examples are not the normal experience in Alison’s Pantry, generally our representatives  go above and beyond in caring and servicing their customers. We appreciate your hard work and effort in building up your business and the name of the company you represent.   As has been said before, customer satisfaction keeps your customers coming back and ordering again and again.    This is just a reminder to take a look at your own business practices, If you aren’t giving 110% now is the time to make a change.

 

*AP offers a 100% money-back guarantee on everything we sell. Starting with Catalog #10, 2018, we will offer a Double Your Money Back guarantee for the first 3 months and 100% guarantee for the next 3 months (excluding Hot Deals, Pantry Bargains, and #2 products which will only have a 100% money back guarantee). If your customer is not pleased with an item, all they need to do is return the unused portion to you within 6 months of purchasing it and then you will request a refund from the office. The office will issue a refund for the cost of the product and any sales tax paid to the account of the customer that purchased the product. *Shipping is not refunded.

 

Hi! I am LeAnn Carraway and I am an Alison’s Pantry Rep in Williston, ND. I have four children of my own and seven step children plus four foster children right now. It’s impossible to get all of them together so this is a picture of myself and my youngest, Skye. My oldest daughter, Casey, is an Alison’s Pantry Rep too.

I started selling Alison’s Pantry about four years ago and enjoy it immensely. I had been a customer for many years previously, so I already knew that I loved the products. The flexibility of being your own boss works well with my busy schedule. For instance, I entered orders yesterday while enjoying the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD!

Reminding customers that it is time to order is probably the best tip for making a successful order. Many of my customers would forget to order if not for the reminders. It takes a little extra time but it works well for me. I am always selling Alison’s Pantry products as I prepare them when serving meals for family and extended family at our home.

Well, that’s it for now, I’m off to have some fun in Sturgis!