Bad gifts don't have to happen to good people

Tuesday, April 01, 2008  by Susan Julien-Willson
Category: sales, customer, Ribbon, gifts, retailing, incentives, customers, sales kit, products, gifts and incentives, consumer

That's the beauty of the Ribbon Gift Collections. The newest assortment of General and Specialty Collections make gift giving the pleasure it ought to be, no matter what the occasion (even Groundhog Day!), no matter who the recipient (even a grumpy co-worker who needs an uplift!), no matter what the budget (people give gifts even when money is tight!.)

So, what kind of gifts do you find in Ribbon that people like you and me might be interested in buying, giving, and, of course, SELLING to other people like you and me.? Electronics, housewares, home decor, bath and body, food, candy, sporting goods, educational toys, and more.

The least expensive General Gift Collection called Variety is full of brand-name  items that make sense for many. That's probably why it's the most popular ... it's affordable, has a higher perceived value than its retail price, and it has lots of brand-name items. This year's Variety Collections features brands like Everlast, Conair, and Rampage. One of my faves to give is Pamper. I've sold several (and given many) I Do! Gift Collections. You can't go wrong with brand-name items from Cuisinart, Coleman, Fossil, and Samsonite. Browsing through the Klutz Collection, I see some cool crafts and kits for kids. I expect you'll have no problem selling this one, since you've been asking for a Gift Collection for kids. Hope this is a hit. All in all, as I browse through the new Catalog of Gift Collections with my sales hat on, I see loads of sales potential. But how the heck do IBOs learn how to sell Ribbon?

I have ideas! We have sales materials for you! We have QU training! We have support! You have the gusto and the guts to get out there and make a profit.

Ribbon Essential Sales Kit (AD-1600). Gotta have it NOW. Don't wait another minute.

Ribbon Expansion Sales Kit (40-0854). If you're in the Business to Business (B2B ) sales arena, make this your business ... NO, wait!! Make THIS your business:

Get the Ribbon Sales Kit Duo (40-0858). SAVE $15. You can SELL well when you h ave the tools to learn, the samples to share, the smarts to know your product and prepare ahead of time for the sales conversation. The Ribbon Sales Kit Duo can help with that.

You save 20% off the cost of purchasing the kits separately, plus you get everything you need to sell to virtually everyone --- from the couple who lives next door who have a zillion relatives to the small businesses you frequent often-maybe daily! For instance, what does the owner of the hair salon or barber shop you use do for his or her employees for the holidays? or for awards? or how does he or she thank loyal customers? Still in touch with the realtor who sold you your house or condo? Did the realtor give you a gift at closing? And what about the auto dealer, day care center, credit union? The list goes on and on and on.

So, why am I so revved up about Ribbon these days?

The 2008 Ribbon Sales Kits and related materials launch this week; the exciting new Gift Collections become available on May 1. While you're waiting for your Sales Kits to arrive; practice, prepare, and PRINT!

Downloadable PDFs you can print and share on sales calls to family and friends ... and to small businesses -- are now available at Quixtar.com .... they're specifically designed for to use with CUSTOMERS.

Here's a couple CUSTOMER-FOCUSED fliers I especially like, and yes, I did write them, but that's beside the point! (smile here, please)

HOW IT WORKS Flier -- one-page explanation of Who, What, When, Where with Ribbon!

PRESENTATION Flier -- two-sided, three-fold brochure for businesses that makes it a great leave-behind or even a leave-before, if that's such a term--maybe a teaser?

There is also a CUSTOMER PRESENTATION CD featuring video clips on how Ribbon works for consumers and for businesses. This comes in the Essential Sales Kit and as a 5-pack (40-0857) for just $10.

Other useful Ribbon PDFs either up now or coming soon to the Ribbon listings in the Resource Center:

Ribbon Facts, FAQs, IBO Success Stories, Customizable Price List, Labels, and more!

So get revved up on Ribbon -- and don't let bad gifts happen to good people. Get out there and sell Ribbon Gift Collections to family, friends, neighbors, and small businesses.

 

P.S. National brands listed above are all registered trademarks.

 

Comments

# Kim Burns said on April 1, 2008 10:08 AM:

Susan - you rock!  This would be a great topic to explore further in an upcoming Achieve Ribbon article.  

# CJ said on April 2, 2008 4:48 PM:

I agree with Kim, you rock Susan!

Question-How does having an email version of Ribbon sound? Basically an electronic gift card or better yet an email gift card with an e-card sort of like Amazon and Walmart? I'm sure that the Ribbon team has kicked around this idea in the past. Just giving it the old college try!

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 2, 2008 6:25 PM:

Thanks, CJ! Kim is one of the Ribbon Revelers. Anything to do with Ribbon, she celebrates it. Laura and her are the marketers who make it happen--and great supporters of this blog and our IBOs. And they have kicked around the idea of the electronic gift card. I believe it's on our wish list. I'll check in with them on this. Could you elaborate on what you mean by an email version? I want to make sure I understand what you're envisioning since there are so many ways to send out electronic messages these days! sjw

# CJ said on April 3, 2008 1:49 PM:

Hi Susan, My bad, I meant electronic-we're on the same page. Thanks Susan!

# CJ said on April 4, 2008 4:24 PM:

Hi Susan,

Cathy made a good point in her blog(http://bestofyou.opportunityzone.com/2008/04/04/health-sales-kit.aspx) about the new Health Kit will qualify new IBOs for the new beginning incentives. Will the Ribbon Retail and Expansion Kit also do the same thing?

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 7, 2008 9:29 AM:

CJ, Thanks for the question, What Ribbon Kits qualify for QBI?

All of them!

AD1600 -- Ribbon Essential Sales Kit ($35) Everything you need to get started retailing Ribbon

400854 -- Ribbon Expansion Sales Kit ($40) Additional tools in packs to support selling to small businesses

400858 -- Ribbon Sales Kit Duo ($60 - get AD1600 and 400858 at $15 savings over purchasing both separately)

Great news, don't you think? sjw

# Bridgett said on April 11, 2008 12:00 AM:

Hey Susan,

Just watched the two videos--consumer and corporate--nice. Good short length, good copy, good presentation.

Regarding an "electronic" Ribbon, I envision a customer (or myself for personal use) being able to order a Ribbon, and being issued the redemption # immediately so that I can email it to the recipient. I don't know how many times I've forgotted to plan ahead, and remember the day of, and I'd love to be able to email the recipienct at LEAST the redemption number, but, more fun would be a nicely designed email--Shop.com does this.

Egifts are what they are called.

Go to Shop.com>Gifts&Registry (top right)>egifts (left side)>Getting Started

to see the concept.

# CJ said on April 13, 2008 5:16 PM:

Great News indeed! Thanks Susan!

I was reading through this month's edition of Incentive Magazine and got an idea regarding the Ribbon Program from the corporate/B2B perspective. What if there was way we could set up a Personalized Ribbon Package for Business Owners who wanted to imprint their business name not just on the album and gift card but also on the items that were featured in the album/card? For example of course the album would imprinted on the inside with the company's name-not as a label but as part of the print-copy as well as the design of the gift card and carrier. The album would feature general-type items that could also be engraved/imprinted with the company's name. Of course, a company would have to pay a premium price for this type of service, but it would allow them to personalize the message of being appreciative to an employer/customer. Since most advertising specialty companies only look at bulk sales, Ribbon could work with one AS company that could deliver single imprinted items such as our partner store Complete Printshop for cups, mugs, pens, etc. Since the parchment paper personalization feature went away, this would be a way that companies could personalize the message. Are there any plans to bring something like that back for Ribbon?

As always, thanks for the opportunity!

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 17, 2008 8:54 AM:

Thanks for the electronic gift and imprint biz ideas. I am passing them on to Sales & Marketing, as always. Sorry for not replying sooner. I have been on vacation experiencing several different levels of customer service! See my blog today. sjw

# CJ said on April 17, 2008 5:02 PM:

Good News-just sold another 7 Unique Gift Cards to a company. Talked with the owner (a close friend of mine) and they were looking for gifts to give for Secretary/Administrative Professional Day next Wed. I love Ribbon-Ribbon Rocks. Ribbon for president in 08-LOL!

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 17, 2008 5:42 PM:

Congrats, CJ! You rock! Keep up all the Ribbon retailing.

Must be your great customer service ... as I discussed in my blog today: http://salesspeak.opportunityzone.com/2008/04/17/How-do-you-define-customer-service.aspx

The service IBOs bring to a sale adds value ... and it does make a difference!

# CJ said on April 19, 2008 2:40 PM:

Another side note, my customer actually got the new Ribbon Gift Card System. The new card carrier is very nice. At first we wondered why the catalog was so thin until we noticed the new carrier and the catalog says that to see the full selection go online. Again, Ribbon for President!

# CJ said on April 20, 2008 11:55 PM:

Oh boy, ran into a glitch. I decided to see if those cards were active yet,especially since they are the brand new ribbon set. I tried 2 of them and they both gave me error messages on the website saying to call the Quixtar 1-800#. I know it's not a computer or operator error (LOL) because my mother-in-law wanted us to redeem hers (one of the 2007-2008 set) so I tried it out right after trying the new ones and that one allowed me to start the process of redemption. I'm stressing out a little bit since I'm delivering them to my client tomorrow at 2:30pm. Hopefully the corporation will have this fixed by tomorrow or at least before Secretary's Day on Wed which is what they were purchased for. I've put in an email to Ribbon Retailer as well as to the corporation since the corporation is closed on Sundays. I'll also put in a call to the corporation as well as the B2B group in the morning. I guess this will be one to go down in your customer service blog topic-LoL! I'll keep everyone posted..

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 21, 2008 9:01 AM:

CJ,

Unfortunately this isn't a glitch we can fix ... it's how we're set up. I spoke with the Ribbon Brand Manager and we're not sure we can help you prior to May 1. We have a What's New article going up this week and have put a notice at the site on the Unique Gift Collection product page.

Here's the response:

I apologize for this inconvenience this has caused you and your customer.

Unfortunately this is not a glitch, May 1 is when these cards can start to be redeemed. (As with the Variety Collection in the new Kits)

We are working to find a solution for the future but currently the activation of new cards for redemption cannot begin until May 1.

I know this isn't a positive situation but it is the way we are set up today. Believe me, we are all working hard to avoid putting our IBOs in this situation with their customers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

# CJ said on April 21, 2008 10:24 AM:

Right before I opened up salesspeak I called customer service. All I got was a flat "Sorry, there's nothing we can do about it"-that really burned me and was a little inconsiderate-so much for customer service.

What I'm having a problem understanding is why is the corporation shipping the new ones if they can't be activated until May 1st? Unless I was sleeping when I placed my order, I specifically ordered the current set and got the new ones-not my fault. I guess part of the explaination I'm waiting to here back from the corporation is why ship the new set if they aren't ready until May 1st-what do I do if my client's receipients want to redeem Wed on Secretary's Day? This whole scenario can possibly cost me a potential future client as well as add to tarnishing of the corporation's name. My solution to this potential future mess is that the coporation does not begin to ship the new sets until the day they can begin to be redeemed. Also, they should make a note on the site when ordering about situations like this. I think the second part of this solution is for the corporation to send me next day delivery an "old 2007-2008" set of the Unique Albums and void the ones I received so the receipients will have something to use. It will be a pretty poor excuse for me to tell them-sorry, you can't redeem until May 1st-especially when the business owner already cut me a check for the order in advance of receiving them.

Believe me, I thank you Susan for everything you are doing--you've gone way above and beyond what the customer service person did. In no way I'm a angry with you, more with the poor process that the corporation has decided to embark upon for one of the 3 major areas they are focusing on.

Thanks again Susan for any and all help you can provide-your blog site still rocks!!!

# Susan Julien-Willson said on April 21, 2008 12:17 PM:

I'm going to see what I can do, CJ. Don't want you to lose credibility with your customer. Not at all our intent here at the corp. We're out of the previous Unique Collection so we've been sending the new ones in hopes that recipients would be willing to wait to redeem their gifts. You could spin it postively by saying they're the first to get new collections ... and, yes, it's true, they have to wait until May 1 to redeem but it is almost like being specially selected to receive a sneak preview. I know, it's a little lame, but hey, CJ, if anyone can put a positive, classy spin on something, YOU CAN! Meanwhile, I am contact Customer Support with your comments ... see what they suggest we do. Don't give up on us. We're trying!

# CJ said on April 21, 2008 1:01 PM:

Don't worry, I'm not giving up-just a little deflated. But I will work to positively spin the issue-I like the way you phrased it...feels like I'm getting ready for the Pennslyvania Primaries-LOL! Thanks Susan!

# CJ said on April 24, 2008 8:02 PM:

As always there is a silver lining to look for. Everything went fine with the order and to top it off, just as the corporation had promised, an extra 20% PV uplift for my sale to my clients since it was over $75. Quixtar/Amway/Ribbon Rocks!

I love the CSA reporting tool especially with the up to date statistics on client sales to date and for the the year. It would be great for those of us who have B2B clients if we could input a company or coorporation as a client and give them an ID#/web account.

Again, thanks Susan for all your help!!!

# ribbonNJ said on July 18, 2008 5:03 PM:

I have two customers who are requiring references from other customers in order to buy Ribbon.  Their concern is not to lose money on the gifts.  Both of these potential cusomters had a bad experience in the past w. another company.  Can someone help me out?  I called up Quixtar, however they dont have any customer references on the database.

Editor's note: This sounds like a request to other Ribbon Retailers ... can you help RibbonNJ out?  

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