Home Business Job Fair - Meeting the Vendors - Part 1

Recently I had the opportunity to visit a local home business job fair. As direct sales coaches, quite a few of the questions we see often are about holding offline events. The questions vary from both coordinating one and being a vendor. I thought interviewing the coordinator herself and some of the vendors would be a wonderful way to share how to coordinate your own event and/or attend as a vendor. If you missed the beginning of the story, visit http://direct-sales-news.blogspot.com/2006/01/anitas-day-out-home-business-job-fair.html for the full story.

Finding out about this particular even was easy for Laurie Fischer since the coordinator emailed her. She now keeps a running list of all the vendors she comes in contact with so she can keep in contact and find out about upcoming events such as these. Knowing that networking is a very important tool to her direct sales business, Fischer knew that attending a home business job fair would be a good choice.

In May of 2004 Laurie was asked by her sponsor about becoming an H&GP Designer and since she already loved the products she decided to give it a try. Now, with over 18 members in her downline, the title of Diamond Designer and titled 2005 National Star, Fischer keeps her team motivated with meetings, workshops and phone calls. Laurie also sends cards to her members once a month just to say they are wonderful. She does this whether they're working or not ... just to keep up the encouragement. Her team does challenges, and are in the beginning stages of doing a mentoring program with individual team members.

When I asked Laurie what her favorite aspect of her business was, she replied with, "The people that I meet and the relationships that I have built." If Fischer was only allowed to bring one type of promotional item to the event, she would bring her hostess packets because all the products and opportunity information is in there.

Laurie shares some wise words of wisdom...
"I say when you do an event like this ... you can't sit behind your table ... you need to be out there talking to the people. If there is no one around or there is down time, go out and about and talk with the other vendors, or depending where you are, go around the hotel or facility and hand out your information. Just keep talking to the people."

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Anita DeFrank & Kara Kelso, authors of The Direct Sales Success Kit, specialize in coaching direct sales representatives to reach their goal of becoming successful in their field. Visit http://www.DirectSalesHelpers.com for free weekly tips. For more info on Home & Garden Party visit http://www.decorateyourhomewithlaurie.com .