Home Business Job Fair – Meeting the Coordinator

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.

Here’s the scoop on Gwen…

Having participated in quite a few events in the past Gwen Cleck of Country Bunny Bath & Body, knew what not to do and simply did the opposite in the organization of this fair. Setting the price seemed to be a little difficult. She wanted to make sure that the fee wasn't too high as to attract consultants but also be able to cover the costs involved with the event itself.

Cleck chose local newspapers, radio stations, online advertising and posted flyers in the area to bring attention to her event. Choosing the location for her event seemed to be one of the easiest decisions to make. Living in the area, she chose a venue that was well-known, inexpensive and easily accessible. The location was a fairly-sized room of the Clarion Inn, Lewistown, Pennsylvania. This location was super-easy to find and to access, having an on and off ramp to a major highway less than 1/2 mile away.

Already having a network of vendors that she often works with helped in finding the vendors for this event. "I also advertised on CraftLister.com and searched company websites looking for local representatives.” says Cleck.

Cleck says, "I don't think I'd change too much about how I organized this. I think the way I advertised seemed to work well and that's probably how I'll do it again in the future. I'm not sure that I would do a job fair exclusively. I think a sales event would work out better toward the Christmas season."

With the interest of many vendors at this event the plans of a "stop and shop" in early November are currently underway.

Cleck has been a representative of Country Bunny Bath & Body since March of 2002, falling in love with the products first and then falling in love with the company once she joined.

Gwen has at least 23 members in her downline that she keeps motivated via holding monthly organizational meetings, monthly training calls, monthly challenges and motivational emails. Her favorite aspect of her business is holding spa retreats and spends 8 - 10 hours a week with her business, depending on whether or not she's holding retreats or attending events.

When asked if there was only one thing she could bring to this event ... Cleck responded with "If there was only one thing, it'd definitely be my products to sample." She also shares the best tip she's ever gotten for direct sales ... "Talk, talk, talk to everyone and share your opportunity."

-----------------
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 about Country Bunny Bath & Body http://www.BunnyStop.net