Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Being a Summer Sales Significant Other and a Small Business Owner


         Ladies! We all know that being a summer sales significant other can be both a serious struggle, and a great opportunity. It is such a love/hate relationship at times and requires a serious focus on the future and long term gains. Who else has the opportunity to visit and explore somewhere new for four months, to develop a new and exciting perspective for us and our kids; and then in the offseason to have our guy around with the flexibility to take time off to go on trips, go camping, or just help with grocery shopping during the day for 8 months of the year?! I love Vivint for those exact reasons. Then the summer hits like a brick wall and we are thrown into an almost single-parent role overnight! And to top it all off, some of you may have a business of your own to try and manage! So how in the world are we supposed to pick up and move, take care of our children, and try and make a name for ourselves and our business in a new area?!
         I am a professional wedding and portrait photographer and these exact questions stressed me out to NO END! But I found some solutions and am so excited to share them with you! It can be so discouraging, working hard for 8 months where you live permanently to establish your business, that the idea of doing it all over again for only 4 months, seems impossible and totally not worth it… I get it, I have been there! However, I promise it will change your business if you can learn to market yourself successfully, and generate business in only a short period of time!

         The first thing you need to do is get used to the idea that you are going to have to put yourself out there! Mentally start prepping yourself to start conversations with random strangers at the store, park, or community event.
         Secondly, design business cards, pamphlets, anything physical and easy to carry around that you can hand out to represent your business. Have these ready and available anytime you are out and about.
         Third, you need to look up Facebook pages for your new area and get INVOLVED! Attend community potlucks, mommy and me playgroups, church events, anything where the locals are, you also need to be! Put all that mental prepping to good use and talk to everyone! As a photographer, anytime I see an adorable family I approach them and introduce myself; telling them how cute their family is, that I am a professional photographer who just recently moved to the area and that I would love to take their pictures! And always, always, always have business cards with you to hand out.
         Next you should look up stores and venues that you know your clients will be going to and give them those pamphlets, business cards, anything that represents your business and ask to leave them in their store. I always offer the manager of the store 45% off a session for allowing me to place my business cards/pamphlets with them.
         Now this last step is very specific to supporting a door-to-door salesman or technician. Have your hubby carry your business cards with him! If a customer mentions they have a need that you can fulfill, then he has your card available to leave with them! He can state that you are new in the area, and while you are in no way affiliated with his company, you’re trying to establish your small business.

         You’re a business owner for a reason, because you love it! Anyone knows that time off is a sacrifice whether it be for a day or a week, but 4 months can kill your business! Momentum is huge when you’re a small business and you can not afford to lose it. If you commit to following these steps, not only will your business survive but it will flourish. Those skills that you have now made into habit will grow your business quicker than you ever thought possible!
         You don't have to sacrifice everything during the summer in order for your husband to do well. Doing what you love will create a happier environment for not only you, but your children and your husband. Jim Rohn famously said “that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with”. We have the great opportunity of being around someone who is so focused on daily achievement, who is committed to personal in betterment, that if we ourselves are able to mimic that same focus, we will create an unparalleled environment for success! An article in Business Insider states that “when it comes to relationships, we are greatly influenced — whether we like it or not — by those closest to us. It affects our way of thinking, our self-esteem, and our decisions. Of course, everyone is their own person, but research has shown that we're more affected by our environment than we think.” So take advantage of your significant others’ energy and use it to help fuel yourself and your process to becoming better, to learning and growth, personally and within your business! I promise that as the two of you unite in continually growing and daily success that you will have your best summer yet!


KenseyDee Photography
kenseydee@outlook.com

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