A FASHION REINVENTION - Cookie Lee

Building A Downline
Sharing this opportunity and growing a Downline
are essential to make this business your full-time job.
I couldn’t have quit my other job if I wasn’t recruiting,
helping my team grow and earning commission income.
The amount I can do alone is limited but what I can do
through my Downline is infinite! Initially, recruiting
seemed scary to me. But, it’s simply all about loving what
you do and sharing it with others. You don’t have to be
a seasoned Consultant to recruit. You may even have an
upper hand when you are new and excited. People want
to know what is making you so happy. Reach out of your
comfort zone. The risk will pay off. In less than a year, I am
now a leader to 70 encouraging and supportive women!
Setting Goals
You need to know what you want, write it down and
revisit it. If you are constantly looking at your goals,
you’ll remember to take the steps that you need to
get there. Each month I make sure I have at least two
shows a week and I always try to get two bookings from
those shows and tell two people about the business
opportunity weekly. I recommend knowing how much
money you need to make in order to afford to leave your
current job. Then figure out how many shows you need
to book to make half of that and how many people you
need on your team to make up the other half.
Planning an Exit
Before I left my other job, I had to believe in myself and
know I was capable of being successful. I needed to see
that my Cookie Lee income was the same or better than
my current job. I had to see that my calendar was full
for two shows a week (or more) for at least a month
or two in advance. If I saw an opening on my calendar,
that was the first date I booked. I offered an incentive
to hostesses to fill those dates. On my business card, I
mentioned a free gift if they booked one of those dates
I labeled with a star and I put those cards on my Booking
Tree. I was really pleased when I booked two shows a
week. But I was bummed when some got rescheduled.
So, I learned to over-book but not double book. Most
often I just book twice as many shows as what I actually
want. And if I need to, I’m not afraid to schedule two
shows on a Saturday or Sunday (one in the afternoon
and one in the evening).
Promoting at Work
When I was still working at the restaurant, I sold a
few pieces to the women I worked with. I invited all of
them to my kick-off show and that helped with getting
bookings. I also invited the women who work with my
husband. I invited as many work contacts as possible to
that show to help me fill up my calendar to meet my goal
in order to start out full time with Cookie Lee. Working
at the beginning was actually helpful to setting up my
business and enabling me to quit my other job. My coworkers
became my customers and hostesses, and were
great for referrals!
Finding Time Daily
Organize your calendar to make time wherever you can
find it. Carve out time for your business on your lunch
break, after work, while you’re driving, waiting to pick
up your kids, during sports games, kids’ nap time or any
other time during day–to-day life. Keep your business
top of mind by wearing your jewelry and carrying your
Tote Bag everywhere you go every day. The more jewelry
you wear the more compliments you’ll get and the more
chances you’ll have to talk about your business.
Taking Advantage of Tools
There are several tools I used to turn Cookie Lee into my
full-time career. First of all, I use the CLICK online tools
to stay organized and keep in touch with my contacts.
With the help of a friend, I set up a spreadsheet to
record my Cookie Lee sales, costs, taxes, expenditures,
receipts and purchases. If you start organized from the
beginning it is so much easier than trying to figure it
out later! I made sure I had Cookie sisters that I could
trade jewelry with when I needed to. I learned priceless
tips from leaders like Executive Director II Cindy Brooks
and Senior Executive Director Michelle Johnson who
told me to monitor my inventory closely, never buy
more than what I think I can sell and buy inventory
based on how many shows I have booked. At shows, I
use the Hostess and Customer Specials to increase my
sales and bookings. All of these practices helped in my
success and still work for me today!
Enjoying the Benefits of ONLY Working
Cookie Lee
If I had NOT found Cookie Lee I would still have to
be working as a waitress. The benefits of being able to
work only my Cookie Lee business include fulfillment,
empowerment, extra income, staying home with my
boys and being able to afford a sitter for date nights
with my husband and outings with friends. I am so
proud and happy about what has become my career. I
love telling other people what I do for a living. Compared
to waitressing, the money is better, it takes less time
to earn more money, there are more perks with this
company, I get to wear beautiful jewelry, earn luxury
vacations for me and my husband, receive recognition,
make new friends and my next goal is to earn a Dream
Drive-away Mercedes-Benz. This is better than any job
I could have imagined, and I get to call it work! In this
business you truly get back what you put in!
THE COOkIE CONNECTION | SPRINg/SUMMER 2009