SOAR DALLAS
We met, we danced, everybody got one, and onto NO REGRETS
What did these women take this morning?
Tracey Vllahos says it perfectlyand witnessed it as she was thinking about coming on with Origami Owl. Tracey was looking into O2 in February of our first year when she was told we had about 12,000 designers. Floored that a year old company had that many designers she began researching a bit and looking at the field. When she came back to join O2, we had over 50,000. What is the secret? US!
You know when you walk into somewhere new and are looking for a specific place, it seems like the corridor always has a door that is cracked open. Human nature makes one curious to find out what is behind that door. You hear music, you see bright lights but can only see a glimpse, you want to know what is so great behind it and fling the door open...THAT is an O2 Event. One of the best videos that shows Bella giving a tour of the Nest helps understand what exactly goes on behind closed doors and then when SOAR or regional meetings and of course Convention comes around, its easy to know why we get so excited.
Ready to tour the Nest? http://vimeo.com/69343336
Origami Owl Events are the motivation and inspiration to partake in to remember why we joined, what drew us to this company and why we opened the cracked door. Ready for the icing on the cake? WE are the reason that the door was created in the FIRST PLACE!
Mapping it All Out in 2014
Moral: No one has a perfect circle, some are big, some are smaller and Origami Owl is working to help designers balance that out. They want us to be fulfilled with our businesses not bombarded and chaotic.
Now, time for success! TIME MAPPING
It is imperative to set business hours both with customers and with your team. It is OK to not answer at the moment the sound goes off. Many times when late texts or messages come through we assume people are wanting us to answer in that moment BUT the reality is we all keep different schedules and many time as busy as we are, people think of things at the end of the day and want to get it off their plate, that does not mean we have to respond immediately.
If we begin to communicate hours to them just like brick and mortar businesses have as well, they will understand. SETTINGS, settings, settings. Set your texts on the phone, on your tablet, on your email, set up auto replies anywhere you can with your business hours.
For example, after 8pm, my email is set on auto reply so emails sent after 8 pm will get the following message, "Thank you for your email, I will reply during my next business hours. My hours are as follows: ........."
Tracy recalled a story Chrissy told her about Bella when she was 12 years old and called it playing dolls. Bella had asked Chrissy to play dolls with her and being the oldest of 5 children and by trade an interior decorator, it is easy to ignore and take a call or a text message and move on with the day and forget. The problem with that is, once Chrissy was ready, and Bella was almost at the age of not playing make believe or dolls, she grew up and was a teenager and didn't want to hang out with mom anymore. Don't put off playing dolls before its too late, we never get that time back.
Have an auto text, (On iPhones I know you can decline a call and create a custom message, this is where you can place this). For team hours, this is important. Creating one avenue that can list your to dos is important so you don't get lost in different forms of communication, send to email only.
"Thank you for calling Vanessa Ramirez with Origami Owl, if you can please forward this to my email, it would be greatly appreciated."
Of course during high peak periods such as Holidays your hours can change, you want to set the precedent though because you have a life as well and want to maintain that balance.
Looking into a service such as Google Voice and using that number for your business is a great tool because you can change settings to roll over voicemail after a certain time, it emails you voice to text voicemails and still provides a voicemail you can leave your office hours on. Best part its FREE. If you do consider getting a car decal, this is also a great tool so you do not have your personal number posted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOZU7BOeQ58&list=PL4019757CD08247CB&feature=c4-overview-vl
Wheel of Life
Wheel of Life worksheet
Time to Execute!
SURPRISE DALLAS! MOMMA OWL IN THE HOUSE!!!
http://vimeo.com/77813905 Watch the video on Bella's journey. Pass: oocall
Here we go:
Bella had told Chrissy she wanted a truck for her 16th birthday, she was told she needed to earn the money herself and began babysitting. She made $350 and during that time frame saw a little girl from... DALLAS... on the TV show Sharktank who had made a mllion dollars from soda cap necklaces. While Bella loved the idea, she had grown up making all kinds of jewelry with Chrissy and started searching. They found a supplier who sold glass lockets, after all we KNOW this is not a new concept, Lockets had existed since the 1800s with filigree details and very expensive as they were made from real gold. With Bella's money, her parents matched it and $700 to a supplier, they began finding all kinds of random items to fit inside from trinkets to cutting the back off earrings to make them into charms.
****Origami Owl did originate the custom plate and dangles. We are the first company that offered a stainless steel locket. After beginning to craft and design exclusive O2 charms, product development continues to grow and with our latest and greatest design our very own heart locket! It just keeps getting better***************************************
Chrissy and Bella would display at home boutiques and envisioned a Zen like quality with the design, display is one thing that definitely draws people in! the MAGIC begins once they see the lockets. The Nest looks at story gaps and caters to all ages and demographics. As we see items transition in and out of our collection, they look at the feedback from customers and wish lists all the time. Origami Owl takes a lot of pride and expect the highest standards. While now working on charm design we will notice many are double sided and have shape (3D) as well. From Chrissy, "You all are going to be floored with this Spring!"
Fashion Forecast: Pearls, Cobalt and Orchid
Layers, layers, layers
Rose gold is still trending!
Chrissy really speaks from the heart
We begin with a comparison of Starbucks. What if you walked into a place that had Starbucks written on the door but you step inside and the place is orange and the cups are blue? Is that Starbucks to you? The company may be franchised but they work so very hard on logos and branding that the public has come to know them for. Just like brand makeup is sold at various retailers, they must all follow a schematic plan as to how to display it and are known for branding.
From Warren Buffet, "It takes 20 years to build a brand and 5 minutes to ruin it."
The Jewelry Bar contest held this winter which required submissions of photos from designers shocked Chrissy. Approximately 80% of entries used gem jar trays instead of the charm trays and open concept to touch the charms. When the charms are kept in a gem jar it loses the bond that our customers begin creating from the moment they can pick it up themselves and identify. You lose the emotional connection and experience.
What do you see?
YES! $149 kit done right!
Building your table
Fun idea: using your votives, if you have everyone confirmed for the Jewelry Bar, place a charm in each votive that represents their initial so they immediately begin to recognize the customization beginning to evolve.
Schematics will be coming out soon to print out in Back Office along with a Jewelry Bar LIVE video that is currently being edited.
To go from a bi fold
To a 32 page color spread with models and examples
Back to Take Out!
We have the kits, we have the catalogs, where to go from here?
- When people are looking at your locket, what do you say?
Plain and simple, "It tells my story." Without elaborating, the lingering thoughts comes by nature next. "What does she mean, her story.? What is her story?" Then the magic begins and the icebreaker is blasted.
- Bookings at Jewelry Bars: Well first, here is a new word: RESERVE not book. When you reserve your Jewelry Bar is makes it sound very elite and without the stigma of a home party, something Origami Owl is definitely not!
- Always tell about the hostess rewards, nothing sells like FREE! Give feedback midway through to the guests that by them sharing their story tonight, it allows them to help their good friend tell hers for FREE. The fact that they can also purchase gifts as well is a very enticing point.
- AWESOME TIP ALERT!!!!! For the hostess: Pick out whatever chain she wants that you have in stock (give her a choice between 2) then attach anywhere from 1-4 dangles. The amount of course will vary with whatever you feel comfortable with and also the size of the JB. If you have 4-5 people, shoot for 2 future bookings, if 7-10 load that chain up with 3-4 if you are feeling courageous! If you are new and looking for some success without feeling down, place one dangle to start building up that confidence!
- What next? You announce towards the beginning of the party that your hostess is wearing a chain she has chosen and you have attached 3 dangles. For every person that reserves a jewelry bar, you get to pick one of the dangles on her chain.
- BONUS: Let them know if your hostess gets rid of all the dangles she gets her chain for FREE to keep! I mean what hostess wouldn't want to tell her friends, you better book off mine because I get more product FREE! NOW THAT"S HAPPY!
What being a designer means? Unconditional Love in all Aspects of Our Lives
Along the lines of Why would we join O2, well, why was it created in the first place? Because of Bella! Chrissy Weems gave a very powerful story about "playing dolls" and not wanting to miss out on the time we have with young children. With that statement came the next reveal that Owlette's will now be able to join on at 12 years of age!
There were many requests across the board to lower the age and at 12 years, it is more likely to fond a bond with mom. Chrissy cried onstage with the girls present (boys are allowed to be part of a mother/son team as well).
She spoke about how today's youth, so many feel entitled, they don't unplug, there is no communication present. We text and go on social media rather than have a face to face conversation. Young people are so easily influenced and without goals are too easily swayed by negative things that can come across their path. And this is where is helps turn this around, Chrissy is out to make a difference for these girls. They will always receive support and unconditional love from O2.
We as designers will help to mold them into young, intelligent women and men that can succeed with anything they set their minds to.
What are you wanting to do in your life to make you better?
As a group, make a tremendous difference in this world.
Part of the way Origami Owl designers are exemplifying that is by the BLESS THE NEST program some designers began during Christmas.
Our first male director, Marty Miller shared the story that began it all when Director Heather Alexander made a personal pay it forward movement to help a family in need who could not afford Christmas presents. She had seen a football player who had gone to a toy store and bought thousands of dollars worth of toys to give to children everywhere. Inspired by that story when she herself was at Walmart, went to the layaway department to ask to pay off someones layaway during the holiday season. She asked the employee to find one that had lots of toys on it, one that seemed to be a children's list. After speaking with the manager and calling the woman who held the layaway and explaining that a stranger wanted to pay it off for her, Heather made their Christmas come true. So moved by sharing the story, and of course during 4th quarter of business, on a call one day and learning more about the Nest employees, it surfaced that we needed Christmas miracles within our own O2 family. If one designer can help one family, what can lots of designers do to help their own O2 families?
Designers quickly began sending and donating money to Marty and Heather to gather gift cards to send into the Nest employees that needed them during Christmastime. Perhaps the greatest of all was when Marty mentioned a donation come through that was for $1.00. It came in with a note that read: "I cannot give more than this but I wanted to help out too. My family is going through some tough times right now and we can barely afford our costs but I wanted to help someone else so that they know they aren't alone in this."
These are the amazing people we surround ourselves with. Many designers shared personal stories at SOAR as well as you've heard within your own team. This is more than just jewelry, we all live our mantra to BE A FORCE FOR GOOD.
Find that passion, your spark, find that way, it is our responsibility to share the O2 Love. We want to have goals and create that emotional connection with anyone we cross paths with. It's selfish to not share the opportunity because while we may think we are being pushy, it very well could be the answer someone is looking for.
Bless the Nest Movement
As the Why changes, we build ourselves and others
Duties of a mentor
Sponsorship with Kimberlie Harrell
- It begins with visuals. In her office, she has the Mission Statement, Core Values, and the Compensation Plan.
- Even if team building is of no interest to you when you begin, our WHYs are ever changing and it is a good idea to have a copy ready if the day comes you want to review it. As you begin to fall into a category on the plan, ask yourself if you see another box that may fit you.
Think about someone who has coached you in your life?
What did they do for you?
What was the biggest impact they made on you? Do you exhibit some of the characteristics the had already?
A great mentor can be described with some powerful words. During the Director's retreat that took place in January, one exercise was exactly this. To describe some characteristics that some influential people had on their lives.
Words such as: genuine, accountability, they stretched me, selfless, they believed in me, were patient, motivating, strong, humors and humble, listened, passionate and compassionate came across the way.
After writing words down of people they felt left a big impact on their lives, came the next question, Do you exhibit these yourself?
Many Directors came to the realization that they did or were beginning to and that is what growing a strong team is about.
Begin to spend time to help them start their business strong, help them develop a game plan. Ensure they understand their role as a Force for Good. Care and educate. Lead by example and teach them by having them observe when possible. Setting up our teams for success as much as we can.
If someone was to share about you, what characteristics do you think they would say? How do you want to be remembered?
And we conclude with a special message from Chief Performance Officer Darlene Santore.
Love, Team Sparkle and Shine
If you can identify with anything from this, than I am so very happy to have put it together for you. After all, if one starfish makes it back, then it made a difference!
Love,
Vanessa
Email: locketsbyvanessa@gmail.com
Website: www.locketmypretties.com
Phone: 972.638.0695
Facebook: facebook.com/locketmypretties
Twitter: @locketsbyV