WIN Meeting

WIN Meeting 8.15.06

Announcements:

Checkout magazine Shop Smarts by Consumer Reports. It’s a great sourcing book with loads of info about fitness, home safety & security, etc. On the newsstands now.
Don’t forget…for all your eBay resources go to: www.janelleelms.com/ebay
For meeting information: www.janelleelms.com/freeebaymeetings.com

New Introductions:

Claire: not on eBay and is a big supporter of her mom, Carol Hearn (www.wanderingcreekantiques.com). She’s visiting from Connecticut and is a police officer there.
Sanda: She and her husband are photographers (www.photovisionaries.com). They shoot everything but weddings. They have shot and listed eBay items for other businesses. They want to start selling their art on eBay. They’re available for photo consultation.

Exciting News & Updates:

Harriet (www.childtoystoreandmore.com) became a PowerSeller on Sunday! Sells mostly children’s toys.
Shirley (www???) is a PowerSeller again! Shirley sells kitchen supplies, islands and Rachael Ray knives.
Rina’s husband Mike is having trouble with cardiac arythmia. They have had seven attempts with no success. The eighth attempt is this afternoon. Please email and encourage her during this difficult time. Good NEWS! Since the treatment, Mike’s heart has returned to normal. Rina’s 30 day challenge is to clear a physical space for her business office. She wants a buddy to help her with the organization and stay on task. MaryLou would be happy to be her buddy. Laura would also be happy to coach her because she has experience setting up offices and organizing spaces. Feel free to email her at rmvaron@gmail.com
Cathie (harmonie@cablespeed.com) has skin cancer and is scheduled for surgery. It’s nothing major but she has to take care of it and take a new job. As soon as she’s back on her feet she’ll return to the meetings.

Retro Manners: What can you do to help someone out? Has someone taken time out of their day to help you?

Harriet helped a painter by taking time to talk with him about eBay and turned him on to Janelle’s website.
Diann (www.dcluttersales.com) took food to two new neighbors and introduced herself.
MaryLou (www.marylouharrisdesigns.com) is a good lead in dancing and helps more women at the evening dances to get a chance to dance.
Carol (www.wanderingcreekantiques.com) went to older neighbor’s homes to help assess if their possessions are worth hanging on to or contributing to their retirement community garage sale.
Rebecca (www.pigandpanda.com; www.rebeccashapirotheartist.com) bought three friends the Cynthia Kersey (www.unstoppablewomen.com) books.

Mastermind:

Janelle wants to bring each mastermind business back at the 6 mo mark to give everyone an update. Alice will be first. Her 6 mos mark is October 10th. Her review will be at the October meeting.
The next mastermind in September is Debbie. Concern was voiced because Debbie wants help from the group but hasn’t participated in assisting other women in the mastermind yet. The group decided it would be best for Debbie to continue to attend the meetings and contribute to several masterminds before her business is reviewed. MaryLou will be the next mastermind in September.

Rebecca’s Mastermind: www.artonion.com

Rebecca’s Mastermind Outline is available at http://janelleelms.com/free-ebay-meetings/rebecca_mastermindoutline.htm.
If you haven’t submitted Rebecca’s mastermind sheet yet, download it from: http://janelleelms.com/free-ebay-meetings/rebecca_mastermindsheet.htm and please email to: rebecca@pigandpanda.com.
Rebecca went to the Bellevue Art Fair. She spoke with lots of women artists who were very interested in www.artonion.com. Many of them needed help with their businesses and/or building websites. Some of them were worried that there would be a charge for the site.
Rebecca met Joyce Stone (www.jstoneenamels.com) Janelle was in awe of her artwork. Joyce was older. Probably did the whole activist thing. She’s been working to change the art world and seemed to be the supreme goddess. Rebecca was certain that Joyce will be helpful developing www.artonion.com.
Rebecca is also building a book and workbook on how to sell your art on eBay. She has three folks, a tattoo artist, a jeweler and a photographer, who have agreed to be her guinea pigs for the workbook. The workbook will be sold on eBay but will also be modified to help women as they work on their businesses.

Diann’s Mastermind: www.dcluttersales.com

Diann’s Mastermind Outline is available at http://janelleelms.com/free-ebay-meetings/diann_mastermindoutline.htm.
Download Diann’s mastermind sheet at http://janelleelms.com/free-ebay-meetings/diann_mastermindsheet.htm and please email as soon as possible to: dcluttersales@comcast.net.

Background info:

Diann sells mostly on eBay for other people. A lot of people have an immense amount of stuff and they are overwhelmed with how to get rid of the stuff. She also has people ask her to come in and help them get started selling on eBay.
Diann is very organized and has clear boundaries.
She has kept her business financially separate from her personal finances and it is self supporting (woo hoo!).
She’s not as up to date on the technology.
She struggles with her fee schedule. She charges 25% and her customers pay all eBay fees.
The current D’clutter process is $50 hour; 25% commission to sell on eBay.

Questions:

How much should Diann charge for selling on eBay? Carol suggested that Diann check consignments shops and see what their fees are. Most charge 50% and they never reimburse a consignee for loss.
Diann has a sliding scale and negotiates on big ticket items.
Diann needs to bump up her service rates to 40% and Diann pays the fees.
The current D’clutter process is at $50/ hour. The group agreed that her fees should be more at $125/hour to consult, evaluate and provide a plan for customers to execute. Diann could also go in and help clients sell what they want to get rid of or take what they don’t want to Goodwill.
The group suggested that Diann offer a package deal if someone wants both of her services: d’clutter process and consignment sales on eBay.
The group suggested that Diann develop a questionnaire and have the client identify what they want her to do.
The group decided Diann is a junk psychologist or a junkologist. We did a quick GoDaddy search and www.junkpsychologist.com; was available. The group agreed that Diann should purchase those urls right away.
What should Diann sell in her eBay store? organizer tools and organizing kits. Check out the Container Store, Stacks and Stacks, contact QVC and see if they have excess organizers. Possibly bring in a line of organic cleaning products.
Diann should check out Julie Morgenstern’s organizing system. Book: Organizing From The Inside Out and the Cash in the Attic show.

Diann’s requests:

Please offer comments before the next meeting and email them to Diann at dcluttersales@comcast.net.
Please provide constructive criticism on Diann’s website: www.dcluttersales.com.
Janelle reminded the group that anything you want people to focus on should be “above the fold”.
How do you run a sale in the store?
Does anyone have suggestions for great packing tape? www.uline.com and Costco (www.costco.com) tape specials.

Additional group suggestions:

Mention in the newsletter for everybody who orders vintage patterns this month they receive a free gift.
Sign up for Selling Manager Pro.
Bulk editing features allow you to change a bunch of stuff at one time.
Go to Dollar Tree to find cheap giveaway items.
Offer a D’Clutter brochure on organizing as a give away during a sale.
Figure out how to promote the d’clutter service.
Understand and then advertise on Craig’s List.
Hook up with six realtors to promote the business. Include with the package: business cards, brochures, pic of homepage, testimonials.
Great printing resources: Vista Print & www.gotprint.com.
Have Marcus (www.webmaster4hire.biz) put together your elements and create a postcard.
D’Clutter Sales will be: D’clutter service, eBay trading assistant/seller, selling organizers, organizing tools and/or organic cleaning products in her eBay store.

Step 6 Smart Women Finish Rich:

Speculating with investment money: After a financial snafoo, Rebecca and Joe spend every Sunday morning working on their financial plan.
People aren’t diversified: one woman mentioned that when you’re starting out, you get stuck because you don’t having anything to diversify.
Paying too much in taxes: there’s a lot to learn about how to save your money.
Buying an investment that is illiquid: keep in mind that with something illiquid, like a limited partnership, you can’t get the money back for several years. Sometimes that is okay and other times it isn’t.
Giving Up: One woman doesn’t want to give up and wants to start saving.
Checkout the coffee house investor: www.coffeehouseinvestor.com.

Unstoppable Homework:

Reality check: Did you have one clear area to work on or numerous ones?
Laura (www.simplehomeworks.com): chose physical, financial, spiritual and relationships. She found it exciting to identify the areas that needed work but at the same time stressed about how to prioritize.
Rebecca had the same trouble. It was difficult to focus and get to the dirt bottom. Which one was a building block for the others? Which goal will most affect the other areas?
Alice (www.aliceinstitches.com) is challenged with her clutter and space. She’s frustrated by some health issues and decided to bring her weight back down.

Breakthrough goals:

Laura is going to build a healthy, strong lean body for lots of energy.
Harriet is going to lose weight and get in shape so she can have confidence to tackle everything else.
Rebecca is going to paint at least 30 minutes every day in the studio.
MaryLou is seeking balance. Now that she’s continuing her organizational work she wants to bring in her eBay work.
Claire is reconnecting with her inner joy. She is finding new channels for what she likes to do and other sources for camaraderie.
Carol is going to lose 45 lbs by July 31, 2007.
Janelle chose to gain control over her weight and make it another successful part of her life.
Diann is going to make $1000 each month from her business by January 1, 2007.
Kay is working on her family history.
Sanda is working on acquiring a steady income every day.

Unstoppable Homework:

Start the goals on Monday, August 21st.
A very helpful workbook is available for $9.95. Click Here. You will need to establish an account when your purchase the workbook. When you receive a confirmation about your purchase, you need to log back into your account to download the workbook.
If you post a question or comment to the women’s board be sure to email Janelle so she can let folks know. (since not everyone checks the boards)

September Homework:

Smart Women Finish Rich – Read Step 7 – Raising Smart Kids to Finish Rich.
Write down 3 action items you started doing with each of your kids (if you have two – then that will be 6 action items…not all action items will apply equally to all kids due to ages). If you don’t have kids, then this can be nieces and nephews, grandkids or any other youngster
Each day, for the next 30 days, be Unstoppable – follow the guidelines on pages 32-39.
Do Day 30 – Your Unstoppable Success Story.
Women’s Business Mastermind – Take another look at Diann’s business plan/online business and recommend 5 things for her to consider in her business. Email your mastermind to Diann early: dcluttersales@comcast.net.