As school draws to a close, it is important to make the rounds and re-sign existing business and plant a few seeds for future business. When you visit with existing customers, be sure to do a few things:
A.Thank them for their fundraising business this year - show your appreciation.
B.Ask them what the plans are for next year/season? Focus on the budget and needs.
C.Anything we can do better? This shows you care and are interested in making improvements.
D.Ask for referrals - do you know anyone else in the building that could use some extra funds?
When doing your review of the current sale start with something positive - (maybe they are super organized or did a great job motivating the kids to sell and hit their minimum). Then review things that might need some attention or improvement. (involve more students, switch to a Sprint sale, etc). Then close with some more good news - improvements, the new books are coming out soon, you’ll be back to help with next year’s sale, etc. Always start and end with positivity and encouragement.
In addition to talking to your existing customers and hopefully finding a few new ones you also need to talk to the staff - specifically the secretary or the main person in the central office of the school.
This is the person who takes your call and transfers you to the sponsor (or not). If the principal is available and you have a good rapport with him/her be sure to stop in and thank them for allowing you to work with various groups in the school.
Showing appreciation will go a long way when you are trying to get appointments to see potential customers in the building later this summer or early next school year. Here are a few quick tips:
REMEMBER - do you remember to call the office staff person by NAME? Write it down and review your notes before entering the building. Instead of hey you - maybe Hi Mrs. Jones.
RECOGNIZED - as an independent contractor you will see TONS and TONS of people over the course of a day, a week, a month, and certainly a school year. Try to commit these important folks to your brain - jot down notes to jog your memory. You are in the relationship business!!!
REMIND - thank these folks for their time, their extra effort maybe sends a quick handwritten note. One rep brings in pre-wrapped candy every time he makes a visit and goes through the office whether he sees the customer or not - (i.e. Hershey’s kiss, mini size candy bar). Something easy that sets you apart from the others who don’t do the little extras that remind them that they matter to you. Everyone likes to be remembered, recognized, and reminded that they are important.
Enterprise System - Book Closeout Form
As school begins to wrap up so do the fundraising sales for Spring 2021. It is imperative that the closeout information is accurate and sent in ASAP so the team can process the numbers, send the invoice and return shipping labels if needed. ICs can access the closeout form by going through the chairperson portal. Click on CLOSEOUT FORM and then the information can be filled in on the prize books, lost/damaged books, and sales via cash and check. Any books sold via SAPAYNOW.com (credit cards) will automatically populate in those fields on the closeout form. From the page for the closeout form, the invoice can be requested, generated, and emailed to the chairperson and the rep. Likewise, the shipping labels can also be requested, generated and emailed, too. The final step in this process is to EMAIL GROUP RELATIONS to let them know that this group is closing out, here are the #’s in the closeout form, and any other instructions. This allows the Group Relations team to match up the closeout information to the system so when the payment comes in everything will match up.
Summer Contact Information
Hopefully, you have made contact with your customers, and re-signs are rolling in for Fall 2021. One helpful tip is to be sure you have personal email and cell phone contact information for ALL of your customers. Those things certainly came in handy during the pandemic, and in some cases, the teachers and coaches may not have access to their school email accounts during the summer. Sometimes just a quick text during the summer can be helpful in paving the way for a meeting early in the school year to get the ball rolling for Fall season sales.
**PLEASE REMEMBER**
Group Relations does not know to close out an account until you email GroupRelations@Savearound.com. Failure to alert Group Relations of a completed closeout form will delay receipt of your commission.
Recently, Dave Feheley was interviewed about his role at SaveAround. Dave is an excellent graphic designer and really does care about the work he does and how it is representative of the company as a whole. Learn more about Dave in this interview article.
How long have you worked for SaveAround? 11 years
What is your favorite thing about your job? Coming up with creative solutions that benefit the team, and seeing a nice design come together.
Favorite thing to do outside work? Spending time with my kids Colin (10) and Millie (7), hanging out with friends, playing beer league ice hockey, and golf.
Favorite food? Pizza and wings
Favorite teams? New York Rangers, New York Yankees, and Buffalo Bills.
Pets? Archie (dog)
Favorite place you have visited? The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Tell me something that most people don’t know about you. I am a moderately skilled carpenter and I enjoy making furniture.
Something you live by daily: in addition to the KISS principle, I try to follow the GAS principle. GAS stands for Give A Sh*t. No matter the task you are given or need to get done, whether it's in your wheelhouse or not, care about it. Try.
