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Post by hereticus on Dec 19, 2005 15:46:40 GMT 1
A telephone conversation with my FSM today has given me the first insight into the planned post Christmas promotion, which will be advertised as the January Sale (original, don't you think ?)
So 3 for £ 99 is not continuing (not in my area at least) but will be replaced by a straightforward 50% discount on selected colours / fabrics. We are quite used to this with vertical jacquard fabrics and we all have our own way of explaining to customers that these are seasonal discounts so no problem there.
This January sale, however, will also include a range of Rollers and Venetians - a new and interesting development ! I've not yet seen full details of the promotion and don't know what is to be included so don't want to make the mistake of pre-judging this promotion.
The instinctive reaction is 'here we go again - reducing customers perceptions of value whilst working for half commission' but, of course, we can always sell up.
I'm going to keep an open mind on this one until I've seen full details and gauged some customer reaction but I do hope that the fabrics / colours are subsequently going to be discontinued - if so, it is much easier and more credible for us to explain the low prices to customers and to develop arguments which help trading up. However, if the same colours / fabrics are still going to be in the range at full price after the promotion ends then surely we are creating problems for the future.
Let's not rush to judge this until full details have been released, but thought some of you might be interested to know what's in store for the New Year.
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Post by russell on Dec 19, 2005 20:43:07 GMT 1
heard today about jan sale 50% off like the idea as rollers and vens are included and stock rollers are overpriced and can lose a conservatory sale if they dont like verts glad 3 for 99 is over even though only sold 2 or 3 look 4ward too trying the new format still waiting for my xmas delivery have 4k worth not turned up
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*Star*man*
Full Member
Advisor with some experience - UK
Posts: 171
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Post by *Star*man* on Dec 20, 2005 18:25:40 GMT 1
I have just looked at the hillarys web site ........
It states.... Don't Miss our January sale ...
3 Verticals for £99 in our special clouds fabric !
OMG !
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Post by russell on Dec 20, 2005 18:45:02 GMT 1
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Post by RED on Dec 20, 2005 19:31:37 GMT 1
I think we should all stop knocking these offers that Hillary's are doing. They are after all, only advertised so that we get a foot in the door.Something our competitors have been doing for a long time now.
Any adviser worth his/her salt can easily move them up to a better fabric and if not there are still 2 options open to you.
1/ Take the order if its easy to fit and at least you still get £14 for your efforts, better than nothing.
2/ Walk away.
I myself have only sold 2 lots of them and 1 of them I got the extra £15 on each blind as they were all over 1.2 mtrs and she got a fourth one so tatal was £192 an average order value.
Its not hard, just go in positive, thats the hard part.
Red
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Post by russell on Dec 20, 2005 19:39:33 GMT 1
red i also have sold only two on a turnover of about 7k a week not knocking the offer am knocking having a good product ie clouds on 3 for 99 when your selling orange with flowers its easy too sell up but clouds think about it !  |
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Post by RED on Dec 20, 2005 19:43:48 GMT 1
I know what you are saying, but January is traditionaly the worst month for sales so the 3 for 99 can not do any harm like it did now just before Xmas, that was bad planning. Also it depends on the area. Where I am 3 for 99 looks expensive when you have companies offering 7 blinds for £119.
Red
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Post by russell on Dec 20, 2005 19:46:08 GMT 1
7 for 119 urgh bet they quaility lol ;D
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Post by RED on Dec 20, 2005 19:48:22 GMT 1
Absolutely horrendous but people think they are getting a bargain until six months later when they dont work and the fabric starts fraying.
Red
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Post by glen on Dec 20, 2005 20:19:29 GMT 1
sod the January SALE!! Had a appointment today and she was told by whoever took booking that because she has made appoint. before the 16/12/05 the 3 for £99 still applies to her, Bugger that for a game of bingo I left telling her to get them from some one else.
Glen
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Post by BlindWizard on Dec 20, 2005 20:58:05 GMT 1
The point is with these cheap offers we end up being a cheap blind company. Again I say Hillarys has a good brand ( yes still even though quality has lowered) so why are we trying to emulate the cheap local companies.
With regard to selling up, if it's 3 clouds for £99 then the move up is say to capri at 2 for £190ish that's goes from £33 to £95 per blind - now capri sounds like an expensive fabric !!!! I can see what is coming, oh if that's too big a jump we'll do capri for 2 for £120 - so down we go again.
As far as January being slow so you might as well earn "£14 for your efforts, better than nothing". No I don't think that is better than nothing, say 2 hours work (sale & fit including travel) less costs say £4, that's £5 per hour with no employment benefits !! I'd sooner take some time off thanks.
If Hillarys wants to go this way that's their choice but with potential earnings lowering advisors may decide not to join them.
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blindmansam
Full Member
P/T advisor (over 5 years)
Posts: 225
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Post by blindmansam on Dec 20, 2005 21:17:46 GMT 1
The 3 for £99 offer running in Nov - Dec was timed badly . The offer should have hit the public for Jan 2006 when we need it! ( for 4 weeks or so ! )
Will not Hillary's realize that we WILL be busy in the 6 weeks B4 Xmas , offers or no offers!
Do they not look at whats happened historically ?
Also -- The latest self management report is Laughable , oh dearie me .
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Post by gloryboy on Dec 20, 2005 23:27:51 GMT 1
i was told categorically the 3 for £99 was over and dead in the water by my fsm only yesterday.
now i read this.
are these people for real?
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Post by greenpesto on Dec 20, 2005 23:51:24 GMT 1
You will find that Hillarys will also NOT advertise during the first week of the New Year! ... the problem with this is that everyone else WILL be advertising because they know that people are at home, relaxed after the festivities & are spending time reading the paper ( local & national ) & using that time to ring around for quotes 'off' these 'Ads'.
By the 3rd week in January, Hillarys will be saying it's a quiet month & will think it a good idea to offer 2 for £49.
Once again Hillarys will miss the 'boat'. ... It happens EVERY year!!!!!!
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Post by JoY on Dec 21, 2005 10:39:18 GMT 1
My fsm told me that he quite often hears the news after I do!!!!! I think they are sometimes as p****d off as us. ;D
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