Date Joined Story Time Felts: March 2004

Tell us bout your family: My sweet husband and I have been married for 5 years and have 2 beautiful children. We have a 2 1/2 year old little boy who likes to see how things work, and a 9 month old little girl who is bound and determined to be walking by 10 months!...My husband is finishing up his BS in Civil Engineering in the Spring (yeah!!)

What is your "Why"? I truly love all the products that the company has. Kids' eyes light up when they see the products and parents love it as well. I knew from the moment I saw it that I needed it in my life. I also love that I can stay home with my kids in the days and get out of the house sometimes at nights! (and make a little extra $ at the same time!)

What is your favorite line when someone asks, "What do you do?" I like to tell people that I distribute the best product in the entire world!...This seems to get their attention so that I can go into more details!

To what do you attribute your success? The great product, a GREAT support team (accelerated team calls, Yahoo!, and weekly chats), a couple of great team leaders, and an owner and Consultant Director who truly care about me and my business!

What is the best tip you have learned? When you feel comfortable, others can sense it too. It makes your parties sell better, it makes others want to be around you, and it shows them how easy your job really is. Figure out your demonstration style and the things that work best for YOU.

How do you get your business going when it is at a stand-still? Have your own party. Invite friends, neighbors and family again. You never know if something in one of their lives has changed so that they may want to host a party or sign in!! Reward past hosts and customers if they give you 10 leads...give them free shipping or something....I think the biggest thing is to try something new, or try something again, just TRY SOMETHING.

What is your best advice to new Consultants? Hit the ground running...GO GO GO!!

Do you have a story you would like to share? I have 2 friends that I have been sharing Story Time Felts with ever since I've started.  Short of begging, I have been trying to get them to take 5 minutes to look at it...well, 1 of them just signed in as a consultant a few months ago and the other one is having a party in the next few weeks! (and I'd be surprised if she didn't join as well!) --So it just goes to show you that things change, people change, and just cuz they said no once, doesn't mean it's a forever no (unless they specify!

What is your "Why"? I got "hooked" when I went to a home party with my sister-in-law. I had never heard of the company and she didn't want to go to the party alone. I wasn't even the invited guest. I went so she could get her free gift. I had been looking for something educational for my son because he was fairly advanced. I needed something I could do with him and fell in love with the product. Little did I know that my mom had one of the early scripture stories collections. After I started selling I checked the box and it indeed said Story Teller (our former name). It is such a wonderful product and I just had to have everything for my children. I am so glad I found it.

What is you favorite line when someone asks, "what do you do?": I own my own business that allows me to visit with wonderful people while helping them educate their children.

To what do you attribute your success? My wonderful husband. He is so supportive.

What is the best tip you have learned? A "no" changes nothing, so don't be afraid to share this wonderful product with everyone.

How do you get your business going when it is at a stand-still? I look through all of my contact cards and I start calling people. The "100 No's Contest" helps a lot. I still have a long way to go, but it got me up and running shortly after a move. I also host my own home party. It usually gets me few leads which can help lead to others.

What is your best advice to new consultants? Don't be afraid to talk to people!! You are not selling the product, but sharing it with people who could really use it.

Do you have a story you would like to share? When I first started, my husband was supportive, but he didn't think I would do very well. He never had a problem with me doing home parties, but he sure didn't think it would last. My first week of parties I did over $900 in sales. He was shocked and so was I. It was a great start and helped keep me going. I am now a year and a half into the business and I have so much more confidence and am so much more outgoing. He no longer doubts that I can make a go of this. It has been great for both of us.

Theresa Graham

Date Joined: June of 2004

I joined The Storyteller in July of 04 after I found Karen's web site on the net. I had been looking for felt activities for my classroom that would LAST...I knew when I found ST that it was exactly what I had been looking for. Without even discussing it with my husband-I e-mailed the person closest to me and asked for information. Then, I signed up! That's it...

My best "felt" story is about my first party. My sister had it for me. She only had two people show up. But, one of the mom's had her little girl with her. She LOVED the felt and played with it quietly the whole time she was there. Her mom spent a lot of money that night and booked a show! She said her daughter had never played with ANYTHING that long! 

Rhonda Hayes

I have always been a part of teaching my children, and was so excited when I came in contact with Story Time Felts.  The product was exactly what I was looking for, something pliable, with bright colors, washable (a big plus), hands on, and an awesome supplement to the books and workbooks I use!

Gina Alo

Date Joined Story Time Felts: August 22nd, 2005

Tell us about your family: I am married to a firefighter for 12 years. We have three children, ages 8, 5 and 2. We moved from Los Angeles to Camarillo about 2 and 1/2 years ago to buy our first house. We are all wrapped up in our kids and working on all the little projects around our home.

What is your "Why":  I found Story Time Felts products on the internet when I was looking to improve our Family Nights. I loved them so much that when I saw that I could buy them for a discount if I became a consultant I couldn't stop thinking about it until I signed up. So my "why" would have to be my love for the products, and my hopes to improve my family time with my kids.

What is your favorite line when someone asks, "What do you do?":  "I stay at home with my children AND I make extra money by selling really great felt products. I have a catalog in my purse, do you want to see?"

To what do you attribute to your success?:  I think I am very trainable. When I get into something I try and find out all I can about it. I ask a million questions and take advice from everyone that has done what I'm aspiring to. When I started with Story Time Felts, I listened to the training tape everyday and would email my director (Karen Clark) with question after question. She always answered back quickly and she was so supportive and cheerful, so she really helped me get on the right track too. Thanks Karen!

What is the best tip you have learned?  Invite 40 people or over to every party to insure a good turn out. It really works!

How do you get your business going when it is at a stand-still?:  I haven't really been at a stand still yet since I just started in August,  but if I was I would start making phone calls and sending emails trying to get someone to book a party. One day when a party cancelled on me I got on the phone and called a local church and asked the woman in charge of the Sunday school program if she wanted to meet with me.  She ended up buying the whole Bible collection, so my cancelled party didn't turn out to be a total waste of time.

What is your best advice to new Consultants? : Share your enthusiasm about the product with as many people as you can. Excitement catches on!

Do you have a story you would like to share?:  Yes! If you would like to book a party I will share a story with my great felt products!  Just kidding. I do have a cute story: One night after my family and I did a felt story from the Scripture Stories my 5 year old son went into his room and was really quiet. When my son is quiet, he's usually getting into trouble so I went to check on him and found him cleaning up his room. I was so surprised at this that I asked him what he was doing and he said " I'm cleaning up my room so that I can be a good example".    I was so happy I almost cried, and then I bought some more felt!!

Date Joined: 8/31/2005

Tell us about your family: I have been married for 25 years and have one married daughter. My daughter and her husband are both in school and gave us our first grandson just before Christmas! Yahoo!

To what do you attribute your success? Prayer and listening to the whisperings of the Spirit. I prayed hard with my first party to know who to invite. One of my friends was walking down the road and I handed her an invitation. She brought someone from her work who later had a party. Then her daughters had parties - one had two parties. And I have had other parties from this one lead. Truly an answer to prayer. The Lord is aware of our needs and will help us as we seek His help.

Also, the great support of my sponsor, Jennifer Fackrell, my upline, Karen, and Lori. And all the consultants who have given me wonderful ideas about how to succeed!

What is the best tip you have to learned? Talk to everyone! If they're not interested right now, they probably know someone else who is!

How do you get your business going when it is at at standstill? Make myself get out and go to work (usually the hardest part is starting)! I list everyone I know and how the product could benefit them. Then grab some felt and go talk to them.

What is your best advice to new consultants? You can do it! Just share your enthusiasm and the product sells itself.

Coach your hostesses. Let them know if they will call everyone who showed any interest or said they would come, they will get orders. I tell them how at my first party, I called back on a few people who had shown a lot of interest but then decided not to buy much. I was really discouraged, but kept contacting everyone, and my last contact purchased $195.00. So, it really is just a numbers game. Let the hostesses know if they pay the price by asking everyone, they'll reap the reward and get the felt they want for free.   Help the hostesses keep their goal in mind so they'll work hard to get the product they want for free or 1/2 price.

Do you have a story you would like to share? I love this business! I love sharing products with others that help the children in their lives excel and that gives my family the extra income we need.

Susie Rizzo

Date Joined The Story Time Felts: August 1996

Tell us bout your family: I have 5 children (3 grown in L.A.) and 2 still at home. My daughter is 16 and my son (who is special needs) is 13. I spent 35 years in Los Angeles until my husband was transferred to New York with IBM. We just love it here!

What is your "Why?" I first started using the felt when I saw it at a NAEYC conference and fell in love with Grandma's Fav. (it was the Nursery Rhyme Set back then). I used the felt all the time when I taught early education in L.A. I knew I could sell this product but didn't want the pressure or quota like other companies and it took months for me to join (after our move to NY). This product has brought so much joy to my life. My kids loved it when they were younger and I still see them playing with it once and awhile. Being a ST consultant helped me meet so many new people, and many customers are now my close friends. The income has helped out with all the extras and at times were a life saver when we really needed it.

What is your favorite line when someone asks, "What do you do?" I own my business. I am an independent educator for children and adults!

To what do you attribute your success? My positive attitude and having a great sense of humor. I also talk to everyone! I have complete faith in God and I know he gave me the Story Time Felts business/family for a reason.

What is the best tip you have learned? You have to be able to laugh in every situation and at every mistake (I have made them all). You are not this first person to be in an awkward, bad, or embarrassing situation and you won't be the last.

How do you get your business going when it is at a stand-still? I make sure I have felt where ever I go. It always starts a conversation. I also keep all my contact/info cards and pull some old ones out and start making phone calls.

What is your best advice to new Consultants? Have fun and use our support system (Yahoo group). Fit the Story Time Felts into your family and NOT your Family into your Story Time Felts business.

Do you have a story you would like to share? I had only been doing craft fairs for a short time and it was my first 'Mall Show'. I was very nervous and wasn't sure what I was doing. I had bought a large amount of stock (at that time for me)and the show was a little pricey. By the end of the weekend (3days) I had only made small profit and was tired. A woman came to my table and was very excited about the felt. She dressed funny and seemed little odd. I explained the different books and boards to her and she tried everything. It seemed she still didn't get the concept of our felt. She finally picked out a couple of books for her son (or so I thought), and I just knew she would give me a check and it would bounce. Luckily she paid in cash. She kept pondering over the Animal Habitat book and couldn't decide if she should get it or not. I came over to her and she said she knew he would like the other books but she wasn't sure about this one. I asked how old her son was and she said "these aren't for my son, they are for my iguana" So I told her to put a different page from the habitat book in to the take and the iguana will think he is traveling around the world. I guess I can sell to anyone!