Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Product Training: How the Big Box Store Match Work


Background:  Shelf Reliance sells a few packages at “Big Box Stores”.   These packages and other items have been awesome for home party consultants, because people get introduced to Shelf Reliance from “Big Box Store” and want to learn more/buy more products.  I have personally had a TON of business from people who have seen our products at “Big Box Store”.  The other thing that selling through “Big Box Store” does for home party consultants is it allows up to give our customers an AWESOME deal.   

Things go know about the “Big Box Store” Price Matches
1.      These packages are found on the home party price list under “Specialty Packages” page  of the 6 of the Home Party Winter price list.  Please note that there is NO retail price on these packages.  Other items that are for sale from “big box stores” such as individual buckets or emergency supplies are found in their regular place on the price list.  It is also a good idea to look for them on the addendum.    
2.      These packages are NOT in the catalog
3.      These packages are NOT available through your Consultant URL
4.      These packages are an AWESOME good deal!
5.      The contents of these packages can be found on the Packages PDF.
6.      If “Big Box Store” Price runs a short term Shelf Reliance special then you will see it in the news feed, and you will be able to offer it to your customers as well.
7.  The price matches are calculated to be less expensive than the big box stores including the shipping that your customer will have to pay.  So the total price will be cheaper, sometimes the home party price is literally a penny cheaper but ALWAYS consultants can offer customers a cheaper price.
8.   So what is the cost with tax and shipping?  That is a good question, and the answer is it depends on where you live.  Tax is calculated based on your address, some of us pay more sales tax and some less, so I always advertise the price without tax and shipping.

How to sell the “Big Box Store” Price Matches
I really like to make sure my customers know what the best deals are.  Often the “Big Box Store” Price matches are the best deals.  (anyone remember the chicken and beef package?  What an awesome deal).   
1.       At parties I have a flyer at the front of every binder that I call the “Best Deals” or sometimes “Unadvertised Specials”  this is a flyer that contains a description of a few of the “Big Box Store” Price matches and their price.  You can find a copy of my current “Unadvertised Specials Flyer” here.   At a party when I am walking the guests through the binder I say “I always want to know what the best deal is, so I have studied the price list and discovered the best deals.  Each of these deals off you a significant saving.  For example….”
2.      To my existing customers:  I send out a newsletter once a month with the sale items for the month, a recipe, and any great deals they need to know about.  I always include one of these deals. 
3.      Screaming Deals:  This is something Sariah started has passed down to member of her team (that is me and you).  This is an e-mail that Sariah writes about one of the “Big Box Store” Price matches highlighting one specific product.  The screaming deals have been very effective. 
4.      Recommend the packages when customers are buying a portion of it.   I often have guests at parties that order a couple of the items in a package.  Almost always if they are ordering 4 items in the package (of 6) it is only a few more dollars to get the package.  I say to the customer “I noticed that you are getting the peaches, pineapple, mangoes, bananas.  Those four together cost $111.16.    I think you might be interested in the tropical fruit package, it comes with all of those plus pears and apricots and it is only a few dollars more.  It is $118.70.”  I have never had a customer turn it down and it teaches the customer that you are looking out for them, and that Shelf Reliance products are a great deal. 


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Rocky Road Brownies




My kids love marshmallows.  Whenever I make brownies they want me to add marshmallows.  This recipe combines the kid’s love of marshmallows and my desire for a decadent chocolate dessert.

Rocky Road Brownies 9 x13 pan

1 brownie mix plus ingredient for making
1/3 cup chocolate chips

1 ½ cup mini marshmallows
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped peanuts
  
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Prepare the brownie mix as directed adding 1/3 cup chocolate chips to the batter.
Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Brownies will be done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Immediately after removing from oven, sprinkle with 1 to 1 1/3 cups miniature marshmallows, 2/3 cup chocolate chips and the peanuts.  Return to the oven for 1 minuet to soften marshmallows.  Store tightly covered.

Print the Recipe for DIY Brownie Mix and all the variations


Friday, July 20, 2012

Peanut Butter Brownies



Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies 9 x13 pan
1 DIY Brownie Mix  plus the ingredients to make it

½ cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
¼ cup powdered sugar

Prepare the brownie mix as directed.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the peanut butter, vegetable oil and powdered sugar until smooth. Dollop the peanut butter mixture on top of the brownie batter. Swirl together using a knife or skewer.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Brownies will be done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan, then cut into bars and serve.

Print the Recipe for DIY Brownie Mix and all the variations


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Cheesecake Brownies



Cheese Cake Brownies.  Need I say more?  I think not. 

Cheesecake Brownies 9 x13 pan
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup white sugar

Prepare the brownie mix as directed.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, egg and sugar until smooth. Dollop the cream cheese mixture on top of the brownie batter. Swirl together using a knife or skewer.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Brownies will be done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in the pan, then cut into bars and serve.


Print the Recipe for DIY Brownie Mix and all the variations

What are your favorite kind of brownies?  

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

DIY Brownie Mix


Have you ever had an “Ah-ha!” moment?  A couple of years ago I had purchased a bunch of cake and brownie mixes when they were on sale, when I went to use them I found that they were really old and would not work properly.  I did what every new mother does with faced with a problem,  I called my mom.   As she walked me through how to add more leavening to the mix, I thought

I should just make my own mix.  How hard could it be?

I’ve been making brownie mixes ever since.  I’ve gone through a couple of different recipes but this one is our favorite.  This mix makes gooey brownies, because that is the kind we like.  I don’t really like brownies plain so I usually jazz them up a bit and make cheese cake brownies or peanut butter swirl brownies.  

To print a PDF with all of the variations, click the link below the photo at the top of the post. 
I'll be sharing all the variations this week. 






DIY Brownie Mix  9x13 pan

Printable  Recipe
Make the Mix
2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
2/3 Cup Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 cup shortening powder
4 tablespoons powdered whole eggs

Mix all these ingredients together with a whisk and dump them into a Ziploc bag.  Remove any excess air from the bag and seal.  Be sure to add the cooking instructions to the bag.
Brownie Mix should stay fresh in your pantry for up to 6 months, or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

To Make the Brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 ¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Vanilla.

Spray a 9 by 13 inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Combine brownie mix and other ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Mix well.  Spread the brownie batter evenly in the pan.
For gooier brownies bake brownies 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
For chewier brownies bake brownies at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.   

Monday, July 16, 2012

Shelf Reliance Party Idea: A Sun Oven Party



At one of my recent parties the host asked me to bring my sun oven.  She held the party just so she could buy the sun oven at ½ price.  And I have to admit that a sun oven for only $164.96 is pretty darn amazing.    It was a great addition to my party.  If you have a sun oven I would definitely take it to your next party.


Prep: 
I made Rosemary Olive Oil Bread in the sun oven earlier in the day.  (remember that the sun oven works best in the last morning/early afternoon).  I also brought balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dip it in.  I brought my sun oven roasting pan to the party.   I had 1 guest purchase, and 2 guests schedule parties so they can get a sun oven at ½ price (the July special)

How I set up: 
I set up the sun oven at the front of the room and placed it on the floor.  I pointed it toward the ceiling light as if the ceiling light was the sun.    

What I said: 
The guests were super interested in the sun oven.  As the guests arrived they stated munching on the bread.  (one guests said it was like a fancy restaurant) Before the party started I had them munching on the bread and the host  kept telling everyone that I baked it in the sun oven.
Before I could say anything about it they started asking questions. 

Here are the basics of what they wanted to know.
1.     How the sun oven work?   The sun oven uses the energy of the sun to cook like a convection oven.  The large reflectors focus the sunlight into the baking chamber, heating it up to 350 degrees in about 20 minutes.
2.      Will it work in the winter?  Yes the sun oven works when it is sunny.  If there is enough sun to cast a shadow then there is enough sun to cook in the sun oven.  Be sure to check the weather report.  You don’t want to cook half way into your cooking time and then have a rain storm come through, blocking all of the sun.
3.      Can you cook meat in it?   Yes.  If you can cook it in your regular oven you can cook it in your sun oven.
4.      How is cooking in it different from cooking in your regular oven?  It is harder to burn things in the sun oven.  Items cooked in the sun oven raise faster (think bread) and say moister.
Other things I told them:
1.       How to set it up.
2.      When to use the leg.  Use it in the winter months to point the sun oven at the sun, which in lower in the sky.
3.      How to use it like a slow cooker.  In the morning aim the sun oven at where the sun will be at 12:00 noon.  Add the food to the sun oven.  Let the food cook as you would in a slow cooker (I even use my slow cooker insert in the sun oven).  Do not reposition every half hour. 
4.      How to use the sun oven like a regular oven.  Set the oven up by pointed  it at the sun.  You should have equal shadows on each side of the sun oven.  Preheat 20 minutes (with the glass latches closed)  when temp reaches 350 add food.  Cook the same time you would in the regular oven.  Every 30 minutes re-aim at the sun. 

5.      How to get it ready the first time:  Remove the blue film.  Preheat oven.  Fill pan with hot soapy water.  Place in sun oven until water is HOT and glass is covered in condensation.  Use the water to wash the inside of the sun oven.  NEVER put cold water on the hot glass!!!! Hot glass and cold water almost always lead to cracked glass.   

Shelf Reliance Party Idea: Hawaiian Luau


Luau Menu:  



Aloha Chicken Salad  (use FD pineapple, FD onions, FD chicken)


Decorations:  Hand out plastic leis at the door. 
Give door prizes for guest that wear Hawaiian shirts.