Meet Heather Krout, a beautiful and sweet young mom in Maryland as our very first “Stylist of the Month.” Read on as she shares her success tips on how she reached Star Stylist in just five short months. 
Quick Facts:
Name: Heather Mariah Krout
City/State: Bel Air, Maryland
Career Rank: Star Stylist
Start Date: April 8th, 2010
Jump Start Earned: $3,500 total. $2,000 from my own sales and I had 4 recruits during jumpstart…3 of which earned 2000 PCV during their JS and earned me an additonal $1,500 in free jewelry.
Q & A:
Q: You became a Stylist about six months ago. Looking back, how did you initially fill up your calendar with trunk shows?
A: Before I joined Stella & Dot as a stylist I showed the Look Book to my friends & neighbors to get their opinion on the jewelry…right away I had friends telling me they wanted to host a show for me and that I needed to just do it and jump in so that they could be my hostesses. When I first launched in April – I made sure everyone I knew or ran into on the street knew that I had just become a S&D stylist and was sooo excited about what was in store. I think my excitement and genuine satisfaction that I found a way for me to contribute financially while still being home with my daughter was respected and my circle wanted to support me in my venture to support my family while staying at home with my daughter.
Q: Who were your first four hostesses and how did you approach them?
A: My first 5 hostesses were my neighbor, my Mom, my Best Friend, a former pharmaceutical co-worker and a friend who owns a beach condo next to my mom’s place in Ocean City. I did not need to “approach” my neighbor, Mom or BFF because they had already gushed telling me they wanted to do one. As far as my former co-worker – she did not make it to my Launch Party and I took FULL advantage of those who could not make my launch party. I emailed my co-worker (and others who missed the launch) to tell her how well my launch party went and that I was sorry she missed it. I then asked her if she would like to host a trunk show with her girlfriends – that way I would bring the jewels to her and she wouldn’t have to worry that she couldn’t make the trek to my house…she replied yes and has already hosted two trunk shows for me – one spring and one fall. The friend at the beach – I brought all of my jewelry with me to the beach this summer and was eager to tell everyone about my new adventure – as soon as I showed my friend at the beach the jewelry and look book she wanted to host a show…I was so thankful I brought my jewels along with me on my vacation!
Q: What did you find challenging as a new stylist and how did you overcome it?
A: My biggest challenge in the beginning was having the confidence that I knew what the heck I was doing and how to “style” guests…but you know how you overcome it? Practice!! The more trunk shows I have hosted the more comfortable and more confident I am in knowing what looks right with what and how to offer putting a necklace on someone with eekkkk…a Bare Neck!!
Q: You’re married and you have an infant at home. How do you balance the work/life balance?
A: I get up every morning with my husband before my daughter wakes up…after we are able to chat and wake up a bit over coffee – I hop on the computer to see if any pressing emails have come through etc before my daughter, Eve wakes up. Eve gets up at 7 am and doesn’t take a nap until 1 pm. So from 7am – 1 pm I am MOMMY! I try VERY VERY hard NOT be on the computer or fielding calls during my time with Eve – after all I am a stay-at-home Mom FIRST and then a S&D stylist. When Eve goes down for her nap, I use that time to work on Stella & Dot and any household chores that need to get done, laundry, cleaning you know the fun stuff J Eve usually is up at 3 pm and then I am MOMMY again until bedtime at 7:30. I try not to do too much work at night b/c that is time for my hubby and to connect and chat about our days but occasionally I do have to tend to some S&D things at night and of course attend my weekly trunk show (or more) that I have booked. I also try to put orders through the system after I get home from my trunk shows that night so my customers get their orders asap and I don’t have to worry about fitting it in the next day during naptime.
Q: If you could give a new stylist only 3 tips, what would they be?
A: 1. Have ENTHUSIASM!!! When you are talking on the phone with a prospective stylist or hostess they need to hear in your voice how much you love what you do or how successful and fun their trunk show is going to be…you CANNOT BE FLAT or they will not believe it will work for them.
2. Determine when you want to work! In the beginning I scheduled trunk shows whenever I could get them…now that I am more confident – I tell my hostesses when I am available (from what I have previously decided when I want to work and blocked out on my calendar as open dates) This way you are happy when you go to the show because you chose that day as being a S&D day.
3. Keep consistent business habits. If you want to have consistent business pumping you have to consistently feed your business…whether it is mailing Look Books out, posting a S&D comment of facebook, emailing potential hostesses, dropping off look books to salons etc…
Q: You added two Stylists to your team in your second month, how did you meet them and how did you approach them about the Opportunity?
A: The first two stylists I joined were friends. Krista – is actually the wonderful woman who told me about Stella & Dot!! I told Krista I was thinking about doing a home based business and she told me about S&D. Krista came to my launch party and was excited to see the jewelry in person and decided to join my team. My 2nd stylist was Kristin who also is a friend. I ran into Kristin when I had a Stella & Dot table set-up during a “Girl’s Night Out” on Main Street in my town – (specifically to prospect for hostesses and introduce S&D to my area) Kristin was intrigued and was currently looking for something part-time. I followed up with her after running into her at Girl’s Night Out and we made an appt. for her to come over one afternoon to discuss what was involved with the business opportunity. I was completely transparent with Kristin about what I had invested so far etc. After thinking it over, Kristin decided to jump in too and we have loved sharing our S&D ideas with each other.
Q: What did you find challenging as a new leader and how did you overcome it? (balancing personal sales with coaching, finding stylists, knowing how to coach your new stylists, etc.)
A: hmmm…I guess the biggest challenge is the time commitment it takes to successfully coach. You are no longer only concerned with “your” trunk shows but you want to coach and be available for launch parties so that you can help your team be successful. I attend every launch party (as long as it is within a 2 hr drive) and try to be as accessible as possible to my team if they have questions placing an order or navigating the stylist lounge etc. I LOVE coaching and sharing S&D with others..I think the biggest challenge is carving out time to reach everyone and make sure they know you care. I dedicate A LOT of my daughter’s naptime to reaching out to my team either through email or phone calls – just wanting them to know I care and want to support them. I almost treat naptime from 1-3 pm as my “office hours”
Q: Your new Stylists have high sales, remain consistent and earn their Jumpstarts, what’s your secret as a coach and a motivator?
A: Contact with my team…we had our first team meeting in September and will have our 2nd one in November…even though I may not chat with each member of my team individually every week – I want to be available in person to share ideas and motivate one another. I share over email what is working for me.
Q: You achieved Star Stylist career level in August, just five months after signing up, what’s your formula for success?
A: I never “set-out” to become a Star in five months. Honestly, God has truly blessed my business. I think God’s favor and my dedication to work hard and keep the motto that “every little bit helps” is what has helped me achieve the level I am now. I do NOT get discouraged over a small or low-sales trunk show because you know what? “Every little bit helps!” You never know one of your smallest parties may be your largest in sales or your next stylist might be among that small group of 4 ladies at the trunk show…every little bit helps!
Q: If a Stylist wanted to duplicate your success & reach Star in five short months, what would you tell her (or him)?
A: Book…Book and Book! This is how you meet new people..new stylists and new hostesses. If your calendar is slim then find a venue where you can set-up a S&D table (preferably for free) where there will be lots of women who care about their appearance…a health club, shopping event, hair salon etc. Just setting up a table does not mean you will sell although you may – but it will help you meet new people and find hostesses! Be enthusiastic and POSITIVE. Share S&D with EVERYONE – tell them how much fun you are having and how much you love what you do! Be prompt, courteous, HONEST & respectful, HUMBLE and genuinely thankful for the business you receive.
Q: You maintained high sales volume through summer, which is a difficult time to remain engaged in our busiensses. What are two tips for remaining active during the “slow” season?
A: Since I joined in April I was ready to rock-n-roll regardless of the Summer being tagged as “slow season” – just b/c someone tells you Summer is the slow-season – doesn’t mean it has to be YOUR slow season! You decide when you want to kick things into high-gear or when you need to down-shift – don’t let “outside voices” tell you when is your busy or slow season – the only person who decides that is you! My advice is consistent business habits no matter the time of year – keep doing the practices that work for you.
Q: What’s your next goal with Stella & Dot? What’s your one-year goal? (Say…. by Hoopla 2011!)
A: My personal goal is not a cumulative number per say to have made but more of a monthly goal of being able to take care of the mortgage payment for my family every month so that my hubby’s paycheck takes care of the rest! I would love to GROW my team to a total of 40 women at least.
Now… For the Fun Stuff!
Q: If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
A: Chocolate chip cookie dough…who can resist cookie dough…seriously??
Q: Cookie or brownie? Cake or pie?
A: Brownie – warmed up with ice cream! Not a cake girl but I will eat two brownies to make up for it J
Q: Favorite place you’ve ever visited and why?
A: Hawaii – Love the beautiful scenery and the culture of the people.
Q: Finish this sentence: When I was a little girl, I dreamed of….
A: it’s embarrassing but I wanted to be a famous actress in Hollywood…so glad that didn’t pan out!!! J Much happier as a happily married woman, Mommy and Stella & Dot stylist!!
Q: If you were a Stella & Dot piece of jewelry, what would you be and why?
A: Josephine Lariat…love it doubled and hanging off to the side closer to my neck…why? because I love the versatility the lariat offers to your wardrobe…simple, lovely, understated class AND brings a lot to the table!
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Also, included a personal note.
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