Innovative Businesswoman Brings Annual Sales Rally To Distributors' Homes

In an effort to make annual training, support, and recognition meeting widely available to distributors across the USA and Canada, Karen Clark, Director of Consultant Development with The Story Teller, creates a "Virtual Rally," entirely online and accessible from home. Consultants attend training sessions in chat room and "walk away" energized, motivated, and informed.

Rohnert Park / Ohnert Park, CA (PRWEB) June 17, 2005 -- One of the greatest challenges a business in the direct sales industry meets is finding a cost effective and convenient way to train its field of distributors. Most companies hold local meetings and training sessions, as well as annual conventions where the entire company is invited to spend a weekend attending classes, networking with other consultants, and attending a recognition banquet.

Karen Clark, Director of Consultant Development for The Story Teller, a direct sales company offering educational childrens felt products, was concerned that her field of distributors needed the training and support that a national convention offered, but most lacked the ability to leave their families for a weekend to travel to the companys headquarters in Utah. Since The Story Teller offers childrens educational products to parents and teachers through story time parties and other family-oriented sales events, the majority of their distributors are mothers who work from home alongside their children and family commitments. Ms. Clark says, I knew I needed to find a way to rally up the field in a way that would respect our consultants need to stay close to home, while also offering top notch training."

Through her website chat room at http://www.funfelt.com, Ms. Clark was able to come up with a way to hold a 2-day event entirely online, that the consultants could participate in from the comfort of their home. Dubbed as a Virtual Rally," Ms. Clark secured experts in various fields to teach training sessions live in the chat room on one side of the computer screen, with handouts and photos available on the other side. There were Leadership Sessions as well as an Opportunity Night on Friday, followed by General Sessions on Saturday. The final event was the Recognition Gala which featured company wide announcements regarding top sales and other achievements for 2004 and 2005, ending with The Story Tellers owner, Lori Whiting, sharing exciting company news and incentives for attendees.

At first, Ms. Clark was unsure as to how well attended this event would be, but she and Ms. Whiting were pleasantly surprised to find that over 25% of their active Consultants attended, logging in from California to New York and up to Canada as well.

Awnya Boam, a consultant from Utah said, By putting this years rally online, we were able to work in our meetings around our home, family and other commitments without having to pay for travel and lodging. Best of all, I got to "meet" other people in the company from around the country. What better way to take care of your employees than by bringing the meetings to them! "

Chris Bollinger, a consultant in Maryland, adds: "I have always wanted to attend The Story Teller Convention but the distance, time and cost made it out of reach. The announcement of an "on-line convention" really got my attention. It was an amazing cutting edge experience for all of us."

Lori Whiting, The Story Teller Owner says, This is a turning point for The Story Teller!"

For more information, including a link to the chat room and Virtual Rally Archives, visit http://www.funfelt.com

For More Information Contact:
Karen Clark
Director of Consultant Development
The Story Teller
815 Santa Dorotea Circle
Rohnert Park CA 94928
(707) 588-9290
karen@funfelt.com

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