Once upon a time I used to look at the cost of TC products, compare them to the same products elsewhere and, not exactly despair, but certainly wonder how these ECAs could possibly think they were going to sell too many of them BUT then I changed my thinking. Now as an SFI business owner I actively look for products that are going to benefit me, usually by 'rewarding' me with more VP, for purchasing them. Once you start doing that, you'll find yourself automatically calculating what it would cost you to get those additional VP by other means compared to the extra few $$s you'd be paying for this "costs a little bit more than other ECAs or elsewhere" item.
As an example, I have been looking at luggage scales and for an extra $2 or $3 I can purchase one from an ECA who offers 3 times the number of VP than other ECAs. Well worth the few extra bucks in my view. And as an aside to this, when I decided I wanted a set of luggage scales, the first place I went looking was TC. Sure, I can get those same scales for a lot less and a lot faster from other online platforms BUT doing that wouldn't be investing in MY business. Furthermore, I'd need to spend that money in SFI anyway, or find another way, to get those same VP. So I figure why not kill two birds with one stone by buying something I need AND getting the VP I also need.
This is the type of 'transfer buying' mindset you need to start a) developing yourself and b) developing in your team. Sure, it may not help them sell luggage scales in particular to the general public but it WILL certainly help them build their own business. Think TC Executive pool, sales VP and so on....!
Another way to motivate your affiliates is by showing them all the unique, handmade products that are available at TC. Many of these items are not available anywhere else in the world; they are TC EXCLUSIVE products! What price do you put on such exclusivity and on that 'one of a kind' type of product?? So present TC to them as a high class boutique shopping mall with dozens and dozens of specialist retailers offering high quality products they will not find anywhere else online. There are plenty of customers out there who prefer to patronize this type of quality retailer over the mass produced chain stores; your job is to find those customers and promote TC to them.
Or you can advise your team to start actively looking for, and recruiting, ECA's in their own locality. 'Click and collect' is now a very popular way of shopping - all the big grocery chains and supermarkets in particular are doing it. You order and pay online, then go pick up your purchase from the retailer. Or you may find that local ECAs are quite happy to provide a local delivery service for a small fee. This avoids shipping fees, currency exchange rates, long delivery times and all those other little things that people use as an excuse to shop elsewhere.
Obviously there are always going to be some products in TC that will be unfeasible from a cost perspective for many people outside the ECA's area or country to purchase BUT if you (or your team) think some of those products are worth having, find a local business that does, or is prepared to, offer similar products. Or become an ECA yourself ....
So to answer your question - there are any number of ways to motivate your team to stop being discouraged by the world economy's impact on the cost of products at TC. Start by changing your, and their, mindset. Once you've done that successfully, you'll be amazed at just how much opportunity you'll find to promote TC products both within your team and to the general buying public. Opportunities that get around the 'it's too expensive at TC' mindset that ultimately ends up contributing to our competitors' pockets.
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Once upon a time I used to look at the cost of TC products, compare them to the same products elsewhere and, not exactly despair, but certainly wonder how these ECAs could possibly think they were going to sell too many of them BUT then I changed my thinking. Now as an SFI business owner I actively look for products that are going to benefit me, usually by 'rewarding' me with more VP, for purchasing them. Once you start doing that, you'll find yourself automatically calculating what it would cost
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