It's a Great Buying Environment!
by Ken Hall

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"Don't let the gloom-and-doom news discourage you from planning right now for a very prosperous 2009."

There is nothing more important for a salesperson than to have and project a positive attitude. Can there be a better time to be upbeat than now? Prices are dropping fast, deals are being pushed out daily (if not hourly), and you can act quicker than Expedia or Travelocity in getting the information to your clients! By acting quickly and telling them how the market is changing, how prices are fluctuating, and how many great bargains are out there, you can become their seller of choice for 2009!

Ask them to call or email you with their thoughts on where they would like to vacation this year! Tell them with just an idea or two from them you can be on alert for the best values and the best offers - and you will save them valuable time and money.

In the other article – "The recession and its rare opportunities" by Arnie Weissmann in the Jan. 5, 2009, Travel Weekly electronic newsletter - Arnie tells the story of a middle-class couple nearing retirement age who are dipping into their savings accounts to buy numerous things. When he asked why they would be spending money in the current economic environment for things other than necessities, the wife's reply was very thought-provoking. "Our investments that are tied to the stock market are down about 40 percent," she said. "But, so many things I've been wanting are reduced 50 percent to 70 percent. I just realized that the recession is offering the best buying environment I can recall. And I'm getting things that will last a long time, well into our retirement."

There it is! The second fantastic message! "The best buying environment I can recall." Tape that one on your computer, also. Oh, and what about things that will last a long time, well into retirement? What lasts longer than memories? I’ll bet you can’t remember what you paid for your first cell phone, or your second, or your third. But, I’ll bet you remember vacations you took with your parents, and the first one you took without them, and the first one you took with your significant other. The point is, products have a definitive life, but memories last a lifetime!

With a positive attitude and your passion for travel, start sending emails and making phone calls to your clients, telling them of the great values that are out there. Point out to them what the one couple already knows: This is an ideal buying environment! And, when you’re done with the conversation, be sure and ask them who they know who would also be interested in these travel bargains!

Like the stock market, prices will go up in the future, but those who believe in buying when prices are low should act today!

Helping clients take advantage of this great buying environment will lead to a prosperous 2009!

Ken Hall, CTC, is president of www.HomeBasedPros.com. He studies the best practices of home based agents as well as the latest reports on consumer behavior, and provides marketing and sales ideas for the home-based travel agent, condensed into weekly e-letters for his subscribers. For more information and to sign up, go to www.homebasedpros.com.

(Credit: Ken Hall; stock photo)