Blue Flute Software- 'In a NutShell' Newsletter

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                    In a Nutshell
   Information and Tips for your Image Consulting Business

12/03/03                                          Issue #20
Linda Gerloff, Editor, linda@blueflute.com
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     By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of
                   "In a NutShell".
You are receiving this newsletter because you have
subscribed to either the monthly Automated Inventory
Updates or this newsletter.
Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of this newsletter.

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   IN THIS ISSUE
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    => Inventory Updates for December
    => Blue Flute News
         Change is Here – and even more is coming!
    => Feature Article
         Tips for a Terrific Open House
    => In my business, how do I -
         End the Year?
    => NutShell Tip –
         Sales Aids in your Inventory
    => Game –
         Christmas Artist Game
    => Consultant Success Story
    => Recognition Corner

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Inventory Updates for December
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Your inventory updates for December are ready. If you have
subscribed to this service, you can get your updates here:
http://www.blueflute.com/btyupdt1.htm

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Blue Flute News
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Change is Here! – The new invoice format has been met with
enthusiasm by those who are using it!
If you haven’t done so, you can download it here:
www.blueflute.com/NutShellInvoiceUpgrade.htm. On this page,
you will see a description of the changes, so you will know
just what to expect in the new format. (You will need to
use Internet Explorer on this download page.)

There is no charge for this upgrade and I know you’ll like
it, so don’t forget to do this important download!

After you download the new invoices, please let me know
how you like it: InvoiceFeedback@blueflute.com.

And even more is coming! – There is a software upgrade
coming – and soon! We will be doing a lot of testing this
month. Expect to have some new, COOL features by the first
of the year!

         *-----------Quote of the Month-------------*
         ‘Give every man more in use value than you
          take from him in cash value; then you are
          adding to the life of the world by every
          business transaction.’

            -Wallace D. Wattles
         *------------------------------------------*

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In my business, how do I – End the Year?
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(This is a reprint of last year’s article. If you processed
last year through NutShell, do it the same way this year!)

The end of the tax year is upon us. Don't worry, though.
The end of the year doesn't have to be intimidating. There
are two main things to think about: The value of your
inventory and your income/expenses.

Inventory - Once you have finished making sales for the
year, you will need to count your inventory. While not
particularly hard to do, this is a very important task
for your books. Try not to put it off. You can even start
early if you aren't having a very busy month. (Yes, yes, I
know you are having a busy month! I mean not busy
sales-wise!)

        1. Count - Record every item that you have in stock,
         including how many you have and how much you paid
         for each one.

         If your bookkeeping is not computerized, it may be
         too hard to track how much you paid for each item
         in your inventory. You may want to simply use
         List Cost, (the retail price less your typical
         discount), but check with your accountant before
         taking this shortcut.

         If your are using NutShell, you don't even have to
         worry about how much you paid for each product.
         NutShell has been paying attention and will take
         care of that part for you!

        2. Compare - Once you have your physical inventory
         counts, compare them to your bookkeeping system
         (the Inventory screen, QOH column in NutShell,) to
         see where there are variances.

         Adjust your records so they match your actual
         counts.

         In NutShell, create an invoice to adjust your
         counts. Details are in the User's Guide, or
         ask me: mailto:AdjustInventory@BlueFlute.com

Note: You can get confused if you aren't careful about when
you count your inventory. Be sure to enter and fill all your
client orders (invoices) and enter, receive and put away
all your product orders (PO's). Once you have done these
things everything will be in synch and you should have
fewer variances.

        3. Get your total value - Once you have your physical
         counts entered into your bookkeeping system (via an
         adjusting invoice), you are ready to determine the
         total value of your inventory.

         In NutShell, you will want to print the stock
         report on the Inventory screen. Tell it to value
         your inventory by 'Price Paid'.

         In a manual system, multiply your quantity on hand
         times the price paid for each item and add them all
         up. (This may be a good time to computerize your
         business!)

        4. Now you are finished with your inventory - Yea!!

Income/Expenses - The other task you will do to prepare
for your taxes is to get an accurate listing of your income
and expenses. If you are already keeping a daily or weekly
list of your expenses and income, then good for you! Go
ahead and keep doing this. If you aren't, I don't think I
would particularly worry about it now, during the holidays.
But eventually, you will need to sit down with your
receipts and get them organized and totaled.

In NutShell, enter all your income and expenses in the
Income and Expense Log. NutShell will enter your product
sales and purchases for you, and you take care of the rest.
Be sure to enter the date, description of the expense or
income, dollar amount and expense or income class. When it
is all entered, print an Income and Expense by Class report
for 1/1/02 - 12/31/02. If you forget something, you can
always go back and add it to the Log and then reprint your
Income and Expense by Class report. This, and your
inventory stock report is all your accountant will need to
do your taxes. Your work will be done!

In review, you will want to figure out your inventory value
and total your income and expense receipts. That's it!

In NutShell, there is no 'End-of-Year' task that you need to
do. Just keep entering your work as you work your business.
Determine your inventory value and list of income and
expenses as described above and you will be ready for taxes!

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NutShell Tip – Sales Aids in your Inventory
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Question: How do I handle all the catalogs, brochures, etc.
           in the Sales Aid section of my inventory? It is
           too hard to keep track of every little piece of
           paper that I hand out.
Answer:   When you purchase products that are classified as
          ‘Sales Aids’, the expense is automatically posted
           in the Income and Expense Log. It is understood
           that because they are Sales Aids, these products
           are not for re-sale. They are an expense of doing
         business and that is pretty much the end of the
           story. (There are some sales aids that you do
           sell, and that is OK, too.) Since the Sales Aids
           are logged in the Income and Expense Log when
           you purchase them, you don’t have to track them
           anymore after that. The only reason that NutShell
           logs them in your inventory, is in case you do
           decide that you want to invoice a client for a
           Sales Aid product, such as a candle, or ‘Give it
           Up’ lip color.

           At the end of the year, when you print your
           inventory listing, you will get two totals for
           the value of your inventory. The first total will
           be the value of everything, including Sales Aids.
           The second total will include everything but
           Sales Aids. This is the figure that you will use
           to do your taxes. So, you can zero out the counts
           on the brochures and things whenever you want, or
           you can not zero them out at all. It depends on
           what works for you!

    *------------------A Good Laugh--------------------*
     A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come
     over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle,
     and I can't figure out how to get it started."

Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when
it's finished?"

"According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the
puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the
puzzle spread all over the table.

     He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at
     the box, then turns to her and says, "First of all,
     no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to
     assemble these pieces into anything resembling a
     tiger."

     He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you
     to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and
     then..... he sighed,

     "...let's put all these Frosted Flakes back in
     the box."
         contributed by Dana Pate, Consultant
                        Prairieville, LA
    *-------------------------------------------------*

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   Consultant Success Story
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Debbie Kirk was #7 Top Seller at 2003 Celebration!
Comments from Debbie, Senior Consultant, Oregon

“I am so pleased to have ended up #7 in the nation! One of
the greatest thrills! I was given a beautiful diamond and
gold bracelet! My secret is “Always talk BC!”. I share it
with everyone! Right now I am relocating to a new area and
so that makes it fun! I love meeting new friends and
sharing such a wonderful product! Once they get it on them
they will buy something. My goal is to put every woman I
know on skincare! I am passionate about skincare. We only
have one face and we need to take care of it!”

About her marathons:
“They are so awesome and I am so grateful to have the
health and mental ability to do a marathon! The
accomplishment is incredible!!!!! Now I have two under my
belt. The training that I followed was the format they give
you on ‘Runners World’. They tell you exactly what to do. I
also go to the website and read and I get the magazine
delivered and I read and learn from them. I have always
wanted to do a marathon, but I smoked and weighed way too
much. Then I quit smoking and gained more weight. 4 years
ago I decided enough was enough and started losing the
weight. At that time I picked the marathon I was going to
do and I did it. It makes my heart very happy when I think
back on where I have come from.”

Debbie shows that staying focused and following the
guidance of the experts will lead you straight to
your goals!

_________________
Who are you proud of? (It can be yourself!) Sing their
praises and inspire others in future issues of this
newsletter:
mailto:SuccessStory@blueflute.com

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Game – Christmas Artist Game
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Have each guest place a large book on their head with a
piece of blank paper on it. Make sure each guest has a pen.
Tell them to follow your instructions without looking at
the paper, which is over their head.

Here are the instructions:

1. Draw a line for a floor

2. Draw a Christmas tree on the floor.

3. Draw a star on top of your tree.

4. Draw a fireplace with a mantel next to the tree.

5. Draw a stocking hanging from the mantel of your fireplace.

6. Draw a present below the tree.

Have everyone remove their picture from their heads. It can
be pretty funny to see what each guest has drawn.

Offer points for:

2 points if the tree touches the floor.

2 points if the stocking is touching the mantel

1 point if the star touches the tree.

1 point if the star is above the tree

1 point for every Christmas ornament ball that is ON the tree

1 point if the fireplace doesn't touch the tree
(else it's a fire hazard!)

1 point if there something decorative on the stocking

2 points if the present if under the tree

The winner is the person with the most points. Award them
a small gift.

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Do you play a game that is a big hit? We would love to
hear about it: mailto: Games@BlueFlute.com

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   Recognition Corner
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Congratulations to the following NutShell users who have
worked hard and achieved success in advancing their careers!

~ $10,000 Director ~
Julie Baldridge
Denise Newsome
Debra Tucker

~ $5,000 Director ~
Diana Vivlamore
Mott Willis

~ New Executive Director ~
Sue Torbit
Helen Williams-Baker
Mott Willis

~ New Director ~
Cathie Crate
Sue Light
Anna Sessoms

~ New DIQ ~
Leslie Boyd
Michele Duffey
Pam Knight
Roseann Lange
April Stafford
Lisa Walli


~ Unit Manager ~
Barbara Cuevas
Sharon Haynes
Lisa Meek

~ DIQ ~
L Unable to do a list of DIQ’s this month, since none
were listed in the December Acheiver. If you can help me
get a list of current DIQ’s, please let me know!

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   Copyright Information
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Copyright 2003 Blue Flute Software Creations, Inc.

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A note about referrals and your email address – Being an
avid hater of email spam as much as you are, I have
never (and will never) give, sell or rent your email
address to anybody who could possibly spam you! However,
I will give your email address to consultants who list
your name as their referral. I will give her address to
you, as well. This is so that you and she can be ‘NutShell
partners’! If you would rather not have your email address
given to your referrals, please let me know:
mailto:privacy@blueflute.com
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Linda Gerloff
Blue Flute Software Creations
Linda@BlueFlute.com
P.O. Box 77882
Fort Worth, TX 76177
817-439-1081

Blue FluteSoftware Creations, Inc.