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Keeping You & Your Customers Protected

Last time we sent you an update, we were expecting ProPay® to launch their new service to the Mary Kay® community in the month of July. Here is the latest….

ProPay did release their Virtual Terminal ProtectPay system the first week of Seminar. This service allows you to enter and save credit card information through ProPay. Since ProPay meets the standards required by the credit card companies, you are assured your customer credit card information is safe and protected.

As reported in the Banking Business Review,

The sensitive cardholder data never resides [on the user’s computer]. The merchant receives a unique identifier that can be used for reporting purposes or repeat transactions, claims ProPay.

Of course the next most important piece of information you want to know is when will this work with Boulevard. In talking with a Vice President at ProPay, they were unable to provide to us an estimated date when Virtual Terminal ProtectPay will be ready for integration with other software programs. Rest assured – we will remain in contact and plan on working with them at such a time as their systems are ready.

 As a reminder, the safest storage method for credit card data until you sign up for Virtual Terminal ProtectPay is on paper in a locking drawer or cabinet. The chances of your home being broken into as opposed to your computer compromised are much lower. When the credit card was stored in the credit card field in Boulevard, the card number was encrypted within the data file. Even encrypted we were told the data was no longer considered safe enough.

If you enter the full card number into any area of the program, it will not be encrypted. If you’re syncing with a handheld device, you may now be carrying complete credit card numbers with you. In order to minimize your liability, we strongly suggest heeding the recommendations of the credit card industry and ProPay.

If you have not yet loaded your copy of Boulevard 2011, here are a few tips for retrieving the credit card information you have stored. 

    1. Only write down and save credit card numbers with current expiration dates.
    2. Begin with your first customer in Boulevard. Click on the Add’l Info tab. Write down the card number and name for each customer with current information.
    3. Store all credit card numbers (even handwritten pink tickets) in a locking drawer or cabinet. You could also take the time to register for Virtual Terminal ProtectPay and record the information there.
    4. Take a backup of your Boulevard information then load 2011.

As promised, we are keeping you updated every step of the way and will continue to do so. As a company and as consultants, we are grateful to the credit card industry and ProPay for doing what it takes to protect us. Please know that Main Street Software staff is available to answer questions and assist you in whatever way we can. As we correspond with ProPay and obtain any updated information, we will continue to keep you informed.

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Anyone whose name appears in your Boulevard software (in either the Customer, Unit, or Address lists) can be added to a Name List in the List Builder. Creating Name Lists simplifies mailing labels, call notes and group email. LuAnn also uses this list to enter the same call note for all recipients of this postcard.

Click here to watch a movie tutorial about the List Builder feature.  You can also view it within your Boulevard software’s comprehensive Help program. Choose Working with the List Builder (Name List) from the list of Movie Tutorials in Boulevard Help.

 

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Security is an increasing concern with regard to identity and financial information. As a small business owner, you should be aware of some changes that will affect how you run your business. Effective July 1, 2010, changes will be in place that will affect how you process credit card transactions for your customers and the information you are allowed to store.

For detailed information, please visit the Cardholder Information Security Program section on Visa’s website.

For your convenience, please refer to the following chart to ensure you comply with VISA’s Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements if you choose to continue to store credit card data for your customers.

As a software vendor, Main Street Software, Inc. was required to make modifications to comply with these new regulations, too. At this time, we are approaching the new security regulations in two steps. The first step was to ensure the latest version of the software, Boulevard 2011, met the standards and expectations for maintaining cardholder security.

With the installation of Boulevard 2011, existing users must agree to the terms of the End User License Agreement (EULA) which specify that cardholder data previously stored in the provided credit card field(s) in Boulevard will be wiped out as this feature is no longer offered.

  • New users installing Boulevard 2011 will not have the credit card fields previously included in the software.
  • Users will no longer be able to submit credit card transactions from Boulevard to ProPay™ (US & Canada feature only).
  • Credit card numbers can no longer be entered as a payment method in Avenue and any credit card information entered into payment method in the Palm® application will be lost during synchronization.

These steps were taken for our users’ protection as well as ours. Boulevard users who choose not to upgrade to Boulevard 2011, who choose to store credit card data on their systems, or who choose to store that credit card data in other areas of Boulevard are solely responsible for any breach in security they may face. Main Street Software, Inc. is not liable for any fraud or security breach on its users’ systems.

Here is a sample of what some of our employees are telling their customers:

Dear Susie,

I want to let you know about some changes I have to make with regard to your account security. As you know, thousands of people every day deal with identity theft and credit card fraud. There are some new regulations that affect me as your consultant.

From this point forward, I am no longer able to keep your credit/debit card on file. I’m sure you can understand I want to comply with these laws and ensure your information is secure. I’ll note your account as preferring to pay by card and that way I can get the information each time you place an order.

Thanks for understanding!

Subsequent to the changes made to the Boulevard software for the 2011 version, Main Street Software, Inc. will continue to work with ProPay to find an appropriate future solution, if possible, to integrate payment submission. We want you to know that we are committed to a high-quality product that simplifies processes within your business. However, we are also committed to maintaining the integrity of Boulevard and complying with laws and regulations surrounding small business owners including security and fraud prevention.

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The mailing label feature allows you to print labels for customers, recruits, or contacts; for multiple records, and even an entire sheet of the same label. In conjunction with other features such as the list builder, print labels for specific groups of people. Plus, you can even print labels for spouses if you’re making contact for a gift promotion.

  • Choose from a list of the most common mailing label sizes.
  • Sort them by zip code for large mailings to make postal service sorting quicker.

Using Boulevard Help, search ‘Mailing Labels‘ to learn more about how to make use of mailing labels in your program.

Use the ‘See Also‘ button located at the bottom of the topic for detailed articles on using specific components of labels.

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Selling Mary Kay products can be the perfect career choice, especially for people who prefer flexible hours and enjoy connecting with customers. But to move your business from a sideline hobby to a profitable career requires attention to some key factors. This article provides fundamental guidelines that can make the difference between success and failure, from why Mary Kay products are a good choice to effective customer service techniques.

Your business success starts with the company and products you represent.
When you choose selling Mary Kay products as a career, you are choosing a reputable, high-quality product line from a stable, ethical, and successful company. Mary Kay has been providing high quality skin care and cosmetic products since 1963, and is a well-respected global leader in direct sales. Mary Kay as a company and Mary Kay executives have been directly involved with the Direct Selling Association (DSA), an established trade association that requires its member companies to follow best business practices and adhere to a strict code of ethics. And Mary Kay products stand on solid scientific research in collaboration with dermatologists and medical experts worldwide.

Selling products you use and love makes your job easier and much more fun!
Unless you’re a good actor, it’s hard to fake enthusiasm. But it’s easy to be genuine and passionate about products you use and love. If you have been using Mary Kay products for any time, you’re an excellent candidate for a successful career selling Mary Kay. Your knowledge and experience with the products as well as your passion for them is infectious, and will give your customers confidence that they’re buying tried and true products.

Treat your business with professionalism right from the start.
Success as an Independent Beauty Consultant requires you to keep track of myriad details regarding customers, inventory, time, and money. Computers have streamlined such tasks, and a professional-level software program that tracks the details for you is worth its weight in gold. Find out what software tools are available, especially programs that are designed for the Mary Kay industry. Then pick the right one, not the cheapest. Look at the reputation of the company, the software features, the frequency of upgrades and improvements, and customer service. A professional business management software program with excellent customer support puts a winning team on your side right from the start.

Get to know your customers as individuals.
Find out when their birthday and anniversary is. Pay attention to their likes and dislikes, what products they buy and how often. Then keep track of all these details meticulously in your software program. Personal service is one of the reasons customers like to buy from you rather than a department store, and the key to great personal service is anticipating your customers’ needs before they know they have them.

Manage your inventory effectively.
Besides your customers, your Mary Kay inventory is the next most important aspect of your business. Carry too much and you’ll tie up too much money on your shelf. But carrying too little means you may not have what your customers need when they need them. If you’re tracking your customers’ buying preferences, you’ll notice trends. This helps you set the right inventory levels and decide which products to stock. A good software program should allow you to look at your inventory and your customers’ product usage and give you the exact information you need.

Automate as many aspects of your business as you can.
You make money by servicing your customers, not by figuring out what you should be doing with your time or counting the products on your shelf over and over again. Notice the amount of time you spend on each aspect of your business and look for ways to streamline by using your computer and mobile device. Does the Mary Kay software program you chose have a calendar feature? Does it sync with a PDA? Can you generate invoices electronically? How can you better use web tools? Let your computer and PDA do their job so that you can concentrate on what you do best: interact with your customers.

Follow up with leads and customers.
You never know when you’ll meet a potential customer. Carry your marketing material with you and develop a way of recording information about each meeting or interaction. Remembering and recounting details about your first meeting and all subsequent interactions with a person tells them they are important to you, and indicates your dedication to customer service right from the start. Follow up on samples and, later, purchases to see how they like your products. Send them birthday cards and offer special discounts during their birthday month. From lead to customer, show them they are special. Chances are, they don’t get that kind of treatment from a department store.

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There’s no better time than the holidays to show your Mary Kay customers you’re thinking of them and appreciate their loyalty. Why not let Main Street Software help you with our postcard design and mailing service? Our postcards can promote your holiday open house, current or upcoming sale, or simply thank your customers for being part of a successful year.

Work with our designers to customize a postcard or series of postcards that are perfect for your Mary Kay business. Provide us with your mailing list and we’ll send them out for you. Just imagine what can happen when we work together to boost your sales!

Sample Custom Holiday Postcard

You can also view the birthday/anniversary postcards we have in stock to offer. These are great for your customers, team members/unit, family, and friends!

Already have cards you’d like to use? We’ll save you time by sending them for you.

Contact us today to begin the design process for your unique holiday postcard. You’ll love what we have to offer.

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PreferencesBoulevard software’s Tickler is set up to help you remember all the details that make you successful in your Mary Kay business. Reorder follow-ups are an integral part of customer tracking. In Preferences, Boulevard is set to create a follow-up for each customer after an invoice is created. This can be customized as needed for individual customers on the Sales tab of their profile.

TicklerWhen a reorder call appears in the Tickler, it’s time to give the customer a call. If she purchases, invoice her and the reorder call will be reset. If she does not or you do not reach her, change the Next Contact date.

Call NoteAnother way of tracking your customer records and still updating the Tickler is to use the Calls tab. By entering each new call made, you keep track of the personal details that make our business unique. To add a new call note, click on the Calls tab then select New. From each call note, you can reset the next contact date, if needed.

By following these steps, you will be working your Mary Kay business full circle, tracking your customers, keeping on top of their product needs, and your Boulevard Tickler becomes a powerful tool.

For more ideas on how to follow-up with your customers, refer to your Boulevard Extras Volume 2: Customer Follow-Up DVD or Help topics: Change the date of a reorder, sample, or unit action item; Define a unique follow-up period for a customer; or Creating call notes for a customer. (To locate any of these help topics, copy and paste the title into the Search selection of Help.)

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shineonThis year Main Street Software, Inc. staff attended both the Canadian and US Seminars and enjoyed meeting new customers, catching up with those who have been with us, and making new friends.

As is usual, we could hardly beat the heat in Dallas and attendees were happy to shop, sit a spell in our booth, and enjoy a demonstration of Boulevard. Customer Service Manager, Kennedy, attended in Dallas along with long-time customer, Betty, and Customer Service Representatives Christy and Tami. Boulevard 2010 was on display as we showed how to export orders to the online ordering system (US only), import beauty profile information, track bank deposits made, and manage money with the Business Tracking Register.

Attendees who stopped by and saw us received an extra entry in the Win LuAnn for a Day contest and took away a goodie bag complete with every woman’s best friend – chocolate! Canadians were treated to a special class with LuAnn followed by a day to stop by and get questions asked or see demonstrations. We are so excited to be able to attend these events and bring the customer service we are known for to you!

Learn about our current and upcoming events.

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