The linking feature in Boulevard software’s Loan/Borrow section allows you greater flexibility. For instance, if the product gets purchased instead of returned, you can convert the transaction to an invoice if you have linked it to someone within your program.
This product will then appear in that person’s purchase history. Linking ensures you have access to all features in loan/borrow plus reduces the number of steps for some actions.
For more information on using the Loaned and Borrowed Products dialog box, in your Boulevard Help, search topic: Loaned and Borrowed Products. (To locate this help topic, copy and paste the title into the Search selection of Help.) Visit our website to learn more about Boulevard software’s inventory features.
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Gift certificates are not a sale until product changes hands. Tax forms ask you for the amount of product sold. Since no product has been sold yet, nothing needs to be recorded.
Preferred method:
- Nothing is done at the time of sale with the purchaser.
- At the time of redemption, record the Gift Certificate as a payment made on the recipient’s invoice.
We recommend handling gift certificates in this manner to avoid duplicating your sales data. If you were to create a sale for the Gift Certificate at the time it was paid and then entered a sale for the product when the recipient redeems it, you will be claiming the sales value twice. This increases your tax liability. By handling it as recommended, you will have all the tools in place to help you when the time comes to redeem the certificate, and your tax record will be accurate.
Alternate method:
- Right-click on the recipient from the appropriate list in Boulevard and select Account Balance.
- Select Payment.
- Complete the fields as indicated.
- When the recipient redeems the certificate (in part or full), just enter a new invoice. Do not enter a payment. The sale will deduct from the balance on the account.
If the buyer requests a receipt, follow these steps:
Create a New Invoice for the buyer.
- Click on the Note button then type a note indicating the invoice is for a gift certificate purchase. Include the recipient name, if known.
- Do not enter any items as being sold.
- Enter the amount of the gift certificate as a payment, selecting cash/check or credit card accordingly.
- If the buyer is also purchasing other products, make a separate invoice so that is isn’t confused with the Gift Certificate transaction. Print the receipt(s).
Once the payment is complete, to help you remember the transaction, we recommend adding a Call Note. You can do so by clicking on the Calls tab of the recipient’s profile and selecting New.
If the recipient is not yet a customer, don’t worry. Just find out his or her name and add to the Customer List. Find out more about tracking sales in Boulevard software by visiting our website.
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Your Boulevard software arrives pre-set with color coding to better manage invoicing your Mary Kay customers. For instance, items not in stock (Backordered) will appear in aqua. When you are selling the last of an item, it will appear in fluorescent green. When you are repeating the GWP you have listed in Preferences, it will appear in pink.
To find out what other color options are available, click on the File menu then Preferences. Select the Format tab.
Learn more about customizing your Boulevard software from our website, or type the key word Preferences in the Search tab of Help, select the topic titled About setting Preferences. Selecting #8 provides additional instructions on customization and the topic titled Preferences goes into detail on Color Coding options.
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Boulevard 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.
When 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.
Another 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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Your Boulevard software Help menu has a fantastic article on this topic. To locate the article, go to Help, click on Contents, then Business Tips. Select Using Section 1 Items as Demos.
- To begin, enter all Section 1 items on an invoice that are being used for demos (E.g. Day Solution).
- Invoice your Business Supplies customer, which is primarily used for write-off purposes.
- Mark the invoice with a 50% discount and paid in full (Cash/Check).
No money actually changes hands as your business already purchased the product.
- Print the invoice and you’re ready to expense these items.
Create a New Expense and enter the amount of the invoice under a category called Supplies (COG).- File your receipt with your tax records and your done!
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We have coined this the ‘Mother-Daughter’ feature. Why? This is the most common use for this feature, but certainly not the only one!
The next time you sell product to a customer who is giving one or more of the items to another customer of yours, try it. Enter the item on the invoice then scroll to the far right. Double-click the For column and choose the recipient. Your customer who is paying will be able to do so from one invoice, but the product will not appear in his/her product history. Enjoy this wonderful feature! Find out more about invoicing with Boulevard.
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Add a shipping address to a customer’s profile by selecting the Sales tab then select the Shipping button. Designate whether you’ll always use this address for shipping by selecting the check box.
If you’re in the middle of an invoice and realize you need to send the order to a different address, just click the Ship button. Select the check box and type in the shipping address. Click OK and complete your invoice. The ‘ship to’ address will appear when you print.
This feature is great for customers who move seasonally!
Learn more about customer features in Boulevard.
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