Author: David Matney

All sales begins with you, not your prospects. 

If you can begin with these three things, you will be successful in sales. But if you don’t believe in yourself, your process, and your ability to help your customer, success will be difficult for you. 

1. Believe in yourself 100%.

Too many salespeople don’t believe in themselves. They don’t have enough confidence, and if you don’t have enough confidence, how do you ever expect your customers to buy into what you say? 

Belief in yourself means that you have the ability and the skillset to inspire confidence in you. Now, that’s not to be confused with arrogance. But you know that you’re capable of making things happen. 

2. Be committed to your process. 

So many salespeople just throw a bunch of darts against the wall. Whatever sticks today is what they work on. Instead, you have to have a process and be committed to it. Don’t make it elaborate, keep it simple. 

I have found that you can have a process, but unless you believe in yourself, you won’t execute the process. This is absolutely fundamental and I can’t stress it enough. 

3. Know that you can help your customer. 

You must have an unwavering commitment that you can help your customer. Notice I did not say your product—the sale doesn’t begin with your product. 

So many salespeople are afraid to reach out to somebody. If you have the ability to help someone, you owe it to them to reach out. Think about the power of that. 

Remember, it all begins with you. I want to spend the first 15 minutes a day preparing yourself. Don’t jump into a customer, rather prepare yourself first, prepare your process, and know how you’re going to help the customer.

Happy Selling,

David

All successful people will tell you that in order to achieve the life that you desire, no matter what comes your way, you must never give up. Those who reach their goals are the ones who are willing to keep going, even when things don’t go their way.

On the success journey, it is essential to understand that you will have failures. Things will not always go your way. You will have discouragement and there will be times when you come to crossroads and actually think about giving up. At that point, you must remember WHY you begin in the first place. It is crucial to realize that failure is never the end, but a lesson that will benefit you as long as you never give up. Obstacles will come your way, but you can never allow these hurdles to cause you to give up on your goals.

Your attitude must be the exact opposite. When these difficulties come, they should push you to work harder towards your goals. Whenever a setback occurs, take a step back, determine what went wrong, and use it as a learning experience so you do not make the same mistakes in the future. Failure is part of the process. You must use it as an opportunity to grow and learn. Every time you fail, you learn something that will help you get better and be prepared for the next challenge that comes up.

There are countless examples that we all have read about of incredibly successful people who have had big failures. I think of Michael Jordan, who I believe is the best basketball player of all time. Most people don’t realize that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team. He used that as motivation to work harder to make him the best.

On your path to success, it is important to understand that sometimes it is necessary to adjust your approach or make some changes. That may be part of the process. However, giving up on your goals should never ever be an option. I encourage you to read biographies of some successful people who you look up to. You will find that along the road to greatness, all of them went through some dark times and incredible failures.

The one thing that they all have in common is that no matter what, they stayed focused on their goal and they never gave up. It’s perseverance and mental toughness that will get you through the difficult times and allow you to reach your goals. You must stay focused on your goals, even when you have setbacks. Look at problems as opportunities to grow and become better.

The bottom line is, never giving up is a key principal to achieving great success. Success and failure are not the end of the story. The most important thing is to keep going and continue working towards your dreams. Life is all about growing and becoming better. You have greatness within you. You have some amazing things that you want to accomplish. Make the commitment today.

Write out your goals and put together a plan on how to achieve those goals. Once you have done this, it’s time to take action! No matter what, never give up!

Happy Selling,

David

Remember as a child how excited you were in the days leading up to your birthday, Christmas or some other big event?

You couldn’t wait for that day to arrive, because you knew it was going to be amazing!

Why not approach each day the same way you approached those special days as a child? Go ahead…do it!  Your sales motivation is depending on this kind of attitude.

As a child in the days leading up to Christmas, it seemed as if everything was a spectacle. I was constantly on the hunt for a clue and some sort of indication as to what Christmas morning might bring.

What a great approach each day.

Approach it with the same open eyes and open ears, and be on the prowl for those new opportunities and the excitement that awaits.

Sometimes, I can’t help but think that maybe if we all had a little more child-like approach to our careers, we would have more fun and get more out of selling.

With each call you make and each customer or prospect you meet, be looking for the unexpected clue and the new opportunity you may have been overlooking for months or even years.

One of the amazing things about a child and their new toys is the way they play with them.

I can remember on many occasions watching my own children completely disregarding the normal way a toy should be used and using it in a completely different manner.  Yet, despite the fact they disregarded the instructions, they were gaining an incredible amount of fun out of it.

The same can be said with how we approach our prospecting and client relationships. Sometimes we have to throw away the playbook and look at things differently to uncover the unexpected.

Let’s have fun today. Be looking for the unexpected and making it the expected.

Happy Selling,

David

If you’re one of those individuals who are in the habit of hitting the snooze button each morning, my challenge for you going forward is to stop doing this. If the first thing you do every morning when your alarm goes off is hit the snooze button and going back to sleep, then it’s time to give yourself a wake up call. By hitting the snooze button rather than shutting the alarm off, you have made the choice to start your day with your first loss rather than your first victory.

Whether you realize it or not, when you set the alarm the night before, you are actually setting a goal. When you hit the snooze button, you are telling yourself that your first goal of the day was not important. This is not a good way to start the day.

True success is all about developing good, positive habits Now, I’m not a sleep expert, however, when you hit the snooze button, you are interrupting your REM(dream) sleep. Hitting snooze has you running the risk of you re-entering a different sleep phase and waking up groggy instead of ready to take on the day.

We’ve all heard the expression “You snooze, you lose.” If you want to have a successful life, it’s important to start the day off positively. Waking up on time is essential in having a successful day. How you begin your day is critical. If you’re hitting the snooze button, the problem is you start your day off rushed, in a bad mood, and mad at yourself for not waking up on time. Snoozing is just procrastination. Snoozing is a complete waste of time.

Time is precious. Snoozing just 10 minutes a day, even if it’s only five days a week, adds up to 2600 minutes, or 43 hours, a year. I hope this puts everything into perspective for you. Just imagine what you can do with an extra 43 hours a year. It’s time to change this bad habit. The first step is to give yourself a solid reason to stop.

If you want to change your life and your morning routine, you need to know your purpose for doing so. This is all about setting positive goals for yourself and understanding that you must stop procrastinating in order to achieve them. Going forward, make it difficult to hit the snooze button. Put your alarm somewhere far enough away that you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Now that you’re standing up and awake, make the commitment to take on this new day and this new opportunity with gratitude.

Get into the habit of having a good sleep routine. For me, six hours of sleep is about what I need to have the energy for a productive day. I set a goal to be sleeping by 10:30ish PM and, on average, I am waking up at 5:00 AM before the alarm goes off.

As you get into this new positive routine, you will soon develop a new philosophy and a new way of life. Your motto becomes,

“No alarm clock needed, my passion wakes me up!”

Begin today by setting some exciting goals and get passionate about your life. Make every second count. No more procrastinating! No more snoozing! Wake up, jump up and go take on the day!

Happy Selling,

David

I read this quote the other day and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it:

Prospects never read anything at first; they never believe anything at first; and they never buy anything at first.

Sit with that one for a moment.

Basically, this quote is reminding us that people need to trust us before they can do business with us. 

But how do you build trust with a prospect? Below are the top 10 Questions to Ask Merchants to Earn Their Trust that you can use in your communication to strengthen the connection you make with your prospects. Try these out, and soon your customers really will be ready to share more, believe more, and buy more.

From the Home office in Moonshine, Illinois Here are the Top 10 Questions to Earn a Prospects Trust

10. Can I please speak with (merchant name)?

This seems obvious, but it’s easy to forget obvious things when you’re focused on your pitch and making the sale. Before you strike up a conversation, make sure you’re speaking with the decision maker. There’s nothing worse than realizing that you’ve spent the past 20 minutes speaking with an inquisitive employee rather than the owner. Avoid wasted time and it also send a signal to the decision maker that you’re serious by knowing their name before you call or stop by.

9. Can you tell me about your current business and what you think can be done to help you grow?

People love to talk about themselves and their businesses. Set yourself apart from other sales agents and set yourself up for a great first impression by asking them about their growth plans. You might be tempted to dive into how you can help them, but resist that urge and continue to ask them more questions from this list. This next one will get them talking specifically about their payments processing.

8. What frustrates you today about how you handle credit and debit cards?

You won’t be able to offer a relevant solution without knowing the merchant’s current pain points. This broad question will get them talking about their payments challenges without launching directly into the typical questions “who is your current processor” and “can I see your statement to show you how much I can save you or possibly eliminate your fees?

7. Is there any specific aspect of your current credit card processing service that you like or actually find helpful?

There must be something that they like about their current processor. It’s important to find out so that you can include whatever it is in your offer if possible. Remember that sometimes it’s the little things that influence merchants. The merchant might just like that their existing sales agent is responsive or maybe they like receiving their statement online. Whatever it is, knowing what they like will help you.

6. Are there any areas that are working with your existing processor, but could be better?

The style of this question is especially useful when talking to someone who is non-confrontational. By asking what could be better, you are not asking the merchant to bash their current processor or sales agent. You’re just asking what could be better. They’ll hopefully mention their current processor by name so that you don’t have to ask.

5. What is your biggest complaint about your current processor?

The style of this question is especially useful when talking to someone who is non-confrontational. By asking what could be better, you are not asking the merchant to bash their current processor or sales agent. You’re just asking what could be better. They’ll hopefully mention their current processor by name so that you don’t have to ask.

4. What characteristics would your ideal payments provider have?

A great way to offer the merchant exactly what they’ve been looking for is to have them explain their perfect scenario. That way, you can angle your pitch to fit each of their specific desires.

3. Before we get to my price, what do you think you are paying today? Let’s look at your statement and confirm that.

The merchant will often want to talk about price very early on in the conversation. Keep in mind that once you mention price, it can be really hard for the merchant to hear anything else. Try answering their original price question with a question of your own, such as asking them what they think they are paying today for payments processing.

2. Could you tell me more? It sounds like this has happened often/before. Can you tell me when and what happened?

You are likely to face at least one small concern with each potential sale. And if the merchant mentions an objection, there is probably even more they aren’t telling you. This is an important time for you to probe deeper to find out what they’re really concerned about. Rather than responding to their objection with your sales pitch or the facts, ask for more information. And bite your tongue.

And the # 1 Questions to Ask Merchants to Earn Their Trust is….

1. So, I bet a lot of payments people are trying to get you to sign with them promising the moon and stars. How much of that have you believed?

You know better than anyone that some credit card sales agents are unscrupulous. If you sense that the merchant is weary of you or has a “I’ve heard this all before” kind of attitude, this question can help address the subject head on. Let the merchant know you’re different than other salespeople. You’re a payments professional and are there to see if there’s a way you can
help them. If you can’t help them, you’re happy to admit it and possibly refer them to someone who can. (which will never happen, right?)

BONUS QUESTIONS

What do you think is our next step?
Closing is a difficult skill to master. Because it can feel awkward and stagnant, try asking questions that keep the discussion going. If you do feel the conversation is dying down, but you still haven’t fully completed the sale, ask the merchant what they think is the next step.

Although losing a sale can seem like the end of the world or at least a sharp punch in the gut, it is important to make the most of the time that you have already spent with that potential merchant. Instead of sulking, use it as a learning experience.

Here is the question to ask every merchant who says NO:
Since you have chosen not to proceed, off the record, could you help me with my
marketing efforts. What part of my offering or presentation did you not like? Please be honest, as it’s the only way I can learn.

There you have it, the Top 10 Questions to Ask Merchants to Earn Their Trust. Let me know what questions you use to earn a merchant’s trust.

Have a great weekend,

David

“They” say the pen is mightier than the sword. Which is good, because you probably don’t want to threaten prospects into buying at sword-point.

As the primary “weapons” to convert prospects into merchants, words are incredibly important to merchant services salespeople.

How we as sales reps deliver our messages and converse with contacts can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of a conversation.

Using the wrong phrase might cast a negative shadow on the proposal, while tweaking just a few words in the pitch might induce a prospect to buy immediately.

The underlying message is certainly critical, but the words used to deliver it are equally so.

Words have power, use them wisely.

That’s why all salespeople should become world class word smiths. This list of 14 words will help you close more deals and earn your prospects’ trust in the process.

1. YOU

Selling is about your prospects. A simple way to make that clear is by using the word “you” as much as possible. Think back to your childhood — did your parents ever tell you it was impolite to talk about yourself? Apply that rule here. Every time you might be tempted to phrase a sentence from the perspective of yourself or your company, find a way to rework it to make your prospect the subject.

2. SERVICE & VALUE

Merchants don’t care about features and benefits” not entirely …

Colleen Francis, owner of Engage Selling Solutions, writes in her book Nonstop Sales Boom. “They only care about value and service and achieving their own objectives.” Again, it’s about them, not you. Skip over all the amazing features your product or service contains and instead make it clear how your offering will create value and service for your prospect’s business.

3. AND

“And” by its very nature is inclusive — you seem to agree even when you’re disagreeing. Consider these two examples of say a merchant wanting to buy some point of sale systems.

“I see that you only have a budget of $20,000 but let me tell you why our system costs $30,000.”

“I see that you only have a budget of $20,000 and let me tell you why our system costs $30,000.”

Notice how that the second sentence acknowledges the prospect’s budget, while the first steamrolls over the problem and makes the prospect feel ignored.

What a difference one word can make.

4. DO

Many sales experts recommend using “do” instead of “try.”

For instance, instead of “I’d like to try … ” say, “What I’ll do is … “

This makes YOU the sales person seem competent and trustworthy and boosts the prospect’s confidence in YOU.

5. OR

If you present a single proposal to a prospect, you only give them the option of accepting or rejecting that single proposal. But if you present them with two or three different variations on your proposal, suddenly you’ve doubled or tripled your odds of receiving some form of a “yes.” So, in negotiations don’t just ask if they’d like to sign the contract… paperwork I mean, ask if version A or version B or version C is preferable. Bonus word not to use.

Contract, always use Paperwork

6. SHOLD WE…

Most people balk at being told what to do – especially when the person dishing out orders is not a member of their organization. With this in mind, the phrase “you should” can come off as arrogant and presumptive. Reformulating suggestions as questions helps the prospect keep an open mind and diminishes the potential for the presentation to take a nasty turn. We like the word And are inclusive.

7. CONSENSUS

As we discussed on one of our Monday calls about cash discounting. Having studies or research can help a prospect see the value in your presentation.

So words that express agreement such as “support” or “consensus“or “research shows”

– could have a significant impact on your primary prospects mindset.

If you have backing or referrals from others in the industry or perhaps your own portfolio, play it up as much as possible. If you don’t, stress how you’re going to attain it.

8. IMAGINE

Stories stick in people’s mind more readily than sales messaging.

So the best sales reps don’t only use stories in their speech, they also make sure prospects see themselves as the protagonists. The word “imagine” can be helpful in this aim. Suddenly, the prospect isn’t just hearing about a better future enabled through your new product or service – they’re picturing themselves living it. And now the vision isn’t just in the salesperson’s mind; it’s a shared vision.

9. SEE, SHOW, HEAR, TACKLE

Okay, so this isn’t one word, but they’re all part of one family.

Each of these words evokes a sense, and sensory language grabs people’s attention. Think about how the words you use relate to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic triggers. Be aware of your tonality.

10. SAY THEIR NAME

Just like “you,” using your prospect’s name makes them feel like they’re the focus of your attention, and your presentation is customized just for them. People also naturally pay attention better when their name is sprinkled throughout a presentation.

11. POWER WORDS

The English language is filled with words that provoke strong feelings — fear, joy, discomfort, safety. A good sales presentation will summon all of these feelings and more at the right times. To hit all the appropriate high and low notes, incorporate power words into your speech. Jon Morrow’s list of 317 words that pack a punch is a good place to start.

12. BECAUSE

Ellen Langer, a social psychologist and professor at Harvard University, conducted a

study where she tested the impact of phrasing on people’s willingness to let someone cut them in line. Here are the variations she used:

1. “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine?”
2. “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I have to make some copies?”
3. “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I’m in a rush?” While only 70% agreed to let her cut in line when she used the first question, upwards of 90% let her skip when she used either the second and third phrasings. The takeaway?

When asking people to do something, always include a reason. Don’t just request that your prospect introduce you to a referral, tell them why your need it. Explain why you’d like them to take these actions.

13. PAPERWORK

There are certain words that are so toxic to a sales presentation that you just don’t want to use them ever. Contract is one of them. As a sales professional there are words that are sure to derail your sale. Don’t say things like, “If you will sign the contract…” or “If you decide to buy this system…” instead use these lines. “With your permission, I would like to get the paperwork started today so that we can schedule a follow up meeting next week to put this amazing new system in place for you” or “I am sure you already see the value of investing in a system like this one so let me point out a few other benefits for your specific business type.”

14. OPPORTUNITY

Problems are bound to crop up in the sales process, but that doesn’t mean you should acknowledge them as such.The word “problem” has a negative connotation, and can make the prospect feel as if the process is difficult and unpleasant. With this in mind, replace it with more positive words. Instead of saying “no problem,” for example, say, “it’s my pleasure. “ “I understand the problem” can become “I see an opportunity to make this run more smoothly.”

Happy Selling, 

David

Isn’t it  great to be a salesperson?

 You can make a good upfront bonus plus a healthy residual income. You become a person who is confident that they’ve mastered their craft. But just like anything else, the most successful people don’t get there without a plan and a process, and that usually involves constant planning, analysis, and adjustment. You can only get so far on natural ability, to be the best you need to always be critical and  keep a running dialogue going with yourself. That’s why successful salespeople usually ask themselves these five questions everyday:

1. What are my goals? 

Successful merchant sales people don’t sit around staring at their goals, but they are acutely aware of what they are at all times. This means their monthly, quarterly, or annual sales goals, their short and long-term financial goals, all the way down to their daily goals. Many of the best salespeople even get as granular as identifying their goals for a particular phone call or meeting, instead of just winging it and going in hoping for the best possible outcome. They say that “A goal without a plan is just a wish,”  but a plan without a goal is a map that leads nowhere.

2. Do I believe in myself? 

While we merchant salespeople tend to a be a relatively self-confident bunch, we also can get caught up in negative thinking and self-doubt, a result of a job where your results are routinely measured and impossible to hide. But if you don’t believe that you have what it takes to get better, to overcome your obstacles, and be the best, then you don’t have a chance in the world of ever getting there. Sales isn’t like a slot machine where the luck of the draw determines your success without any regard to how you feel about your own abilities. Sales is a marathon, where what you do everyday and how you do it determines whether you succeed or not, and even though there are lots of factors at play, the best will rise and become the best no matter where they go, partly because they believe in their abilities and never let external factors change that.

3. Where can I improve? 

Being self-aware enough to accept and level criticism at yourself is one of the best signs of emotional intelligence, and separates the best  merchant salespeople from everyone else. Someone who is arrogant enough to assume that they don’t ever do anything incorrectly or have no room to grow is destined to fall from grace the minute changes start happening, and they always do. Whether it’s admitting that you’re not doing enough follow-ups, or that you’re weak when it comes to asking the right questions, being able to take a long hard look at yourself every day and trying to get better is what will make you into the salesperson you know you can be.

4. Am I happy? 

This question is the one that is most likely to separate the best from the rest. There are so many merchant salespeople who either hate their jobs or tend to see the glass as half empty that it’s no wonder when those same people are not coming anywhere near their true potential. How many unhappy salespeople would you want to buy something from? The difference between the cream of the crop and everyone else is their  attitude. Happy salespeople aren’t always the ones who love every second of their job, and know with every fiber of their being that they are meant to work in sales. Sometimes, it’s the people who make the conscious choice to be happy with what they do, appreciate the amazing potential and benefits of their career, and understand that the happier they are, the better they will perform their job and that the success they achieve will result in more happiness that make the best salespeople.

5.How can I help someone today? 

There’s a quote by the great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar; “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

 There is nothing that’s more true, especially in sales. If you can change your frame of mind from thinking about how to sell someone to thinking about how you can help them, the selling part will take care of itself. Listen, identify what their problem is and offer the solution. Being helpful is so powerful that customers will oftentimes pay you more than someone else because you took the time to truly care about their problems, which gave you the most valuable currency a salesperson can ever have – Trust.

Happy Selling,

David

One of the amazing and powerful things is that we all have is the power to choose. You have a choice to make an effort to have a better and more meaningful life regardless of your circumstances.

When it comes to success, we also have a choice. Many people want success, but they are not willing to take the necessary steps to achieve their dreams. The truth is that the success road is a difficult one. There are no shortcuts and there WILL be obstacles and detours along the way.

Unfortunately, most choose the path of least resistance. We all know people who jump from opportunity to opportunity, looking for the easy way to attain success. When met with challenges, they don’t follow through because they are looking for the short path to getting rich quick. When it comes to success, you have to choose the right path.

The right path is the most difficult one. It is choice, not chance, that truly determines our destiny. We have the power and the freedom to choose right from wrong. Often we choose that which is easy, but when we fail to achieve our desired result, realize we should have chosen the hard. Greatness has never been served on a silver platter. If you want to achieve incredible success, even though the odds may stack up against you, you must have the will, determination and perseverance. This all begins with the choice. Your choice is your very own power.

Right now, you have some wonderful dreams inside of you ready to come out. It is time for you to make it happen. Start out by writing out your specific goals that you desire to accomplish. Get excited about them and make a decision to make it happen starting today.

What path are you going to choose on your journey?

You can either choose to take the path of least resistance or you can choose to take that difficult road that that will lead you to accomplishing your dreams. It’s not going to be easy, but I promise you that it will be worth it. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, courage, and patience. The decision to choose the right path is what will make the big difference in your life. Great accomplishments can be made by making simple, good choices daily. Perhaps up to this point, you have not chosen the right path. It is never too late to turn around.

Starting today, decide what you want most and choose the right, not the easy, path. This is your time. Jump on that right path of success. Keep moving and don’t look back. Your future looks incredible. Enjoy the journey and live out your dreams. 

Happy Selling,

David

You’ve just been blessed with an amazing opportunity. Where do you go from here and what do you do? Yes, there might be some big risks and you may be asking a lot of ‘what if’ questions. The exciting news is that if you really go after it and make it happen, it is going to be life changing.

You have a big dream inside of you and now it’s up to you to go out and make the commitment to go all in. Anything that is big and life-changing certainly does involve taking a big risk. You must have the faith and the belief in yourself that you will make this dream come true. There is no other choice. 

  Are you tired of just being average and not reaching your full potential. Are you just giving 50%?

Now is the time to make the decision. It’s time to be 100% all in and go after your dream. There is far more to life than just being mediocre. You were designed for greatness.

Far too many people are looking for the easy way to success. The truth is, there are no shortcuts when it comes to success. So what is it going to take to achieve great success? The first step is you have to have incredible determination. Everyone has dreams, and everyone wants to live a successful life. It all comes down to how bad you really want it. You have to be willing to sacrifice the things that most people won’t.

  It’s all about commitment and focus. This means, there are no more excuses. As long as you make excuses, you will not have success. It is vital that you let go of all the excuses. Excuses stop you from achieving your dream. Find out what your true purpose is and make the commitment to go all in 100%. 

 What I have found, in the thousands of people that I have met, is that some people are interested in success while others are committed to succeed. One has wishful thinking while the other takes 100% responsibility. If a person is only interested in success, they will find all the excuses to give up. When one is committed, they will take full responsibility, and they will go after their dreams with full dedication and commitment.

  This is why it’s important to know exactly WHY you want to succeed.

Why is it important for you to have this success?

Write these reasons and write them out right now. Understanding your WHY will help you to get to that next level in your life. 

  Now is your time! You are going to have to make some behavioral changes along with some sacrifices. You have to make every second count. It’s time to grind. It’s time for you to have incredible success. This means you have to be working day in and day out on your goals. You know exactly what you’re supposed to accomplish and you are going after it with absolutely everything that you have. You are unstoppable! You will have incredible success! 

Your opportunities are here. You must believe without a shadow of a doubt that you will be successful. There will be others that may question you or even doubt you. As a matter of fact, the ones closest to you may not encourage you. That does not matter. This is your dream. By the way, let me remind you that this will not be super easy. The road to success is always under construction. You can have amazing success, but the question is, how bad do you really want it?  The only way that you’re going to achieve it is that you have to be 100% committed, never giving up and most of all you have to be ALL IN!

Happy Selling,

David

This Sunday everyone knows Mother’s Day is the day to celebrate our mom’s and show them just how much you love and appreciate her. But just how many people plan to do that each year? 

Here are a few facts and stats about Mother’s Day that might surprise you. 

From the home office in Celebration, Florida , Here are

The Top 10 Thing You Might Not Know About Mother’s Day…

Here we go,

10. Mother’s Day was first suggested by a famous poet.

The woman who first proposed Mother’s Day in 1870 was the same woman who wrote the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” After the Civil War, writer Julia Ward Howe suggested a Mother’s Day to recognize peace and protest war. She organized annual events in Boston to honor mothers, but despite her work (and her moving “Mother’s Day Proclamation”), nothing official came of her efforts.

9. Mother’s Day founder Anna Jarvis fought back against the commercialization of the holiday.

Although Julia Ward Howe first suggested a day for mothers, Anna Jarvis (who had no children of her own) campaigned for a national day of observance for moms, in remembrance of her own mother, Ann Jarvis, who had spent years working to provide resources for poor mothers in West Virginia. Mother’s Day became a designated holiday in 1914, but within a few years, Jarvis became disgusted with how commercial the day had become and started a petition to rescind the holiday. (That clearly didn’t come to pass.)

8. People spend a lot of time on the phone on Mother’s Day.

In 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, Verizon reported a 13-percent increase in phone call volume in the U.S. on Mother’s Day when compared to a typical pre-pandemic Sunday. Text messages also went up 25 percent over the previous Sunday. That amounted to 1.75 billion minutes of phone calls and over 6 billion texts. While much of that can be attributed to the social isolation experienced during Mother’s Day 2020, it wasn’t too far off from the 11-percent increase in calls that Verizon observed on the holiday in 2019 when compared to a normal Sunday.

7. It’s usually the busiest day of the year in the restaurant industry.

Though recent years have changed this somewhat, Mother’s Day is typically the busiest day of the year for restaurants, with some 80 million adults dining out (which tops even Valentine’s Day). In 2023, it’s estimated that 58 percent of people plan to “gift a brunch, dinner or other special outing this Mother’s Day.”

6. The jewelry and spa services industries get Mother’s Day boosts, too.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than $31 billion will be spent on gifts this Mother’s Day, with more than $7 billion of that going toward jewelry. Clothing, electronics, and personal services (like spa treatments) will also be popular gifts for mom.

5. The flower industry is a big Mother’s Day’s winner…

Carnations quickly became the symbol of Mother’s Day (supposedly representing the tears of Mary when Jesus was crucified) when it began in 1914. Soon, the floral industry promoted the idea of wearing a red carnation to honor a person’s living mom or a white carnation to honor a mother who had passed. Although this tradition has faded, 72 percent of moms are still going to get flowers from their loved ones on this special day.

4. …but nothing beats a classic greeting card.

In total, 75 percent of people are buying mom a card this year for Mother’s Day. That edges out flowers as the most-purchased gift for mom, according to the NRF.

3. Moms around the world are recognized with days throughout the year.

Many countries have a version of Mother’s Day, but the traditions vary depending on where you are. In Thailand, parades are held in honor of moms, with jasmine given out as a common gift; meanwhile, moms are celebrated in Ethiopia during a three-day festival that involves plenty of food and singing.

2. There are billions of moms in the world.

It’s estimated that there are over 2.2 billion moms worldwide, with 85 million of them residing in the United States.

And the #1Thing You Might Need to Know About Mother’s Day is …

1. People spend far more for Mother’s Day than Father’s Day.

If there were a monetary competition between the parental appreciation days, mothers would win outright. In 2023, people spent an average of $188 on Father’s Day, compared to the $285 that people are expected to spend on Mother’s Day 2024. Sorry, Dads.

Happy Mother’s Day!

David