Today’s question is from Rachel:
I am thinking about becoming a rep for Thirty One products in order to make a little extra money. However, when I contacted some of my friends about whether they would host a party, many declined. Has anyone been successful in one of these direct sales lines? How do I go about lining up people for parties? Or should I just forget it and do something else? -Rachel
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Don’t do it. Sadly, the era of good and honest direct sales companies is over, long over. I am a former sales director for one of the biggest direct sales companies and I can tell you they are all scams. There are plenty of things a mom can do to make some extra money legitimately with out getting involved with one of these companies. I wish you the best.
I get sooooo tired of being invited to these parties!! I can usually find the item cheaper online and similar if I really needed it.
I personally love these types of companies because I feel, even if I could get the items somewhere cheaper, I am supporting a local business. I know lots of people who sell 31, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, etc. Most of them do really well with it, and I would rather help them by buying their products than buying from a big corporation. I respect mothers who work from home to help their families out. It is something that you have to work at and you have to love the products. I have considered joining one myself, but haven’t taken the time to fully pursue it yet.
I just began with a company that gives you your starter kit free, and only requires you to sell a certain amount within 3 months. Yes, I know that is uncomfortable to lots of people, but since my product is one that everyone uses in some form, I have had no problem reaching that goal in under one month. I really like what I am selling because I feel like it really does help people save time and money in something that we all have to do. If I didn’t really believe that my product really was something that benefits the customer (besides making them look prettier) I couldn’t sell it. It is also helpful that there is really only one real competitor for our product, and their options, while slightly cheaper are not as varied. I am not doing it because we need the money for survival or for me to stay at home. If that we’re why I was doing it, I would be super hesitant simply because it is not dependable and I would not want that pressure. But since I am doing it to have a little fun play with money, and I really believe people in my area should know about this option for their daily lives, I am enjoying it.
I have started several direct sales businesses in the past and none have been as successful as the one I started 2 months ago. I am a designer with Origami Owl lockets. They are personlized by you lockets. They are round clear glass pendants that are magnatied to shut that hold your choice of hundreds of charms. There are also handstamped plates, dangles and gemstones. The commissions is amazing. Anyway, you really have to work at your business and you really have to go outside your circle of friends to get the business. Online marketing is a great too.If you really want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it work. Good LUCK!!
After vehemently refusing to get invloved in direct sales for years, I finally bit the bullet when I found something I fell in love with – Origami Owl. A new company, about 2 years old. only about 4000 current reps, and a wait list of about 6000 waiting to join! I have been out of work for 2.5 years and am hoping to make just enough to contribute to the bills and have breathing room, maybe $500-1000 a month. I literally just signed up, so I don’t know what the income reality will be, but with 3 little kids, I can make my own schedule and be there for school events, doctors appointments, whatever. In my tiny town of about 2,400, many of the parents of school age children do direct sales, so there must be something to it.
Oh, I forgot to add, I have done vendor fairs with my fairly priced homemade goods right along side booths of direct sale companies. I did not make a dime. People walked right by me to something they had heard of, even if it was overpriced. So you have the advertizing already done for you when you go with direct sales.
And my experience has been the opposite. I have done vendor fairs for over a decade now for various companies I have been with and products and services. The MLMs tend to drive people away. If a crafter gets stuck by one they lose traffic because people don’t want to get sucked into the MLM table.
One of the issues about making money concerns whether or not you are building a team. If you find other people who are excited about the company and what they are doing, then go ahead and build a team. When you get paid on their monthly sales, you begin to build a residual income! If you don’t have a team, you will have to keep working every month to make money through your own personal sales. Which would you rather do? Personally, I am working on team-building because I see the value of residual income! Not everyone cares about that, and just does the parties for fun or a few extra bucks. It really depends on what your goals are. Just something to think about! 😉
Lori
Saving people money on gas & electric at http://www.getpowerforless.joinambit.com/
😉
I posted once before but didn’t see my comment appear, so here goes again- a bit long, but I feel I need to support those who are doing well and give an informed opinion for others:
I said I would never do direct sales- I was too good for that- and then ended up with Pampered Chef for 11 years after watching a few friends do well. At first, it was spending money I earned, and then I worked my way up to an income of 1400 to 2500/month, depending NOT on how the market or the economy was, but on how much I worked my business. And I don’t mean being pushy- what I mean is, how much customer care and host coaching did I do? How much reaching out and building relationships did I do? (Real relationships, not sales-y or what’s-in-it-for-me relationships.)
When you are in direct sales, you are self-employed. You’ve got to be a good boss to yourself and you’ve got to be a good employee- not the kind of employee that you as the boss would fire for assuming that you get paid for “thinking about working” and for playing office- you have to take action. You have to work your business regularly by making calls to connect with people. (Do it for a set amount of time- not open-ended being on the phone all the time- that’s torture on your family.) You have to be friendly, not pushy. Pushy just never, ever works. You can’t beg the same ol’, same ol’ crowd forever. You’ve got to branch out. When I started, I had a hard time finding my first six hosts because I was shy, and by the time I left (to pursue my dream of being a writer), I had over 2,000 contacts in my database and had held over 800 parties.
You’ve got to over-book. It’s an appointment-based business, after all, and life happens to people. And along with that, you’ve got to host-coach, because you’re just wasting your time otherwise- you might as well hand your host her hosting packet and ask her to throw it away for you if you don’t communicate with her and build a relationship before her party. Otherwise, she’ll just never get excited and never get around to inviting people. You’re her partner in a successful party.
At my parties, I focused on the fun and the aspect of getting together for a good time. I loved the products and the recipes and worked to create an awesome atmosphere that would have the host telling me that she was so glad she had the party and would have the guests leaving and saying to the host, “Thank you so much for having me- it was a blast and I can’t wait for my products to come in. This was totally worth my time tonight!” Really, that was always my goal- to have everyone involved having a great time.
I would have sour-puss customers who’d be smiling and laughing by the end of the party and I’d have people who’d say, “I almost didn’t come today because I was so tired- or because I hate these things- or because I didn’t know anyone but the host, etc., but I am so glad I made it- it was so fun!” I encouraged the host to fill the house so that no one would feel the buying pressure being the only few there- and so that only those who wanted to buy would do so.
You might think that I was a natural socializer, but I really had to work at it- remember, I was shy. I just believed that I was offering people a great product with a great guarantee, a great time with some friends, great recipe and cooking ideas for their families, and great customer service from me. I am an introvert and would just have to breath deep when I picked up the phone or when I walked up to someone’s door. But I cannot begin to tell you how much I came out of my shell when I needed to, how much I learned, the skills I gained, and the friends I made.
Here’s how to make more money than you spend- and by a long shot, too: DO NOT succumb to buying product because you just have to have it all and because you get a discount. In The Pampered Chef, you invest in your starter kit and then you can just earn more product and paperwork IF IF IF IF you work your business. Absolutely no inventory is necessary in this particular company. Pampered Chef (and all of the legitimate companies, I imagine) is not in the business of earning money off their reps, nor are they in the business of giving away stuff to reps who are expecting a whole lot for nothing. You do your part, they do theirs.
When I first started, I was on such a shoestring budget that I couldn’t afford anything extra and my recruiter told me not to worry about that, that as long as I was watching the promos and doing parties, I could get pretty much everything I needed when they put it on a promo and to just take the starter kit to my parties for demos and learn to sell out of the catalog (which has wayyyyyy too much in it to carry to parties anyway). She also told me to never invest more than 10% back into my business, that I was there to make money, not spend it. She told me that she didn’t want anyone on her team complaining that they spent more than they made, that if they did, they hadn’t listened to her at all.
So I made money from my direct sales business right away because that was my goal and because I listened to good advice. I treated my business like a business and invested in my kit first, then I invested my well-spent time in learning and in earning money. Also, if you read an excellent book called “Lower Your Taxes Big Time” by Sandy Botkin, CPA, you will find, as I did, that the tax benefits of owning a home-based business are incredible, truly incredible- from your starter kit, to the gas you use, to the office supplies you need, to a portion of your phone bill, to your computer- all legitimate home-based business deductions. Find an accountant who is knowledgable of the direct sales business or learn all you can to take advantage (NO, I do not mean to cheat) of what the tax codes legally allow you.
Do your homework. Don’t expect to get paid to do nothing. Get trained. Don’t expect people to flock to you- go to them. New generations are setting up homes every year, so there are always new customers. GET OUT of your circle and stop harassing your family and friends- business really is everywhere and if you love your product, so will others. In my little, little town, there were at least 3 of us within 2 miles doing a totally bang-up business- I’m talking 5-10 parties/month and 1500 to 3000/month in income. I did parties in town and up to an hour out of town (totally my choice) and I worked my own schedule, which at one point was weird- I could only work a certain couple of spots in the week- but I learned to book those very spots.
Learn how to take full advantage of your company’s compensation plan and work it. And for goodness’ sake, don’t make the assumption that everyone is on an ultra-tight budget. Think about the people who walk into Walmart for toothpaste and milk and come out $100 later. People buy what they want and what they see a need for. Life is more than what your own experience is. And when you get out there and find customers and hosts outside of your circle, you’ll find people living life their own way, not just your way. Ladies love to get together, to take good care of their homes and their families, and to have something new and fresh once in a while in the way of products and ideas. Whether your product is consumable or not, you are probably offering something that will add to someone’s quality of home life. If you impose your personal decisions on people, then you are deciding something for them.
Recruiting, by the way, is sharing. You are not the last person ever to be interested in selling your product or in earning an income doing something on your own terms. Don’t be a piggy, just let people know they can do it, too. You build your business in the long run by building a team, but at first, your main income is sales, so don’t buy into the thing where people accuse you of recruiting them just for yourself- you’ll make a few dollars only from their sales until you build a significant team, but really, building a team is where the fun really takes off, so share your business and it won’t be long before you discover a whole unexpected side to direct sales- your inner leader and business woman.
Lastly, take total advantage of every bit of the training your company offers- you are a fool if you don’t- and then also look into training from people like Belinda Ellsworth, Julie Anne Jones, Mary Christenson, etc.- these ladies have walked the talk and are dynamic, especially Belinda Ellsworth. Whatever training you get from your company is almost always free and let me tell you, people in other businesses pay top dollar for the quality of what you learn in direct sales. You learn things that will take you far in your next venture in life.
I loved direct sales and made it work. I get nothing from sharing my enthusiasm with you right now- I just believe that it is a viable, legitimate business model and I will always defend it against misinformation and trashing from those who are cynical or who just want to complain or who went into it and never got trained and never worked their business, but instead expected something just for buying the kit. It was great training for working on my own now and great training in getting out of my shell and in gaining confidence and in getting more efficient, too. I also have an awesome kitchen full of products that I earned for free. And yes, I earned some amazing trips that cost me nothing more than souvenir money because they were awards for doing a decent job- and by that I mean about 6 parties a month consistently, not by working till I was raw to the bone. So very do-able for the person who is willing to learn and take consistent action- just an awesome experience.
Great comments Coco! 😉
I did take the time to read all the comments. There are a few themes:
1) I don’t want to feel guilted into attending parties where I have to spend money.
2)Pick a consumable/good company/well known/not saturated/something you love and use company.
3) Most of the sales reps who said it’s great have been doing it for years, or got in with the company when it was brand new. (Most, there are a few exceptions)
4) I don’t have the money to spend on those products, and I hate the pushy sales pitches to the point I avoid them as friends.
5) My company is the best because….
6) You can’t just depend on friends, you must market at craft fairs, etc. (Side note: I went to our local town day and I saw every company mentioned by name as well as a few others there. There were even duplicates of the most popular ones. I avoided all of them.)
Personally, I would have a serious discussion with your significant other, or a parent. They know your personality. If they live nearby, they know your area and the struggles there. They also know the “Why” you are considering this.
The fact that you are already in doubt due to friends saying no to parties would be a red flag to me. Since the majority of Direct Sales businesses also have a up/down line of consultants *you make more money if the consultant below you sells product* they are technically a Multi-Level Marketing program. MLM’s are something to avoid. They are not true scams, but they will start to feel like it, especially if there is a minimum you have to buy.
I’m an inactive Mary Kay consultant. I used it a few years ago to get my own products at 50%. I no longer use MK but have considered direct sales since. I doubt I’d be successful with our current schedules (I work part time out of the home, husband is firefighter w/ 24 hr shifts and 2 young children) or with where we live (out in the country (20-30 min into town).
Our location would eat my profits with gas money and my personality (introvert by nature) would likely be the biggest hurdles.
I would consider consumable product (make up, oils) over non-consumable first (Bags) as this is an easier to maintain consumer base. Saturation in your area is also important. My area is heavily saturated with 31 and Pampered Chef to name a few.
I sold for a well known make up company that used the home party concept. This summer I found the website: pinktruth.com. What an eye opener. I now realize that all of those companies are multi-level-marketing companies. Most of them are really some form of pyramid where the women/men at the top make most of the money. The gal or guy in the trenches rarely make much money. Now I refuse to go to any home selling party. Friends don’t sell to friends. I just say, the truth. I believe those products are overpriced. The poor sales person is lured in with promises of big money, but that seldom happens.
Any opportunity that sounds too good to be true, likely is. There are many resources to check out various businesses. If you google Pink Truth, or use the pinktruth.com web site you will find links to other resources. There is actually a list of all of the MLMs out there. Pretty much all of the home parties are not money makers. You have lots of expenses for very little in return.
Anna, most MLM companies are actually NOT “pyramid” schemes! If they were they would be shut down! The shape of an organization doesn’t make it illegal. Think about a typical large company – one or two CEOs at the top, then below them a few upper managers, below them even more middle managers, then on the large bottom, all of the workers – a pyramid shape also!!
There are always scary theories about something and direct sales is an easy target because in order to be successful, you have to be a self-starter and those who find it’s not for them sometimes whine that it was the business or the company, not that it wasn’t a great fit for them. Perhaps that is the one thing that needs to be stated first thing- you have to be a self-starter.
Pyramid schemes are illegal and MLMs are not. Like Lori B says, pretty much all companies are set up with fewer top money makers than workers- think about this! What business have you seen where the workers make as much as management or where the managers make the same as the president or CEO?
In direct sales, the people who have been with the companies the longest are making the most money. They simply arrived on the scene sooner and have been with their company longer- they’ve stayed the course and stuck it out building their host and customer base and their team. There are people in direct sales making darned good money (5K,10K and more per month) because they have been working hard at their businesses for 8, 10, 15, and 20 years and more- the same amount of time that anyone spends in a career. If you think about it, you can’t make that kind of progress in a traditional setting. Who ever heard of doubling, tripling, and quadrupling- or more- your income within a decade at a traditional job? The people who make the money work for it- in a pyramid scheme, the people at the top steal it and leave the people at the bottom stranded. That is simply not so in a legitimate (member of the Direct Sales Association, for example) direct sales business- or in any business, for that matter. And the new people make money right from the start- typically about $100 for about 4 hours of work. That is better than retail any day. But like I said in my earlier post, you don’t make money just because you bought the kit- you’ve got to take action and make smart decisions.
As for selling to friends, I think we all like buying from someone we like and trust. I have friends who own restaurants where I spend my money, tire stores, office supply stores, furniture stores, accounting firms, etc… I know doctors, dentists, and real estate agents who I’d rather spend my money with than strangers who I don’t know or trust. Not only is it a-okay to sell to and buy from friends, but I also said in my earlier post to get out of your circle, because it is not your friends’ and your family’s responsibility to keep your business afloat. You have to network and be a real business person. And as a woman in business, you have the advantage of being a natural communicator and you end up making friends with your hosts, customers, and with your fellow reps.
People are not lured into direct sales- you make up your own mind when you start a new job- no one puts a gun to your head or waves dollar bills at you to daze and confuse you. I made good money doing direct sales. I wasn’t a big gun in the company- I just worked my business like a (part-time, I might add) business. Someone else may have accomplished far more than I did in those 11 years, but it worked well for me because I did what I wanted to do with it (about 10 or 15 hours/week)- my income was anywhere from 1400 to 2500 per month, depending on how much and how consistently I worked. That’s good for part time!! I am proud of myself for building a good business and it just makes me bristle when someone trashes my 11 year career in direct sales. I mean, I wouldn’t go around trashing other people’s jobs.
So, I just don’t appreciate a blanket negative-nelly assessment of direct sales. In my opinion, some companies are better than others and I have even seen some (not DSA members, by the way) that are sleezy, but then again, I’ve seen traditional business people who are sleezy, too.
I’ve also seen traditional business people who have not succeeded at something they tried. Would I say that all new business ventures are schemes just because the majority of new businesses fail, though? Of course not. So there is no reason to say the same about direct sales just because there’s a website that claims to have the “truth” and to have “exposed” all these companies because there are people out there complaining. The internet is full of doom and gloom stuff like that site, and direct sales, unfortunately, is full of former reps who go on to claim that the company or direct sales in general was the reason that they failed, and who don’t own the fact that they tried something that didn’t work out- they may or may not have made smart decisions in their business and they may or may not have worked their business consistently. Like I said, you have to be a self-starter and you have to be smart about your actions.
Women and men in direct sales are just like everyone else- they are trying to make a living doing something they like. I would like to see people stop dissing them and treating them as though they are being blinded by some kind of conspiracy and led down some money-sucking path- they simply deserve the same respect that any business person deserves. It is a great business for moms, especially, since they can make plenty more in their already-stretched time than in a retail situation where they get a tiring schedule, work all holidays, are on their feet all day, and get no home-based business tax advantages, to boot.
For the record, I am not promoting any one company and I am gaining nothing from defending the direct sales reps who are honestly trying to make some money or make a living in the direct sales industry, in general. I just want to clear the air. Everyone has a right to do what they think is a good fit in their life and it just may be direct sales for some. It was for me until I left to pursue my dream of making a living writing. I never appreciated negative-nellies and snobs who are too good for sales. It’s a service profession that I was proud to have spent my time in. It paid the bills for this single parent- and it was really fun, too. And I was not the last successful person in direct sales- you get what you put into it if you make smart decisions and if you take action.
AMEN – I was going to write a reply to this as well, but you’ve said it all so well. The company I joined has been around for over 14 years – and yes, the majority of huge money makers got into the company early and thus have had 14 years to build their customer base, but there are also some very young gen y-ers who joined with the company within the last 5 years who are making just as much as the 14 year veterans. As I mentioned above, I make a healthy income with this company and work it very part time. If I chose to get out of balance, and ignore my spouse, three kids, home, other business, etc. I could be making those large amounts of money too – but that is not what motivates me. I enjoy helping people with their health, having extra spending money, and enjoying the extra time with my family. Check out the compensation plan of the company you are looking at – a great company designs it so that ANYONE can be successful – not just those at the top. All compensation plans are not created equal – so check out resources and companies who evaluate them. Anyone can be successful at NM – and I agree with the post above that ANY business can fail. My main business cost me around $100,000 in education not to mention the huge start up cost, building and equipment costs and consistent overhead costs – and I’ve seen a LOT of my colleagues fail and lose a LOT Of money both on their education as well as the very high business/start up/equipment costs. So getting a “real” job is not failproof either unfortunately. Bottom line – do your research, find something you love and can be passionate about and make sure you work at training yourself every day. Never stop learning and growing! Good luck!
In regards to discomfort to buy or sell at parties, I would consider finding a company that sells product that people HAVE to buy / stuff that’s already in their budget.
Like food.
I’m a rep for Wildtree All-Natural Foods (soon to be officially certified organic) and its a brilliant choice because everyone eats. If you hate to cook, Wildtree helps make your food faster and tastier. If you love to cook the same is still true.
Now, I don’t think direct sales is for everyone. But if you are selling food at a party with friends over wine, it’s fun and an easy “sale” because people are planning to buy groceries anyway.
For me, when I bite the bullet and follow through with my leads, I make money.
Hey, if you are still considering what company you’d like to do, I highly recommend Noonday Collection. It’s a direct sales fair trade business that gives 50% of the purchase price right back to the artisans that create the product. The company is just 2 years old & is exploding all over the US right now. The jewelry, bags, accessories, Sseko sandals, home goods, etc. come from all over the world– and the impoverished & underprivileged are given a sustainable income. I have been AMAZED at the interest & excitement I’ve received from everyone- because they LOVE the idea of their purchase making a difference. At the trunk shows we just share the stories of the artisans, the unique ways the products are made, & the impact the purchases have. And the gorgeous products then sell themselves! I love that I can do this on the side as I stay home with my kids, help raise $ for adoption, AND help other moms all over the world have income while I do it.
I work with Discovery Toys and I absolutely LOVE what I do! Like people have mentioned before, you have to be passionate about your product and you have to work your business. Discovery Toys fits perfectly into my life. I’m a stay at home mom of a 3 year old and I have lots of mommy friends. I am able to choose when and where I work and therefor I am in control of the amount of money I make. This company offers great training and support. I also live in a large area where there are no other reps close to me. This has both advantages and disadvantages. You have to choose what works for you! Best of luck!
What a fun question. I have enjoyed reading the responses.
The best advice I have heard about direct sales is to pick a product you really love.
Then make sure it’s a reputable company. I like the Direct Sales Association: http://www.dsa.org/forms/CompanyFormPublicMembers/
It’s made a really big difference to me to have my sister-in-law as my sponsor. She is someone I know and can trust for an honest opinion, and she is willing to help me. Pick a worthy sponsor.
Unless the product is being sent directly to them, I don’t like the idea of surprising a customer with a shipping charge on top of tax. Research what companies charge for shipping.
Is it a consumable product? I get a lot of repeat customers because they want more!
Who can I give my product to as a gift?
-The more people you can give your product to as a gift, the more potential customers you have.
-Since I get commission off the gift, it allows me to be more generous.
I looked at all these factors and picked Scentsy. I love the product.
No matter what I decide to do, there will always be people lining up to criticize my choice. Pick something you love (whether it’s working for your favorite retail chain or direct sales or teaching preschoolers!!) and spend time with the people who offer you support and encouragement. Pray over your business.
I have seen this posted already but for me I personally believe in Direct Sales. You need to pick a company that you believe in. I do not look at my product like I am selling it but that I am sharing it with people and that I have a gift to give them. I have been very successful with my product. I was invited to speak on stage this year at our annual company convention. It is advertised on the TV, internet, magazines and more 24/7 which also helps me because they pay to get the brand out there. It has name brand recognition which is important. I do not have to do parties or keep any product in my home. I have 4 different websites from the company so that any products purchased are drop shipped and they take care of all the financial part of it. 🙂 I myself am a stay at home mom and I use Social Media to grow my business. I hate to say it but making phone calls and parties our becoming out dated. Most people will not pick up their phone if they do not recognize the #. Most people would rather talk through text or facebook. It does require time and energy but, if you pick the correct product, use the product and learn the skills to talk to people you will be on the right path. Before I started I was very quite and shy but I invested in myself much like investing in college and every time I do I get 10X the amount back in sales because I learn to relate to people. (Self Development is Key) If you do not believe in yourself or your product nobody else will. If you are interested in what I am doing contact me either through facebook http://www.facebook.com/corinhogan or [email protected]. I will send you info and help you decide if it is right for you.
I love Tupperware!
If you work it, it works.
If you don’t, it wont.
I wonder who actually has read ALL the posts on here. 🙂
It’s sad that most of the posts on here are negative and most are ill-informed.
The number one thing for success in any business whether direct sales or not, is your ATTITUDE. If you give your mind a backdoor escape, ‘Well, I’ll try it and see,” that’s all your mind hears is the negative and you will most definitely quit and say, “I knew it wouldn’t work.”
No direct sales business is a get rich quick method. I was a teacher before getting into direct sales. I never saw myself in sales, but it’s not about ‘sales.’ It’s about reaching women and having fun, and who doesn’t love a good deal in the meantime?!
The great thing about our company is you DON’T keep inventory. You have your enrollment kit and products you earn FREE from the company just for doing your job.
Success comes 1 day at a time. Are there hard days? Yes. Are there rewarding days? Yes. I have earned a $1,000 bonus, a cruise, free products and gained so many friends along the way! I am most thankful I can stay home with my new baby girl and be her full time mom. I have a fun job I am passionate about and am working towards the next level in leadership and a trip to the Dominican Republic!
If you have the attitude that you will succeed, you will!
The majority of women in this company are full time moms, work a full time job and do Thirty-One…most of which eventually quit their full time jobs because of the success and financial freedom they find.
Don’t let the word ‘saturation’ even enter your mind. That’s ridiculous. Do you say, “Oh that Starbucks will never make it,this area’s saturated!” No! In my little town there are over 7 coffee shops–all thriving.
Did you know 80% of all female millionaires are in the Direct Sales business?
Bottom Line: Pick something with little start up cost, something you’re passionate about, have support of your spouse or family members and then believe in yourself! There will always be naysayers no matter what you do in life.
Believing all the success for you ladies, wherever your path takes you…
Rachel
I have read all the posts. I live in a depressed area in a town of approx. 18,000. No one can make much in pocket money doing home marketing. The schools, scouts, and civic/community groups all struggle with fund raisers.
How big is the market you are interested in? Can the community support you? I prefer one stop shopping and don’t have time to run around to parties to buy something over priced. I prefer to hang out with my family on my days off, not spend my hard earned time and dollars excluding them.
It would not be for me. Do your research. Our farmers market does have some baked goods that seem to sell well here. If you are a good baker, make something different from others. Maybe Gluten Free or no presevatives. Just an idea.
I have never worked for a direct sales company before, but recently found Just Jewelry and decided to sign up. My reasons: I love the product and wearing jewelry is an extra plus! Also, there are very few of these consultants around, so you have a better chance of recruiting and hosting parties because it’s something new and very afordable. Nothing in our catalog is $40. You can also make up to 50% on items sold. I too, hate asking friends to have parites, but we also do fundraisers too! I find that people are asking me if they can have parties!!
You should check it out and let me know if you have any questions!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Avon is probably the easiest fastest way to start, but their products seem to be getting smaller. They have a lot of loyal customers and you don’t have to have a party to sell it. Personally, I am looking to start making and selling some homemade bread. Find a couple of good recipes and go for it. People love homemade baked goods, but most don’t have the time to make them. They can get a purse or makeup anywhere, but they can’t get my banana bread anywhere else 🙂 It is easy to give mini muffins as samples and go from there. Our local Farmers Market is only $12 to set up on Saturday and in my state you can sell homemade baked goods and candy.
That is great info, thanks! I used to sell baked goods directly from my home to local businesses. It was a lot of fun!
I tried selling Pampered Chef products at one time for additional income. I love their products so it seemed like a win-win situation for me. The problem that I ran into is that living in a rural community and with all of the school functions it was hard to get shows set up. I could get the catalog orders pretty easy. They raised the amount you had to sell each month and I ended up buying extra products to stay active. With my job & a child in school, I decided the easiest thing was to host a party when I wanted products. At the time there were multiple reps in our area anyways.
This sort of thing seems like a quick way to alienate your friends. If you have access to acquaintances such as in a playgroup or book club or something like that it might be easier since those people will probably feel less obligated or resentful about being marketed to.
I’ve enjoyed reading the comments posted so far – such a variation of people’s perspectives. EXACTLY what you’ll run into with ANY business. Not everyone likes the same dental office, not everyone likes the same hairdresser, not everyone likes the same pediatrician. THANKFULLY, or those people would never get to go home and leave their business! For people who stated that NM just doesn’t work, they simply have not found the company that makes them passionate. If you look in ANY of the companies listed, there are people that do well – really well. So rather than saying NM doesn’t work as a blanket statement – ask a different question…why didn’t it work for me? Maybe it was your certainty, maybe it was your effort level, maybe it was lack of organization, maybe it was only trying it for a couple of months, maybe there was no training available for you to learn how to do it. Have you ever watched a REALLY great movie – and have you shared it with others? How do you feel when you share about that really great movie (or restaurant, etc.). Your heart starts pumping, your voice gets louder and more emotional – this is how you have to feel about the NM company you join. THEN you will see that NM works for anyone who wants to put the effort forth.
I love network marketing, but I really resonate with the people’s comments who say that you have to believe in the product you’re selling. I am with a direct sales company – and we did a LOT of research before we began. We knew that we needed a product that people would continue to consume on a regular basis. Yes, I own Pampered Chef products – and I love them, but there was a time I was getting invited to 6-8 parties a month, so I own all I want to own from them. I also LOVE Norwex products, but as the company grew in our area, I was also invited to 6-8 parties a month and now own all I want to own from them. SO, I would urge you to look at a “more consumable” product than these to be successful for the long haul or as other suggest, find out the saturation in your area. If no one does Norwex, you could probably do quite well for a period of time as people learn about what it is. We partnered with a Health and Wellness company that offers the best quality and most absorbable nutritionals in the world (based on independent research – not the companies own “paid research”), they have a weight loss line that is second to none, a paraben free skin care line (parabens are preservatives that are highly linked to cancers and hormone disruption) and a healthy energy drink (to replace the overloaded sugar and caffeine bombs that you can get in gas stations). So as you can see, there are different “niches” that you can specialize in with this company (all consumable products), or you can promote all 4 product lines. When I started, I needed to lose weight, and I lost 60 pounds that I couldn’t seem to shed after baby #3 after beginning to use the products. I felt my energy returning, my brain returning, and the pounds were coming off without feeling deprived or hungry all day. As you can tell, my excitement about these products built with the great results I experienced on my own. I don’t have to “sell” them at all. People (including the “tough to ask” family and friends) asked ME about what I was doing – and could they do it too? I don’t push sell at all. I let the results speak for themselves. As more people got results from the products, more people ask how they got their results and they’d refer them to me to buy their products. Now I have led several sessions of a 12 week weight loss class that I LOVE. I get to really build relationships with new women over those 12 weeks (not just a one night encounter), and I get to really change lives. It’s not just about the weight loss anymore – I get to hear stories of how Moms now have the energy to go out roller blading with their kids – and that they feel like playing games and running around the park with their kids because their health is better. Blood pressures, cholesterol and blood sugars are dropping for people. I can’t tell you how rewarding that is. And yes, I make a substantial amount with this company, and yes I take one night a week to go facilitate this class in my church and teach others about health. But my family actually gets “more of me” because of the health benefits I’ve received despite me being gone one night a week. Periodically as people have asked me about the skin care line, I have done small demonstrations and facials for women to experience the paraben free system. I have had an 85% purchase rate when I do those events, despite it not being my full passion. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the weight loss system and tend to stick with that.
I have found that when people begin a product that changes their health, energy and wellness level, they will put it as a priority and continue to buy. SO, when we had a few “bumps” in our road and I couldn’t work the business very much, my checks kept coming and didn’t decrease during a 4 month break of me working my business. THAT is how network marketing is supposed to work. It is supposed to be sustainable – and your efforts, if you’re selling a consumable product, should continue to produce consistently. I know that others have focused on the “expense” of a business like this, but I hope their company had a good training system that should have taught them that mileage, material fees, etc. can all be business expenses and will help you with your taxes. Sandy Botkin has stated that the average person working a home based business should be able to find $3,000 – 9,000 in legitimate tax write offs if they keep track of expenses as the year goes on. Who wouldn’t like to save that kind of money on your taxes…you have to look at that as keeping money in your pocket as well.
So the other suggestion I’ll give you is to look at what kind of training and support is offered through the company you’re looking at. I saw from the posts that some companies charge for that – which makes no sense – if they want their own company to do well, it should be free, it should be consistent and reachable by all (internet options vs. on location only).
Then lastly, the only other thing I’ll mention, is that these businesses don’t build themselves. JUST like any other business. If you are a dentist, a hairdresser, a pediatrician, or a restaurant, you’d have to “market” yourself – make yourself known to the community. You can’t just hang a shingle with your name on it in a building, sit there and expect to have your office full in a short period of time. So those who say NM is too much work for your effort – haven’t ever owned any other type of business in their lives either. The benefit of a consumable NM business is that once your customers are happy and buying and consuming what they love from you – they will stay happy for life (as long as you service them properly – connect periodically, answer questions, etc.). I still own my own business in our community as well – and I can tell you that I have to work way harder at maintaining my customer base in that business than I do in my NM company. But either way, you have to treat it like a business. Work at it, be consistent, do 1 -2 things each day and you will be successful.
Good luck to you in your decision – passion is the key. Don’t just ramdomly pick a business…do your research and the end result will be success, fun, stronger relationships in your community, and more time and financial freedom for your family.
http://www.Millner.USANA.com
I’ve done a few programs. The easiest and the only one that I was financially successful at was Mary Kay. I love the product, it’s not over priced, and it is a consumable. I love the encouragement and the ladies.
I attend parties because I know I want to buy something. I love 31 bags! and if you really like a product ie 31 the best way to save is to host a party. Of course it is hard in this economy because like mentioned before, many of us are living check to check. But that is how I filled my kitchen with Pampered Chef.
Kris
I was in a network marketing business for the past couple years and am still a consultant but mainly just for the discount now. Luckily though I had signed up with a skincare company so I still get several reorders a month even though I’m not doing any parties. I will tell you that it certainly can take a lot of time and it simply became too much for me to stay dedicated to. Most of them will tell you that it only takes 10 hrs or less a week which may be true in some cases but if you’re like me, an already a full time working mom, 10 hrs is still a lot of time I don’t always have or want to give up. I hoped to use this as way to stay home but eventually I could see that it was taking me away from my family too much with not enough profit for me personally. Now we’re just trying to follow the Dave Ramsey plan and do little things for some extra cash. There were some VERY succesful people on our team so I know that it is completely possible and I do think that most direct sales companies are very smart business plans. The women on my team who were very successful were the ones who were already able to stay home and this was extra income. They did have a little more time and a little more flexibility in their schedules and they could make all the phone calls during naptime and such so keep your time in mind before you decide. But here are some things I would consider:
– I would pick a company that has products where people will get hooked and reorder such as skincare, makeup, cleaning products. I love Thirty One bags but I’m guessing you wont get as many reorders. Like I said I still have people reordering because they love the product and run out of their face lotion or makeup every couple months. That’s just a smarter business decision where eventually it will take less time because you won’t need to do as many parties if you build a great client base.
– If you do this, people will always say no. It is hard but you can’t take it personally! They’re not saying no to you, just the business and no might just mean not right now.
– When you call to ask for a party, first tell them what they are going to get out of it! This is key to booking!!! Tell them the hostess rewards and maybe an extra gift you’ll throw in for booking a party this month! And sound excited about it! If you’re not excited about it why should they be?
– There’s a fine line between being good at what you do and being pushy… don’t cross the line! 🙂
– I will never regret taking this on because I grew so much as a person through my business! If you’re not normally a really outgoing person, that ok! You will grow so much if you do this!
The trick, in my opinion, is to sell something that is going to need to be replenished. I am a Mary Kay consultant (mostly for the discount) because it’s not only a great company but the products sell (and re-sell) themselves! I don’t hold parties–I just sell to friends and family and continually have extra money coming in. :0) My mom sells Thirty-One and LOVES it. That’s a great company to sell for because they always have new products and prints coming out that women love and are willing to keep buying.
I’m a consumer, not a sales rep. Here’s my take:
If you make and sell an original (or mostly so) product that is all your own, I am likely to buy at least some little something, just to help support you. If you are part of a marketing chain selling something who-knows-who made so that a whole line of people can get rich off of my $50 purchase of something that cost 50c to make – NOT gonna happen.
Just sayin’. 😉
I have recently begun working with a company called ACN, it is the world’s largest direct seller of telecommunications and energy. What makes this opportunity different from other direct sales jobs is that I am not selling something that people don’t need. My job is to connect people with less expensive ways to use the services they are already paying for – internet, home and mobile phone, television, home security, and in some states energy. I could never convince someone to buy something they truly do not need, but I love the fact that I can offer people ways to save money on what they are already using while serving my family in the process.
I have also recently started working with ACN and I believe it is an amazing company! Like Jamie said it isn’t selling people stuff they don’t need it’s finding a way to help your friends and family pay for their current services for either the same price or cheaper and they in turn help your own family as well. If you have never heard of ACN before it is a great company to look into!
Yes you can make $$ with direct selling – however, it’s not easy – you have to work at it. I have been selling Avon for 8 years and love it – don’t have to have parties, no requirments , great products and awesome discounts. Also have a great support team and everything at my disposal to be successful. It’s finding what is the right fit for you and your lifestyle – worse case scenario – you try it and don’t like it – then quit -but at least you tried. Good Luck kj
You should really talk to an accountant about this, very few people actually “make” money with these types of companies!
I’ve enjoyed reading through the comments on this post. For years, I was not interested in this type of business. The few times I had been to different parties, the consultant was very pushy and I didn’t want to be that person. However, once I heard about Dove Chocolate Discoveries, I was curious. I couldn’t get the idea of a chocolate party out of my head and decided to go ahead and try the business. Because, it’s something I’m passionate about. I love chocolate. I adore good chocolate!
I’m a firm believer that whatever you do decide to try, it has to be something you’re passionate about. If you’re not 100% behind the business and product, you’re going to have a difficult time talking to people about your business. I also think a consumable product is going to be more productive for you. Repeat business is huge.
As far as finding your hosts for your business, if you’re dependent on your friends and family, you’re not going to last long. I asked some friends to host my first parties to help me get started. They were curious about a chocolate party and agreed. From there, I booked parties with some people I didn’t know. From those parties, I booked more. You do have to be willing to talk to people you don’t know. It’s been a good experience for me to stretch my comfort zone. I’ve met some amazing people through my business that I would have never met otherwise. The occasional event (fundraiser, bazaar, etc) can help introduce you to new customers. There are a lot of people who don’t have the room in their budget for these types of things. On the flip side, I’ve been to a number of parties where the guests to have the income, they love the product and enjoy shopping this way. There are some social groups that simply enjoy getting together at some type of party like this on a regular basis and doing their shopping, for themselves or for gifts.
As others have stated, you do have to remember that it’s still a job. You’re in business for yourself and have to be disciplined to work it. I’ve worked out a schedule with my husband as to how many days a week I will be out doing parties and which days work best for us. We re-evaluate that as changes occur. I have scheduled times to make my phone calls to prospective hosts, new team members and customer follow-up calls.
If possible, follow a local consultant to a party and see if it’s something you can picture yourself doing. Depending on the company, that may not be possible. I was one of the first in my state when I signed up, so I had to wing it! Ask about training, in person, on-line or by phone. When you choose someone to sign up with, make sure it’s someone you feel will be willing to work with you and help support you to get your business started.
I don’t think this industry is for everyone, but if you do like the flexibility of setting your own schedule, you’re committed to working that schedule and you find something you love, it can be a great fit.
Ohhhhh, Dove Chocolate – YUM!!! 😀
Most definitely!!!! I had tons of medical bills due to may child being in NICU and you’ll be amazed at how easy this will become…my friends didnt really enjoy the products (at first) but I told them y I needed to join to make some extra cash. I told them I needed them to have a party for me so I could get too their friends and then their friends and so on….I only joined to pay off these bills but then I made tons of friends…the parties now just fall in my lap and sometimes I make more then at my full time job…I’m now a director and it’s the most amazing company to work for…..I’d love to explain more in detail if you’d like!
[email protected]
What is the product you sell??
I’m a huge skeptic of MLMs and most Direct Sales companies. I’m just not convinced half of the things work or do what they say…a wrap that makes me skinny? Sorry. The only thing that will actually make me skinny is less food and more exercise.
One company is Send Out Cards. I use their products personally (greeting cards) for my full time job and personal. It’s all online – someone has a birthday you get on your page, select a card or build a custom one, and they print it, stuff it, stamp it, and send it for you. It’s not the cheapest MLM out there but they also have a retail option if people just want to sign up to send cards instead of selling under you.
I like it because it’s not just a good product for individuals but even more for businesses. Businesses like to send out mail to customers. And this allows them to do it at a lower cost, with higher quality cards. There’s all kinds of great things about it…but I also don’t “sell” it as my business. I use it every week and for Christmas cards each year. I have signed up three people who only signed up on the retail side…so they aren’t out there selling it themselves.
Other than that…it’s there if someone wants to enroll under me. If not, no big deal. And NO parties!!! That, to me, is the very best part! ! ! 🙂
IF you want to know more about it feel free to shoot me an e-mail/reply here. I won’t post my personal page unless someone wants it.
Best wishes to the person asking the question. I like 31 Products but wouldn’t sell them. If i had to I’d sell Partylite or Scentsy.
I browsed through all the comments below and agree with so much of what I read. I lost my job a year ago. I always wanted to be able to stay home with our daughter but financially that was not possible. I figured since I didn’t have a job outside the home anymore that I would look into direct sales so I could stay home. Like so many other comments, I didn’t want to host parties since I hate going to them myself, I didn’t want to worry about quotas or keeping inventory on hand, and people can only use so many purses, candles, necklaces… I kind of figured that’s all that was out there. Thankfully once of my husbands friends introduced us to Team National. It is classified as a direct sales company, but we don’t have any of the above headaches. No products to sell (seriously!), no quotas, no parties, no inventory… All we do is help people save money on things they are already buying (toilet paper, shoes, furniture, dog food, paint, diapers…) without changing their spending habits, and if they choose they can also make extra income helping others do the same. I not making thousands, but enough to keep me from having to get a job outside the home, and I work very part time. Like others said, you do get out of it what you put into it. I pretty much took the spring/summer off and made almost nothing then, but that was my choice, not a fault of the company. I haven’t been involved in any other companies so I have nothing to compare it to personally, just what I have heard from others, but I am completely satisfied with my choice. In today’s economy I wouldn’t have the guts to ask people to buy something from me that I know they don’t need, but our company helps people save money and make money and that never goes out of style!! If you want any more info I’d be happy to help. [email protected]
♥Avon is a nice one because:
You can leave your personal link for example: http://www.youravon.com/hswope anywhere whether facebook, a blog…etc, and if someone clicks on it and shops the store, you get the credit. I don’t even sell to anyone personally these days, just make money by people shopping through my link, and that’s no effort whatsoever, because it directly ships to them, and then up to 45% of the purchase gets deposited into my account every month (easy peazy)
–Avon’s products are super high quality, and cheap! I mean, who couldn’t afford a $1.99 mascara, or a .69 lip balm, 1.69 shower gel…etc. You don’t have to feel bad when people make a purchase, it’s already cheaper than items at Wal-mart.
–People know Avon so well, you don’t have to do any kind of sales pitch. IT’s not a negative thing, that it’s so well known, and there are so many Avon ladies out there. It actually will work in your favor.
♥I like thirty-one a lot, but the fact that the distributors only get 25% is kind of a put off for me.
♥I also sell Premier and LOVE it!! It’s nice to make 50%. I usually make $100-$250 per jewelry show or book party, and that’s with every expense taken out for gas, giveaway prizes, materials…etc You could get rich (well, it can change your life anyway 😉 just on doing the shows, but the rest of the business is extremely generous too. You get 10% of the sales of anyone who signs up to be your premier “daughter”, then 10% of everyone they sign, and then 10% of everyone they sign. They are a Christian company, and give to over 60 missions world wide, Word of Life being the top one. Service, integrity, fairness…all things that are emphasized so much. I could go on and on, but I won’t lol.
Anyway, with any direct selling, just like they’ve been saying on this thread, you get what you put into it. Service, Service, Service. If someone calls you with customer service problem, go out of your way to fix it. Better yet, beat them to it, call them when they receive their product to see if everything is going well, and if they are happy with their order. Send thank you notes to all of your hostesses, with a special coupon to use around their birthday. It’s those little things that can make all the difference. Tying those strings of friendship, and maintaining a friendship with everyone you meet, is a must.
I don’t even think about the amount I’ll make when I’m doing a show. It’s always about how can I help my hostess, and serve her guests. It’s not until the show is closed, that I realize that wow I made a profit here too. It all works so sweetly that way.
I have so much to add, but I’m going to stop here. Yes, you totally can make money through direct selling. It all depends on your outlook, and what you’re willing to do to make it work.
I thought about getting involved in direct sales off and on for several years, but it wasn’t until I went to a Norwex party that I found one that I felt comfortable doing. There were several good posts on things to consider and look for one choosing to join a company, so I thought I would answer the other part of your question.
I’ve listening to a bunch of different training cd’s, and I don’t remember for sure which one said this or exactly how they worded it:
“Yes, it is harder to get people to book parties today than it has been in the past. Today’s women are busier, they don’t want more on their plate. Try to present the idea that hosting a party would be taking something off their plates.”
From Shari Hudspeth’s training, keep your parties “fun, fast, and easy”. From Karen Phelps’ training, for a strong jump start in the business, book six shows in a 2 week period (30 days max). Doing a bunch of shows together will help you find what works for you and let you become more comfortable doing it. To get those first six bookings, you could ask people if they would be willing to host a “practice” show for you.
Hopefully this is helpful for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I think it depends on your personality and the time you have to put into it. You can have total love for the product you sell, but if you aren’t out going and are willing to put yourself out there you will not be successful! I have been selling The Pampere Chef for 6 years and I love it but I do not earn top dollar. I don’t want to come across as pushy and obnoxius (like I have thought of some other DS reps). Also I work a 9-5 job, my husband leaves for work when I walk in the door so I have no time at all to be on the phone to make customer care calls etc. Although social media is a great way to communicate, people are more likly to respond when you have them on the phone! I do 1-2 shows a month and earn about $200. Its not a get rich quick thing, and you absolutely get out of it what you put in!! I do it simply for the fun!
It’s been interesting to read through everyone’s comments. Many good points are made. I sold Pampered Chef in four different states over five years. I didn’t get rich, but I wasn’t in the hole either. At times it was a little stressful (like any job), but overall it was a good experience. Are direct sales right for you? I’d pray about it. After all, there is a time and a season for everything.
I’ve been a Thirty-One rep for a little over a year. I joined while still working my full-time job as a recruiter. I wanted to transition from corporate to direct sales for the flexibility needed for my growing family. When I signed up I had very minimal goals – break even from the start-up cost (accomplished in first party) and stick with if for a year. After the first year mark, I really started to see the difference and moved to the next level. I had repeat customers, people that would just call or purchase online out of the blue and drop a couple hundred on the product. I had also been through all the retail season and was able to plan ahead more. There are also so many different ways to create a party that is not the traditional at-home party. Regardless of what people say there are still a ton of people that like hosting shows.
Most people that go into direct sale have kids and take it on as part-time job or have a job and take it on as an additional job. I know if I got up every more, put my kids at the sitters and put in an 8 hour day, my business would be different. I work around nap times and the evening when my husband is home.
As far as the comments on some consultants just looking to convince people to join for it benefits them, I’m sure they are out there. Like with any job, you have to get to know the company and your future upline. Ask her of the challenges that she faced when she started and those she faces today? Every job has challenges, if she can’t think of any, then she might not be the right person as your upline. Attend a party with her or, in the case of Thirty-One, attend a local meeting open to reps and potential recruits.
Good luck in your decision!
I have often thought about direct sales but I haven’t found a product that I’m passionate about. When I sit down to pay my bills, I don’t also make a budget for candles, embroidered bags, organizing tools, make up, etc. This to me is more junk & clutter that I don’t need to bring into my home. I am passionate about baking, yoga, basset hounds, and saving money. I would sell a product that would show those passions – lol. But really, if I knew of a way to help ppl save money, instead of buying a product, I would “sell” that. Times are hard. In order to be a blessing to ppl, I feel I would need to help them save money, not spend it.
Nicole, I agree when I make my budget I don’t budget in any extras either that why I chose to be a Marketing Executive for Melaleuca. They manufacture safe, cost-effective products and sell directly to the consumer so I don’t handle have to stock inventory, handle payments or deliver product. They have 5 lines of products…Ecosense (cleaning products), vitamins & supplements, bath & body and Sei Bella. I am passionate about the products because they do not use any harsh chemicals, only natural ingredients making all products safe your family and the environment. And the best part is the products are cheaper than what you can buy in the store AND work better than what you can buy in the store. If your interested in learning more please contact me. [email protected]
I agree 100%. No woman “needs” an $80 basket or another purse. People are tired of “parties” and most people around here avoid them like the plague. It’s an outdated business model, most of the time. My friend’s husband calls them “pressure parties,” whether you call them an open house, shopping event, etc.
Nicole, that’s why I joined the company I did. I didn’t want to have my friends & family spend money on more STUFF! I love being able to help people pay less for a service they already need and use – energy!
Lori at http://www.getpowerforless.com/
😉
So many good comments already. To be honest with you the people I know who make good money with direct sales have quit their jobs and the direct selling is their full time job. Everyone else had all good points. I just wanted to add that.
If you honestly want to make money, you honestly have to work. Its not easy, you need self motivation, determination and some creativity. Don’t go into it thinking this is going to be easy, the basics of the numbers is for every 10 people you ask to buy, sell, or host, 1 will say yes. If you have the attributes listed, don’t mind the numbers and will actually work from home then go for it! If not, I’d be careful to consider support systems and/or alternatives.
I have been in direct sales as an Independent AVON Representative for 7 years and I have enjoyed every moment of it.
AVON has made it easy every year to help you be successful in your business, they give you the tools to do a home party, Fundraiser events or just one on one sales.
I like the idea that I am not required to have an inventory but if I want to order a little more I get it at my Representative discount.
AVON has expanded on what they offer from skincare to Men and children items, to jewelery, clothing and kitchen gadgets.
My customers keep coming back because they know I stand by AVON’s commitment of a 100% money back if not fully happy with their purchase and that I keep them happy with samples of the new skincare that comes out.
I would suggest to research the companies you are interested in, see what they offer.
Ask yourself would I use it?
Is it going to be something your family can participate in? ( My boys help by bagging the catalogs)
I do wish you the best and hope you find something that will fit your needs!
My friends sell Thirty One products. It is a lot of work! I also have a friend who sells Scentsy, and it is less work than Thirty One, I think. People like Scentsy’s products and because you have to buy more wax, they keep making repeat sales. I would not do direct sales unless I knew that I would have repeat customers. Scheduling more and more parties just doesn’t fit my time constraints.
Where I live in CO, the Thirty-One market is saturated. I wouldn’t try to sell it, because there is too much competition. At least 10 people at my church sell it and it’s a good size congregation, but it isn’t a mega church.
Thirty One was really hot in Colorado last year, but the products are not disposable, so if you are selling them to the same people, they have to have extra money to burn. I mention this because my ex Creative Memories consultant (who did a wonderful job as a CM consultant) gave it up to do Thirty One and she got in early, so she is like an Executive Director or something higher up. She lives in an affluent neighborhood, so maybe she can sell the same things in different patterns to the ladies who live there. I know she works hard, but it’s not like make up or food or scrapbook paper.
The products are nice, but I don’t think they are as outstanding as some people make them. So, from my perspective, someone should not get into direct sales unless they love the product so much that they will be compensated in product (more so than actual $$).
My thoughts are similar to what others have posted. I became an Independent Consultant with Shelf Reliance this past Spring. I’ve never had any interest in direct sales (even though I sold Tupperware years and years ago) and then something about Shelf Reliance hit me. I was never pressured to sign up but the information was presented. That was months before I made the leap – and the thought kept coming back to me. So my first piece of advice – “sleep on it” and more than one day. Does the idea still appeal to you? And make sure it’s that specific company, not just direct sales in general.
One reason I never wanted to do direct sales was because I wanted something I could do at home. If the business is party based – that means I’m not home! I do Shelf Reliance parties but it’s not where I have focused my efforts. I actually started a blog where I share information on the different Shelf Reliance products (including THRIVE Foods and the Cansolidator), special sales, and how my family is using THRIVE Foods and the other Shelf Reliance products to be better prepared for an emergency.
Another reason I didn’t like the idea of direct sales was pressure from those above me (some call it a manager, in Shelf Reliance it’s called your Upline or Sponsor). My experience with Tupperware had been lots of pressure from the lady above me to sell more, have more parties, etc. When I was quitting, she tried to convince me to stay telling me she was making x amount of money selling Tupperware full-time; but I was making signficantly more than that at my full-time job without having to constantly find people to host parties. My upline with Shelf Reliance is completely supportive, offering training or other support, without pressure to increase my sales. It is MY business and I have complete control over how much I want to work, or not work.
Another concern was like others have mentioned – how many bags, kitchen gadgets or food containers does one household need? Even 15 years later, I still have enough tupperware to never go to another party, except to replace broken or missing parts. I’ve attended enough Pampered Chef parties that there’s little that I need/want. So I definitely recommend a consumable or something that someone is going to buy somewhere regularly so they may as well buy from you.
Finally, I never thought of myself as good at sales. But I have found over the years that lots of friends and others turn to me for information about a variety of subjects. I don’t like being pushy or pressuring others to buy something. So when I do a Shelf Reliance party (to let people sample THRIVE Foods)and also on my blog, I focus on information – why would I want a home store/food storage? How easy is it to use? Is it expensive compared to what I can buy at the grocery store? My theory is if I’m offering a quality product, educating others about the need for it and how to use it, then the customers will come to me… and they are. It may be a slower approach for getting my business to grow but it works for my personality. And apparently it works for my friends. Those who haven’t purchased from me yet, still come to me with questions and tell me that when they’re ready to buy they’ll buy from me.
I represent Usborne Books & More, which is a very family friendly company to work for. There are many avenues you can go down. I can do home parties, fundraisers, sell to schools/libraries, have bookfairs with schools/libraries and daycares and preschools. Reading is so important in a child’s life and for their future, and I LOVE being able to sell something that I never feel guilty asking people to purchase. You can be successful in a direct selling business. I would love to answer any questions you have!
I was successful in MaryKay cosmetics and Stella & Dot jewelry but both times had trouble keeping balance – it was very easy to be swayed by the success and begin to see everyone I met as a potential sale rather than a witnessing opportunity for the Lord. You can be very successful and make extra money but for me and my family, it is not worth dividing my attention.
I haven’t done direct sales, I’m leery of the business model, and I’m weary of being invited to “parties” where I feel obligated to buy over-priced items I don’t need.
For Christ-followers, there’s another issue, and that’s whether or not our involvement in direct sales will change our view of the people around us — will everyone become a potential customer instead of a brother/sister in Christ or someone in need of the Lord?
Randy Alcorn has a great section about this in his book “Money, Possessions and Eternity”, and a brief summary of his view is available here: http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/1/why-do-you-think-multi-level-marketing-can-lead-ma/
Best wishes as you make your decision!
I have read through a lot of the comments, and there are many perspectives, but one thing I want to point out: Many of you have mentioned how it seems mean or rude to pressure your equally poor peers to spend money they don’t have. I get that. I was a SAHM with NO money, but I have no problem enjoying a party and not buying, and my friends are cool and understand that. I’m now a working single mom with a little extra money, but I’m still choosy where I spend it. BUT! Not everyone is broke! There are plenty of people with plenty of money who do like to spend and shop, and plenty of those people even do it responsibly! Just because my demographic is penniless SAHM’s doesn’t mean a few connections later you won’t find the rich snobby demographic. 🙂 You gotta start somewhere. (And yes, I realize that entire idea is ridiculous on a frugal blog, but whatever….both sides of the coin!)
I was fairly successful at selling Stampin’ Up! about 8 years ago for a couple years but stopped selling when I moved. It seemed impossible to keep selling it after I moved and knew no one. My advice would be don’t do it! Direct sales is A LOT of work! There are a lot of expenses involved in mailings, catalogs, gas expenses, etc that you don’t think about at first. I’m also one of those people who HATE parties. If you are reading moneysavingmom then you are probably trying to save money. Since your friends aren’t interested I think it would be incredibly hard to get a good start in selling. I am also not a fan of Thirty One at all. I would have a hard time selling people Thirty One products when I knew that by not purchasing the products it would probably bless their family more. As far as 31 goes their things are cute but the quality really isn’t that great. I would much rather sew something myself or support a stay at home mom’s etsy shop business. If you are a mom this would also mean taking time away from your family especially during the weekend when you really want to spend time with them. There are so many other ways that you could earn extra cash. I would definitely look into other ideas.
Hey Ladies!
I was in this same boat myself back in the Spring and made the decision to become a Independent Scentsy Consultant- It is awesome and I have not regretted it once! Scentsy is a newer company that’s only been around for eight years, so chances are, you will not find many folks that know about it. Scentsy Family owns three different brands to choose from to be a consultant for, but it’s main brand is Scentsy Fragrance. This is a wickless candle company that makes a variety of high quality candle warmers, as well as bath, body, and laundry products. The company is strongly rooted in family values and community giving. Check out my website if you’d like to learn more!
I sold 31 products for roughly a year and a half. I found that unless I was doing multiple parties a month, it wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t the driving, or gas, or behind-the-scene work (I thought that was minimal), but rather having to keep up with buying the new products for display, which came out 3 or 4 times a year. Sure, you only spend $99 in the beginning, but people are going to want to see the new patterns and designs, so you’re going to have to replace the initial set, many times over. I think I only broke even.
Also, if you want to make it work, you’re going to have to 1) network, network, network and 2) not be afraid to ask or fear rejection. You really have to treat it like a true business and do follow-ups and keep in contact with previous customers.
I think people generally like 31 products (although maybe it’s not quite as hot as last year?) and they’re reasonably priced…so that’s a plus.
I agree with those who get annoyed with all of the different parties. I wanted to find something I could do from home that wouldn’t take up my evenings.
I have recently gotten involved with two different direct sales companies, both of which I would recommend.
1) Send Out Cards (www.sendoutcards.com) which is a very reputable company that has a great compensation plan, no inventory, no parties – you can sign people up as customers and/or distributors and it’s an affordable product that is useful for just about everyone! Who doesn’t send birthday cards…. (or at least intends to…)?
2) and Legal Shield (www.legalshield.com) which has been around for a long time and is a New York Stock Exchange company. This one can be a little more involved, if you want it to be, but doesn’t have to be. Basically it’s a pre-paid legal service. You can sign people up as members and/or associates. Definitely worth looking into, even if you’re not interested in becoming an associate:) Memberships include legal advise 24/7 from certified lawyers, contract review, wills for you and your spouse (renewed every year)…and tons more.
I don’t mean to be sales-pitchy! That’s not my intent. I just haven’t come across many people who are very familiar with these services and they are really great!
I think you can be very successful if you love the products and don’t give up. That being said, there are a ton of Thirty One consultants in my area and I am invited to at least three or four parties a month by friends. I go and spend at least $30 and that really adds up so I have started to decline those and Scentsy parties which I have several friends who sell those as well. I like the bags and the scents but it gets overwhelming some months and it is almost impossible to spend less than $50 if you want to get the great deals so when I only spend $30 I feel like I did not get a great deal either which is frustrating. Good luck, you can do it!
My advice would be to make sure you can be passionate about the products and company. You can be successful with direct marketing, but it takes work and dedication to the company and products. There will always be people who are negative about it, so don’t let that bother you as long as you are a part of a great company.
I am a distributor with Reliv, and I love the company and products. Even though I love this company, others may not. I wouldn’t be interested in other companies that others love. The point is that you are an individual and you know what you can get passionate about.
You need passion with any business that you are doing on your own. It helps you persevere and become successful over time.
If you can be passionate about 31 than go for it. If there would be another product/company that would suit you better then go for that. I’ve heard 31 to be a good company, so I don’t think that would be a concern. The biggest concern would be your commitment and passion. I hope that helps. 🙂
I have been doing Scentsy for exactly one year now, and all in all, including expenses, I have made $10. ten. I tried really hard at first, but even in my neighborhood (500k homes), I couldn’t get a single customer. I ended up only selling thins to my friend and sister- and I definitely won’t keep bugging them- I am not comfortable doing that, b/c I know I don’t like it. The only thing that has made it worth it to me is the fact that I buy and use the products myself, and I can get them for wholesale.
I recommend checking your city’s Craigslist and look to see how many people are trying to sell their direct sales supplies in order to just cut their losses and get out… I think they are only for people with certain personalities, and even then, only when they can get in while the company is still small.
I have tried many direct sales business and have started out strong and then struggles. That is until I started selling Wildtree Products! Wildtree is an all-natural food product with no additives, preservatives, MSG, or dyes. It’s also all from a nut-free facility! My business is booming and I think it’s because a) everyone eats, 2) being healthy and all natural is the new thing, 3) we make, making meals for your family, easy and delicious! I would LOVE to chat with anyone who is interested. I’m making money and feel great about helping other people!
http://www.mywildtree.com/lacychapiewsky/
I think it depends on the product and also who it is that is trying to get you into it. I tried Tomboy Tools a couple of years ago as I worked with Habitat for Humanity and thought I could get parties etc. I could not even get one party booked. I think if I would have had someone above me that would have been willing to help me get started it might have been better, but since she was not willing to help or even coach me it did not work. I got alot of great tools that I had to buy, but other than that it did not work for me. Best of luck in your decision. I have a friend that is selling 31 and is doing well, so it just depends on the individual.
I just signed up with Celebrated Creations because it was free start up, the bags are adorable and its so much cheaper than 31 and Initials. I’m finding more luck networking on Facebook than forcing my friends and family to buy, they can do parties online and just order direct from my website, this way there is no pressure to my friends and family.
When I was younger I tried my hand at a couple of direct sales companies. I was never able to make much money from it, and ended up feeling like I had failed each time. The leaders made it seem so simple and it just didn’t happen for me.
Over the course of the years, I have thought about the direct sales model quite a bit. Overall, I don’t really feel like the “party plan” is a good business model because people are being pressured into buying. They are buying from genuine need or sometimes even want. Also, it can take mom out of the house and away from the family.
I would say it could be a good thing if you are able to market it like a real business (unrestricted advertising, selling in other avenues such as online or trade fairs, etc). After much thought I recently signed up with a direct sales company (http://www.longaberger.com/jasminelucero) because I really like their products and wanted the discount. Because I am a blogger, I decided to use it as an “affiliate” type income from my blog only selling online.
One thing that helped me make that choice was that I didn’t have to put any money into it to start (it has a military program that allows military members and their families to join for free). So that is another consideration. Most of us can’t afford to pour money into a business without much in return.
One last consideration…if your husband has any hesitation, follow his leading. There are many husbands against this type of thing, whereas us women tend to want to jump right in. Make sure to have your husband’s blessing!
Yes it can absolutely be worth it. I think you need to look at the margins for realistic longevity: minimums, commission structure, self-discipline for your work habits and money management, and consumability (I’m not in need of as many new customers each month since our product is consumable, vs products like 31 – which I love but would not want to sell). http://skipperclan.com/2012/04/17/10-tips-for-working-from-home/ is a blog I posted with suggestions and my contact info is on the about me page if you have further questions. Blessings.
Here it is – you will get out of it what you put into it.
I LOVE my Pampered Chef business and didn’t realize what the Lord was planning for me when I tried the apron on for size almost three years ago. When I was able to replace my full time income to take care of my sick mom, it was exciting and frightening and wonderful all at once.
I love that I am in charge of my destiny. When I need more income, I simply schedule another party! When my mom passed away four months after I turned in my notice, I had time to grieve.
My business has provided more blessings than I could have ever imagined! I will say that sometimes your friends and family are the first that you turn to help you get started and they are the one’s that disappoint you the most when they say NO. But, you should have a good leader that is willing to work with you and help you explore the people that you have access to from ALL the different areas of your life and then help you book your first six parties. It’s what I’ve helped over 30 consultants on my team do and they have found the success that they are looking for.
Also, I encourage you to look very carefully at the company that you choose to represent. Some companies are looked at as luxuries and some people will shy away from certain goods and gravitate toward others in an economy where so many are un- or under-employed. There’s a lot to consider, but it’s a WONDERFUL opportunity, if you set your goals and are willing to reach for them.
Best wishes and God bless! If I can answer any questions about The Pampered Chef for you, please feel free to contact me. 🙂
Shannon
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/shannonlashley
252-908-0707
Just want to say that I have been a Thirty-One consultant for over a year. I live in a very rural area of Maine. I have been quite successful making an extra $250-$500 per month with only 2 parties a month. This has been great to pay my car payment. I also would like to add that there are several other consultants within a half hour of me and they are making that much or more.
I have also just started selling for a brand new company called Origami Owl. The company sells personalized charm lockets. It is too soon to tell whether I will be successful or not, but with only 300o consultants in the whole United States right now I figured it was worth a try.
If you would like me to answer more questions about either company I would be more than happy too! Good luck!!
[email protected]
I did Pampered Chef for several years while I was young and did good with it but had the same concerns as lots of you…just didn’t feel good about getting others to spend money when they didn’t have it to spend. I love my PC items and use a lot of them! You certainly do need to be passionate about what you sell to be successful with it. I’m a consultant for Genesis Pure now and I’m not really working the business like I should. I know it will bring in cash and is an EXCELLENT product because I use it myself and it’s helped fix my thyroid and adrenal issues with just a few products. One of these days I’ll start working it like I should but right now I’m building my herd of meat goats…now THAT I’m passionate about!
I have had no success with party type direct selling (ie.: Tupperware, Thirty-One, etc.), but have found that because the products are not consumable it’s difficult to find new customers all the time. However, I discovered Avon many years ago and have been very successful. It only costs a minimum to sign up (around $10) and there is no “kit” of numerous products to buy up front. Avon sells itself and is consumable so my customers are always calling me for more. You might want to try it. I’ve had great success as long as I don’t spend all my profits on myself and my family.
I think it comes down to passion for and belief in a product. One that helps fill a need or help people somehow. If you are selling something just to make money, I think you will come across desperate and unsincere. My sister in law used a product for many years before taking the plunge into marketing the product through mlm. She has a passion for the product from personal experience. The product is Juice Plus. It is a consumable product so gets repeat orders, but she does not hold ‘parties’ but talks about the health benefits through her normal day to day contacts. I have never been pressured or even asked to buy. I think she is successful because of her genuineness and low-key approach.
not worth it…my husband asked me to quit avon years ago because he said it was making me too focused on apprearances and material stuff…he was right but at the time, it was hard for me to see. I’m so glad he was straight with me now. Deep down, my priorites are different than how I was starting to live and I want that to be obvious from each part of my life.
At this point, if I found something practical and useful I would consider again..however, I can’t find anything like that…31 is neat, but how many women do you know who “need more bags”??? It seems mean to parade a bunch of fancy, expensive, cute bags in front of mommas who are scraping by just to feed their families, you know? Some women I know will go to the parties because they feel bad and then buy stuff because they feel bad, even though they can’t afford it…I just feel like it would be wrong to be a part of that.
I am frustrated about pam chef…I recently minimalized my kitchen and I was amazed…I owned like 12 pam chef items and I only ever used ONE of them! What a waste!
I wish I could say it was awesome and hurry, sign up…but it seems like there are probably better ideas to look at.
Direct Sales can be a really good way to make money, but just like every other job or business out there, it’s not for everyone.
Yes, it does depend on your personality. If you are super shy, you will have a harder time picking up the phone and approaching people.
It also depends on the product you represent. You have to absolutely love it or your customers will tell that you are in it just for the sales.
Also, when picking a direct sales company, it’s better to choose one where the product is closer to being a necessity and one that’s consumable. Then your target market will be broader and you’ll get more repeat business.
I love 31 bags and Pampered Chef cooking tools, but I only need so many in my house.
I recently chose to represent Wildtree – All Natural Food because it aligned with my mission to feed my family healthier. I also love to share recipes and time-saving kitchen tips with others. Plus, it’s food…so everyone is a prospect. And, it’s consumable…so if they like it, they’ll be back for more.
I’m off to a slow start, but it’s not the company or product, it’s the time and commitment I’m putting in to building the business.
I know too many peole (myself included) that have tried it (Usborne, Pampered Chef, Wildtree, Slumber Parties, Mary Kay, 31) and give it up because they make no money. The time and effort it takes to get leads for parties is more than people tell you when recruiting you. The “hour or two” you spend at a party gets to be way much more time than that when you factor in the work ahead of time, follow up, order processing, drive, arrive early, stay late to close out with the hostess, etc. The only way you make real money is to recruit, recruit, recruit. It is hard.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t have success with UBAM. Teachers that are familiar with Usborne Books (2012 Childrens Publisher of the Year) love them and will practically sell them for you, in my experience. They have introduced some really great things within the last several months including a StoryBook App from iTunes that my own kids really enjoy.
When talking to someone about joining something like this, ask to see their schedule C. That is what they send to the government to pay their taxes. Consultants tend to want to show you their checks or claim they make so much in “commission.” But without deducting their expenses, you have no idea of their true profit.
There are a couple of great websites out there when looking to join something like 31 or Mary Kay or Pampered Chef or Avon or one of the other hundreds of MLM’s.
This site gives you a 5 questions to see if you will make any money
http://mlm-thetruth.com/evaluating-mlms/5step-eval
And this site has many people that have tried MLM’s and are more than willing to share their story.
http://www.pinktruth.com/
I am enjoying my surprised success as an Ind. Usborne Books & More Rep. (2012 Children’s Publisher of the Year), as well as being a Distributor with It Works!. Both are products that I was already buying so I decided to try them both, at different times, and I am happy with where I am with both companies. I believe success depends on the individual and how many existing reps there are in your area already. In my case, I didn’t have reps for either company in my area. I’d be glad to provide a link to both companies to check out if they are interested. I promise I won’t try to “recruit” you, espcially if you live close to me. 😉
Thanks for your interest! Here it is: http://www.usbornebooksplusmore.com AND http://wrapartist.myitworks.com
I am a thirty-one consultant & I love it! We have meetings every other month & they give lots of good ideas to help you with your business. It takes commitment to make things work, & you just have to keep asking. Make a goal & stick to it. A great way to start your own Thirty-One business is to host your own party to start out with & talk up the hostess benefits.
I am pretty good at selling, and I think I could really be successful at one of those party companies………BUT I have a hard time with the bad feeling I get convincing others to buy things. Starting out you need to rely on your friends and family. I don’t want to be asking people to spend money on things they don’t need, I’d rather be helping them save money. Even if it is people I do not know I don’t want to convince them to spend their hard earned money on expensive products. I used to work at a bank and I was AWESOME at the sales, but I came home with a pit in my stomach every day. Just because someone says yes to something, does not mean they should have….
I’m a rep for Juice Plus+, which is a consumable product and it does make a difference when you’re selling a product that people need on an ongoing basis that they’re willing to spend money on. I love being a rep and offering a simple solution for helping families get the nutrition from more fruits and vegetables into their diet ever day. I’m a nutritionist by trade so know first-hand how hard it is to get your kids/spouse to eat a healthy diet and this is a great way to bridge that nutritional gap. Juice Plus+/NSA is company operating under the highest integrity (as many direct selling companies do) and I’m proud to be associated with them.
I agree with others who have posted on this subject that you have to do your homework on the different direct selling options that are out there. Some companies are better than others in terms of the money you have to spend to get started (Juice Plus+ is only $50) and how they compensate their reps (I’m leery of any company that pays you for signing distributors up rather than compensating you when you sell the product to the marketplace). You’ll hear a lot of misinformation about direct selling companies that might scare you away but don’t let that deter you if you’re looking for a solid work-from-home/make a little extra money option. It’s working for a lot of people out there who are looking to supplement income if you’re willing to do the work. Good luck in your search for the right solution for you…
Direct sales is not an easy business to get into. It’s a lot of hard work and you need to have a strong sales personality, ready to make new friends and have parties, etc.
While some people have the personality to go for it and do these things effortlessly and make gains, some find it extremely difficult and fail to profit from it. In a nutshell, do some realty checks before you commit to direct sales.
I am a senior rep for Nussentials. We sell all natural, liquid health supplements. I started in August and have done pretty good. I started to sell because I loved their products so much I wanted to earn free product. The plus is I get my free products and get a check every month! It saves me money. Of course I’ve seen others not do as good and some do a whole lot better then me! I think you get out of it what you put in it. If you only want free product or a discount on something you use all the time you don’t have to much in. If you want to make good money, work harder. I love what I do!
Multi level marketing often require you to buy inventory or make large monthly purchases to qualify for bonuses. The problem these days is people don’t have money to spend on “extras” and most of the purchases are going to be a one-time purchase so you have to consistently find new clientel. I would love to show you a company that is not a Multi level marketing company. No inventory, no stocking or selling product and the products are things people use everyday therefore you would not be asking people to spend any additional money, they simply switch the store they are currently buying from. Contact me if you are interested in learning more!
Yes, you can make money doing direct sales, but you have to not get sucked into buying everything you sell. I have done 3 different direct sales companies. The first one was 20+ years ago and I failed miserably because I had no one to host parties for me. I was very young and intimidated to ask EVERYONE I ran into to host a party. About 6 years ago I was doing fairly well with another company. It was a brand new company and I even attended the national conference. After my second year, based on the difference between what I sold and my expenses (including buying discounted products) I made a whole $1. I quit and started college. At that time I decided if I was ever to do it again it would have to be a company that had a consumable product to keep my customers coming back. I found one and signed up last year. It is a natural food company & I believed in the products & I still use them. However, because of my classes and working another full-time job it wasn’t a successful venture.
So, my answer to you is to ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you willing to spend time to run it the right way? Participate in meetings, set up your parties and contact people for parties.
2. You need to be a very organized person in order to make this work.
3. Is it a product you believe in?
4. Will it give you repeat business?
5. Do you know enough people to get you started?
One last thing, make sure that you can earn some financial credits for your papers supplied form the company (for example, your order forms, catalogs, etc.)
If you decide to do this, good luck! If you live in Wisconsin give me a call! I have been looking for someone who sells 31! Hope this helped!
I thought I had replied but it’s not showing up…so here goes again!
I’ve sold through several direct sales/ party business and did lose money. Most companies do require that you keep some inventory in hand, or the catalogs are expensive or whatever – but I never made any money with Avon, Mary Kay, a scrapbooking company and SMC. I do know sell Gold Canyon Candles and love it. I’ve been selling for over 2 years now and am doing really well.
I do not have parties! Parties are a thing of the past. Unless you’re going to spend the money for booze, no one wants to spend their Friday or Saturday night having you try to push them to buy stuff they don’t really want in the first place. I have book parties and a ton of personal sales. That’s it. I don’t do craft shows either, because it requires me to buy product up front.
Gold Canyon has samples that I buy each season (roughly $20) and that’s how I sell. People smell the samples, love them and buy them. I have several customers whom I’ve met through referrals of other great customers.
I will admit that I don’t devote a ton of time to Gold Canyon. I answer emails and submit orders, but I’m not big on pushing my customers to buy, hold parties or anything. I average about $200 a month right now, and that’s good enough for me – for the amount of time I want to put into it.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Make sure it’s a consumable product. Honestly…how many bags are ONE person going to buy.
2. Make sure it’s a product that you love. It shows. If you love your product, so will your potential customers.
3. Look into the real costs. Are you required to carry inventory? If you have a website – what are the monthly costs? Catalog costs?
4. Find out how many reps are in your area. Gold Canyon, even after being around for 15 years, is still pretty small when it comes to rep numbers. Avon would be a nightmare because there are SO MANY REPS. If you’re interested in 31 – google reps in your area.
5. Look at yourself. Sounds like you’ll need to move outside your circle of friends – can you do that?
Supper is burning!
Good luck!
You can make money as there are people doing well in it! BUT, you have to remember that it IS a business in every sense of the word. If all you do is show up at a presentation you won’t do well. I started selling Norwex a year ago and while we aren’t becoming rich off of it, I am making$400-500 extra a month for 3-4 shows. I think one of the biggest factors is how well known is the company? I have been to a million Pampered Chef, Partylite, 31 parties, and I’m frankly tired of them! That is one of the major factors of why i choose Norwex. It is new and people are excited to learn about it! We all have to clean our homes and this is a a product and company that really helps to lower monthly costs! Also, consider start up costs and if you have to keep products on hand. If you choose to go with it, work daily at making calls, helping hostesses, typing emails, etc. You get out of it what you put into it! Good luck with whatever you decide! And if you want to know more about the company that has no start up, no need to keep products, and 35% commission I’ll be glad to answer 🙂
My husband and I recently became involved in direct sales for a health and wellness company. (Yes, we are a team which is awesome.) I never thought I would do direct sales for many of the reasons people are mentioning. But, I first got hooked on the products because they work and both of us have had awesome results. We use them and will continue to. It became easy to share what we’re doing because people ask! And when you are credible and genuine, it’s more about sharing than selling. As a former teacher turned SAHM I love that I coach and help people get results so it’s a win-win. I feel personal satisfaction when a skeptical person gets results and are healthy and happy. I always tell people it “may or may not be for you” and that is truly okay with me. This company was perfect for us because who doesn’t need energy or weight management or sports performance or income? I personally could not sell purses, jewelry, candles or whatever that are overpriced. But everyone needs better health. Yes I have to work and balance family and other responsibilities but if the passion and motivation are there, it will work. And I don’t have to get people to have parties.
I live in a area saturated by ladies trying to sell everything and anything. From handbags,candles
Direct sales is like anything else at which you would like to be successful, you need to be passionate about what it is you’re doing and willing to manage yourself. I sell Barefoot Books and love it. I am also a part-time reading specialist and passionate about literacy. Honestly, if I was in it just to sell books I probably would not be successful. Everyone I have sold a book to has thanked me and people enjoy coming to my story time play dates. You just need to figure out what it is you are passionate about and if you can run your own business. Good luck!
I recently started selling It Works! products and I am having HUGE success at it (like getting out of debt in a matter of months!). Like any other direct selling it does depend on the work you’re willing to put into it. We offer consumable health/wellness/cosmetic products that people want! It is a debt free company that is just starting to take off in the US, so there isn’t nearly the competition for customers at the moment. Maybe it’s just a matter of going a different direct sales route…http://heatheryordy.myitworks.com…Check it out!!
I am also a “Wrap Artist” and loving it!
I have tried these avenues before, too, and have never had good luck. Maybe I’m just not good at it.
I do, however, have outstanding success selling on etsy. It’s been the perfect fit for me. If you have a creative outlet at all, consider selling your products there. Good luck!!
Hi guys…I have been in the direct sales industry for several years. There are days I love it and days I don’t. The company I am part of does have some consumables but we deal mostly with recurring bills. Things people pay every month out of habit. I tried other companies and even though I believe in the direct sales industry I had a hard time. It was hard asking friends and family to purchase items when people are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table. So you have to first believe in what you are “selling”, you have to believe in the company you are part of (and there are many wonderful companies) and you have to believe in yourself. One of the things that helped me tremendously is making a choice and then standing by it, know matter what anyone says. Good luck to you!!
I don’t know if this is harsh, but whenever a Facebook friend joins a MLM (31, Premier Jewelry, Candle sales, etc.), I usually just hide them from my News Feed because I get so tired of reading sales pitches.
I agree. I actually think it’s rude to constantly be trying tosell to people….especially your friends.
When I started with Shelf Reliance, I wanted my friends to know but not irritate them as I have also gotten irritated when the only thing someone posts is to buy such and such (and now it’s when everything is politically critical).
So I created a business page for it on Facebook. For the first few weeks or so, I did double posts for everything with a note that if they wanted to continue hearing about the business side, to go Like my business page. Once I hit my goal of # Likes, I stopped doing the business posts every time on my personal page. Now it’s just occasional with big sales or something I think would be interesting to even those not interested in purchasing from me.
My friend sells 31 and once you figure in gas, supplies, $100 start up cost, and her own “discounted” purchases, she doesn’t make hardly anything in profit.
Also, 31 is so so popular in our area. I can name 6 different 31 reps. So definitely consider how saturated the 31 market is in your area.
You CAN make a DS biz work. I love 31. However, I have been with Mary Kay for 3.5 yrs. Whichever company you decide to go with, you must be willing to match what you want to get out of it with the work. You aren’t going to pay your mortgage if you have one party a month. I started with a VERY small network and last month I sold $1300…I make 50%! So it IS possible, even starting small. It greatly helps that I sell a consumable product, so I have consistent reorders from my customer base. I did try a company prior to MK and did not do well because of the monthly requirements. MK does not have quotas. As I said, I LOVE Thirty-One’s product and what they stand for! (MK is also faith based with the motto being the golden rule and Faith, family and then career). Whatever you decide, you MUST LOVE THE PRODUCT you are selling and do the work that backs the goal!
Hi Shanna! Do you mind me asking how you did it and made the full 50% profit? Did you sell $1,300 retail all at full price? I at first believed my recruiter, that I would make 50% off each sale (buy for a $1, sell for $2, easy! right?) but then when I factored in all the samples, hostess gifts, ‘free’ training that I had to pay $5 for each week, gas, etc. I barely made even $2/hour!! (I totaled up all my time…phone calls, prep, clean up, etc.) And it was way more work and stress than it was worth. Frankly, I get the feeling all direct sales companies are like this. They leave out the details, because they need more recruits to keep the thing afloat. Give me a good job at Subway any day over trying that again! At least I know I’ll make minimum wage, and I don’t need to try to sell the sandwiches myself at a discount to try to make a profit…
For one, I RARELY purchase samples. Your starter kit comes with FULL SIZE products to demo, and I invested a small amount into a glamour kit soon after I started my biz. My weekly meeting is free, (and you are NOT REQUIRED TO GO. So, even if it was $5, it would be worth to me for the training) we each take turns bringing food. As far as in figuring in gas and other things, I was stating my commission is 50%, just like another DS company may have a 10-25% commission rate, but you are still paying for gas, starter kits and samples out of pocket with your commission. With selling 1300 last month (3 parties and 2 facials), and inputting my miles and hours, I still made over $35 an hour. I also receive a bonus check from MK for my team’s activity 🙂 I didn’t have party for a year, because of a tough pregnancy and then having a newborn, and that was OK, because I had no monthly quotas to meet…I just didn’t, make as much money by only servicing my customers at that time. Like I said, with any direct sales company, you have to work to make money, its not going to fall in your lap by any means. As far as MK leaving out the details, everything was pretty up front with me, I knew what I was getting into and what my options were as far as building my biz. I don’t think MK is struggling to get people in by any means, we are all over the world…and they are 100% debt free.
Wow!! That’s pretty amazing!! That means you worked 4hrs/week at the most. If that includes all the pre-party and follow up phone calls and delivery of product, etc. that’s amazing!!! I would guess that every time I did a party, I was spending 4 hrs traveling to, setting up, doing, and cleaning up the party. And AT LEAST another couple of hours recruiting people to host a party, coaching the hostess, doing my paperwork, phone calls, delivering product and doing follow up and trying to find people for my next party. Plus my director insisted we go to the weekly meetings if we wanted to be serious about our business. That took another 3 hrs a week with travel. And I don’t know that I ever sold $1,300 in a month. What would you say your average is per month, and how do you keep your parties so short? I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I sometimes wonder if I quit too soon and if I should give it another go.
That was supposed to be $25…guess In have big thumbs. LOL. The facials and 1 party were in my home, one party was 20 minutes away, and 1 was hosted by a friend with whom I was getting together with anyway. I don’t book or recruit after my appointments, I do it during the party or facial. I always pass a bag around for each person to throw away their trash after we are done. There are times when I don’t have that good of a month…especially if I am not working hard. As far as going to the meetings…I LOVE THEM. I GET to go and be away from my kids (3, 2 and 4mo)and surround myself with positive women that are now dear friends once a week. As a bonus, I get training (and yummy food without my kids begging for a bite lol). My director is an hour away, so I have been “adopted” by a director 15 min from me and attend her meetings. An hour is too far especially with a nursing baby at home. When I have been WORKING (for me thats’s 2-3 parties a month and a couple of facials) my biz I average 800-1000 in sales. Sept was one of my best months ever. When I signed up, it was for a hobby and the discount, then I decided it could make my car payment and after that the mortgage, so that is always my goal. And along the way I have gathered team members, some loved it, some didn’t and that’s OK. It may not be for you, but I love it and I love the product 🙂
You’ve got it going pretty good! That’s cool. I think I had a lousy director, who fudged the truth I think to recruit me. I remember she told me during my first phone call with her that the average car driver works about 15 hours a week, but I was doing at least that, and following what was recommended to me…and it just didn’t work for me. I cannot imagine what I would have had to do to make an ‘executive income’ which I was under the impression was really common in Mary Kay. But to try to make a go of it, especially if I had to get my own health insurance and retirement (which I need because I’m not married) I don’t know it almost seems impossible. But maybe, like you said, if it’s just for a bit of extra money each month, and to get out of the house, then it can work. But I’m sure maybe your husband has insurance, etc. Thanks Shanna for your insight. Good luck to you!! 🙂
Thanks! I do have a wonderful director! I do think car drivers put more time into their biz than 15 hrs. But, its definitely worth it for a brand new car every 2 yrs and having insurance paid! That is a goal of mine FOR SURE! Good luck to you…many blessings!
I also needed some extra money, and I decided to sell AVON. I chose them because it’s only $10 to get started, and because they are well known – I didn’t want to make appointments with people to explain everything. I had a “grand opening” party at my house that 12 or 13 people came to, and I give the brochures out every two weeks, trying to add 3 extra people to my list every cycle to grow my customer base. I just completed my first full month, and I sold $1,200 worth of product, which I earned 40% on. I feel pretty good about that, and hope to continue onward and upward from there 🙂
Added benefit: My kids and I ride around on our bikes making deliveries and giving out the brochures, so we’re getting extra time together and some exercise, too!
I think the most important thing to realize is that the only way to truly make money is to recruit other people. Just selling product will never give you a large profit. So if you don’t see yourself being able to constantly recruit new people, then I would find something else. I had to learn all of this the hard way.
I have sold just about everything: Avon, Mary Kay, SMC, some scrapbooking company and now I sell Gold Canyon Candles. I’ve found that it has a ton to do with the types of products that you sell.
While I had no success at the other companies, I do very well with Gold Canyon. I’ve been selling them for a little over two years now. Even though they’ve been around for 15 years – it’s still a company that many people haven’t heard of, and they do not have a huge saturation of reps. They have an amazing product that once people buy the candles – they are hooked and want more! (and more!)
I personally don’t do parties. I do personal sales, referrals and book parties. That’s where I’ve had my luck. I really think parties are a thing of the past. From the reps I’ve talked to, unless you shell out the cash to buy booze and serve drinks during your party – people are just too busy to want to spend a Friday or Saturday night sitting around spending money. Book parties are just that – I give my host a book, samples. order forms. She takes the books out to her work, family, ect and sells them. Gold Canyon hosts earn amazing rewards, so it’s really worth their time.
For me, with Gold Canyon, once a person tries the candles – they tell their friends and I get a ton of business that way. And I’m not an out-going person when it comes to sales and I’m certainly not pushy about making people buy.
If I were you, I would spend some time researching different companies to find a product that you really love. If you love the product, so will your potential customers. Someone else commented about a consumable product and that is certainly something to keep in mind. Also the number of reps in your area. Even though I love Avon, there are a million reps!!
I would also recommend that you look into Gold Canyon! (wink, wink)
Good luck in your search! http://www.SamD.MyGC.com
-Samantha D
These direct sales never seem to work in my favor. I have many friends who sell 31 and Premier and they are always trying to recruit me to join them. However, first of all, I just moved and don’t know many people. Second, it seems like most people I do know are not interested in buying anything or going to parties. Also, there seems to be a saturation of 31 up here. Last, I cannot afford the start up costs of these companies. Sure, $99 might not be a lot to some people, but to someone who doesn’t have much income, it is a lot.
I just find that it works for some people, but not everyone. 🙂
I’ve been in direct sales for 10 years. I was with MaryKay for 6 years, and now I’m a Premier Fragrance Consultant with Gold Canyon. Gold Canyon has been delivering The World’s Finest in home fragrance for 15 years, I’ve been doing it for four years and love it! If you are considering direct sales, be prepared for nos you will get them 🙂 You will also get many yeses. Although your friends and family are a great place to start, you will have to venture out and find new people really quickly to keep it going. I would love to answer any questions any of you may have about Direct sales in general or Gold Canyon. Before joining a specific company you may ask your friends and family what they would most frequently buy from you.
http://breland.mygc.com is my site if you want to see what we have to offer for our consultants just let me knwo.
I forgot to add, I had my doubts when I switched from MK to GC. I spent way more money with MK than I ever made. I would give yourself a limit that you are willing to invest, both physically and financially. When you’ve reached this point you will know if it is working or not. Best of Luck in whatever you decide!
Hello,
Many of you have had great comments. Yes, I am an independent consultant for a company. In fact, I have been with 2 companies and been successful with both of them. One thing I like to point out or remind people is that when you go to any job that provides an hourly pay, you put in x hours and receive x pay. Indepdendent consultants only get paid what you/I put in. If I am not putting hours into training my team, time into promoting sales I won’t reap any benefits. Yes, it is more flexiblity but at times it can be lots of hours or little hours depending on how I make that schedule and what I want to get out of it. Obviously to make enough $ to pay additional debt or car payment requires more focus and more time. If your goal is $100 a month, much less pressure, and much less time.
Another thing to remember is while 31, Cookie Lee, Mary Kay, Stampin’ Up, Pampered Chef and I could go on and on are all great products, offer good benefits it may not be the perfect fit for you. If you are going to do a direct sales you have to absolute beleive in the company and the product otherwise you won’t be successful as you won’t be passionate about it. Thus in your presentation this comes across (whether in front of a crowd or one on one).
Another great point was not to hound your friends and family. When I started my business I personally wrote a letter to them letting them know what I was doing and would like their support. Then I defined support. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying products, hosting shows. But then after the inital contact regarding the subject, I made a point to follow-up later without mentioned the business at all and just continue building the relationship already in place.
I beleive there is a time and place for direct sale businesses, but also believe in a time and place for regular jobs and “just” being a stay at home wife or mom.
I find the majority of my hosts at different venues. I find a way that works for me without being pushy or using my family.
One thing I did in my search for which company to represent was to make a spreadsheet listing all the direct sales companies I know of. Since we all want to recruit to join our team it is fairly easy to get information. But on that spreadsheet I would have columns and a few were: company, personal interest, consumable product, trendy project, starting commission, bonus {when they start}, cost to start, commitment time required, monthly quotas and more. This way I could see a large variety of information at a glance. There were some I wasn’t really interested {but I put there information on the chart}, as I wanted to make a logical and emotional decision. Some were crossed off initially and some I debated and got more information.
Also, it helps if you have someone {spouse, parent or good friend} who supports you to reach your goals and will occasionally ask you tough questions to keep you on track.
Finally, I use my business as a ministry. It isn’t about the money for me, but yet another venue for me to inpact lives, share in their lives and build a relationship.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions you would like to ask in private, please feel free to look me up at [email protected].
Have a blessed day,
Ruth
I have a lot of experience in direct sales – but from the corporate side. I know many woman who have been highly successful and others who recognized this type of business wasn’t for them. But if you’re intrigued do it! Here’s my advice: make sure you love the product and admire the company. You can’t sell/share what you don’t believe in. Also, you can hold catalog parties by just passing around the catalog and getting orders. This can lead to someone deciding they want to hold a party because all the products “look amazing.” Be sure you have enough product to show but not enough that you find yourself spending too much money on inventory. Best advice: sign up under someone you admire who is doing well in the business. A good sponsor/recruiter can make all the difference. Good luck!
I love this advice!
This is pretty much the same advice I have! But you probably said it much better 🙂
Please, for the sake of your family and friends, stay FAR AWAY from any multi-level marketing company. The economics of the business model don’t make sense;you can find all sorts of information about it with a quick google search. I like this particular article because it’s so succinct: http://www.mlmwatch.org/01General/10lies.html
We have family and friends who get sucked into these kinds of “business opportunities,” and really all it’s done is damage our relationships with them. Treating everyone you know as a potential customer and way for you to “get ahead” instead of as a fellow human being to be loved and served is disgusting to me.
If I were you, I’d take Dave Ramsey’s advice: find something you love and that you’re good at, and focus on making that a money-making opportunity. That sounds more reasonable to me than a 1% chance to even earn a profit…
I’ve tried both Melaeuca and DK Books and while I enjoyed the products, the discounts and the business, two things were hard. Making a large enough amount of money to make the time outlay worth it and tactfully navigating the mine field that is asking your friends to have parties and have them not feel as though you want to profit from them. Instead, I teach classes to homeschoolers in my field of expertise. Just my 2 cents.
You can be successful as lots of people have done it, but it isn’t for everyone! It is a true job in every sense of the word and it takes time and effort daily. I sell Norwex and while I’m not making a ton of money, I am helping my family income more than doing nothing! I think one of the biggest factors is how well known the company is when you are starting out. I know many 31 consultants and have been to many parties and many people ( like me) are 31ed out 🙂 Try to find a company that is new and that people haven’t heard of ( like Norwex!) and then be ready to make calls, send emails, and talk, talk, talk! Good luck to you in your efforts to find someway to earn money! I’ll include my website if you would like to look and learn about the products and see if this might be something you are interested! http://www.tabithaclark.norwex.biz
Hello- I once felt the same way! But for $99.00 I figured, if it didn’t work out for some reason, well at least I just got a bunch of items for a deep discount. That was in May. Now, several months later- I now am making roughly between $200 and $600 extra by doing about 3 gatherings a month. I cannot stress enough however, that it really depends on you. If you treat it like a business- you’ll get the return of a business. It does take time and work- like all jobs. But, my daughters like to help me sort things, prepare catalogs, order forms, etc. Also- I have been so amazingly blessed to meet new ladies and inspire others as well. I love the mission statement of Thirty One and I see myself continuing in success with the company 🙂 Many Blessings to you- I wish you all the best on your journey!
Ive been selling Tastefully Simple for 2 years and agree that a consumable product is much easier. I dont actually host parties anymore and have been able to make my minimum sales each quarter from repeat customers that want to stock up on the items they love. If i was aggressive in my business i might actually make alot of money – it is definately something that you get out what you put in to it. Good luck!
i am also a tastefully Simple consultant. the months I work my business I make money. The months I am busy with my family I do not work and there fore do not make mony. You will get out of it what you put into it!!! I try to do catalog paties and expo evnts so I am home more with my family as I also work fulltime as a teacher.
I like that when I need extra money, I can host an open house or runa catalog aprty or fundraiser and make 30%. Plus I use a lot of the products in my own kitchen which makes it easier to sell.
Rachael,
I have been a consultant twice for Pampered Chef. I love it but it wasn’t working with my life and actually became more stressful then it was fun. Any direct sales business is only successful by the amount of effort you put into it. I know directors would say, “It only takes x amount of hours a week per show. However, this is not true. While the show may only take “x” hours there is still the host coaching and follow up after a show etc. Plus time to make calls and follow any leads etc. Pampered Chef does have a low start up fee and you don’t have to purchase product to have on hand. They offer lots of online training and support. But you have to know if you are a person comfortable with making cold calls, following up, doing fairs etc. the only way most people are successful in direct sales is by constantly seeking out new clients and that requires work. It requires always putting yourself out there with logo wear or talking about it at various functions etc. For me I didn’t have the time to make calls or follow up. I have three children under 5 and my shows were not “high sales” so I felt that my time wasn’t being best used in an evening if I was making only $30something for a show that was under $200 in sales.
Plus having your own business requires you to need to have space for paperwork, supplies, etc. I would only buy what was absolutely necessary but it still took space.
so while I agree some people make good money with it it really does depend on the amount of time you put into it. And the only way to start is by having friends and family help out with a show so that you can branch from there and meet your sisters coworker, who then will have a party and meet her friends etc.. it’s really hard if you don’t have that base.
Like I said I loved it but it got to be a burden and not beneficial. And I had to choose so I chose to give it up.
I have never had any luck with Pampered Chef! I tried it twice & the company has changed so much. I would think that more money could be made with a company that sells consumable products. I would love to try it with Scentsy, but I’m never organized enough & hubby gets upset with me!
I’m not a big fan of direct sales because family, friends and neighbors feel obligated to purchase overly priced products and will eventualy avoid you. We’ve been going through my elderly mom’s garage and we’re finding unopened boxes of Princess House, Avon products and tons of used Tupperware. She was a target; poor mom.
I have been thinking about the same thing lately. I have been considering selling Melaleuca, because I honestly love and really do use the products. However, I am just not a “salesy” type of person. I find that I am hesitant because it is really out of my comfort zone to push products on people. Additionally, I do not like attending parties where I feel pressured to buy something therefore I would not want to host/present these parties.
Just wanted to say that I do know several people who do very well selling Scentsy, however they put a LOT of time and effort into it. So while making decent income is possible, it does not come easy.
I have been an Uppercase Living demonstrator for 6 years. Yes, you can make money, but you have to remember that it is a business. You have to buy at least some supplies, so you will always have costs. Also you have to decide how you are going to market yourself and your products. Yes, any direct marketing will give you tools, but you have to put the work in to see results.
I sell Thirty-One because I love the product and can get great stuff for myself and my friends and family at a really great price. I have not made a ton of money because I am not pushy and do not recruit. I have one or two customers that really love 31 and they keep me in business 🙂 I think if you go in thinking it will be a fun opportunity and not a money maker, you may be surprised at how well you can do! Personally, I like going to vendor shows and fundraisers and meeting new people and helping causes. Every once in a while I get to have a girl’s night out at a party and some months, I make some money. I love it 🙂
Personally, I wouldn’t attend that sort of party. And really I can’t imagine asking friends to host a party for me to make money. If you have that sort of business, I can see sending a mass email to friends or doing a Facebook status to let them know you now sell and would be happy to do parties if anyone is interested. But, what I dislike about the direct-marketing stuff is the pressure on people you know to buy, to host parties for you etc. And I don’t think it’s fair to directly ask most family or friends to do that unless you are really really close and really know that they are the sort of person that won’t mind a bit and won’t feel at all pressured.
This is a very good question and one that I will be addressing in an upcoming post(s) on Which Essential Oils Company is Best. I think it can be great to become a rep with a company in order to get your own products at a discount, but the companies that this works best with is those with consumable items. There are only so many bags / decor items, jewelry, etc that one can / should buy.
Of course, if you are going to try this it needs to be with a product line that you are really serious about and will be without reservation.
I think you need to be realistic about how long it can take to build up a customer base and a downline to make really good money. So there are a lot of things to think about.
That being said, there are some companies that can make more sense than others regarding going into the direct sales business. I am currently looking deeply into a line of products that are organic cosmetics, superfood, probiotic, skin care, hair care and house care. With that amount of products, it would be very easy to make a minimum monthly order to get a maximum discount, and you also can generate a lot of interest since you cover a lot of bases. Some folks would like cosmetics but don’t care about probiotics — and vice versa. When you have a “monolithic” company (one basic item being sold) then the amount of appeal to potential customers is reduced.
Hope that helps!
Statistically speaking, the vast majority of people who get involved in direct sales actually LOSE money.
Yes! If you do some research about direct sales in general, many people do not make money.
I am a new Thirty One consultant, and I think that you are getting a good view of the wide spectrum of people that you will encounter as a consultant. Some people absolutely love Thirty One and the products, other people (as you have read) dislike direct sales & avoid it like the plague. (I have found that it is typically because of a poor experience with another direct sales business.) So, two things that you need to consider would be 1) are you willing to deal with those who are negative about your business & just keep looking to meet the customers who are interested and 2) how many consultants are there already in your area? Thirty One is still fairly new in my area and I encounter many people who have never heard of it, so that has been great for me. I still have to deal with the negativity from some about my direct sales business, but I feel that it has been a blessing overall.
Honestly, I have been a rep with two different direct sales companies. I have not made much money with either one. It takes a LOT of work especially when you are a rep for a party based company. I have been very disappointed with the amount of time that I put in vs. what money I got out. In all honesty, you could probably make a much more substantial income by simply getting a part time job than trying to do the direct sales thing. Another thing that is terrible about direct sales, in my opinion, is that all of a sudden people will become prospects instead of just people. And people will view you differently too, because once they find out you are in direct sales, they will wonder when you are going to try to corner them.
Well said, Kristen. Your last few lines hit it.
I sold Pampered Chef for a couple years and never made a dime. By the time I paid for supplies, car fuel, and other expenses I actually lost money. I had an incredibly difficult time convincing people to hold parties, even though I consistently heard how my approach to giving parties was “so much fun” and entertaining for everyone who did attend. I was able to add some pieces to my kitchen at a relatively low cost, but to me that was the only positive. I attended consultant meetings once a month and the underlying theme was always built around the difficulties all of us experienced in trying to get people to book parties. One of my main reasons in quitting was a deep conviction that direct sales is not conducive to our current economical situation as a country. Too many young moms and financially struggling people feel pressure to have a party or spend money at a party. It was, actually, my attempt at direct sales that helped me discover this.
I have done over 7 different direct sales company in 12 years and not made much money or lost money in each one. I live in a lower income area and people just don’t have the cash to spend. You have to do vendor fairs, week long events and go to other states and richer areas of town if you want to be successful. Recruiting is huge, that is where you make money in direct sales. But after supplies, fair fees, gas and expenses and the immense amount of time to keep your team and customers happy I really don’t know if would even be worth it to me. I think if you get in a new company on the ground floor you may have a chance if the company makes it big. Unfortunately there is a scentsy consultant on every street around me, so I don’t make the big bucks here..LOL same with avon, 31, ect. Every stay at home mom seems to sell something or other.
If you do it, go with a consumable product. It is so hard to find a customer, once you get one you want them to have to come back. Or an item you can easily sell at a booth. Thirty one bags are meant to be personalized and you pick the fabric ect. People want cash and carry.
I agree completely with what you are saying. I also did Pampered Chef and I found that unfortunately I ended up being used on several occasions like a caterer for a party! People didn’t really want to watch me cook or watch a presentation about it – they mostly wanted to visit with each other and eat what I made.
Also, with direct sales you have to be incredible outgoing and not mind cold calling leads, etc. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being entirely truthful. For example, when you run out of friends to host parties (and you will) you must be willing to follow up with those who attended their parties, etc. Usually in direct sales, during your party there is some type of sign in sheet and one of the questions is almost always if you are interested in holding a party of your own. You must be willing to call the people who said yes or maybe and then try to be nicely assertive in getting them to host a party, typically by touting their host benefits – discounts, free products, etc.
If you do use the opportunity to be a vendor at a school function or fair, etc again you must be willing to follow up with those people, who are often parents of your kids or their friends, and attempt to get them to host.
I don’t want to be discouraging in any way, but honestly you absolutely have to have no problems talking about it often, talking people into hosting, and you have to feel very natural contacting people who are basically strangers (that you may have met one time at a party) and converse with them about hosting and remember you are SELLING them something, so they will react sometimes like you are a salesperson – which sometimes people cringe at. There are a lot of no’s for the yes’es and if this will be a problem for you or it doesn’t just fit your personality it is probably not for you. I did not like the feeling of calling people and then trying to talk them into hosting for me, you may do well in the beginning from your friends, but be prepared for the harder work to start when you move past the first few layers of people you know.
If you do this, don’t do it to make money.
1) Many (most? all?) direct sales companies require you to put some of your own money in, upfront, before you find out whether you can make any money or not. Some are scammier than others – some MLMs make the majority of their profit from new people buying sales kits! Even the non-scam ones, though, require you to buy the basics.
2) All the direct sales things I’ve seen are set up to encourage you to be a consumer as well as a sales rep. Thirty-one’s compensation for hosting parties is mostly based around encouraging you to buy products at discounted rates or get things free – which is all well and good, but it doesn’t put money in your pocket!
3) This depends entirely on your friends. If your friends actually want to buy the products you’re considering selling, they may welcome a low-pressure sales party as a way to do that. If your friends would buy something small only out of obligation to you as a friend, they’ll just do that once and then all your sales will dry up. Ask your friends first, before you shell out any money for starter kits, if they’d find anything in the catalog interesting!
i personally think it’s annoying when friends ask me to host parties… sentsy, pampered chef, etc. I find that the products are far too expensive and I wouldn’t want to invite my friends to come buy things that i would never buy because they are more expensive than their store-bought equivalent. also irritating, is the fact that so many use facebook for nothing but promoting their business… promoting is great… but when every post i see from that person is about the next sale or “get your orders in now” junk, i end up deleting the friend. sounds harsh, but it’s true! I would definitely do something else. but that’s me!
I’ve been thinking about doing Scentsy or their sister company that sells the little fondu pots just because I think the products are really cute. I think asking people to host is a pain and I can only think of a couple of friends who would do that….that being said I have considered doing it and having the parties at my house instead. Then I can supply the food/drinks and keep the mood casual by just putting out items or catalogs and letting people order if they want. I don’t mind people posting on FB – I’ve actually ordered stuff simply from seeing their post.
I recommend selling a consumable product. It’s easier to build a customer base who will repeatedly buy from you, if they like and use the product.
I do Avon and I have to say that I HATE it! I have actually had to pay on every order I have put in. Avon now has a $50 order or you dont get paid rule. I am a SAHM so I cant go peddling the products all over. I would advise you not to do it. I am getting out as soon as possible!
Direct sales are a great way to make money – but just remember that if you want to make money, you still have to work for it, it won’t be handed to you as many people are led to believe that get into it. Make sure it is a product you love and believe in, and that the profit is worth it. Also make sure that it is a good, honest, ethical company! There are some shady ones out there. I sell Premier Jewelry (a biblical, debt-free company), and we earn 50% of everything we sell with no quotas. Many only pay 25%, and that is a big difference.
Wait a second, doesn’t premier jewelry have their own credit card? Because I swear I can remember a premier rep pushing pushing me to apply for the card in order to purchase a kit I couldn’t afford when I considered selling. I just remember thinking it was odd that a debt free company had their own credit card available.
Yes, there is a (3rd party) credit card in order to make submitting online orders simple and easy, and we earn points towards free products and supplies. Having a credit card for convenience doesn’t mean you aren’t debt free. It’s also a nice way to have all of your business expenses in one tidy place.
I became a consultant with Thirty-One a month ago, right now is a great time to get involved with the holidays coming up, people love giving Thirty-One presents as gifts (I’m sure this would be a great time to sign on with any direct sales company). You do not have to be pushy to sell, but you do have to put yourself out there. I like Thirty-One because they are a Biblically sound, Christian company and they are very uplifting and positive in all of their interactions with consultants. I live in a very saturated area, so I do not expect to make a steady income of any sort, but I am probably going to average a couple hundred dollars a month for not that much work. As far as booking parties, the key is to get outside of your circle of friends. Thirty-One has a ton of great training materials to help you get started if you sign up, plus, you will have to sign up under a consultant, and they will help you get started as well! You never know where you might find a booking- your hair salon, church, who knows. You will have dry spells, but just don’t give up! I like Thirty-One because, when you sign up you are only paying $99 for your kit, and even if you never sell a dollar you will get to keep that kit as your own and have products worth $300 so you haven’t really lost anything. When I signed up, I decided I would just try to make back my $99, and if I made more- great, if I decided to stop at that point, I hadn’t lost anything, now I have made mine back plus more and have several parties booked for the upcoming month! I highly recommend Thirty-One. Good luck 🙂
There are MUCH better options out there IF you are looking to work for yourself and create on-going income, in my opinion. But if all you want to do is “make a little extra money” like you said, then maybe Thirty One is right for you.
Here are a few things to consider:
How much time/effort does it take to make ___________(fill in amount you want to make and ask other distributors to HONESTLY tell you how much time/effort/money you will have to invest to make that). And, will you continue to make that?
Is the company financially stable? (do some research on the company from reputable sources – FYI: Don’t just Google for general information, as anyone and state anything on the internet, good or bad.) I’m not saying anything bad about Thirty One. That is a “general statement” I tell anyone who is looking at a home-based type business that they plan to put time/effort into.
Do they offer product(s) people want/need, are they price right, or are you limited to who might purchase for you??
Do YOU love the product(s) yourself (very important because you will need to talk to alot of people)!!!
Is/are the product(s) consumable so you continue to get re-orders? (Sorry, but if they are not offering consumable products, I personally would NOT consider it.) After you have been through your friends/family and their friends/family…you will still need new customers if it’s not a consumable product.
Do they offer a significant compensation plan for your efforts? (be sure to talk with someone knowledgeable to help you really understand what it all takes to make the money you are looking to make)
NOTE: You will always hear the “success stories” from the “big money earners”, but ask around to get the true numbers of success – because the true numbers will make you think twice about an MLM (in my opinion :-).
I personally have done alot of research on MANY multi-level marketing companies and their compensation plans, and would not be a part of an MLM. There are many reputable MLM companies, and I believe Thirty One is reputable, but unfortunately the majority of people are sold on the fact that they will make alot of money with very little effort, when in fact the average person “Makes Little Money” (MLM). Even a super salesperson can have a very hard time succeeding with an MLM pay structure, as they will need to convince other people to join too and not everyone is a super salesperson. I am an nntrepreneur, and my office is my home. I work very part-time, and can take my business any where I go, but I am not part of an MLM for the reasons I just stated above. I would love to share some great options for you to consider if you keep your options open. But in the end, the question is, do you want to make a little extra money for alot of time/effort? If so, then make sure you partner with a company that offers products you REALLY love enough to talk to alot of people about it – way past your friends/family..
I would love to hear some of your other ideas for making money.
I would too! I think I’m done with MLMs. I’ve done them all and all they ever did was take my money and more importantly to much of my time.
I sold Tupperware since 1994 and officially retiring this year. At my peak, I was a manager with a car allowance. When I started I was a teacher and only had parties in the summers but passed catalogs around the rest of the year. When I left the classroom & had my son, I sold yearround. To get customers when I moved to yearround sales, I would do fundraisers to get my name out there and grow my base. I still have a few customers but have decided to retire because I finished school with my doctorate last year and need to focus on my academic career. Good luck!
I started in Direct sales as a Scentsy rep 2 years ago. I had hosted a couple of parties and was able to get several Christmas presents with my Hostess rewards at very low cost. I discussed it with my husband who was aware of the money traps some Direct sales can cause with over buy, buying stock that didnt sell, extra add ons and rigid minimums in sales. We chose Scentsy because of the low minimum commitment, low upfront cost, and several ways I could expand and grow, or pull back and ride without spending alot out of pocket. I also chose this direct sales company because of the way hostess rewards are set up, that many potential hostess didnt need to spend alot to host the party, and still reap the benefits. My husband purchased my starter kit as a Christmas present with the stipulation that I made the initial cost of the kit back before spending. I did that the first month, and am now a Star consultant with a team under me. If your interested in more details on how to do it on a shoestring and make money rather than spend your profits before they are here, I would be glad to talk. Hit me up!
Scentsy is one of my favorite DS companies. I have a friend who sells it and I’m having my first party with her next weekend. Scentsy is one of those things that if someone enjoys it they will continue to buy product because it runs out. Not like jewelry or bags where people buy one or two and don’t NEED to restock. I do also like Miche but would never sell it because it’s not something like candles/scented wax that needs to be refilled.
I have another friend who seems to be selling EVERYTHING…31, Pampered Chef, some new all natural cleaning stuff, Nirium. It’s annoying and obnoxious because she’s inviting all of us to all these different parties.
The friend who sells Scentsy doesn’t annoy me and isn’t pushy at all. She didn’t even ask me to have a party – I asked her to help me have one. She does it for extra money too and to help get their family out of debt. And I love the products. It’s a win win for both of us and hopefully I have a great party.
My daughter did Mary Kay and made almost no money. No one will have parties and I think it is because everyone is so busy. Occasionally a friend would agree to have a party but then she would not sell anything because it was just her friends hanging out.
In the last month I have become a Jamberry Nail Shields consultant. I think it is critical to look into everything that the company has to offer as far as training, commision, customer support, etc… Then I would do some research to see how saturated the market in your area is with consultants. In my area there are very few people that are selling the products and it is such a new idea that people love to ask me about them. Plus I can wear my product and that gets me free advertising. I have people stop me all the time and ask me about my nails. I just closed my first party and earned well over $100. Make sure you look at more than one company before you settle on just one and see what your start up costs would be.
Have you ever heard of Paparazzi before? I have been a Paparazzi consultant since Jan, and I am actually doing pretty well. It was a pretty significant cost to get started, but I’ve made $150-200 every time I’ve set up my jewelry. Everything is $5, and most women can afford at least 1 piece of $5 jewelry. I think if you choose the right company, you can be successful and make money in direct sales. Think about the kind of things that not only you buy, but that your friends buy, too. So, you aren’t asking them spend extra money on something they wouldn’t use anyway. Just my $.02. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do!
I did a direct sales business for a while. I had a hard time with it because I am frugal by nature and yet as my job, I was encouraging people to spend money on things that were definitely not bargains. Also, after a while you start exhausting your base of family and friends and it just depends on how comfortable you are with branching out and going into strangers’ homes. I finally gave up on my business when I had a string of presentations that happened during alcohol-centered parties in the homes of complete strangers. I was very young and not comfortable being in situations where I had such little control of the events.
On the other hand, I was also in college with a completely different career in mind, so I was not as motivated as some of my fellow sales people who were supporting families with their businesses. It just depends on how much of a self-starter you are and how much you don’t mind hitting up your friends and acquaintances to host a party.
Also, remember that your earnings (after expenses) will be subject to income tax AND self employment tax. This is often a shock to some people who are just starting off in a business. If you do enjoy some success, just remember to plan for taxes so you are not shocked when the time comes for you to file.
I have been invited to so many parties from friends. At first I felt like I had to attend now the answer is just a straight out no or I don’t respond. Once you go to one of their parties such as a pampered chef party then they want you to go to their candle lite party and then it seems to never stop. Why should I go and feel inclined to purchase something so the host can get something at 50% off. I just don’t agree with these type of businesses.
I agree with your comments Kelly… I just kind of glaze over the Facebook invites for “Youre invited to a ____ Party!” (thirty one, pampered chef, etc etc). I get them pretty often. Like previous posters said, it depends on what kinds of friends you have. Most of my friends are on tight budgets. Unless they have a loyalty to certain brand cosmetics (Avon, MK). I feel like I would be buying something because I felt pressured to (attending a party), .. and I also feel bad knowing my friend is doing it to MAKE money herself, and I feel bad not helping. I mean, I guess I could hand her a $5 bill or something, lol. THese types of sales appear to me as grownup fundraisers. The thing is, those types of parties do not provide things that me or my family needs. I think Thirty One has cute items and it’s a good story behind the company, however, I don’t really need the purses or other items. I don’t feel comfortable hosting a party because I know that none of my friends are really willing to sit through a presentation. We’d all rather get together for coffee and a girl’s night if we want to socialize or fellowship. Anyway, I just try really hard to find good deals on things on Amazon, etc, .. instead of from parties… so that is the reasoning behind not attending or hosting. But I do hope it goes well for those who love doing it! I would advise someone to find a skill or craft that they are good at and try to sell on Etsy for side income. Then when people buy from you, it is because they really want what you are selling, and you’re not pressuring anyone.
Nothing angers me more than people who sell products and are constantly hitting me up to host a party or buy things from them. People who host/attend those parties usually feel guilted into buying at least one thing, so you’re basically asking them to give you money (because you get a percentage of the proceeds.) That doesn’t mean you can’t sell the stuff, but unless you want your friends/family/co-workers to start avoiding your calls and suddenly become very busy when you have parties/open houses, don’t involve them.
If you’re becoming a rep for a company that you buy a lot of the products from, it might make sense to become a rep for your discount, but I doubt Thirty One is a company you buy a lot from. Technically, I’m a Mary Kay consultant but I’ve never made a dollar off of it (because I don’t want to harass my friends/family to give me money.) I get the products for half off, so I just get it for my mom, sister, and myself, which saves us a lot of money!
Are you ever contacted by Mary Kay encouraging you to increase your sales (even though as you said, you do not make money off of it) or attend meetings/seminars?
I completely agree with you! I completely hate these things! My friends are constantly having them and making me feel obligated to buy something (even though they say I dont have to). Plus the stuff is always over priced between S&H. I’m with Kelly below now i just simply say I’m busy that day.
I agree about selling a consumable product. My sister sold Premier Jewelry and was not successful. Because, MAYBE you can get someone to purchase one time, but they won’t run out and need more. I will tell you from the flip side of this that I *hate* getting invited to parties where someone is trying to get me to purchase something. These are rarely things I need and most items are over-priced. Anytime I did buy something, it was only to not seem rude.
I just became a consultant with Thirty-One a couple of weeks ago. I think it’s a matter of how much effort you want to put into it. Most people in my circle of friends don’t want to host parties either, but I’m scheduled to be a vendor at a local nursery school’s Holiday Shopping Fair and I hope to get some leads from that event. There are lots of ways to expand your potential hostess list.
Also, I’ve heard people say that Thirty-One sells itself and I had proof of that last night at my son’s Cub Scout meeting. I was looking at some new business supplies that I just received and the other two mothers asked what I was doing. I handed each of them a catalog and 10 minutes later I had a $67 order from one of them!
Best of luck whatever you decide.
It might also depend on what type of friends you have. Most of my friends have little ones or not much money, so they wouldn’t be inclined to come to parties or spend money. 🙂
I’m a Mary Kay consultant, and one thing I know about having a business is that it may start with your friends, but it will not grow without referrals to branch out and meet new customers. Friends of friends of friends…
Good point! Thanks!
I don’t do direct sales because I don’t want the pressure of having to attend other people’s parties for other products. I can’t afford the products and wouldn’t return the favor by attending the other events. I also have a problem with trying to sell an item knowing people in my area are barely making ends meet.
I did Direct Sales with Cookie Lee Jewelry. The prices are pretty outrageous and I wasn’t successful because of the community I live in. I’m in agreement with you.
I don’t buy that stuff. Not a need or even a want really. I don’t like the “Party.” I feel pressured to buy which I think is the underlying current they put across intentional or not. I have the ” barely making ends meet folks” in my community to. Consider the start up costs, time away from family, and if you would be disappointed too much if it doesn’t work out after putting in all the effort for little or nothing. Folks around here are short lived with this stuff. No $$ therefore no market. How often can you burden your friends and family? Seasonally Christmas is coming. Might be good for the next few months. Then what? January hits and everyone is trying to get back on track after the holidays with a New Year’s resolution of saving money. Be cautious.
Exactly what A Mom said! The only direct sales thing I ever buy is Pampered Chef, and right now I have pretty much everything I want from the company. And if I want something specific I order through the rep who is in my most recent closet circle of friends. Like, my chopper has been falling apart so I will probably place an order for a new one soon.
I don’t do parties. The only two parties I tried hosting was 1 Pampered Chef and 1 Tastefully Simple. For each of them I sent out 50+ invites and only 2 or 3 people showed. I don’t like the pressure to help all my many friends succeed at their parties (and now with Facebook I get at least 1 party request per week!). I definitely wouldn’t want to be on the side of putting on the pressure. Even if the rep is super laid back about ordering there is still implied pressure to buy.
I am a Thirty One consultant, and I’ve done really well so far. It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve made decent money doing it. I just have to watch how much I spend, because it’s easy to get carried away if I let myself! I think it depends on where you live how easy it is to be successful. One thing I looked at before joining a direct sales company was how saturated the area is. In my area, Thirty One is still pretty new, so it’s been easy and fun to make good money. If you’re interested, I can give you more info!
How I go about Thirty One, I’m not pushy at all. I’m honest, and I just let my customers know the facts. I joined because I wanted to get out and meet other women, and it’s been a huge blessing to me in that manner. Ive actually surprised myself with how outgoing ive become! I also loved what Thirty One stands for. It played a huge part in my picking this company. And the extra money didn’t hurt ! I definately don’t think you need to be anything but who you are to be successful. It’s sad that direct sales has such a bad rep, because there are many of us out there who aren’t pushy at all. At my parties, i never pressure to purchase anything, and I’ve had many guests that come just to get together witht their friends.
I’m in direct sales and find that your success will vary depending on the saturation of the consultants in your area, whether your product is consumable (how many bags does one person need if they last several years vs. how many candles will a person use up and replace), and the reputation of the product.
I chose a consumable item and find that I get a lot of repeat customers with little effort, and there are very few consultants in my area. However, my product is relatively new and people are skeptical at first.
You also need to know yourself. Are you self-motivated or do you require a push? Are you naturally outgoing? Do you enjoy social settings? Think about the qualities of the most successful direct sales consultant you’ve ever met. Then see if you fit the personality profile.
Such as Jamberry Nails. They are all the rage here in WV right now. Eh.
I’ve been wondering the same thing! A friend is a supervisor/rep for 31 and is always letting me know about opportunities to get involved. She’s been very successful, but I don’t know that I would experience the same level of success that she has. I have never been one to buy these sorts of items or attend these sorts of parties, so it’s hard to imagine myself as a salesperson…
Honestly though, it’s frustrating having people who lead direct sales always trying to tell you you will be successful at it and that anyone can do it. If that was true, then a lot more people would be successful instead of just being frustrated that they’ve put a lot of work and money into something and then not getting anywhere because people are too busy to come to parties.
Yes, I think it’s important to remember that people who are in direct sales want to recruit you because they get something from it! I know some wonderful, honest people who are in direct sales, but I also know others who are ALWAYS trying to sign people up underneath them by saying how easy and wonderful it is. I think they are more interested in adding people to their team to increase their profits than helping people find a legitimate business opportunity.
Very good responses by Laura & Claudia. If you ask a direct sales rep how they like it and if it’s worth it, of course they will go on and on about how great it is.
Direct sales can most definitely be for anyone, but you do need to be a little careful. I signed up as a distributor for one business and did terrible in it, but then I signed up for Clever Container (an organizing business) and have been completely successful at it.
I have come to realize that the reason I did so terrible at the first one is because I wasn’t passionate about their products. And the reason I’ve been so successful with Clever Container is because I’m passionate about organizing and in LOVE with their products. So when I tell people that they totally can be successful at this business it’s not because I’m doing it just to recruit people and make extra money (although that’s definitely a nice bonus), but because I love the business so much.
Really it all boils down to what you’re passionate about. If you hate amway’s products but love Shaklee’s, then stay the heck away from Amway and sign up with Shaklee. I say do your research first, find out what direct sales businesses are out there first and narrow it down to what you’re passionate about. Then sign up for the best one on your list.
Oh, and I highly highly HIGHLY (I think I said highly, right?) recommend you check Dani Johnson out at danijohnson.com. She’ll train you on how to really be successful at direct sales (get her script book if nothing else!).
I agree, it has to be a product YOU love or you won’t be good at selling it. I signed up with Mary Kay several years ago, and I while I like and use their products, it wasn’t something I could present. Just thinking about it made me apprehensive! But, I love Premier Designs jewelry. I have loads of fun at every jewelry party, I own and wear tons of their jewelry, and I could totally see myself selling it! Someday I hope life allows me to sell jewelry on my own schedule instead of work away from home every day.
I think you’ve hit a key point – your interest in the product(s) makes a big difference.
I fully agree. I did Stampin Up years ago and it was not natural for me – and thus I did not do very well. I earned lots of free products and stuff but it never made a noticeable impact on our income (in a positive way!). A few years ago I got fed up paying copays and decided I needed to learn how to take care of my family in natural ways as a first line of defense. I found doTERRA Essential oils and have had fantastic experiences healing my family of everything from knee scrapes to strep throat to depression. People around us noticed our family had answers no matter the ailment – they asked questions and we shared what was working for us. Fifteen months later my husband is now helping me teach people how to take charge of their own healthcare. The money is there for us to work together and help other people. This is possible because the product is outstanding, we love it, and people have great experiences with it – much easier for me personally than my previous endeavor. (I never intended to have a business with doTERRA – I just could not help but share how the oils worked and suddenly we had a growing team.) If anyone has questions about our experiences (or even a specific ailment), I am available to help you.
I don’t know for sure about 31, but I am a Mary Kay rep purely for the discount for myself and my family. To me it’s worth it because I love their products, but I don’t want to pay full price.
You will get out of it what you put into it. I have been a Mary Consultant for 19 years. Love the product, will never pay retail for it again! I still have clients from when I started 19 years ago.
I have had good luck with Lilla Rose ( http://www.lillarose.biz/simplybeautiful ) I think because it is still a smaller company and not as well known yet. Plus you can earn up to 50% profit! I’ve had friends try Mary Kay and say it is really hard to do. The more commonly known direct sales I think are much harder to do, as there are so many people in them already.
I have tried to do direct sales and had almost no success for a similar reason, I couldget party hosts, vut people wouldn’t come to parties! I know several other people who have had the same experience. But I also know several people who do direct sales and so really well. I haven’t figured out how they are able to make it work and others do the same as them, but can’t seem to get anywhere. Honestly I think it comes down to personality type. I do have a friend who does 31 and has done really well. She said that she just has people come over to her house and let’s them shop, she doesn’t try to do a whole presentation, and she thinks women really like just being able to come and hang out and have girl time and not have to sit through a whole presentation. Hope that helps!
I enjoy those better than a “hosted party” myself
I NEVER go to any of these parties anymore. I don’t like going to a party where I feel obligated to buy something. I use to go and buy the cheapest thing available, but that is still usually like $20. I have a 31 bag that was a gift; I love it. If I want another one, I know 5 people who sell it so I can easily get one without going to a party. I honestly can do w/o all the other stuff: partylite, pampered chef, all the “gourmet” food parties, simple delicious, all the kid’s clothe’s parties. Luckily for me, my husband has a strange work schedule, so I always just say I can’t come since he is working. But if there is a girls’ night I really want to go to that doesn’t involve me having to purchase something, I get a sitter or ask him to rearrange his schedule.
I just started with a new DS company called, Paparazzi Accessories, August 16th and love it! I made $400 last month and just started. I would say do something you love. If you are not into it, your customers won’t be either. You also get out what you put in. My products sell themselves, because they are $5 or less! I cannot keep stuff in stock. I don’t feel guilty selling it, because I know people can afford it. You also need a good network of other consultants in the same company for support and help. The holiday season is a great time to join, because people are looking for gifts! You have to be careful though, because there are a lot of areas that are saturated with certain DS consultants. Do your research first! I hope you enjoy it and are successful.
I’m been thinking of doing something with this company for a few months now – it really seems like something people would WANT to buy. Shoot, at $5 for jewelry, that’s an amazing deal no matter where you go!!
Brie,
If you are looking to join let me know! A job should not be this fun and I cannot keep anything in stock. Like you said, people want our stuff, because it is affordable! thefivedollarfashionista at gmail.com 🙂
I agree completely with you! Many times I feel these products are over priced as well!
This was supposed to be in a reply to Christie!
Yes, as a direct sales rep my last party was truly my last since no one and I mean NO ONE showed up after I had cleaned house, made food, and set up the stuff. Only time in my life I’ve been stood up and actually embarrassed in front of my kids! But I did love my product and made a few dollars, nothing lost financially, only gain.
Yes! I am a Director with Thirty-One, and you can absolutely be successful! Direct sales is a fabulous way to earn some extra money while working from home, on your own timetable and schedule. In addition, Thirty-One is a fabulous company that provides all the tools and training you need to be successful!
I would be happy to answer any specific questions you ladies may have. 🙂
Laurie, how can I contact you?
Rachel, you can email me at [email protected]
Thanks!
I’ve wondered the EXACT same thing with 31!