Can you make money in the direct sales business place?
- By Jan Maupin
- Published 05/9/2008
- Money
-
Rating:
Jan Maupin
Jan Maupin is an advancing writer of social issues and interests. I am a member of ~ cafemom, changing times network, printnpost, helium, lindyslegacy. I hold many jobs for "non-fear" of working. My husband and I both maintain full time jobs (to pay the bills), but also hold our own business selling : Scentsy, auctioneed storage units, raising and selling cattle, gardening and whatever else we may find.
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Making money in the direct sales industry really isn't that hard. A little love for the product and I think anyone really can make either a part time income or a full time career out of it. I've been involved in a few in the past, one I would give a high 5 to would be Avon. This company has been around a long time, a strong and expandable customer base and they actually have great products. I, myself am still an Avon user but find there is just too much competition out there. My representative for this now just opened up her own store. I didn't know they could do that but in truth I love it! I can go directly into her store buy what I want, have a nice conversation with her and walk out with my product. So, Avon is great. But if you have someone that opens a store, beware to all the other representatives within a 20 mile area, you just lost your customer base!
My review is based on working in the industry ( climbing the ladder here also), but also being around women who have mastered this with an enthusiasm. Key word: Enthusiasm!
Yes, you can make either a part time or a full time income in these companies it all depends on how much work you put into it! Is the party business dead? No, far from it, I think it is making a comeback but in a different light and a new generation. We women like to get away from our homes and be with other women. No housework for about 2 hours, no children, no husband ( love all of this, just saying a tiny break is always in the back of your mind) and enjoying the company of other women and meeting new people is fun. We get to hear other gossip!
I have known a lady years ago that was one of the Directors in the Tupperware industry. She wasn't much older that myself and was having the time of her life. How do I know she really was happy? I'm guessing over the giddy "enthusiasm" she carried with her and the number of trips she won during the year. Ummmm I don't know, seemed happy to me. It was more than what I could muster up in a year at the campgrounds we keep going to. So let's move on, I know it can happen.
So, now in my 40's I am ready for a change. I want to love waking up to Monday's again. I know with any chance of making it in any job you have to work. There is no such thing as "get rich quick". If you believe that, your reading the wrong books and that person that wrote it got rich off of you. Guess what, he had to spend time and work on writing that book!
So here are the facts:
1. Research some into the company you are thinking about selling for. Find out and talk to the consultant. Most of these companies have been around a long time some are just starting. ( I like the new ones).
2. Do you love absouletly love that product? You need enthusiasm in this business, if you love it, it will sell!
3. Do you know if you want part time or full time? Part time can be done easily and if you are only wanting to make a couple of hundred dollars a month then you can probably do this. Full time is putting yourself fully into this product!
4. How does the company let you sale?
I found this to be important. If you are too
restricted then your full time income may be harder to achieve.
5. How much of a percentage are you going to get and what are the goals?
I like low goals. Once I achieve that, then I feel as if I am really making an impact.
6. How much time do you have to devote to your home based business?
This will depend on your home situation and how much time you can give up. If you have very young children but a great spouse then you can still do direct sales. If your spouse is not that supporative and the children are your main responsibility you may need to wait until they are a bit older.
7. How are you going to get business?
Think this through before you start. Or start making a list. Have some game plan ready before you get started. Who do you know that can get you started, what business' do you know of that would buy your product.
8. How good are you at speaking? You really don't have to be either!
If you believe you have a great product and can demonstrate it with enthusiasm, it will sell. Although, to sell more, you need to speak!
9. Time again? The more time you spend on your product the better you will do. Do not think an hour or two a week is going to do it. You need to spend time in marketing yourself and your product. Research, call, talk!
10. How fast can you move up the "upline"?
Talk with some other representatives, see how long it took them and ask them what and how they did it. Then how badly do you want it?
As with any "home based business" to make any money you have to work it as if it were your only income. If you want to make a couple of hundred dollars a month, then you can do this with any direct sales company, if you want to do this full time then you will have to work your way "up the ladder". You can make a full time income and have a great life if that is what you want. The company I'm working in right now is a fairly new company, I like that factor because my potential is greater than working with one that has been around a long time and has already saturated the market. I love this product and am enthused with it. They have a pretty decent part to full time income level. I knew from the start I was not going to make much, but I did make a few hundred dollars starting out. The goals were resonable and achieveable. I've already jumped 3 levels and do not see a problem making it to the directors level ( the real money) within a year. So check into the direct sales, home based business' but go in with clear thinking. There is no real get rich quick, work will provide you with what you put into it!
For more information on direct sales companies check out some of these that I find to be decent and upstanding companies:
www.scentsy.com/6401 ( good company, young, growing fast)
www.avon.com ( use to sell, good reputable, great products, good customer base)
Also check out a few of these I've been to and/or know someone in these companies.
pampered chef ( great products, long lasting and fun to go to)
princess house ( quality jewelry, good base company)
southern living ( great products, a little pricey, well known name)
I have been to these parties and love there products also, good strong companies!
MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN!
My review is based on working in the industry ( climbing the ladder here also), but also being around women who have mastered this with an enthusiasm. Key word: Enthusiasm!
Yes, you can make either a part time or a full time income in these companies it all depends on how much work you put into it! Is the party business dead? No, far from it, I think it is making a comeback but in a different light and a new generation. We women like to get away from our homes and be with other women. No housework for about 2 hours, no children, no husband ( love all of this, just saying a tiny break is always in the back of your mind) and enjoying the company of other women and meeting new people is fun. We get to hear other gossip!
I have known a lady years ago that was one of the Directors in the Tupperware industry. She wasn't much older that myself and was having the time of her life. How do I know she really was happy? I'm guessing over the giddy "enthusiasm" she carried with her and the number of trips she won during the year. Ummmm I don't know, seemed happy to me. It was more than what I could muster up in a year at the campgrounds we keep going to. So let's move on, I know it can happen.
So, now in my 40's I am ready for a change. I want to love waking up to Monday's again. I know with any chance of making it in any job you have to work. There is no such thing as "get rich quick". If you believe that, your reading the wrong books and that person that wrote it got rich off of you. Guess what, he had to spend time and work on writing that book!
So here are the facts:
1. Research some into the company you are thinking about selling for. Find out and talk to the consultant. Most of these companies have been around a long time some are just starting. ( I like the new ones).
2. Do you love absouletly love that product? You need enthusiasm in this business, if you love it, it will sell!
3. Do you know if you want part time or full time? Part time can be done easily and if you are only wanting to make a couple of hundred dollars a month then you can probably do this. Full time is putting yourself fully into this product!
4. How does the company let you sale?
I found this to be important. If you are too
5. How much of a percentage are you going to get and what are the goals?
I like low goals. Once I achieve that, then I feel as if I am really making an impact.
6. How much time do you have to devote to your home based business?
This will depend on your home situation and how much time you can give up. If you have very young children but a great spouse then you can still do direct sales. If your spouse is not that supporative and the children are your main responsibility you may need to wait until they are a bit older.
7. How are you going to get business?
Think this through before you start. Or start making a list. Have some game plan ready before you get started. Who do you know that can get you started, what business' do you know of that would buy your product.
8. How good are you at speaking? You really don't have to be either!
If you believe you have a great product and can demonstrate it with enthusiasm, it will sell. Although, to sell more, you need to speak!
9. Time again? The more time you spend on your product the better you will do. Do not think an hour or two a week is going to do it. You need to spend time in marketing yourself and your product. Research, call, talk!
10. How fast can you move up the "upline"?
Talk with some other representatives, see how long it took them and ask them what and how they did it. Then how badly do you want it?
As with any "home based business" to make any money you have to work it as if it were your only income. If you want to make a couple of hundred dollars a month, then you can do this with any direct sales company, if you want to do this full time then you will have to work your way "up the ladder". You can make a full time income and have a great life if that is what you want. The company I'm working in right now is a fairly new company, I like that factor because my potential is greater than working with one that has been around a long time and has already saturated the market. I love this product and am enthused with it. They have a pretty decent part to full time income level. I knew from the start I was not going to make much, but I did make a few hundred dollars starting out. The goals were resonable and achieveable. I've already jumped 3 levels and do not see a problem making it to the directors level ( the real money) within a year. So check into the direct sales, home based business' but go in with clear thinking. There is no real get rich quick, work will provide you with what you put into it!
For more information on direct sales companies check out some of these that I find to be decent and upstanding companies:
www.scentsy.com/6401 ( good company, young, growing fast)
www.avon.com ( use to sell, good reputable, great products, good customer base)
Also check out a few of these I've been to and/or know someone in these companies.
pampered chef ( great products, long lasting and fun to go to)
princess house ( quality jewelry, good base company)
southern living ( great products, a little pricey, well known name)
I have been to these parties and love there products also, good strong companies!
MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN!
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1 Response to "Can you make money in the direct sales business place?"
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said this on 10 Jun 2008 1:19:15 PM EDT
A very good article, thanks for sharing. I have had my share of experience with home parties and network marketing companies. All of which I ended up having a garage or a basement full of stuff. All of these companies are great, and have great products. I use alot of them myself.
I agree you definately need to do your homework. Find something you like, and a product you use, and you will probably be able to sell it. Having belief and faith in your product is deffinately a must. If you don't have a passion for what you are trying to sell, your business will not grow. You will need to talk to a lot of people. And customer satisfaction should be at the top of your list. But if you want to make the big bucks, it takes a lot of hard work, and stay connected power to your customers. Follow ups are essential to building a profitable networking buisness. Service with a purpose is a great motto to follow. If you can't service your customers because you get to big, then you will eventually loose those customers, and loose your business. When building your network business, it is also important to help your downline as much as possible. They are the ones that will move you up the ladder to success. It is a good idea to be a mentor to your downline, then to try and service so many people you can't keep track of all of them. Backing up to the different types of products and all the different companies out there. I have been with a company that has been around since forever. But now that company is in chapter 11, and is being restructured. It's a great company, but I feel when a company gets to big, they get greedy. They loose the connection of personalization with the customer, and it's down hill from there. One way to check out these types of companies is to search the DSA for membership and check out their rating. There are a lot of companies listed, but make sure they are a member in good standing. About 18 months ago, I came upon a company that offers it's members a way to save money, and also help people make money. I love my new network marketing company. Instead of spending money on things I didn't need, they have helped me save money on goods and services I was already writing checks for. I have also been able to create some residual income for my family, and the company pays me to help others save and make money too. Most Important as was mentioned in the previous statements, like what your selling, and use your product. It makes all the difference in the growth of your business. Good Luck! |
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