Tag Archives: direct sales

MLM and Direct Sales – The Challenge of Leading A Volunteer Team

Let me start this post by offering a brief explanation of the commission plans of many multi-level marketing and direct sales companies for those that are unfamiliar. People who join the business as consultants or representatives are encouraged to share the business opportunity with others. If they do decide to join, they are then considered a member of the original person’s “team” or “unit”. Depending upon the companies’ structure, consultants have the opportunity to earn an “override” or percentage of commission from the team members they recruit. I was an active recruiter with both of the companies I represented. Eventually … Continue reading →

Direct Sales – The Ups..the Downs…the Ups..and the Downs

I have been a sales leader in the direct selling industry for five years now with two widely popular companies. While the products and businesses I represented were dramatically different, one aspect of the business never changed. Direct sales is a business of ups, downs, ups…and downs. If you are unfamiliar with the direct sales industry (specifically party plan businesses) let me share one of my typical weeks with you. Monday = A new prospect called from the weekend expo. She sent in her contract to join. Woo Hoo. Tuesday = My party hostess canceled tonight at the last minute. … Continue reading →

Don’t just sit there…stand there. A simple tip for events & expos.

When I joined as a direct sales consultant for a line of skincare products a few years ago, I became a “fair-junky”. I literally felt high when I watched hundreds of event-goers check out my products and booth. Speaking of my booth, I would often spend hours picking out perfect fonts for my sales fliers and adorning my skin-care bottles with raffia and decorative baskets. It was adorable. You could easily mistake my booth for a miniature high-end spa. Despite my efforts, I spent far more on the booth fee (and decorative accessories) than I’d earned in sales. I’d convinced … Continue reading →

Direct Sales – The Upside of the Ground Floor

Bill O’Reilly would be proud of me today because I am going to take a “fair and balanced” approach to one of my previous posts, “The Downside of the Ground Floor”. I was a Founding Leader for a popular direct sales company (I actually joined before the company officially launched). I also became a leader with another company that was four years old (and widely popular) when I joined. I certainly have experienced the pros and cons of being in both positions, I argued in my “downside” post that it is often more difficult to be a charter consultant for … Continue reading →

Direct Sales – Funny Excuses for Cancelling a Party

If you’ve never been involved in a Party Plan business, you may not be able to relate to the “kiss of death” feeling direct sellers often get when they make their final hostess coaching call only to hear….”errrr…ummmm…”….followed by an excuse for canceling the pre-planned show. Usually the cancellations are legitimate – a child is sick or a family emergency, but the best excuses are often concocted on the spot. Sometimes it’s hard to find humor in a canceled show. We planned ahead, we hired a sitter, we may have even canceled a family event to hold the show. It … Continue reading →

4 Ways to Make More Time For Your Family…Without Slowing Down

“Jakey, go find something else to do, I am trying to work”, my three year old barked at her little brother. A few days later, she pointed her finger at my laptop and said, “mommy, go work on your ‘peu-ter’” after I told her that I wasn’t going to get out the play-dough for her. (She was clearly hoping that I would get preoccupied so she could grab it on her own.) While in the back of my mind I knew that I was probably putting in too many hours, it wasn’t until I overheard my “mini-me” bossing everyone in … Continue reading →

Create a “Phone Box” to Keep Children Entertained

I have been a leader in the direct sales industry for the past five years. Ironically, the most challenging aspect of my home based business wasn’t finding new customers, entering sales orders or figuring out my taxes, it was trying to talk on the phone with two toddlers underfoot. It is hard to sound professional when you are chatting with a potential hostess or new team member when your children are pulling on your pant leg and screaming, “Mommy, Dora is over.” “Mommy…I need juice”. “Mommy, Jakey just spit on me”. “Ummmm…just a second while I lock my little cherubs … Continue reading →

My Introduction

I thought it would be appropriate to start my very first blog here at families.com with an introduction. I am Traci and I have been an “official” work-at-home mom since 2003. Prior to my various work-at-home “gigs”, I was a youth counselor, victim’s advocate and child abuse investigator. I am a self-proclaimed expert in the work-at-home world for a few reasons. First, I am fairly certain that I’ve tried just about everything under the sun to make a living from home (all legal and ethical, of course). Second, because I have have a severe aversion to pantyhose and the stereotypical … Continue reading →

MLM and Direct Sales! Why they Rock!

Many people hear MLM and think scheme or scam. Not at all! MLM and Direct Sales can be a great opportunity for you to find your passion and put it to work for you. You are in control. What is MLM? MLM is multi-level-marketing. What it means is that you will get paid on your own sales AND on the sales of your team. You can compare it to a store where a manager is in charge of their team of floor people. They get paid on the success of the store. However, unlike a store where you need to … Continue reading →

Stampin’ Up Profile and Interview (3)

We have been talking to Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, Kimberlee Patton about the company and her home business. Stampin’ Up! is a direct sales company offering card making, crafting and scrapbooking supplies through home sales, parties and catalog orders. Here is the last part of the three part interview. Nicole: Are you allowed to have a website and/or sell online? Kimberlee: We are able to set up a website through the company. Our catalogs are now online, but it’s not possible to order online. The only thing we are allowed to sell online is retired products or personal creations, such as … Continue reading →