Any Direct selling ladies out there?-(Mary Kay, Avon, Scent

momof2kiddos

I am thinking about signing up for direct selling. What i have looked into is "It Works Body Wraps" They do the home parties and such. I just love being around people and talking it up and hopefully make some money at it.
I guess what my question is.....Has anyone on here actually made it a career? I would love to work my own hrs and be there for my kids. Currently, i am a retail store manager and these 45-50 hr a weeks are killing me along with the commute. I drive 45 mins over the state line just to get there!
I would love any advice!

XtinaRocks

I actually work as an assistant to someone who sells Thirty-One and its such a great company. I always hear her on the phone with her consultants or with other directors and everyone is really nice to each other and helpful! The products are pretty awesome too. I mean who doesn't like bags or purses? You should check it out! Well that is if the body wrap company doesnt work out! In the end its about selling what you believe in because you get what you put into it.

AlisonMacKay

I do lia sophia and no I have not made a "career" out of it but I do know for a fact that it can be done as one of my friends does it. just remember if you treat it like a hobby it will treat you like a hobby. If you treat it like a career it will treat you like a career. To make it "work" you have to work hard at it. Good Luck!!

IrishChik

I currently have my own at home business. I am a virtual assistant/freelance writer. I just graduated college and will start grad school in the fall. The thing with direct sales is you have to remember it is a business. Just with any business you start, whether it is at home or an actual brick and mortar location, it takes time to build a customer base. A lot of people get in to Direct Sales and expect to make a ton of money their first month. Those people are very far and few between. Is it possible? Yes, I have witnessed it more than once.

I have done Avon, Advocare, and Shaklee in the past. Avon for about 5 years, Advocare for a couple and Shaklee was more so I could get a discount on the products. I did Ok with Avon, but I really applied myself. I also had a full time job. I even did a couple of romance companies. Those were fun, but it seemed like everyone around here was doing it. I love the Thirty-One company and products, but again, everyone around here does it.

Your market area and target market are going to make all the difference. Are you going to do it mostly online, or do you want to work from home? How much time do you have to devote to at home parties? Most people need parties in the evenings and on weekends, the hours parents spend with kids.

You will have to make a list of pros and cons for your current job and the business you are looking in to. Find a mentor with the program you want to join and speak with them directly.

I will never go back to corporate america and I will never go back to paying ridiculous gas prices for a 30 minute commute, nor buy "business" attire for my job. I am still an accountant and writer, now I just get to do it from home.

I also started Procard (savingonhealth.com) because I have found that so many people who are self employed are lacking insurance and self employment insurance is pretty expensive. Procard is a health savings plan and it saves me above and beyond the monthly cost. It saves us on movie tickets, auto repairs, and hotels too. I will always keep it for myself, even when I get married and have insurance. It helps with out of pocket and deductibles. I am not a very good seller. But, I saw a need for this so that is the only reason I signed up to be a rep. The pay is not that great! But the company is wonderful.

If there is a market around you for the product you wish to be in business with, then you are already one step ahead of the game.

There are benefits, like the tax deductions. So you have to keep track of everything, and I do mean everything. Being self employed means being extremely organized.

If you have any specific questions you are more than welcome to PM me.

My advice to you would be - research the company. Read the reviews. Find a market for it. Start while you are working, do a little at a time, as much as you can without stretching yourself thin. If it works, keep moving forward. If it doesn't, you still have your job to fall back on and the chance to find another business.

IrishChik

I have to agree, I own quite a few 31 bags!