Home party sales
 

Does anyone sell anything here? I have friends, or friends of friends who sell Tupperware, Longaberger, 31, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Lia Sofia, Premier Jewelery, Scentsy, Usborn Books, and I'm sure there's others that I'm forgetting. Some are really good about not being pushy. Some are insanely pushy. I enjoy buying some things that I like, or as a gift, when I have a little extra money. If I dont' like the product though, I won't buy it. (That's when those friends get really pushy).

I ask because I'm thinking of going into one of these businesses. It's a "newer" company that's only 3 years old. But they're starting to really take off. I first heard about them 6 months ago, and am kicking myself for not signing up sooner. A friend of mine signed up to sell last month, and have made over $3000 in sales since she started.

I've sold Scentsy for about 15 months or so. I refuse to be one of those people who is constantly selling, so I probably don't make as much as I could. I just don't want my friends to run every time they see me! I post on FB about once a month with any specials and a link to my Scentsy page and I sell mostly through word-of-mouth and online sales, not parties.

I think it's always good to look to see if your area is saturated with consultants already and to see how much time/effort you want to put into any venture as well as looking to see what the sales minimums are to remain active. Having a good sponsor who isn't too pushy has been good for me. Good luck!

I tried Arbonne for a while, and I firmly believe that I do not have the personality type for the network marketing model.

Important considerations: Do you have to buy inventory? What about samples? How much money do you have to spend up front before you can even begin? Do you like cold calling? That is what you'll be doing once your warm market dries up. Think about what your time is worth before you start. You will have to put more time into this than you think. I am not saying you will not be successful, because I don't know you. Just go in with your eyes wide open. If something in your gut seems wrong...trust your gut.

I am not trying to be a negative nelly, but the success rate for network marketing is 2% of all people who start. 2%. I would encourage you to visit this website: pinktruth.com. While it is geared toward Mary Kay, the topics discussed could fit any one of the network marketing companies out there.

DD sold 31, but once she had sold everybody she knows, there was nobody left to sell to. She's a really good salesperson, but works 40 hrs a week, commutes another 10, has a 2-year-old and is expecting another. She barely has time to do laundry, cook a meal, clean a little and play with her 2-year-old - there's nothing left over right now to expand her friend network.

I dunno, there's a lot of pyramid aspect to it. She adored her...."boss" I guess you could say. The woman has a bunch of sellers under her and encourages them to sign up their friends as salespeople.

And I'm at the age where I refuse waste my time at any more "parties." If you can't sell it to me when I want 1 item, go away.

Xylo, I think that's what I'll do. Just keep it to mostly book parties, and maybe some craft-type fairs or festivals.

I could never sell makeup because I don't hardly wear any.

This product sells itself though, and I plan on targeting the Greek demographic.

It's a $150 start up, and that's my starter kit of supplies. As long as I make back my $150, then I won't consider it a failure if it doesn't work out. I could sell the product on Ebay for face value and make back more than my $150.

It's a simple product that sells itself because it's custom designed by each buyer. I like simple. It's not something I'm looking to make a living off of, just some extra cash to throw at my student loan debt. :)

A friend of mine sells Premier Jewelery, and I just don't like it. She's very pushy, and all of our friends have been pushed into hosting parties for her. I haven't gone to any because I just don't like the product. And I don't enjoy being pushed into attending one party a month where I would buy $50-$100 of product that I would never, ever wear. So I at least have an example of what NOT to do. With my product, I'll be able to quit at any time with no penalty. I figure I have nothing to lose if it doesn't work.

I did Mary Kay for just under a year. Bad idea. You only make money if you sell the crap out of it, and you have to keep inventory on stock... if you dont have it, people change their mind on sales, but if you do have it... it's just a mess.

Now I'm doing Ava Anderson.... which is what I thought you were going to say when you said it was only 3 years old, because that's how old this company is too. It's personal care and house hold cleaning products without toxic chemicals. I'm not really selling - I'm doing it for a discount for myself. With Ava's business plan, if you have $500 worth of purchases in a 6 month period, you keep your discount and remain active. I can buy that much on my own because I buy all my family personal products, as well as stocking up on the baby stuff for the millions of baby showers I go to these days, and it has become my go to baby shower gift item. Plus, with Ava, you dont keep inventory in stock - the customers order from you through the warehouse and it's shipped to them in 2 business days or less. No risk on my part as long as I have sales of at least $500 in a six month period... I've only had 2 official customer since I started and thats because I'm not really "selling." If someone asks me about it, I share, but Mary Kay burned me out and I don't want my friends hating me or thinking "Oh ish, here she comes, quick, look busy so she wont try to sell us something...."

Before you make a plan to sell on Ebay, check the agreement that you are required to sign. Most direct marketing companies do not allow sales on Ebay, and if they choose to, can terminate your agreement. How many companies actually go through the brain damage of doing it? I have no idea, but they can hold you to it if they choose.

You are really better off just getting a part time job.

JayHawk, I would only do that if I decided to get out of the business. :)

An official part time job, on top of 3 kids and a husband who works a 24 on, 48 off schedule, is damn near impossible. I've looked into a few serving/bartending options, and when they ask what my availability is and what my full time job is (I'm a geologist).... it's not encouraging, to say the least.

I guessed what it is and I think you should do it. I'll buy from you. <>~~~~~~~

I sold Creative Memories for several years. I loved the company and the products, but I just couldn't make the quotas. I'm now looking at two different direct sales companies. Neither has quotas! Yay!

Good luck. You've made me really curious!:) Spill the beans.

It's Origami Owl. What turned me on is that they offer greek letter charms. :)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps92ef1213.jpg
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...ps573ad23e.jpg
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...psfc56b28c.jpg

I would highly suggest you find out as much as possible about the company.

- How much do average sellers make?
- What is the average time from initial investment before the average seller earns back the $150?
- Does the product have a wide variety of price points?
- Are there any complaints online or with the BBB?
- How is your paycheck earned? A percentage of your personal sales? Do you have to recruit other people?
- Do you have a wide enough target audience to support ongoing sales? Once you've sold to friends and family, is the product something that people "need" or really like to have?

Good things to think about, ree. So far, I've only read good things and asked myself most of those same questions. :) They have an A- BBB rating, but not accredited. 18 complaints with the BBB in 3 years.
Average varies. After 3 parties, my friend (and sponsor) has over $3000 in sales in her first month.
Wide variety of prices based on what you are looking for and how much customization you want on your product. I could get a simple locket with 3 charms in it for $35. One of the Greek lockets styled above would be more than that.
Paycheck is commission based, anywhere from 30-50%. Recruiting of other people under me is not necessary, just an added bonus if it happens.
If I target local sorority chapters and alumnae groups, then my target customers could change every year. :) It's certainly not a need, but none of the home party sales companies are. Like I said, it's just potential extra money. Not something I need to live on. My $150 investment should be recouped after my first party.

Those designs are super cute. I would buy them (once I finish my volunteer year and have real income).

Winner Winner! What do I get?

I have an OO necklace. Put twin stars, a Theta Greek letter, and some black and gold stones in it. It is really cute! Wish they had a little kite charm but they didn't at the time I bought mine. I'm about to gift it to an active that has done a great job in her office.

AzTheta, I knew you would have one since it's an AZ based business! I'm going to suggest a kite charm once I get approved to sell. And a teddy bear (how do they not have teddy bears????).

I'll buy another from you when you get started :-) the one I bought is the rose gold, but I would like something different for myself. The party I went to was so much fun - and people had no trouble buying! wishing you good luck!!!!!

Those are really cute designs.

I am a Primerica representative. It is a fiancial company that only does business through referrals. And it looks like you've done your homework with this company. I agree that building a relationship with the chapters is a great idea. Also don't forget abour the fraternities since they could buy a gift for there girlfriend or sister or mother.

I'd never heard of the company before. I really like all the options. Whenever things like this come up, I'm always jealous of the sororities that have more common symbols. It's rare to find a dagger or katydid. :p

I feel ya, sweet. It's tough finding kites too! Twin stars are a good alternative and more common. There was a KD locket on pinterest that had letters and gemstones in your colors. It was still very cute!

Hey flirt, the "xi" charm is really CUTE! they have double blue and gold stones... just some ideas - no quill, but some other alternative choices.

And WC: do a search on a couple of the selling sites for daggers. Pretty cool stuff! but not tiny enough to put in the locket.

I agree about checking how many consultants are in your area. I've noticed an explosion of Origami Owl consultants in my area of the country recently. When I say explosion I mean I could probably name 10-12 people who either have just started selling or are holding a party to gauge interest in maybe becoming a consultant. Good luck!

I did Partylite for a while and loved the product, still do. We had recently moved to the area with no established family/friends, so I had a really tough time. Probably wasn't the right move at the time, but I wanted to do something to get out and meet people. I was treated fairly, didn't carry inventory, no cash out of pocket as my kickoff party went really well so at least I didn't have to pay anything to start.

Quick hijack: I actually do wear a dagger necklace almost everyday. It's small enough that it looks like a cross unless you are staring at it or are looking for the symbol. I actually bought a bunch and gave them to my grandlittles. I can't find a picture of it now of course. When I do find something with daggers that isn't too gothic looking, I tend to post it or email sisters about it. There needs to be a network!

Back to our regularly scheduled thread.

AOIIalum, I would be the second in my county. :) My friend was the first. I plan on catering to greek chapters at Ohio State, Ohio University, Capital U, Otterbein U, etc. It is a fairly new thing in Ohio. None of my friends in my hometown have heard of it yet. I had my friend check the O2 website, and she said there's 2 sellers in my husbands hometown, and 2 in my hometown, yet none of our family or friends in those towns have heard of it yet. There's only 20 in all of Columbus. That is why I'm jumping on now! Get while the gettin is good! ;)

Yes! Origami Owl was my guess. :D I love their products. I have a sorority sister who recently began selling them. Good luck!!!!!

Irish Lake you have me interested. How many consultants down here?

I'm not sure yet, MP. I will have my friend check! Message me cities I should have her look up.

According to the website, the founder was 14 when she started the company?! And she can't be more than 17 now. Wow.

http://www.origamiowl.com/story/

Oh Lord, I did Premier Jewelry for about 18 months and it just was not for me. It was so hard to get people to book parties, and when they did, sales were always low. By the time I decided to get out, I'd accumulated a lot of sample jewelry and had several trunk shows out of my home during designated drop-in hours. People could take it and go -- no ordering. I actually did pretty good with that type of selling, but still had a lot of merchandise to unload.

Guess what? Our house got robbed and the thief walked out with every bit of my Premier Jewelry! I always wondered if they mistook it for the real deal, and if so, how ticked they must have been when the pawn shop wouldn't take it. I imagine it got sold at flea markets. As for my loss, our homeowner's insurance covered all of it!

I just became a consultant for a skincare company two months ago. It was created by the two Dermatologists that created Proactiv. I've enjoyed it so far, and it's fairly new (5 years old as opposed to Arbonne that is around 20 years old). There wasn't a huge amount of $ required to become a consultant, which was important to me. I wanted to use the products for a while before encouraging others to try them, so I bought a Business Starter kit. The products are amazing and I think it helps this company that they have the brand recognition associated with the success of Proactiv. I did do some research to make sure my area wasn't saturated, and being in a state near the east coast I am in good shape. It started in California and has been moving East since 2008/2009. For anyone considering getting started as a consultant in a direct sales company, definitely do your homework! I have friends that have tried Southern Living at Home, the Trump Network (sold to another company) and of course Pampered Chef, Avon, Mary Kay, etc. Some have been successful and some regret getting involved... As for me, I love it and have already made my initial investment back.

That's funny, as you're catering to my geographic area. It seems to be all anyone in my extended circle is talking about these days!

I talked to a few more people over the weekend, and did a little more researching. I've found a few others in the area who sell and talked to some more family members. Only a few more family in the greater Columbus area have heard of it. My aunt was supposed to go to a party a few weeks ago but couldn't go at the last minute. So she's willing to host a party for me. :) My SiL said she'd consider it once my niece is a little older, so this summer sometime. And my sister is going to host one for the DG's at her house in Athens. Hopefully I can network with girls in other chapters from there on out. I see no reason why I won't make back my $150. If it doesn't pan out in the long run, that's certainly ok!
I think I'm going to send an Email to ONU and see if they'd let me set up a booth at their "Greekapalooza" in fall right before Recruitment starts.
There is another sales rep who seems to have an edge on all the upcoming vendor fairs where I am, but I'm not worried. I'll get in somewhere!

I'll be honest - I would rather be dipped in honey and tied to a tree in bear country before I'll attend one of these parties. I will, however, check out a catalog, and order things when I want them. Unfortunately, the alumnae group to which I belong seems to have one of these every other meeting. :(

The makeup from the Proactiv people sounds intriguing, though. If I can order online, I'd be interested. I never broke out more than once or twice until the last five years, and I'm really tired of trying to deal with it!

Me, too! Too bad it never works out that way!

I'm such a hypocrite, but I often feel the same way. If I'm familiar with the product, I don't feel the need to go to the party. But if it's something I want, I'll buy it from the seller/hostess via their website. (I'm like this with Pampered Chef, Scentsy and 31). I hope to keep the majority of sales to "catalog" parties, but I know I have to do real in person parties or vendor fairs to get my name out there.

I feel the same way. I have appreciated friends who are now having "parties" via Facebook. I order stuff that way all the time. There are a few Tastefully Simple items I like to have in the cupboard at all times and I know I want when it comes to Tupperware. I don't get the whole 31 craze. I got a lunch bag as a shower gift. It doesn't close. What good is that?

So.... Origami Owl still has not yet gotten their shit together. It has been over 7 weeks since I signed up to sell. I'm still not even close to getting "invited." First they put a "hold" on inviting new sellers because they were rolling out new hostess rewards programs, and they were discontinuing items and bringing out over 100 new items. That was a 2 week freeze. Now, the last 2 weeks have been frozen because of a strike in Hong Kong (shipping port). They only invite 1,000 a week, and based on the code I was assigned, I'm still 2 weeks away from getting an invite. And that's even if they start inviting next week again. It'll be even longer if they don't.

I'm so incredibly frustrated. Part of me says "All of these problems just means they're going through a major growth spurt and there is a high demand for the product. It'll get better." But at the same time, I am seeing multiple opportunities pass me by. I still want to try a direct sales to help make a little extra income for my family. SO.... I am now a sales "Pro" with Damsel in Defense. :) If O2 ever gets their ducks in a row, I may sign up to still do that as well. But I'm really excited about Damsel. It's a very young company and the products are definitely more my style!

I thought it was origami owl...I am going to party at my neighbors this Monday. I hope the product is cute!!