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Questions for Those Wanting to Join a Direct Sales
Plan
Are you a stay at home mom, thinking about
becoming a work at home mom?
Not sure what route you want to take?
A lot of moms turn to direct sales. With the variety
and quality of direct sales companies out
there....it's an easy way to get your feet wet in
having your own home business.
Though it may not be for everyone - direct sales has
some success stories that will have you saying,
"Wow!".
But don't go into it thinking....I will never make
much money....I'll never win a cruise, a car....
Just go into KNOWING what you ARE getting into and
go from there. If the business and products fit your
style - the rest will come naturally.
The number of direct sales opportunities abounds and
grows more and more every day, especially with the
ability of the Internet to help them reach even more
people. If you choose the right business, the
possibilities for success are extremely reachable.
You can make a very good living as a direct sales
company rep, but only if you choose the perfect one
for your situation.
I've done Avon for years. I love Avon. And though
some feel it's a saturated market, or that Avon
"only" sells make-up (hardly!) -- I have found it to
be a very lucrative business. I have a team of over
30 and for me it's fun, flexible and easy.
You can read all about
selling Avon on my site MoneyMakingMommy.com.
But how did I choose Avon?? Well...I asked
questions...a lot of questions.
So remember to do the same when you're researching a
direct sales business.
How do you know which company to choose? Ask
yourself and the person trying to recruit you,
before making your choice.
Questions to Ask Your Direct Sales Representative
1. How successful are you at this? – Are you making
real money and do you have a way to prove it. Don't
be afraid to ask. Of course you don’t want to get
too personal by expecting them to show you their tax
returns or anything, but if they have reached or
exceeded goals within the company, they should have
something to show for it. I'm a Unit Leader with
Avon - so that shows people that I am committed and
working on my Avon business.
2. How about your up line? – Ask your recruiter to
discuss their team and how they work? Do they hold
meetings, are they goal oriented and do they meet
those milestones? How long has the team leader been
with the company? Most of my Avon team doesn't even
live near me - but they know I'm a phone call or
email away. And they also have their local District
Manager and local Avon meetings they can attend.
3. Can you tell me about the company I’ll be working
for? – Ask as many questions as possible to help you
determine the longevity and success of the direct
sales company. Most know Avon has been around for
years....but I still let them know it's a reputable,
long standing company. You’ll want to know things
like how long the company has been in business.
Don’t shy away just because a company is new, but
absolutely put a lot of thought into the product and
whether or not it is something that will sell well
for you if it is. Getting in at the beginning can be
a positive thing for you as a business owner. What
is the reputation of the company, not only locally
but online too if you plan to market it via the
Internet.
4. Can I find information at a company website? Will
I be able to market my business online with a site
set up just for me? With Avon you get your own
website to sell from that is professional designed
and ready to go for only $7.50 per month! Some
direct sales companies have not realized the power
of the online community yet. If you want to expand
your business beyond just local clients, be sure you
know how their website works as well as how you can
do business online. Find out if your customers can
place their order online and you still receive the
commission for the sale.
Questions to Ask Yourself
5. Is this company’s product something I actually
have faith in? Because I love
Avon ( http://www.youravon.com/kellyland
)products and their commitment to product
advancement and research - I know they'll continue
to bring only the very best beauty products to it's
Reps and customers. Unless you were put on this
Earth to act, you’ll need to be able to stand behind
the product you’ll be selling. If you don’t believe
in what you are asking others to buy, it will show
in your presentations and you’re sales will suffer.
People can see through the “sales” side of you and
if you don’t have something to back up your thoughts
with when they ask questions like “Why should I buy
this?” you’ll never succeed.
6. Does this fit well with my life? – For instance,
if you have a family will you be able to work around
their schedules? Will you still have time to
yourself and can your business work around your life
instead of your life revolving around your business
– unless of course that’s what you are looking for.
Flexibility is what work at home should bring to
your life. It shouldn't make it more burdensome.
7. What kind of start up costs do I need? – The
costs associated with getting things started vary
from company to company. Make sure you’re getting
your money’s worth whether you’re required to
purchase a starter kit or carry a certain amount of
inventory. It helps if some marketing material is
included as well. If you are required to make a big
up-front payment seriously consider what it’s going
to take to make that money back. Be aware that some
require a fee but don’t give you any product to
actually sell and that you are not required buy
those separately. You’ll want a company that gives
you actual products to sell in your start up
purchase.
If, after asking these questions and any others you
can think of, you get the answers you want it will
make your choice of which company to work for an
easier one. No matter which company you choose
realize you’ll have to put in hard work and be
dedicated in order to become successful. As with any
business, if it sounds too good to be real, be weary
and admit to yourself that it probably isn’t what
you are looking for. Move on to another company that
fits your wants, needs and lifestyle – there’s one
out there you just might have to look through a few
to find it.
But don't give up hope from making the jump from
SAHM to WAHM! Typically you'll just get a vibe that
it's the "right" company. You'll feel
excited...really love the products and just have a
natural draw to the idea of the company.
I've kissed a lot of direct sales "frogs" though -
before I found the right one for me. Well...really
the right TWO for me. Yes....I do two direct sales
businesses. One, of course is Avon. But the
other....I do for the sheer love of it. It helps
support my "habit". That habit?? Scrapbooking.
I'm a
StampinUp Demonstrator. To me....it's just not
even work. It allows me to receive discounts on my
own supplies and allows me to sell supplies and
share scrapbooking with others. It was a no-brainer
for me.
So don't be afraid to join two companies if you can
handle juggling them. I find it exciting and love
what both companies bring to my life.
I wish you success on your WAHM Quest!
About the Author:
Kelly Land
Owner of the very successful, long standing , top
rated work at home resources website
http://www.MoneyMakingMommy.com and the blog,
http://www.HomeBasedBusinessMom.com.
Kelly is a WAHM herself, with two great kids and she
is happily married. She resides in North Carolina.
She also LOVES being an
Avon Lady!
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