Direct Selling Facts

Direct selling is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in a fun and flexible way to add an additional stream of income to their household. People of all ages and from all walks of life are involved in direct sales. Many people decide to take the plunge because they love the product. Others join their company because they have a need to earn additional income, but they already work a traditional job and need flexibility in their schedule. Some people would love to join, but have heard “horror” stories about the direct selling profession. I was actually very skeptical about the opportunity when I started my own business. I have found it to be a very positive and uplifting experience that has not only provided financial relief to my household but has also provided me with development opportunities for personal growth that I would never have experienced otherwise.

Following are just a few facts about direct selling. If you are interested in reading more, visit http://www.directselling411.com or http://www.dsa.org. Both sites offer valuable information to help you make an informed decision.

• 15 million Americans work in the direct selling industry.
• 82% of direct sellers have been with their current direct selling company for one year or more, and 47% for five years or more.
• 89% of direct sellers rate their personal experience in direct selling as excellent, very good, or good.
• 84% of direct sellers say that direct selling meets or exceeds their expectations as a good way to supplement their income or as a way to make a little extra money for themselves.
• 91% of direct sellers say that direct selling meets or exceeds their expectations as a business where the harder they work the more money they can make.
• Only 6% of women in the United States make over $100,000 per year – of those 6%, 80% work in direct sales.
• Direct selling is an over $30 billion per year  industry in the United States. ($112 billion worldwide!)
• Over 50% of U.S. adults have purchased at least one product via a direct selling consultant.

Direct Sales – Easy And Duplicatable

The majority of people joining a direct sales company choose the company because they love the product line. It is easy to sell something about which you are passionate. That passion for our product is what keeps our presentations fun and interesting. It is what prompts people to schedule shows with us, and it is what attracts people to join our team.  If you choose a product you love, you are on the right track for success and earning additional income.

Once you’ve chosen the product, the next step is to learn how to create a presentation that is fun, informative, and duplicatable. If you gain a reputation for offering a fun experience, sales will increase, people will want to schedule a show with you, attendance will be higher at your shows, and your team will grow. If people know they are going to learn something at your shows, they are more likely to attend, and they are more likely to bring a friend with them. Finally, if you keep your presentation simple, it becomes duplicatable, which makes it attractive to the next potential team member.

The beauty of direct sales is that it is a very simple business to maintain because it is duplicatable.  Once you get your show presentation perfected, the procedure you follow for each show is the same. You may tweak your presentation a little here and there, but not much else changes. The products are the same, the hostess plan is the same, the opportunity is the same. This is why direct sales appeals to busy people. We don’t have to recreate the wheel. All we have to do is learn the system and follow it.  This ability to duplicate makes it very easy to build a team, as well. If there is a good training system in place, your new team members are not intimidated by the prospect of building their own team.

If you are thinking of joining a direct sales company, be sure to ask to see the training materials and inquire about training classes that will be available to you. Ask about the support you can expect from your upline if you decide to start your own team. It’s important to know this before you sign, even if you think team building is the last thing you want to consider as a new consultant. You never know when an opportunity will present itself, so it pays to be prepared.

One Lovely Blog Award

Thanks to Alicia of http://waxylady.wordpress.com/ for awarding me this “One Lovely Blog” award. I am honored, touched and proudly accept it and now pass it on.

The rules are:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered (or as many as you can).

Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are my choices (in no particular order – some are creative blogs, others are business related so they are important to me, and still others are just fun):

Alicia Vilas, http://waxylady.wordpress.com  (Helping you create a warm inviting home, so you can focus on the important things in life.) We took a Social Media Made Simple class together. She is at the head of the class and doing awesome things with what she has learned!

Jennfier Fong, http://liajen.wordpress.com (Direct Sales and Social Media).  Jennifer taught the class. I learned a lot from this knowledgeable lady!

Julie Anne Jones, http://julieannejones.com/blog/ (Direct Sales Made Easy & Fun!)  Julie is a Certified Coach and trainer and the CEO of Julie Anne Jones, Inc.  She provides true value to lots of direct sales folks and is GREAT with words!

Rebecca Olkowsky, http://mypinkpizazz.com/ (Direct Sales Attraction Marketing) Rebecca offers advice on how to stand out in your direct sales business. Good business advice here.

Christie Love, http://simpleorganizedsanity.blogspot.com/ (Helping people organize their homes and businesses) Christie helps people to reduce clutter and stress, and works with work at home professionals to help them be more productive and organized. I’m hoping she helps me find the top of my desk – you mean it’s not made of paper?

Pete Cashmore, http://mashable.com/ (World’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news.) Lots of cutting edge techie news for social media users.

Mark Kolke, http://markmusing.com/  (Musings began like this…a plan to get outside and walk each day, to turn off the phone, to connect with nature, to exercise body and brain.) That he does and more. Insightful musings and great quotes abound.

Adrienne Ruth, http://adrienneurbanski.blogspot.com/ (The many distractions in the life of a culturally fixated, twenty something, feminist, blonde Brooklynite by way of Minneapolis.)  Something about her writing makes me laugh and keep coming back to read more.

Chris Carroll, http://directsalestalkradio.com/blog/  (a blog full of information that can help you improve and increase your sales business.) Lots of great tips for us direct sellers.

Kevin Eikenberry, http://blog.kevineikenberry.com/blog/kevin-eikenberry-group (Helping people become remarkable leaders and reach their full potential.) Great resources for anyone looking to develop their leadership skills.

Savvy Chick, http://www.savvy-chick.net/ (A girls guide to gadgets, fashion, domestic decor and more!) This is purely fun. Savvy chick loves pink, shiny things. I love gadgets and shiny things. She finds the coolest stuff!

Gale Bates, http://www.mymentorbiz.com/ (Corporate Trainer and Mentor in Direct Sales.) Advice to help women maximize income streams in their biz.  Helping direct sellers focus and still get it all done.

The Traveling Saleswoman, http://thetravelingsaleswoman.com/ (An anonymous blog documenting one direct seller’s experience.) Anyone in direct sales will relate to these blog posts — sometimes hilarious, sometimes profound, always relevent posts about the great and wacky world of direct selling.

Looking For A Second Job?

Lately, it seems like every woman I meet is either a) looking for or b) has seriously considered getting a second job. Many have had to tighten their belts just a little over the last year, and they are  looking for a way to bring some extra income into their household. Others are doing fine financially, but they want to pad their nest egg for the future “just in case.” I meet so many women who have “big dreams but no means” to achieve them.

What confuses me is that  the majority of smart, business-minded women will seek out a part-time position in retail and stand on their feet for an extra 10-15 hours a week, making $8-$10/hour at best, putting up with rude customers and less than appreciative bosses.  They rarely receive consideration for their scheduling needs and will not last long if they need a night off for personal reasons. Most of them have never considered giving the direct sales industry a try, even though many of them attend several home parties a year and/or have purchased something every time someone passes around a catalog.

For most of these women, a venture into direct sales would offer a new experience  and a way to add an additional stream of income to their family finances in a fun and flexible way. They could work the same 10-15 hours a week that they might work in a traditional retail job, but they might only leave the house for 4-6 hours a week and do the rest from home in their pj’s drinking a cup of tea at the computer. The average direct seller makes about $150-$200 at a show — much more than one would make in retail weekly.

Why, then, are so many women unwilling to research and consider the possibilities that exist in the world of direct sales?  Hard to say. Here are some common perceptions and/or concerns that some women have about going into direct sales.

You don’t really make money doing this, do you?
Um, yes, you do. While it’s true that direct sellers have perks available to them like free or reduced price product and the opportunity to earn free trips, we also do make money. Actually, getting involved in direct sales offers a couple different ways to make money. You immediately earn income on the sale of your products, you immediately begin to build credibility and a customer base, who will remember you the next time they want to order something, and if you choose to build your own team, most companies have a commission structure in place where they will pay you additional money for training and supporting other women in your business. So, from one direct sales job, you can earn multiple streams of income — product sales, repeat business and referrals, and supporting others.

I could never talk in front of people. I’m not a salesperson. I wouldn’t know what to say.
With a little practice, you can do anything. Pick a company that has a great product that you personally love, and it almost sells itself. Direct sales is about networking and building relationships with customers and hostesses more than it is about hard selling. Most direct selling companies have training programs that teach you everything you need to know and say. As a matter of fact, most companies have extensive web-based tools available to new consultants. Make sure you ask about the training tools and support available to you.

I know someone who invested over $1,000 in a direct sales venture, and then never made any money.
Make sure you ask up front how much money you need to invest. A direct sales venture should have a reasonable start up cost. If someone is pressuring you to invest more than you feel comfortable with, find another company or another representative. There are many companies who offer starter kits in the $100 – $200 range. Ask if you can earn rebates toward your start up kit. 

I don’t have enough time.
According to the DSA, 75% of women involved in direct sales, work a full-time job. Many, many women choose direct sales over a traditional part-time job because their already full lifestyle demands flexibility. It’s the perfect business for someone who is always juggling multiple priorities.

I don’t know enough people.
You only need to know a few to get started. You branch out from there. Every person you know has a different network of friends and family. Be strategic in how you plan your first several shows. You will soon meet many new and interesting people.

What if I don’t like it?
Most direct sales companies offer a no-strings attached relationship. If you find you don’t like it, you should be free to stop working your business. You should ask your sponsor about this up front and make sure you are not obligated beyond your initial start up period — usually 4-6 weeks. It takes at least a month to give something a fair chance, and most companies ask that you do a handful of shows before making a decision to quit. In general, direct sales companies are a very low-risk venture.

If you are considering looking for a part-time job, but you are a skeptic, as I was, you owe it to your “inner businesswoman” to at least give direct sales a try. I’m very glad I did.

The Secret To Success In Direct Sales

Many people wonder what the “secret” is to direct sales success.  So many people think there is some magic formula, and if they just knew what it was, they could blink their eyes and have success.  I’m going to tell you the secret.  Are you ready??  There is no secret other than Good Old Fashioned Hard Work! That’s right, you’ve got to work your business.

OK, maybe that is simplifying a little. Sure, you need to have the right personality, and yes, you need to have a good business head, and common sense, but at the end of the day, if you’re not willing to put in the time, even when you don’t have the time, then you are not going to enjoy the kind of success that you seek.

I just read a book called “The Mary Kay Way” by Mary Kay Ash.  No, I do not sell Mary Kay, but I sure do admire her and what she was able to accomplish. When you read her principles, you think to yourself, “hmmm, that is pretty simple.”  You might even realize that you already employ most of the principles. If that’s the case, you’re on the right track. Too many of us run from one new idea to another in search of that next big thing that will turn us into the star we want to be, when the “secret” was right in front of our nose all the time — just work your business and treat other people the way you would want to be treated.

Here are just a few of Mary Kay’s timeless principles. Pick up the book – it’s worth reading.

Follow The Golden Rule – Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Be fair, be honest, return calls, follow through.

The Invisible Sign – Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from his or her neck saying, “Make Me Feel Important!” When working with people, you will get much further when you are not trying to be the most important one in the conversation.

Be a Follow-Through Person – Be the kind of person who can always be counted on to do what you say you’ll do. Only a small percentage of people possess follow-through ability, and they are held in high esteem by all. If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT!

Enthusiasm Can Move Mountains – Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm – it’s contagious!

Help Other People Get What They Want & You’ll Get What You Want – News flash — it’s not “all about you.” Direct sales is a give and take business. Take care of your hostesses, customers, and most importantly, take care of your new team members. They deserve your time and attention.

A Matter Of Pride – Take pride in what you do. Be proud of your company and your product and the opportunity that direct sales offers.

You Can’t Rest On Your Laurels – In today’s world, you’re either going forward or backward. You can’t stand still. Nothing wilts faster than a laurel rested upon.

Be A Risk Taker – You can’t win them all. Don’t expect to always win, but you still have to stick your neck out there sometimes and go for it!

Enjoy Your Work – We have the best job. We get paid to party. Have fun at your shows. If you have fun, everyone else will too!

Nothing Happens Until You Sell Something – Kind of obvious, but for some reason, many people join a direct sales company thinking that they are going to build a strong business by doing a few book shows and taking orders from family and friends. It’s necessary to do home shows and build relationships with other women in order to build a sustainable business.

These were just a few of my favorites from the book. If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your comments.

My First Post

This is my first blog post. My name is Kim Moyer, and I am new to the world of blogging. I live in a small town in Pennsylvania. I have owned my own direct selling business with lia sophia jewelry since August 2003.

My lia sophia business has allowed me to pay for my sons’ college educations. My youngest has two more years to go. My goal is for him to graduate debt free!

I do 2-3 home shows per week. I enjoy sharing our beautiful fashion jewelry with my hostesses and her guests, and helping them get the best deal possible on the latest jewelry trends.  Lia sophia is a very fashion forward company. Many celebrities are even wearing our regular line and our “Red Carpet Collection,” designed especially for the Hollywood crowd.

I am also a manager and trainer for new advisors who join my team. One of the things I enjoy most is helping other women learn to do what I do. Lia Sophia has a great business opportunity that actually allows one to add multiple streams of income to your household. If you are willing to consistently and diligently spend at least 10 hours per week, you can build a thriving business. I would love to provide more information to anyone interested in learning more.