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One of the benefits of being a Scentsy consultant is that you are provided with a personal website where you can grow your team and take web orders.  You have the option of deciding on a name for your business or your web address. The address will look like https://whateveryoupick.scentsy.us (or .ca for Canadian consultants).  If you ask around you may get ideas on the “whateveryoupick” portion of your website.  Though the information below addresses six common errors when naming your Scentsy business website:

1. Double letters – particularly ss – i.e. janesscents you’ll lose people who never know if it’s one S or two.

2. Unkonventional spellings – kandles, etc. Generally you go with those unconventionals when what you really want is taken – meaning if wicklesscandles is taken and you opt for wicklesskandles you could inadvertently send people to wicklesscandles – someone else’s site.

3. Avoid dashes and dots – if you have to explain if it’s a dash or underscore, or dot, you’ll lose people.

4. ID numbers. In previous P&Ps we HAD to change our site and were not allowed to use that # in our address. Now the language is softer that you should or could change it. Though corporate has reminded us on a number of occasions to guard your ID# as you would your own SSN. That is the number that you need to login to sites or when you call corp. the first thing they ask for is your ID#. To avoid identity fraud and the possibility that someone can pose as you to change your account in any manner, don’t publish that number to anyone.

5. Anything that requires you to explain or further elaborate. If you respond “it’s mysite.scentsy.us” then most will be able to go there without problem. Even if you’re talking about publishing the site address, you want it to be easily memorable so they can go to it later, without the need to write it down for future reference.

If you have to audibly say – it’s “michelle” with two ell’s, or “for you” with the numeric 4, or “kathy” with a k…. anything that needs ‘fine print’ for someone to easily find you should be avoided. Even scents can be confusing – of course we all almost instantly think s-c-e-n-t-s but others may wonder if it’s sense or cents.

6. Think of connotation or what message are you sending and does it portray a professional image. Smell isn’t always a positive word where as odor isn’t either – though technically they simply mean or relate the the nose/olfactory. Smells is a verb, and not a noun, so if you’re making up a word to change it to a noun (as in such and such smells or sniff the smells) that falls under same as unkonventional spellings. Same for personal interests or hobbies – pookie.scentsy.us or squaredancer.scentsy.us may not be taken as seriously.

Before you flame me and defend your position why you may have chosen something similar to one outlined above, please keep in mind that these are not just my opinions, but also those of marketing and business guru’s when it comes to naming a business. I am also assuming that if you’re investing in a vinyl or decal then you are treating your business like a business and not as a hobby – else you likely wouldn’t go to the effort of marketing your business.

For those who are not business builders (and there are many, and that is totally fine and acceptable), then the naming conventions aren’t as important. I’m merely referring to business builders.

RYBLAB – Run Your Business Like A Business.

Just as there is more than one way to skin a cat, there are numerous ways that Scentsy consultants make their samples.  The information contained below is just one way.  Take what you like and discard the rest!

Why and how I use samples –

I don’t let any of my business cards leave my hands without having a wickless candle sample attached to it.  People generally desire to smell, touch, taste, or hear something before they’re truly sold on it.  Scentsy is no different.

Where I get the wax to use –

I don’t pay for the wax I use to make samples. When I place an order I always make sure it’s at least $150 or more so that I can take advantage of the hostess benefits, including free and half off items.  The wax I get with those perks is what I use to make the samples.  Generally I like to use the bricks, as it’s a better value; but I have also been known to use bars sometimes too.

What scents I use – (more…)

At least once each week, someone asks me to share how I have built a successful online direct sales business. While I am not a fan of form letters and automated responses, I thought for the sake of time management, I’d turn the response into a post since it’s such a common question.

I work my business entirely online. It’s possible to be successful with direct sales if you have internet marketing knowledge and experience. Without these two vital components, it’s definitely going to be quite the challenge unless you supplement it with offline activities as well.

I have always worked my current candle business online when I started in 2006.  I have never done a home or basket (catalog) party with Scentsy. I’ve facilitated plenty of those over the last 22 years I’ve been in direct sales, but none with Scentsy wickless.

With regard to whether or not there is too much online competition with all the consultants trying to work their business online, it depends on how you look at it. There certainly are far more consultants out there than when I started almost five years ago, but there are also so many more leads out there than could ever be satisfied by all the consultants. Also now Scentsy has brand recognition in many sectors, I’m more sought after online today. Initially no one had even heard of Scentsy flameless candles. People tend to be much more leery when they have no idea about the product or company. (more…)

Scentsy Wickless candles just signed its 100,000^th consultant this week. That’s quite a milestone.  When I started with the company, back in the olden days of 2006, there were only 500 consultants company wide. That’s such a wild concept considering my own personal group is larger now than the entire company was when I started my Scentsy journey.

As I sit here in my rocking chair, quilt on lap, reminiscing about what it was like to walk a mile to school, uphill, barefoot in the snow, I’ll share what it was like when I was a brand new Scentsy consultant.

My Starter Kit

I received a Java candle warmer as shown in the above photo, lower right image on left page of the catalog.  It was brown and shaped like a small coffee pot.  It’s now retired. The candle bar I received was Rum Cake.  It’s similar to our current Sugar Cookie, only about ten times stronger.  It’s now retired.  The room spray was Flower Shop.  The container was metal, not like the now plastic canister. It was very strong smelling; obviously floral and heavily rose scented. Not my favorite. It is now retired.

The party testers had metal caps on them (shown in above picture). There were no basket testers or mini testers. There was no New Consultant Start-Up Guide, no eBooks, I don’t think there was even much of a Policies and Procedures Guide.  When I asked if I could have an external website, they weren’t sure how to answer that as no one had one previously. The catalog was 12 pages, approximately 8” x 8” in size, warmers were priced at $14.95. I think bars were $2.95 each. (more…)

If you have a direct sales business, do you cringe at the thought of someone asking you what you do? In social or business settings do you silently hope that the subject of your occupation never comes up? Or if it does, do you mention your day job and omit that you have a direct selling business? Or do you try to come up with something clever to say so that you don’t have to admit that you do “one of THOSE.”

You’re not alone.  I hear this sentiment echo’d on a frequent basis.  But hang with me, I can dispel this myth and show you why it is a great business to be in.

Oh, Is It One of Those?

Let’s face it, direct sales doesn’t exactly have the best reputation as far as being a bona fide business. Sure some of those who are in a direct sales business may speak highly of it, and the top portion of those making decent money may think it’s the best thing since avocados were discovered. But by and large, it’s looked at as ‘One of Those’.  ‘One of those scams; one of those where you pay for the business opportunity; one of those with over priced products; one of those where your family and friends pray each time they see you that you don’t ask them to join or host a party; one of those where you never make any real money.’

Yikes! Yes I did just say that.  I didn’t say that I believe all of that.  I’ve just been in direct sales for 22 years and I’ve heard it all and I’ve received objections and flack that goes along with it.

I Confess.

Yes I am embarrassed to say that I’m a direct seller. There. I said it. I admit it. I love what I do and don’t have a problem with it, but rather than say that I’m a direct seller, I say that I am a business owner. I don’t want people to think that I do “One of Those.” I want to break through the stigma.  I am successful with my business. I’m a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. I do offer a great product, that is affordably priced and of excellent quality. I’ve been with the company since 2006.  There are so many alternatives to running your business than the traditional home party that many of you have shunned over the years. I run my business like a business and not like a cheerleading club or tee-ball league.

It’s not that I think I’m better or above doing “One of Those.”  My college education and experience is in Business Administration and in Homeland Security and here I am hawking wax. Life took an interesting twist for me within the last 24 months and for now; I know I am just blessed to have an income that supports my family as a medically disabled single parent.  Scentsy offers that opportunity to me and to many others.

Personally I think it’d be easier to be loud and proud about what I did if it didn’t have such a weak reputation; though we’d need a major paradigm shift to change the opinions of others about the industry.  I’m doing my part to change the reputation that direct sales is and can be a genuine business, even the name sounds um, less than corporate “Superstar Director.”  I have a hard time saying with a straight face “I’m a Superstar!”  It sounds like I think I’m Mary Katherine Gallagher (Molly Shannon’s Catholic schoolgirl character on Saturday Night Live who dreams of superstardom).  Don’t get hung up on the titles – not the title direct seller and not the title of the ranks.  They’re just words.

I run my business like a business and employ corporate techniques and methodologies to my business.  I don’t get into rah-rah and silly s-p-i-r-i-t. Some people do, and that’s great, it’s just not for me. But if you do like things, you can certainly get that with direct sales, if you choose to.  I just don’t happen to fit in with many of the other more traditional direct sellers.

So Where Am I Going With This?

There actually is a point here… and it’s sharp! Someone once said that direct selling is about Making it Simple and Duplicatable.  I do like simple. But duplicatable, no thanks, not for me.  I say Make It Your Own.  You may totally disagree with me on this one, and I respect that.  I’m just saying that based on conversations I’ve with a whole segment of people who haven’t given direct sales a try based on some misconceived notions.

In spite of the less than respectable reputation that direct selling has in some circles, you can be successful as a direct seller. If you’re willing to work within the boundaries that the parent company gives you; and willing to be creative, you can have a great business where you can earn a decent income. Don’t necessarily poo-poo the idea simply because you don’t want to do One of Those.

Because of my medical disability, I work my business online. I would love to get out more, but limitations prohibit that.  When someone asks me what I do, I respond that I am a Business Owner or an Internet Marketer. Maybe you don’t have the knowledge, skills or abilities to work your business online, but now that you know there are many alternatives to the traditional home party, you should maybe give direct sales a second look.  You could say that you’re “in sales” or you could say that “you have a candle (or gift) business.”

Perhaps now that you know that we don’t all make a list of 100 people we know and we don’t all advocate contacting everyone within a three foot radius to buy, host or join, it might be time for you to take a serious look at Direct Sales.  I think you’ll be pleasantly be surprised.

About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping others start and maintain a candle business. You can find Laurie at https://la.Scentsy.us, http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com or http://www.Twitter.com/thrivingcandle