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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 – Read the rest of this entry »

Many direct sales companies advertise that you can start a business for only $39 (or $99 or whatever the cost of a starter kit). While I agree that in some cases you can start a business for that amount, you’ll likely need more of an investment to grow a business.

I’ve also seen some ads that tout the perks of “No Inventory” needed. I can certainly appreciate that lack of necessity or requirement for said inventory; however, I do not agree that is necessarily a good thing to be without inventory.

In fact, I contend that inventory is highly encouraged if you wish to grow your direct sales business. Many direct sales companies take one to three weeks to receive product once it is ordered.  In some cases, back orders occur and it can take even longer.  Who wants to pay for something and then wait three weeks before you actually get it?  Sure, many people do that, but imagine how much more your sales would increase if you had cash and carry available.

Whether you’re choosing to work your business via home parties, vendor events or one on one sales – we are in an age of convenience and impatience.  Customers will most likely take what you have rather than place an order and wait weeks.

Also consider the turn around time. If you’re at a vendor event and have on hand inventory, the customer who purchases from you will take the item home and likely either start using it immediately or show someone what she purchased. Assuming your product is a consumable, the customer will need a refill all the more quicker vs. the three weeks of downtime while waiting to receive her initial order.  Or if she shows it to someone that night “Hey look what I picked up at the craft show!” chances are greater for referral business, “Where did you get that? I want one!”

If your recruiting efforts include the words “No Inventory Needed”, you might want to change that to “If you’re able to stock up on a little inventory, it will really increase your sales ten fold.”

You’ve heard it before: It takes money to make money.  A small investment in some on-hand inventory will be money well spent.

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

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. Read the rest of this entry »

On more than one occasion someone has informed me that I come off raw or that I have a chip on my shoulder.  I’m sure this post will spark similar reactions.

For the record, I don’t have a chip on my shoulder, but I am very anti-fluff.  I tend to just say what is on my mind, and yes sometimes my delivery is a little edgy for some.  I do not apologize.  WYSIWYG – What You See Is What You Get!

While there are some very successful men in direct sales, a majority of direct sellers are women.  Working with a vast group of women can be challenging.  For what it’s worth, I’d rather have a male boss and a male roommate over a female any day.  There are a lot of emotions and hormones that come with teaming with large number of women.

If I had to single out one area that I could live without when it comes to direct selling, it’s the plethora of nonsense that I hear or read about on a daily basis.  Consultants are so busy worrying about what other consultants are doing.  I sometimes think I am surrounded by sixth graders.

She said this; why did she say that?  Did you know what so and so did?  You are not going to believe what she is doing now! She’s talking behind my back.  She’s jealous.  She got upset because I yada, yada, yada. You are not going to believe what she said to that prospect?  I saw her at a vendor event and she… And so it goes.

Awk!  People, just go sell the wax! (or makeup or kitchenware or home décor).  If you would spend 90% of the time minding your own business, and 10% keeping others out of yours, think how much more productive your business would be.

Surprisingly, there’s another group of consultants who are in denial. Pay attention, because I could be talking to YOU.  Yes… you!  You may not be the one gossiping about others, but you have been made aware that it is happening in your own team/leg.  Yet, if you feel the need to call me to tell me about consultant drama, as described as above – it’s still nonsense. It’s the same thing!  I don’t have time for nonsense, and neither should you.

I love helping my team members grow their business.  I will talk to consultants and prospects all day long, every day to help them understand processes, compensation, brainstorm, develop action plans, etc.  I love that.  But I don’t have a very sympathetic ear to listen to what I consider is “Your lips are moving, but all I hear is blah, blah, blah.”

You may not even know you’re doing it.  Take inventory of what comes out of your mouth.  If you don’t know that you’re spewing nonsense, believe me – others know it.  One litmus test is that you may find that you’re connecting to voice mail more often or if you do connect to your upline, she frequently only has a very brief amount of time to spend with you. Pay attention to these signals.

Starting immediately, get back to business.  Work your business.  Enjoy your business.  Refuse to entertain nonsense – both on the giving and receiving end.

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. Read the rest of this entry »