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Most direct sales companies prohibit consultants from selling their products on eBay.  On any given day you can do a search of just about any direct sales product and find them for sale or bid on eBay.  Hmm. Go figure.

Many direct sales companies also have someone(s) at the corporate level who is responsible to attempt to shut down these prohibited auctions.  Sometimes they are successful, sometimes not. If some consultants want to sell on eBay badly enough it’s not too difficult to have a friend list the items or to conceal their true identity.

All too often I see forum posts and hear consultants complain and whine about the eBay sales.   These very consultants spend far too much time trying to bust eBay sellers and not nearly enough time concentrating on selling their own products to their own customer base.  If these very people would invest as much time and energy in their own business as they do into the eBay sellers, they’d have more time to figure out all the places to spend their commission checks. Read the rest of this entry »

Something has been baffling me for quite some time.  Mayhaps someone can explain it to me.  Why do some direct sales independent consultants use product lines, other than their own, to promote their products?

For example, if you sell candles, wouldn’t it make the most sense to give away a wax sample of a popular scent?  Or if you sell herbs and spices, wouldn’t you want to provide potential customers with a sampling of your top selling Scampi Blend?

Certainly this may seem like a blinding glimpse of the obvious; but bear with me.  I know of some consultants who take the time and expense to make up labels bearing their contact information and company website, only to then purchase mini-chocolate bars and wrap them with their labels.  This would be adorable if you were in the chocolate business or even the customized label business.  Not so much for kitchen gadgets or candles.

Likewise I’ve witnessed some consultants begging for promotional items such as chap-stick, bearing their consultant contact information.  Okay, if you sell cosmetics and you’re offering a sample of your own product line.  However if you’re trying to promote children’s toys, can’t you find something within your own product line to offer rather than someone else’s lip moisturizer?

Consider the bottom line.  Consider profit margin.  Consider whether or not what you’re about to participate in will increase sales – that is, sales of your own product line.  Cute and adorable will only take you so far in business.  If the action you take today won’t lead you closer to the next customer, hostess or recruit, it might be time to rethink your action plan.  If you’re a direct sales independent consultant, you’ll do well to stick to offering your own product line.

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 http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.Twitter.com/thrivingcandle

I’m always looking for books to read that will help my own business.  I found one that was published over 20 years ago. It is an easy read and has some unexpected low hanging fruit (simple ah-ha moments) that will help any start-up business owner or anyone who needs a little inspiration to recharge an existing business.

One Smart Cookie: How a Housewife’s Chocolate Chip Recipe Turned into a Multimillion-Dollar Business: The Story of Mrs. Fields Cookies by Debbi Fields

This book was published in 1987 and the content is still relevant today. Whether a direct sales consultant, freelancer, WAHM-wannabe or any other entrepreneur this book will inspire you; and is sprinkled with humor. Debbi was a stay at home wife and mom who took her passion to build a thriving business doing what she loved.

Mrs. Fields Cookies is a true success stories.  The book talks about her guiding principles and some the struggles she encountered starting her business. She rejected conventional advice with regard to marketing and promotion. Debbi and her husband focused first on making a spectacular cookie, then coupled it with sales staff training and customer service to become a multi-million dollar franchise.

If you’re thinking of starting a business or just needing some motivation to get you through the slower summer months, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book.

Are you sad that Eucalyptus, Strawberry Sweetie and Watermelon Patch have been retired?  What about Leather scented candles?  Hard to find, aren’t they?

Or perhaps Cashmere, Mysterious, Sizzlin Coconut, Fried Ice Cream, Key Lime Tortilla, Newborn Nursery, Luscious Lemon, Banana Nut Bread, Apples and Pears, French Vanilla, Cappucinno, Pumpkin Pie, Eggnog, Pink Plumeria Passion, Blackberry Bushel or Cheerful Day?

To see a description of each of these scents click here.

Well, I have good news and bad news:

The good news is that for a limited time only you will be able to order these timeless favorites listed above by clicking here.

The bad news is that they are not available to order under July 1, 2010.  And they are ONLY available during July.

So you better mark it now on your Outlook:  “July 1 – click on http://la.scentsy.us to order my favorite wax!”  But you could certainly go there now and see what other goodies you might have to have while you’re waiting.

We are a society that likes free samples.  We like to try it before we buy it.  We test drive cars; we lie down on mattresses; and we accept food samples from the lady in the grocery store.

Yet many direct sellers do not embrace this concept.  I contend that free samples are the number one way to attract new customers.  Websites, catalogs, brochures and verbal promotion are all well and good (and needed). However, generally it’s not until someone can smell, taste, feel, hear or see the product offering are they really sold on it.

Most of us have read Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham book at one time in our lives.  If not, here’s a sampling of the text:

You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say.

Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see.

Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am! And I would eat them in a boat. And I would eat them with a goat…

And I will eat them in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. They are so good, so good, you see!

So I will eat them in a box. And I will eat them with a fox. And I will eat them in a house.

And I will eat them with a mouse. And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!

What could you do for your business with regard to free samples?

Make candle wax samples out of candy molds; Herb and Spice packets, Lotion or Cosmetic samples.  But what if you don’t sell a product that is conducive to sampling? It may not be cost effective to freely give away jewelry, kitchen gadgets or storage containers.  Consider a loaner program. “Take this home, try it for a week and if you don’t love it, just return it, otherwise if it’s everything I said, and more, just pay me after you try it.”

I have seen some pretty awesome product catalogs, but almost 100% of the time, the photos still don’t justice to the actual item.

Take some time today to think about how you can get your customers to say:

Say! I like [insert your product here!] I do! I like them, Sam-I-am! And I would [insert verb here] them in a boat. And I would [insert verb here] them with a goat… I do so like [insert your product here!]! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!

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 http://la.Scentsy.us or http://www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com