Direct Sales - Good and Bad

This can be true. However, to be truly successful, you must be honest with yourself and understand that likely you will spend considerable more time with this type of job than they actually tell you.

Also, you must understand that you must keep current with product to sell. Direct sale plans offer substantial savings to their sales people. This helps you to build your line to promote sales. However, the companies change sales tactics or product quite often. You must purchase new pieces as samples. This can become very costly if you are thinking you'll just have a show or two every month or so. If you become friends with another sales person, it is helpful to borrow or trade products to show.

The companies, whether they are home products, jewelry, purses or whatever are there to make money for themselves.

Those few people who are able and willing to work many hours and very hard will probably do very well financially. They will quickly have many people selling under them and will make an additional percentage on the amount that those under them sell.

Personality, adaptability and flexibility are extremely important in this line of work.

You must be willing to go over-board to please whomever is hosting your show and you must also please the guests that attend. It is helpful if you are the type of person who can quickly size people up. Of course not everyone you think will buy a lot will do that. But you must be mindful of those you believe will wish to purchase and make certain they understand the product and how the sales will work to get their biggest bang for their buck. Most everyone likes a deal - some more so than others.

People are very busy and they do not RSVP.

You may be thinking you'll have 10 at a show but only 2 actually come through the door. Learn to rely on reminders before and after your shows and also for making choices on-line. Other times you will be expecting 2 and 20 will come. This is when you will also have to help your hostess as she likely is unprepared for this many guests.

Set your time schedule.

If you want weekends free, do not book shows on weekends unless absolutely vital. Give people choices of three dates rather than asking them for a date.

Incentives are important.

You know they are important to you to keep you excited about selling your product. In the same way, they are important to your hostess and her guests. Often it is helpful to give up $5 to make $100 or more.

You must show your guests why your product is important - why they need to buy it.

Because most of this type of selling is impulse selling, you keep your presentation short. However it must impact the type of guests sitting before you. Let them touch and feel the product and try to suggest in a one to one conversation why that product would be good for them.

A sense of humor is needed to set the tone of the show.

Also, you must come across as trustworthy and reliable. If people are relaxed and having fun, they will feel that purchasing something is part of the fun of the gathering.

Understand that hidden expenses will be subtracted from your sales.

You will only receive a percentage of your actual sales. There will also be expenses such as catalogs, postage, on-line charges, joining fees, purchasing current and updated items, trainings, showcases, office supplies, gasoline and perhaps clothing expenses.

However, once you actually get your personal business moving along, you should make more money. Network and attend all trainings you possibly can. [If you cannot attend, ask another sales person to share the highlights of the training.] Shadow or attend other sales presentations to learn how to improve your own style.

Remember to be your own person and project that image.

Learn to change your presentations as styles change and the groups before you change. Encourage your guests to ask questions about you or your product. This interaction will help tell your story without just rattling off a bunch of words.

Start your shows on time in respect to those who came promptly.

If you have a chatty person, try to redirect the conversation. Do not take things personally if someone does not buy or tells you they have no use for your product. Move things along and gracefully tell them you're glad they came and shared the evening with friends. Perhaps they will buy another time as you never know what baggage they were carrying when they came through the door for your show.

It's best if you eat very little and do not drink any alcoholic beverages when promoting your product.

If you have questions, contact your up-line person or make direct contact with the company. It's new. You will make some mistakes - or perhaps you'll find a better or more practical way to manage your business. That goes with it and is part of the learning experience. Look in the mirror before going in the door. Even if you've just had the worst day possible, you must come across with a positive presentation.

Best of all, if you work hard, use common sense and have confidence in yourself you will make money and you will make new friends.

But remember, if you have 5 kids, a full time job and are active in other ways, direct sales will take much more time and energy than the 2 hour show they may promote to you.

Take time to research and find out about the company. Be certain to sell something you love. If you aren't 100 percent behind your product or happy with it, you will have difficulty selling that product to others.

Good luck to you if you make direct sales your choice. And if not, maybe another time of your life would work better for this type of job. Or, perhaps direct sales just isn't for you - but just doing research may open other doors.