Direct Sales Home Party Theme Ideas

Tired of the same hum drum, let’s face it – boring home parties?  Spice up your next direct sales home party with an exciting theme!  The ideas below ought to get your creative juices flowing. Starting planning your next bash and watch the sales roll in!

Banana Split Party – Hostess provides the ice cream, guests provide the toppings. Guests bring a dressed banana for a banana fashion show to be judged by the guests. Winning banana gets a prize.

Beach Party – Keep that summer feeling going all year long. Guests bring their bathing suits in a brown paper bag for everyone to guess who belongs to the suit.

Chocolate Lovers Party – Serve chocolate goodies. Guests bring their favorite chocolate recipe. A fun chocolate quiz is given. How well do your guests know their chocolate?

Christmas in August – Lots of specials for hosts and guests. First look at the beautiful new holiday line. Every guest gets a sample or car candle.

Come and Go Party – On the go? Juggling too many things at once? Have friends drop in and out in allotted time period. Drawing every 30 minutes.

Couples Party – Get couples together for a fun time with candles. Men LIKE candles, so why not get them together with you so you can find out what each other likes. All couples get a gift.

Garden or Patio Party – Have your show in your garden or on the patio/deck. Guests wear a garden hat or big floppy hat. Drawing for the best hat, funniest, ugliest.

Fundraiser Party – Looking for a new fundraiser idea? Why not support your favorite cause at the same time guests are doing their candle shopping?

Halloween Party – Challenge your guest to come in costume and earn a gift. Goodie bags given to all who bring a friend. Serve apple cider, pumpkin pie or candy apples.

Hawaiian Shirt Party – A bit of the Islands here on the mainland. Some Don Ho music, your favorite tropical drinks and a lei and you can have Hawaii in your living room. Guests who wear their favorite Hawaiian shirt will get a gift.

Mardi Gras Party – Any day can be Mardi Gras. Guests who dress in Mardi Gras colors, wear beads or a mask get a gift.

Margarita Party – Love Margarita’s? This is the party for you. I’ll bring Margarita recipes and give the guests a Margarita quiz.

Mother/Daughter Party – Includes mothers-in-law, step-mothers, grandmothers etc. It’s a time for laughter and sharing with a favorite picture. All mothers get a sample or car candle.

Pool Party – Party around your pool. Have guests bring their bathing suits in a brown paper bag and everyone will guess whose it is.

Potluck Party – Guests bring dish pertaining to their nationality. What a great way to get to know another culture and cuisine by Scentsylight.

Red, White & Blue Party – Celebrate the good old red white and blue. Prize for the best patriotic outfit.

Salad Party – Each guest brings a salad ingredient or a salad specialty. All melon scents are on sale.

Shower Party – Whether it’s a baby, bridal, anniversary or house warming, shower someone with a [Your Company] gift shower. Encourage brides to be to fill out our gift registry. For new mom’s, shower her with gifts she can use. What better way to decorate your home at no cost than with a [Your Company] house warming party. Candles, Warmers and wax in every room!

Strawberry Shortcake or Strawberry and Chocolate Party – Or try a fondue Party. All strawberry and chocolate scents are on sale.

Sample Scavenger Hunt – Wax samples are hidden in the backyard or in the house. Guests get to keep what they find.

Tropical Drink Party – Get the blender out, bag the ice and let’s party. Serve various tropical drinks and unwind with friends

Ugly Candle Contest – Admit it, we all have ugly candles hidden away. Bring them out and to the party for an ugly candle contest. Winner of ugly candle goes home with a new one. This also works well for the sootiest candle. We all know that wicked candles, regardless of wax used can produce ugly black soot on the edge. Who has the blackest one?

Very Berry Party – Make berry deserts, or berry toppings for cheesecake or ice cream. All berry scents are on sale.

White Elephant Party – Your trash could be someone else’s treasure. Bring a wrapped unwanted “treasure” from home. You will go home with someone else’s “treasure” at the end of the evening.

Wine and Cheese Party – Relax with friends over some wine and cheese and warmers. Enjoy the warm candle glow of each as you celebrate life.

About the Author:  Laurie Ayers is a WAHM from Michigan.  She started her first home business in 1988. As a single parent, Laurie has supported her family by working at home.  She is currently an Independent Consultant and Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles.  You can find Laurie at www.IncomeWax.com.

Join Pink Spa...FREE!

Be Your Own Boss. Work Your Own Hours. Make Your Dreams A Reality.

How much does it cost to join Pink Spa?

• From March 1 through March 31, you can receive a FREE Pink Spa Starter Kit!  Sign up now and you will receive a kit valued at over $100 worth of products. The only catch is that you will not receive commission on the first $100 you sale. You are putting your kit to work for you! After you sale $100, you will receive 35%-50% commission. What a great opportunity!

How much can I earn?

• View Compensation and Career Plan.

I am ready to join. What do I do next?

• It's easy! Just fill out the Pink Spa Agreement and mail or fax it.

What are the benefits of becoming a Pink Spa Consultant?

• Be one of the first consultants in a fast-growing company
• 35% (or more!) compensation rate
• Work as little or as much as you want
• You are not responsible for hostess benefits
• No stock required
• No monthly qoutas
• Work flexible hours
• Chance to do something you love!

What comes in the Pink Spa Kit?

• 1 bottle of Body Wash (Tropical Sunrise)
• 1 bottle of Hand Sanitizer (Pink Love)
• 1 jar of Sugar Scrub (Malibu Lime)
• 1 jar of Whipped Body Butter (Malibu Lime)
• 1 bottle of Body Spray (Pink Love)
• 1 bottle of Bath Salts (Pink Sugar)
• 1 Natural Loofah
• 1 jar of Pedi Polish (Margarita)
• 1 jar of Pedi Whip (Margarita)
• 1 Aromatherapy Neck Wrap
• 1 pack of Catalogs (25)
• 1 pack of Order Forms (50)
• 1 pack of Invitations (50)
• 12 Spa Socks
• 12 Pastic Bags

What To Expect When Joining A Direct Sales Company

As a recruiter and team leader with a Direct Sales Company, I have come to realize that around 60% of my new team members have no idea what is expected of them when it comes to running a home based business.

If you are considering joining a Direct Sales business, there are some important things you need to realize before you sign on the dotted line.

Lets take a look at 5 of them right now.

1. Purchasing Business Kits and Business Supplies - You will be required to purchase a business start up kit which should contain business supplies and several demonstration products. As time goes on...you will need to keep purchasing products to add to your demonstration kit and/or to replace paper business supplies that you use. (example: catalogs, fliers, invitations, order forms, postcards, etc.)

2. Mandatory and/or Elective Sales Force Meetings - When you join a company, you will be expected to attend company sponsored sales force meetings and training classes. With most companies, these are elective but they are well worth your participation so I strongly advise that you attend as many as you can.

3. Company Policies and Procedures - You will be responsible for educating yourself on the policies and procedures of the company you are now representing. These policies are usually displayed on your consultant agreement, in your consultant manual or in the back office of your web site.

4. Record Keeping and Paper Work - You will be responsible for keeping records of customers orders, tax files and other necessary business paper work. I suggest you invest in a file cabinet so that you can keep everything organized right from the beginning.

5. Advertising, Marketing and Networking - When it comes to owning your own home business, you will be responsible for advertising it. This means you will need to spend considerable amount of time every week promoting home party bookings, individual customer product sales and your company's business opportunity.

When it comes to joining and working a home based Direct Sales business, you will need to put in a lot of hard work. If you know what is expected of you before you join a company, you can make an informed decision on whether or not Direct Sales is right for you.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com. Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly Co-owns a Home Business Resource Site with her business partner Sophia. You can find additional articles and home business tips by visiting them at www.workathomebusinessoptions.com.

Bingo Parties are a Blast!

Have you ever conducted a Bingo Party for your Hostess? Who doesn't love Bingo?

It's easy! Simply create the Bingo Cards. On the day of the party, as you share information about your favorite products the party guests will mark off that product's name on the Bingo card.

All of the party guests are listening closely...and you give the winner a free gift! When the guests are viewing the products and having fun...sales increase and YOU and the hostess will benefit. It's a win-win event!

Have you had a Bingo party? If so, comment below and tell us how it went...

10 Ways to Escalate Your Online Presence

You have decided to start an online business. You have a website ready to go but now you have no idea what to do next. Businesses do not become successful overnight, even on the internet. It takes time, work, commitment, perseverance, dedication and belief in yourself and your products.

One very important thing you need to do is to establish an online presence. This will take time so don’t expect sales to start pouring in by the end of the week! Once you start to create your reputation and build a solid foundation for your business, it will start to grow and sales will increase.

Below are 10 ways you can help accelerate this:

1. Appreciate Your Customers – Customers do not come easy so you need to show them you appreciate them and deserve their trust. Be available to your customers when they have questions or need help. Answer all emails as quickly as you can and as efficiently as you can. Be willing to go the extra mile to make their experience with you more than satisfactory. Customers are not always right but you can make them feel like they are!

2. Join Groups and Forums – Join email discussion groups, message boards and other forums to help build your business. Participate as much as you can. Offer advice, help, guidance, and ask questions as well. Do not just advertise and leave!

3. Blog, Blog, and Blog – Blogs have become very popular in a short amount of time. Blogging is very much like writing a newsletter or ezine. You want to post helpful information, resources and more. Update your blog regularly and make it interactive. Wordpress is a good place to start your blog.

4. User-Friendly Website – Make sure your website is simple, user-friendly and straightforward. Don’t fill your site full of flashy animations, music, and other annoyances. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and let your customers know what your site is about. If your visitors can’t figure out what you offer, they will just close you out. Always have your contact info available for your visitors. Be honest, straightforward and provide a good product or service. Unless you are a casino in Vegas, you don’t need the flash and glitter!

5. Social Networking – We all know the sites: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., but not all of us use them to their full potential. Getting and staying active on these powerful sites are highly proficient ways to expand your contacts, increase your sales, and intensify your online presence.

6. Optimize for Search Engines – Research ways you can improve your site for the search engines. Use relevant keywords, bold headlines, effective meta tags, a site map, and update regularly. All these things can greatly increase your search engine ranking.

7. Article Marketing – The power of article marketing has increased over the years. If you are not yet writing and submitting articles, I would recommend you get started as soon as you can. Writing articles does not have to be hard. You do not have to use big, technical words. Write like you are letting a friend know how to do something. Make your article straightforward and helpful. Once you get an article written (include your resource box at the end), start submitting it to article directories such as Ezine Articles, Go Articles, Idea Marketers and more.

8. RSS Feeds – RSS is a means of letting your subscribers know when you update your site with new information, sales, resources, etc. Your subscribers will receive “feeds” which are short summaries of the updates. This is a great way of getting all these potential customers back to your site. You can do this for free with RSSFeedReader.

9. Your Business is Not a Hobby – So many people start a business because they mistakenly think they will not have to work a lot to make money. When I first started online, I was working 12 – 14 hours a day to build my reputation and online presence. After several years I am able to slow down a bit but I must be sure to always be on top of things and to not let my business grow stale. I know not all of us have 12 – 14 hours a day to work but if you stay committed and treat your business as a business and not a hobby or something to do, than you can make your business a success!

10. Video Marketing – Learning how to market yourself and your business with videos can have a big impact on your online presence. In this day and age, we do not need a complicated camera and crew to make a video. You can simply do this at home. Put a little planning into your video, dress appropriately and brush up on your speaking skills. You want to effectively get your message across and you want people to take you seriously. Once you create your video, post it on your site, blog or social media page and amplify your online presence.

Take some time to research these marketing methods and be prepared to follow through. Rushing into things can sometimes backfire and do more damage than good. So, always be learning, expanding and testing your techniques and you will surely escalate your online presence!

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com. Terri Seymour (also known as “The eBook Lady”) has over ten years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at www.seymourproducts.com for resources, $1 resell ebooks & software, free tutorials, affiliate programs, free ezine and free business ebook with Master Resell Rights.

13 Important Words for Shy Direct Sellers

For some consultants, talking with people they do not know is no big deal.  Yet for others, the hardest element in promoting their direct sales business is opening their mouth to talk with strangers.  It truly does get easier with practice, though let’s face it, some people will never be terribly outgoing.  These cautious, observant people can be just as successful as those with sanguine temperaments.

Two questions I am frequently asked is “How do you approach people?” and “What do you say to the waitress, store clerk, receptionist, etc.?”

If you want an easy to remember lead in, one that is almost guaranteed you will not receive any rejection, try this:

“If you know anyone who likes [product], could you please pass this along?” Then hand the person a business card, sample, or catalog.

Most people will not refuse to take it.  Worst case is that they make take it, and later throw it away; but then you still were able to get out of your comfort zone and practice talking to people.  Best case is that you could get a new customer or recruit out of it.

This is a non-threatening approach because the person you’re talking with doesn’t immediately get on the defensive thinking you’re trying to sell anything; you’re merely asking for a referral.  The person you’re talking with could very well be the person who loves candles, lotions, supplements, jewelry or cooking.

Try those 13 words and then let me know it goes.

If you know anyone who likes [product], could you please pass this along?

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 www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com.

Looking for a Direct Sales (party plan) Company? Do You Know What Questions to Ask?

So you know what products you want to sell, but how do you pick the right company? By asking questions, but what questions should you ask?

Make sure to ask questions like these:

How much is the commission (also called discount) some companies start you out at a base commission, and then later bump you up to a higher commission. Sometimes you get a raise based on sales, sometimes it's based on if you build a team. Also some companies give you one percent for commission, but give you a higher percent as a personal discount to build your kit.

How do you get paid? Most companies have you keep your commission up front, some have you submit the full order amount and cut you a check later.

What is the hostess program and who pays for it? Some times the rep pays for all of it (minus their discount) Some companies pay for the all of the hostess program and some companies pay most of the hostess program but have the rep pay a co-pay.

How much are business supplies like catalogs, order forms, and invites? Ask to see a catalog and other business supplies.

What are the start-up costs and what do you get in your kit?

Do you have to get a merchant account to take customer credit/ debit cards?

Are there any sales quotas? Quotas are not necessarily a bad thing, but they need to be reasonable.

Is there an annual renewal fee?

Are there any advertising restrictions?

Can you have a website?

Also, it’s important to ask who takes care of the sales tax. It’s not hard to do your self, but you might want the company to do it.

If you are interested in building a team then you might want to ask what the management levels are, how much commission you earn on team sales, what is required to maintain each level?

You might have more questions to ask, write a list of what is important to you, and start asking!

10 Steps to Success in Direct Sales

Every year thousands of men and women across America sign on with direct selling firm-Tupperware, Amway, or a cosmetic company-hoping to make money enough for new draperies, a new davenport, or some new clothes. They sell a little merchandise to a few relatives and close friends. Then they are through. They quit before they give themselves a chance to learn the basics of success in sales. "I am simply not a born salesperson," they often say.

No one is born a salesperson, any more than one is born a doctor or born a lawyer. Sales is a profession. To be successful in any profession one must learn not only the basic techniques, but also how to apply those techniques. Success in sales makes use of all the abilities one is born with, plus all those acquired through education and experience.

If you are looking for a career opportunity or "extra income" to help with the family budget, direct selling offers you dream-fulfilling possibilities. However, you must give yourself time to learn the techniques of sales. Ask yourself. "How long does a doctor to be study? A lawyer to be study?"

WHAT IS DIRECT SELLING?

Direct selling is marketing a product directly to the consumer with no middleman involved. Most reliable firms are members of the National Association of Direct Selling Companies. They bring to the public fine products that are modestly priced in order to insure mass consumption.

Most direct selling companies furnish their representatives with a starter kit and essential supplies below-cost prices. In many instances the investment is under $100.

There is an old adage which says "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Many of them were able to change their lives for the better. They took their families on nice vacations. They purchased a piano or an organ and provided music lessons for their children. They saved money for college education. They redecorated their homes, bought needed furniture. One highly successful saleslady built a new home.

The rewards of direct selling are many:

1. You can be your own boss.
2. You can set your own hours.
3. You can own your own businesses with little or no investment.
4. You can pay yourself more than any boss would ever pay you.
5. You can give yourself regular raises as your business grows.

It is only fair to tell you that there are failures, too. There are people who will not work for themselves. When working for a boss, they rise early, are well-groomed, and get to the office on time. However, when they are their own boss, they are still in a bathrobe, drinking one more cup of coffee at 11:00 A.M.

If you can be your own boss and discipline yourself to do what has to be done when it has to be done, direct selling offers a most unusual earning opportunity.

THE TEN STEPS

Here are ten steps that will assure your success:

1. BE A GOAL SETTER. What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to save for college education for your children? A new car? A new home? You can have whatever you want, but you must want it enough to do the things that have to be done to get it. Whatever your goal, write it down and set a target date for reaching it.

Divide the time period into blocks of achievement that are reachable. Work consistently toward accomplishing each day, each week, each month what you set out to do. Goal-setting is a must in every area of life. Little is ever accomplished without definite goals.

2. BE A LIST MAKER. Each evening list all the things you want to get done the following day. That gives you an organized approach to each day. As each task is finished, mark it off your list. It is amazing how much gets done when one works with a "things-to-do" list. Also, have a notebook listing appointments, potential clients, repeat clients, and referrals, and keep it with you at all times. You will be adding to it constantly.

3. BE ENTHUSIASTIC. Enthusiasm is the high-octane "fuel" that salespeople run on. Enthusiasm generates its own energy. Energy and good health are synonymous with busy, happy people, people who are achieving.

4. RECOGNIZE THAT THE MAGIC WORD IN SALES IS "ASK." In direct sales we don't have to wait for business to come to us. We create our own business by asking for it. Ask for appointments, then you can do business. Ask for business, then you will close sales. Ask for referrals, then you always have a full list of potential clients. Be quietly, yet firmly aggressive.

5. EXPECT NO'S. Realize that no's are not personal. In sales, as perhaps nowhere else, the law of averages works. Every no gets you closer to a yes. Keep track of your ratio. It will help improve your techniques. Are you getting ten no's to one yes? Is your ratio five to one? Remember, the yes's are your income. Also remember that "no" does not necessarily mean "no." Often a "no" is simply a stall for more time to think. It may be a request for more information about your product or your service. What your client is actually buying is assurance. Assure here by your helpful attitude and your complete honesty, that you want what is best for her. She will most likely respect you and do business with you.

6. SCHEDULE TIME WISELY. A schedule is the roadmap by which salespeople travel. It takes the frustration out of the day. It assures that the necessary things get done and get done on time. Plan your work then work your plan.

7. BE POSITIVE IN YOUR ATTITUDE. Success in sales, as in all areas of life is 90 percent attitude and 10 percent aptitude. All of us must work at developing habits of constructive thinking. I am proud to be a salesperson. Sales make the wheels of our economy turn. Bernard Baruch, advisor to several presidents, is quoted as saying, "If every salesperson sat down and took no orders for twenty-four hours, it would bankrupt our country!" Every company that manufactures any kind of product depends upon salespeople to move that product. Without salespeople business would be paralyzed.

Remember, sales is one of the highest paid of all professions. Statistics show that good salespeople enjoy incomes far above the average.

8. HAVE AN OFFICE AREA. Most direct salespeople work from their own homes, but it is essential to have a place where you can work in a organized and efficient manner. An office plus a strict working schedule gives you dignity. Both are absolutely essential for efficient operation and accurate record keeping, so important to the success of any business.

9. BE INVOLVED. Most sales organization offer contests to stimulate production. Include winning contests as part of your business goals. Contests make your business fun as well as adding considerable dollar value to your income.

10. LEARN TO HANDLE MONEY INTELLIGENTLY. A regular nine-to-five job usually means a paycheck at the end of the second week. Direct sales "reps" handle money constantly. Direct sales is instant income and constant income. Therefore. it is absolutely necessary to become an efficient money manager.

Deposit every penny collected from clients into a checking account set up especially for its business. Since bank statements show an exact record of all monies collected, and business expenses can be verified by canceled checks, record keeping becomes simple and accurate. Everything except a few "petty cash" transactions can be directly taken from bank statements.

Money saved regularly and put at interest, soon develops a second income in addition to earned income. A long-term goal, which is realistic in direct sales, is to be able to live in retirement off the interest earned on savings.

Would financial security mean a lot to you? If so, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I honest?
• Do I really like people?
• Am I willing to learn?
• Am I willing to work?
• Am I capable of being my own boss?

If your answers are yes, to find a good product for the direct sales market, one that you like, one that fills the need of a lot of people, and go to work for yourself! You can turn dreams into reality.

Author: Submit your articles and get a PR4 backlink to your website! Submit Articles! We provide free articles and information. Check us out
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How You Can Make Money as a Party Plan Consultant

Party plan is a term synonymous with fluffy slippers, a host with a lounge room of giggling women, and sadly pyramid schemes. For years this vehicle for making money has been pushed aside, defamed, ridiculed and the butt of jokes. But who’s really having the last laugh? In a tough economic climate, this time tested means for making money has become the salvation for many. Party planners are laughing all the way to the bank, these everyday people who have put aside their prejudices and joined world wide recognised brands like Mary Kay, Tupperware, Creative Memories are making money, flying in the face of a recessionary tornado.

Why are party planners so successful? Simple, they sell everyday products consumed by everyday individuals, in everyday homes, all with the convenience of home shopping. In a time poor society, home shopping has becoming increasingly popular, akin to shopping online but with the added benefit of personal customer service.

According to the worldwide federation of direct selling this billion dollar industry, boosts annual sales of US$114 billion generated through the activities of more than 62 million independent sales representatives members world wide. Even former US president Bill Clinton, recognises the merits of the industry, officially endorsing the direct selling industry, saying ‘Direct selling strengthens the US and its economy, providing an opportunity for a better future’. In fact so popular is party plan, it is estimated, a Tupperware party starts somewhere in the world every 2.3 seconds;

‘Putting aside the statistics, there are too many success stories, to deny the industry its due merits. Well known author Robert Kiyosaki, of the bestseller, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, recognises the benefits offered by direct selling. He has been quoted singing the industries praises, he says ‘A business in direct selling is the ticket to what I call freedom money’. Where the average person can enjoy the benefits of financial success without the hassles associated with a traditional business’.

A complete misunderstanding of party plan, is probably the main reason why it is not readily considered as an alternative and safer option to start a business from home. Each and every day, across world small business owners are hitting the wall, sinking considerable amounts of capital, chasing their entrepreneurial dreams. Whereas a distributor has the opportunity to make money, with the support and stability from multi million dollar icons like Avon who have successfully weathered several recessions.

There are several reasons why party plan could work for you;

• Flexibility work life balance

Party plan allows you to work the hours you want and when you want. Party plan consultants are rewarded according to the effort they exert. Moms in particular are empowered to work around their family’s busy schedule and commitments.

• Equal opportunity

One of the endearing and compelling merits of party plan, is the underlining non-discriminatory nature of the industry.’ No prior qualifications are required to ensure success; you need only possess, commitment, determination and a ‘can do’ attitude.

• Low Cost

Party plan provides anyone and everyone with an opportunity to realise their entrepreneurial dreams, this is in part because the cost to start a business as a party planner, is much more affordable than buying the latest designer pram or plasma TV. This is an important point, many people want to start their own business, but lack the capital to do so.

• Low risk

Going into business for yourself, means you are not only risking personal capital you are exposed to a plethora of business related worries and stress, it can be very overwhelming and very risky. Party plan provides quite the opposite opportunity, you are exposed to a limited risk because you don’t bear the burden of the managing the company, your role is to simply support the company as a party plan consultant.

• Free support

Party plan not only represents a relatively lower risk, party planners receive free training and enjoy the benefits of a well established business, including the support of a national marketing campaign, brand recognition and the strength in established systems and processes. Party planners are free of the cumbersome troubles that plague business owners, they are more empowered to get on with the job of building their business.

• Passive income

Party plan offers the opportunity to earn passive income.  Passive income is money you are entitled to without actually having to work for. For example once you sell a product to a customer, every time that same customer reorders, you will be entitled to a commission on the sale. Alternatively you could gain leverage by building a team, earning commissions from the sales made by your team. Most party plan companies empower their party planners to build teams – that’s money for jar.

For less than the cost of a dinner date, anyone and everyone can ‘Give it a Go’. Party plan is unequivocally the only equal opportunity where, few barriers to entry means no one is discriminated against, from the less educated to the Rhodes scholar, the defining point between success and failure is attitude.

About the Author: Sonia Williams is the author of several books, designed to guide budding entrepreneurs on how to make money from home, her current release Give it a Go what have you got to lose?, is an in depth investigation into how anyone and everyone can make money through party plan. Sonia interviewed hundreds of successful party plan consultants and reveals their secrets to financial success in Give it a Go.www.party-plan-consultant.com.

Can you Make Money With a Direct Sales Company?

Whenever I read work-at-home blogs or message boards, I always see some variation of the question “can I make money in direct sales"? Most of the answers to this question come from those who have recruited a few people so the answers are always very biased.

So back to the question, can you make money in direct sales? The quick answer is yes, you can. However I’d like to offer more details than just a “yes”.

Direct sales companies usually offer the distributor two ways to earn money. One is through the actual sale of a product and the other is through sponsoring or recruiting people to become representatives for the company.

This article will speak of industry-wide averages only. The average commission on the sale of a product in direct sales is roughly 30% to 35%. If in a week, you sell $100 worth of products, you’ll earn about $30 to $35 dollars. This will not pay your rent, but it’s $30 you didn’t have prior to selling the product!

When someone comes to me and says they want to earn $1000 per month, I cringe a little bit. Not because it’s not possible to earn $1000 per month, but because the vast majority of those involved in direct sales never earn this much. Speaking of sales only, in order to earn $1000 per month, you’ll need to sell about $3000 worth of products every single month. If the average customer spends $35 on products, you’re going to need at least 85 customers, each ordering $35 worth of product, to hit that $3000 sales mark. Again, this is not impossible, but almost no one can do this their first few months in business. It’s not easy finding 85 customers each and every month. For those who stick with it, for those who continue to pursue new customers each and every month, it is not uncommon to have several hundred customers in a couple of short years. Direct sales becomes especially profitable when you’re selling a product that has to be re-ordered each and every month.

Now let’s switch gears and talk about sponsoring others. The AVERAGE industry-wide income earned from sponsoring others is about 10%. This means for every $100 sold by those you sponsor, you’ll earn about $10. Again, using $1000 as our target income, you’ll need to create a group volume of at least $10,000. Ten percent of ten thousand is indeed the $1000 you were looking for. Again, this is not impossible to do, but it does not happen as often as the internet leads us to believe it does. Let’s say you sponsor one person per month your first year. This means you’ll have 12 people in your group at the end of that year. If each of those 12 people sold $500 per month in products, you’d have group sales of $6000. Not quite $10,000, but you’re definitely on your way.

The best advice I can give someone is that when they choose a direct sales company, they have to dedicate themselves to at least a 3 year plan. If you get involved with a direct sales company expecting to get rich overnight you may be very disappointed. Big money can be made for the average person but it takes time and dedication.

Author: Chad William Hershey of ManifestYourFortune is founder of his own home based business, The Pinnacle Group. He is a student and mentor of the Universal Law of Attraction, as seen in The Secret, and believes fully in The Master Key System. Chad shares his passion and knowledge of being in the home based business arena for the last 15 years and enjoys helping others succeed with Internet marketing.  

Choosing The Best Sponsor For Your Direct Sales Company

So, you have found the perfect direct sales company to join. But before you sign up, you'll need to decide who is going to be your sponsor.

First, the basics: When you sign up with a direct sales company, you will most likely sign up underneath someone who in turns becomes your sponsor. This person will receive a percentage of your sales, and should be the one to help get you started and give you any training you may need. It is to their advantage to get you motivated and trained, because the more money you make, the more they will also make off of you.

However, sometimes you will find some direct sales representatives that are so focused on sponsoring new members that the neglect the most important part, which is training and managing their downline.

If you sign up underneath one of these sponsors, you may find yourself lost and without much direction on how to run your business.

Most new direct sellers sign up under the first person that introduced them to the company, or the first one that gave them the information that they requested.

It is your sponsor's job to train, teach, and guide you in the right direction so you can build a successful direct sales business. If you don't know your sponsor, how do you know they are the right candidate in helping you build your direct sales business?

Here are some questions you may want to ask your potential sponsor:

1. How long they have been with the company? In general, the longer your sponsor has been with the company the more they know about it and how it works. They also have an upper hand in knowing what methods of selling and recruiting work best for this company. A seasoned direct seller is almost always more knowledgeable than a new one.

2. How knowledgeable are they with the company's history and policies? Knowing the company history and their policies are very important. Your sponsor should be able to tell you a full history of the company, about the founders, and all the products. Company Policies are also important because you will want to know what methods of advertisement and selling may not be allowed.

3. How active they are in the company? Is their business part time or full time? This is also very important. You might prefer to go with a sponsor that makes their direct sales business full time because they will have more time to devote to you. A part time sponsor will also have another job to deal with and may or may not be on call when you need them.

4. What is their experience with training their downline? You might want to ask your sponsor how many people are in their downline and how they manage them.

5. What tools do they offer to help train their downline? Ask your sponsor if they have weekly or monthly conference calls for their downline, and any message boards or chat rooms to go for support.

6. How much time can they invest in you? Ask your sponsor how much time she can take out in the first few weeks to help you get your direct sales business set up and ready to go.

7. How close do they live to you? Location is not the most important qualification, but it is always nice if a sponsor is close by and can be reached easily for meetings. Most training is done online now in direct sales.

Finding the right sponsor is just as important as finding the right direct sales company. Remember, you don't have to join the first person that tries to sign you up. You may even ask to speak to a member of their current downline to get a better account of how good a sponsor they are. Make sure you spend the extra time to find someone that really meets your qualifications and expectations so you can be one step ahead in your direct sales business!

Author: Stefanie Fauquet is the owner of Work at Home Mom Online, a top direct sales resource site with information to help moms make money in direct sales. Visit http://www.WorkatHomeMomOnline.com today!

How To Advertise Your Business On Valentine’s Day

Even on hard times, it is traditional to give someone you love something special on the day of hearts. So don't be surprised if some businesses like flowers, chocolates, greeting cards, postcard printing, personalized notecards and other gift products will be on the boom. Love after all is worth spending on. So, with all that Love and cash being distributed there is something here that you can use take advantage on for your business. You use this as a great opportunity to advertise your business.

Below is a simple guide on how to advertise your business on Valentine's day. If you are new to promoting your businesses or maybe even a veteran owner who wants new ideas, then you will benefit from this guide. It details a few key strategies like postcard printing, product repackaging, personalized notecard printing and others that can help advertise you business and bring in sales. So without further ado, here is the simple guide.

1. Repackaging your products: The first thing you should do is to set aside a few choice products for a “Valentine line”. These products should be the ones that are applicable as Valentine presents, which someone can give their significant other. Of course, if your business is about food, flowers, stuffed animals, balloons and other such traditional Valentine’s presents you should have no problem. Just package them in red containers or plastics, add some ribbons and a color postcard, and they should be all set for Valentine’s. For other products however, it might take a little creative thinking on your part to apply it for the day of hearts.

For example, if you own a shop that sells gadgets and computer equipment, you may want to emphasize on discounted twin product deals that can apply for couples. Those gadgets that are colored red, or something close to red and pink can also be aimed for the “Valentine’s” crowd. Just think of ways to market and package your products so that a person may consider it as a gift to a loved one. Please take note though that if your product is really not related to anything about Love (like building materials, or poisonous chemicals), you mustn’t force yourself in doing some kind of Valentine’s marketing strategy. It just won’t work.

2. Investing in printed gift materials: Besides redressing your products, you can also have a few printed gift materials that you can give away or sell off as marketing tools. These printed materials can include color postcards or Valentine’s greeting cards, personalized notecards, bookmarks and other such paraphernalia. You can design them for the season, with hearts, butterflies, ribbons and other nice objects. Of course include your business logo, or color business card in the package so that the printed giveaway becomes your advertising tool. You can even hide some coupons or integrate them into the designs, to make sure that people will think of going to your shop or business on Valentine’s day.

3. Offering Valentine's day packages: Of course, another way to advertise your business is to offer special Valentine’s day packages. Have a large color poster printed that announces your special Valentine ’s Day deals. Focus on deals for two people of course, or try to have some big gift packages with collections of your products which can be applied as a Valentine gift. If you can, try to offer them in some kind of red packaging, or you can also offer some free gift wrapping so that people can immediately give them as gifts.

4. Creating a special event: Lastly, you can also offer a special Valentine’s event in your shop as an advertising ploy. For example, if you own a bookstore, you can have a poetry reading or story telling event for couples to enjoy. If you own a department store or something similar, maybe you can have some kind of palm reading event for free that can tell people about their Love and destiny. Basically, just think of a nice event that people associate with Love and Valentine’s Day. As people see your business, they’ll be attracted to go in and see what’s going on. It is a nice advertising tool.

Those are just four great ideas for advertising your business in Valentine’s Day. If you have are creative enough, you can also adapt these strategies, or you can even build upon them so that you can use Valentine’s Day as a way of advertising your business. Good Luck!

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Top 5 Ways to Get More Datings at Your Direct Sales Home Party

The very heart of the home party plan business is dating more parties. Without parties, your business is at a virtual standstill, with no ways to generate substantial sales. With your date book filled with scheduled parties, a world of opportunity opens up for you to grow your business and experience financial rewards.

So how do you generate more parties? Here are my 5 favorite ways to get more parties dated during a home party demonstration.

#5 Offer Incentives
As you go about your demonstration, be sure you point out various dating incentives to your guests. Make sure the guests know that they can receive a gift just for dating a party, and another for holding the party. Go over your party plan companies hostess plans, and when possible, show guests the actual items they can receive.

#4 Stack Your Hostess

Play a game of Show and Tell. You can explain hostess gifts to your guests until you are blue in the face, but until the guests actually see what it is that they can receive, it doesn't mean much to them.

Towards the end of your presentation, have your hostess sit in a chair at the front of the room. Take this opportunity to thank her for hosting the party. Then begin to stack her.

Starting with the gift of least value, hand all the items to her one by one that she has received for hosting the party. Give her the conversation starter gift, the dating gift, the hosting gift. Make sure you stack her with all the items it is possible to receive, even if the party sales are not totaled yet. Does your company offer half price items in addition to other hostess gifts? Stack her with those as well.

When guests see just how much they can receive, they are more likely to date a party themselves.

#3 The Theme Book
Your party guests want to have fun! What better way to get them excited than by offering a wide array of themed parties? Everything from the traditional Auction Party to a Banana Split Party, Couples Party, Children's Party or Margarita with the Girls. Get creative and think of fun ways that your guests can come together with their friends.

Print out a simple information page with each of these ideas and put the pages in a 3-ring binder. Leave the binder on the coffee table before and during the party. When your guests find a theme that interests them, they will be happy to date a show with you.

#2 Dating Games
Most home party consultants offer their guests some sort of prize or trinket for coming to a show. Reserve your most sought after trinkets and prizes for a special dating game. At the end of your show, offer the best goodies to your guests for participating in the Dating Game.

Have all the trinkets in a large bowl or decorated box. On each trinket, attach a note. Half the notes should say "Host a Party" while the other half should have a variety of messages ranging from "Draw Again" to "You've Won a Free Item". Tell the guests that participation in this game is optional. Explain to the guests that on each prize is a note, and whatever the note says is what is to be done. If a guest draws a "free item" prize, you will give her a specified free item, but if she draws a "Host a Party" prize, you expect her to date a party tonight.

This really helps to determine which guests are willing to hold a party. Only guests who are willing to consider the idea will draw a prize.

#1 ASK!
This might seem obvious, but the best way to date more parties at your next demonstration is to get into the habit of asking each guest. Do not feel that you are being pushy. The guests expect you to ask them to host a party! One method I have used to force myself to ask each and every guest when they place their order is this.

At the beginning of the party, I make an announcement. I hold out a $20 bill and say "At the end of the show I will be asking each and every one of you to host a party to be eligible to receive all these wonderful hostess gifts! If, however, I forget to ask you to host a show, I will give you $20 worth of product of your choice!"

This forces me to ask each guest, and makes each guest aware, prepared, and even looking forward to my question.

About the Author: Rayven Perkins Did you like these ideas? See the complete Direct Sales Resources section at Direct Sales Resources.