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Laurie Ayers Scentsy Independent Consultant Blog

Independent Consultants’ Guide to Avoiding Mistakes

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mistakes happenWhoopsee, that didn’t exactly turn out the way I planned.

Have you ever made a mistake?

What a ludicrous question, right? Of course we’ve all made mistakes and we will continue to make them. I like to call it Stupid Tax. I generally end up having to pay for my mistakes – sometimes literally in hard earned money and other times in consequences.

Point being, if you screw up, admit it, learn from it and move on. The end. Don’t beat yourself up over it; and by all means don’t quit your direct sales business. It doesn’t matter if you forgot to enter a customer’s order; or you spilled at the host’s house or you told a prospective recruit wrong information. I’m sure you didn’t do it on purpose. That’s why it’s called an accident; a mistake.

If you own up to it, take responsible and apologize, then make it right the best you can, that pretty much puts an end to the issue. It generally diffuses any potential volatility. If you are authentic and say, “I’m sorry, I dropped the ball, let me make it up to you.” what can the other person say, really? [Read more…] about Independent Consultants’ Guide to Avoiding Mistakes

Multiple Business Cards for Multiple Purposes

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Multiple business cards

How many different business card designs do you have for your direct sales business? Do you have one for recruiting, one for sales, one for bookings/hosts and one to get referrals? Or do you have a one-size-fits-all generic business card for all purposes, for all markets?

Consider a pair of pants. You could get a one-size-fits-all pair of stretchy black pants. You could wear them to work, to the gym and to the night club.  It could work.  Or would you rather have a well fitted navy trouser for work; grey shorts for the gym; and a pair of skinny jeans for the club?  The latter would likely be more suitable for those particular events; would you agree?

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

So then why do so many direct sellers have a one-size-fits-all business card? Moreover, typically that one design business card contains only the vitals: consultant name, company identity, phone number, web site, email and possibly mailing address, minus any pizzazz.  Yet many of these direct sales companies are three-pronged: buy products, host a party or become a consultant, right? [Read more…] about Multiple Business Cards for Multiple Purposes

Same Thriving Candle Business With a Fresh Look

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Hey wait a minute.Were you looking for this website?

Thriving Candle Business

You found it.Thriving Candle Business recently underwent a facelift.  It was time to shake things up a bit. It’s still loaded with information relevant to anyone in direct sales or who may be considering a direct selling business opportunity.

It also still contains loads of information specific to Scentsy Fragrance.

Why I dropped the words Candle Business in the header

I’ve been in direct sales since 1988. If my math serves me correctly, that’s twenty six years. Many of those years I’ve been in the candle industry. I’m an admitted waxaholic.  I’ve also personally represented nutritional companies (Matol Botanical and E’ola for those inquiring minds). Though the main reason is that much of what happens within direct sales and in party plans is transferable.

It doesn’t matter if you represent candles or chocolate or purses or jewelry or kitchenware or any other products. Information about home parties, recruiting, personal development, marketing, networking – those are all topics that anyone in any direct sales business can use.

So grab a beverage, settle in and nose around a bit. You may find some new features, although much of the former Thriving Candle Business website is still here, it’s just reorganized.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Who Cares How Many?

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I was recently apart of a conversation where a potential new direct sales consultant wanted to know some good questions she should be asking before she joins to represent a company.

I admire anyone who does research ahead of time and chooses a company and a sponsor wisely. It sets the foundation to a strong business. I’ve offered a number of questions to ask in this article: Selecting a Direct Sales Sponsor and also in More on Selecting a Direct Sales Company and Sponsor.

scentsy is not saturatedOne of the participants in the discussion responded that she would definitely ask “How may consultants there are in the area, as you’ll want to check for saturation.”

This is not the first time I’ve heard others voice that this should be an important question to get answered. However, my response to this is:

Who cares how many consultants there are in an area?

That number means nothing and tells you nothing about the current situation. In many cases saturation is a myth.

Back to the irrelevance of how many consultants there are in the area. What will that tell you? I know what it won’t tell you:

  • It won’t tell you how many of those consultants are kit collectors and aren’t selling anything.
  • It won’t tell you how many signed up for personal use.
  • It won’t tell you how many sell now and then to a few friends but aren’t actively doing anything to get new customers, hosts or recruits. [Read more…] about Who Cares How Many?

Why Are Some More Successful in Direct Sales?

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Ever wonder why some direct sales consultants seem to have more success than others? Why some make it look easy and yet you can’t seem to get one sale, booking or recruit? First of all, know that direct sales can be an easy sell, but it’s certainly not easy. If it were, everyone would do it.

Below are a handful of actionable items you can do that separate the successful ones from those who constantly struggle.

1. Don’t quit.
Many consultants quit their direct sales business after just a short time – far too early before they can become successful. Sadly some desperate to recruit new team members like to say: “It’s easy! It’s fun! You’ll make great money!” While all those are certainly possible, you won’t find it easy, fun and profitable without a great deal of work. This is true for all direct sellers. If you decide to give yourself just six months and if  by then you’re not rolling in the dough and have your calendar booked, you’re quitting … well that’s just unreasonable. Successful direct sellers keep on keeping on – even when they don’t feel like it and even when it’s hard.

2. Work hard.
See #1 above. Treat your business like a business, not like a hobby. If you want to work from home, you have to show up to work … and be prepared to work. It takes discipline to work when there are so many other distractions and there isn’t a boss monitoring your work. You wanted to be your own boss, so monitor your work. If you joined mainly for the purpose to get the host rewards of free or half off product, then perhaps business ownership isn’t for you at this time; and that’s okay. You can be the hostess with the mostess; your friends will look forward to your fun parties and you can still reap the benefits of the products without all the responsibilities of business ownership.
[Read more…] about Why Are Some More Successful in Direct Sales?