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Laurie Ayers Scentsy Independent Consultant Blog

The Importance of a Handshake

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Helping hand shakes another in an agreementThe handshake “¦ the universal sign of peace, greetings and salutations.   Yet it is sad to see the number of business people, particularly women, who do not use the handshake or fail to shake properly.

Have you ever stuck your hand out to greet someone who left you hanging?   I have; how terribly awkward and pathetic.   I’ve also been greeted by people who want to give me a “˜high five’ or a fist bump.   Those improvised handshakes may have a place, however it’s not protocol in business.

Male or female – gender should make no difference.   The proper time for a handshake would be if you are greeting someone, being introduced to someone, introducing yourself or are leaving.   And by all means, please shake like you mean business.

I cannot stand it when I get a wimpy-limpy finger shake. [Read more…] about The Importance of a Handshake

No They Didn’t TAKE Your Downline

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took downlineMost direct sales companies have some minimum requirements that must be met to remain a consultant. The only time I’ve heard someone say they didn’t have a quota or a minimum was when they were playing word games. They didn’t have a quota but all they had to do was get on autoship each month.

If you truly understand a direct sales business vs. being a preferred customer or joining a discount program, then you understand that you will be required to submit some sales, however low or infrequent that may be. Boundaries are a part of most any segment of life, particularly when it comes to work related issues.

Some companies have policies that if you don’t perform at a certain level you’ll be terminated. Other companies have policies that require a particular level to maintain downline members. I’ve heard more than a few frustrated consultants publicly bash their company or former company by saying:

“THEY TOOK MY DOWNLINE.”

If you have downline members who have said this, help them understand that no, the corporate office did not take, as in unjustly steal, their consultants away from them.   What they did was do exactly as the policies said they would. If these consultants chose not to maintain a certain performance level, they were forfeiting their right to maintain a downline. [Read more…] about No They Didn’t TAKE Your Downline

Deadly Financial Mistakes in Direct Sales

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balanceWe’ve all heard that you need to spend money to make money. That is true. If you plan to start a direct sales business and don’t have the financial investment to purchase a starter kit, along with a few necessities to get started, then operating a profitable business will be an uphill climb if not impossible.

They key is to balance income with expenses.

What often happens in direct sales is that for the independent consultants who are unable to balance their income/expense ratio, they end up quitting “because I’m spending more than I am making.” I sometimes get emails from team members telling me they are quitting “because they can’t afford to keep their business.”   This is such a backwards mentality.

People join direct sales to make money (among a host of other reasons), not to lose money. They should be enjoying an income; and it shouldn’t cost them financially to stay in business.  If they need money, then that’s all the more reason to work their business, as it’s a wonderful source of income already at their disposal.

Common financial mistakes that can be terminal to a direct sales business:

  1. Huge investment of inventory up front. Most starter kits should contain all you need to start a business. Sure you’ll need to invest more as you go along to grow and maintain a business. For starters, use what came in your kit. Then use a portion of your pay check to reinvest back into your business to purchase additional stock, marketing collateral or display items. Many direct sales companies also allow the consultant to also be the host to take advantage of the host rewards. This is a cost effective method to grow your inventory.
  2. Giving away the farm. Newer consultants are sometimes dismayed when they announce their grand opening and then the orders don’t come as abundantly as envisioned. Instead of keep on keeping on and working their business with a system that has been proven to work, they want to take the express elevator to the top. What I mean is they start issuing bribes to get recruits and hosts.   Join my team and I will give you xyz.   Host a party with me and in addition to the corporate host rewards, I’ll give you an extra [product].   Those are all items that come out of their profit margins. Any profits earned at the party or event will/can be eaten up in the extra giveaways the consultant had to fund out of her own pocket. [Read more…] about Deadly Financial Mistakes in Direct Sales

Some will. Some won’t. So what.

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horseYou’ve heard the cliche: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make her drink.“ This is never truer than in direct sales. I frequently hear sponsors complain that they “Can’t get their team members to do anything.” or that they “Can’t get them to want what I want.”

That’s right. You cannot get another person to do what he/she does not want to do. Okay perhaps a mother can get a child to do something, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.   Those who are successful with their direct selling business are where they are because they wanted to be there.

Can’t be Successful Without Want

Some of the higher ranked direct sales consultants had great sponsors; some had lousy or nonexistent ones; and some had some that were so-so. Point being that their success was not contingent upon what their sponsor made them do. They’re successful in their independent businesses because doing so was important to them. They took whatever steps necessary to make it happen. [Read more…] about Some will. Some won’t. So what.

Special Offer If You Join My Scentsy Team

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Join my Scentsy team this month and I will give you a FREE”¦Join My Team and Get Free

Those sure are attention getting subject lines, aren’t they? Who doesn’t love freebies? Extra. Free. Giveaway. Bonus.   Ahh, music to your ears, right?

<Insert automobile brake screeching sound here>   Errrrrrrrrrrrk. Not so fast.

If you want to start a Scentsy business; if you want to build a business; if you want to earn some money; if you want a sponsor, coach, mentor who is successful and knowledgeable; if you want to do what the consultants who are profitable do, do not – repeat – do not sign up with (or “˜under’ as some of you call it) any consultant who is offering to give you product, or to buy your starter kit or a give you a website or something enticing for free. Don’t do it.

Here’s why – there are a number reasons actually: [Read more…] about Special Offer If You Join My Scentsy Team