Welcome to our special series on a Mom's Guide to Making More Money, articles that give you a behind-the-scene look at what it's like to work in network marketing, from real mom bosses! Each week will feature moms working in similar industries and this week features jewelry & fashion, and you can always view our full guide of independent consultants here and contact any of them to learn more about their business.
I'm sure you have several friends who are involved in direct sales. Maybe you've even tried some of their products. You see their posts on Facebook. You have gone to some parties. And then you get to thinking. You may be interested in earning extra cash too. But you have questions: What really goes into it? Which company is right for you?
We have some answers for you. We sat down with some local consultants and got the real-life, behind-the-scenes answers to some of the most nagging questions in regards to getting involved with direct sales. This week features:
Jamberry Nails - Natalee Nelson, joined 3 years ago and adores helping others show off their personalities
KEEP Collective - Julie Smith, a mom and Navy wife who loves that she can take her job with her in their military lifestyle
Lilla Rose - Cheri Mullins, a homeschool mom that finds her work as a stylist to be a fun side job
Lularoe - Vicky Wasser, mom to 2 boys and enjoys empowering women of all sizes to feel beautiful
Papparazzi $5 Jewelry - Elena Kienitz, loves her job because everyone can afford stunning $5 jewelry
How many hours per week do you "clock in" for work?
Jamberry Nails - I spend time both LEADING my awesome Team Sparkle and working my PERSONAL business. When I can, I like to work 40+ hours a week on it, to earn a great paycheck! Typically, I work 30-35 hours per week.
KEEP Collective - an hour or two per day, creating graphics for online marketing, speaking with customers and preparing for design sessions
Lilla Rose - 10 or more with shows
Lularoe - 30 hours per week
Papparazzi - 5 to 20 hours
How many, if any, people have you recruited for your team?
Jamberry Nails - I have personally recruited 25 gals on to my team in nearly 3 years. And as with any direct sales business, a small percentage stay beyond the first year and I currently have 9 direct downline and approx 30+ on our USA/Australia team!
KEEP Collective - I currently have one recruit, and I can't wait to grow my team!
Lilla Rose - 16 personally and 47 total on my team
Lularoe - I have 2 ladies on my team directly and one of them has a girl that is on her team as well.
Papparazzi - 50 personal sponsored and 678 in my down line/my team members.
What excites you about your business?
Jamberry Nails - OH! I LOVE the integrity of our Home Office. After being in direct sales for nearly 18 years total, being able to whole-heartedly BELIEVE that your Home Office is genuine, true, human and cares DEEPLY about the Consultants in the field and all our clients? A PURE JOY that I am thankful of EACH day!
KEEP Collective - The best thing about this company for me is how easily I am able to work online. Most of my clientele is in Alabama, so I love that I'm still able to do parties with them and introduce their friends to Keep Collective.
Lilla Rose - This company has a solid foundation and ethics. I am proud to be a part of this company to share these wonderful products with women.
Lularoe - I love being able to empower women every single day. That is the most amazing thing to me. I have never been the most body confident woman, but these clothes make me feel confident in myself. I've also built an amazing community of friends through LuLaRoe. I didn't really know anyone locally before starting my business, now I have a whole network of friends who are either consultants or customers of mine. I love that all of the consultants in the area are able to work together since we all have different inventories. The culture of this company is really beautiful. Every decision LuLaRoe makes is about strengthening families and changing lives, it's never about how they can profit off of us as their retailers.
Papparazzi - Everything! From the stunning $5 jewelry, earning free trips, convention, growing as a person - bettering myself. Helping out financially. It is right for me because everyone can afford Paparazzi $5 jewelry, it's guilt free accessories and it makes everyone happy!
What is the biggest challenge of your job?
Jamberry Nails - My biggest business challenge is connecting with new Hostesses and helping them understand that working with me is a partnership and we can make it easy and fun, for great Rewards in a short Mani Bash timeline!! THEN, helping THEIR friends see the busy-woman solution Jamberry Nails can be for them!
KEEP Collective - My biggest challenge right now is expanding my business in Washington. I'm always looking for vendor events and other opportunities to introduce people to my favorite jewelry!
Lilla Rose - Sharing the product on a personal level. I enjoy selling at fairs and festivals.
Lularoe - Time management for sure! No matter how many time management webinars I watch I can't seem to nail this one down. LOL! LuLaRoe is definitely work. People love the clothes and will seek you out for them, but you still have to work to keep your company moving and growing. That means finding new eyes to see your inventory, building your inventory numbers, etc... It's a real business so you have to treat it like a business.
Papparazzi - social media
What are the biggest perks of your job?
Jamberry Nails - PHENOMENAL non-toxic Jamberry product AT COST, plus the virtual team, new friendships and my weekly Friday paycheck!!
KEEP Collective - Keep Collective designers make 25-35% commissions, earn product credit monthly, and have opportunities to earn cash bonuses each month!
Lilla Rose - Free products when certain levels are achieved. Great compensation plan.
Lularoe - The LuLaRoe Cruise!!! If you sell at least $12,000 (which is about 400 pieces) a month for 6 months in a row you qualify to go on the cruise. This isn't just any cruise, this is the LuLaRoe home office team chartering and taking over an entire cruise ship for a week all-inclusive. It's crazy!!
Papparazzi - Earning free trips, 45% commissions and team bonus commissions, free website, no yearly signup dues.
What is the investment to get started? Are there any on-going expenses?
Jamberry Nails - Typically, you can sign up to try out your Jamberry business for $99, which gets you $100's in product, business supplies and your first 3 months of your website paid for! Beyond that, I invest $10.99 per month for my client-facing website.
KEEP Collective - To join Keep Collective, all you have to do is purchase a starter kit. There are two options: one for $149 (products valued at $500) and another for $349 (products valued at $1000). That's it! No holding inventory, no monthly purchase minimums! You will have the opportunity to purchase a personal website for with $10/month or $99/year, but this is not required.
Lilla Rose - $49.95 for a starter kit. No monthly quotas. Free website.
Lularoe - The cost to get started depends on what package you pick and which packages are available at the time. Currently those packages range from $5000-9000 with add-on inventory available. Those aren't start up fees, that is actual real inventory that you will sell at retail for a profit. The monthly expenses you are going to have going forward are going to be just building your inventory. When you sell something you need to replace it. LuLaRoe doesn't require this, but as a business owner why wouldn't you replace your inventory and keep growing it so that you still have product to sell in your shop?
Papparazzi - $99 kit, $299 kit and $499 with a free 3 day convention ticket worth $186. No yearly dues, free website, to stay a consultant you only need to buy 100 pieces of jewelry in a 12 month time.
Does your income come from your sales or the sales of the people who you recruited for your team?
Jamberry Nails - We have multiple income stream opportunities - definitely from our own sales and those of the team of downline 3 layers deep.
KEEP Collective - Both! I earn 25-35% of my own sales and 15% of my recruit's sales.
Lilla Rose - Both
Lularoe - Your income comes mostly from your sales. We buy our inventory at 5% below wholesale cost and then sell it for retail and keep the difference. If you have built a team there are minimum sales requirements for you, but you also get a bonus direct from LuLaRoe for training them (5% of what they sell each month). That doesn't come out of what your team earns, that is just a bonus from LuLaRoe.
Papparazzi - My income comes from both, my retail sales and commissions from my team. When they buy product, paparazzi gives me a percentage off that total a month.
What does your income supplement?
Jamberry Nails - I THANK my busy business days, weeks and months, because it means I am WORKING and helping earn a paycheck for my family, but ALSO EXPRESSING MY PASSIONS. I am living in COLOR. I am mentoring women and being cheered on by other women who support ME! I earn recognition or incentives, because achieving those goals feels pretty Kick Ass! I am proud to be PROUD of myself! I LOVE the my son and daughter see that I work hard, and use my brains! ;)
KEEP Collective - Right now, the biggest thing that my business is doing for me is helping me to meet amazing women. We moved from Alabama to Washington in July, and this has been one of the easiest ways to step outside of my comfort zone. It easily opens up conversations!
Lilla Rose - I have been able to help with vacations and Christmas shopping. I have made many new friends because of this business.
Lularoe - This biggest change this business has made in my life is my confidence. I feel like a completely different person than I was a year ago. Financially, this business is allowing us to pay off debt, take vacations, and save up for a bigger home.
Papparazzi - I've made enough money to pay the mortgage, sports for the kids, utility bills, vacations, food, whatever we need. Paparazzi has given me the strength and courage to excel in things that I was afraid to do. Paparazzi has given us life!
Advice for anyone looking to get into Direct Sales or other info you would like to share?
Jamberry Nails - Direct Sales isn't FOR everyone, but it certainly is for anyone! There is no cookie-cutter set of personality traits you must have to succeed! We all have so many gifts to share and it's easiest when you LOVE what you SELL!! I would LOVE to show you the Jamberry Love and no question is ever too small or too big.
KEEP Collective - Focus on the relationship, not the sale. No one wants to feel like all you care about is their money. Get to know your customers. Actually become their friends, and they will have your back even if they never make a purchase. If you are looking for a direct sales company to work with, I would encourage you to do you research and choose the company with the products that YOU want to use and values that YOU would love to represent. Of course, I hope the answer to both of those is Keep Collective!
Lilla Rose - There is no pressure in this business. Work at your own pace and get 30-50% discounts with a great company and unique patented hair product.
Lularoe - Network marketing isn't that scary! Just do your research and know what you're getting into before you sign up. Network marketing makes even more sense now than it did years ago now that social media is at everyone's fingertips. These companies provide an opportunity for women (and men) to start their own small businesses and change their families lives.
Papparazzi - It's the way of the world! So many people are looking into owning their own business or moms wanting to stay home with their kids. Direct sales companies make a lot of millionaires. Paparazzi is affordable, fun fashion jewelry that sells itself. I have sold pieces off my wrist, neck and fingers! Women can't help themselves!! Paparazzi is changing the world $5 at a time! Don't miss out on this opportunity!
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No company listed guarantees any level of success or income. Income depends on each individual’s own efforts, diligence and skill.
