Jamberry Nail Shield Introduction, Party and Giveaway!

Have you heard of Jamberry Nails yet?

If not, you’re in for a treat!

Jamberry Nails are a nail shield that allows you to have the cool nail styles you see in the magazines without spending hours at the salon or all the money!  These temporary shields come in lots of colors and patterns, easy to apply and allow you to match your nails with your mood.

Even though they are technically “temporary” they last up to two weeks – that’s longer than any regular manicure has lasted me!

Ready to see a video? The video below shows how the Jamberry Nail Shield’s are applied – yes you can do this at home!

So…what did you think?

Pretty cool, huh?

One of the best parts?  A sheet of shields is only $15 and that includes 2 -3 applications.  What a deal!  You can put these on your finger nails or your toe nails.  Your kids will love them too!

OK, so here’s the deal.  I want to help out my friend Jan Hatchett, Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant, launch her new Jamberry Nails direct sales business.  So I’m having an online party for her and I will sponsor a giveaway.

First things first, there’s currently two specials right now:  Buy 3 sheets get 1 sheet free (your choice of styles).  Just select all 4 styles you are interested in and the shopping cart will adjust your total.

The other special is spend $45 or more and get free shipping (which is normally $1.50 per sheet).  Both of these offers can be combined so you can get 4 sheets for $45 plus tax and free shipping.   Cool beans, right?

Here’s how to order:

  1. Go to http://jans.jamberrynails.net
  2. Click on “Buy Jamberry -Shop Now”
  3. Pick out your styles – lots to choose from!  There’s even special ones for Valentine’s and Bridal Parties.
  4. Add the styles you want to your cart – if you choose 3, then add the 4th one because that one is free.
  5. When you’re ready to checkout, you’ll be taken to the shopping cart screen to review your order. Once you’ve checked everything is fine, you’re ready to complete your order.
  6. VERY IMPORTANT: Right under the order subtotal, there’s a question that says, “Is this party associated with a party?”  MAKE SURE TO CLICK “YES”. 
  7. Click “CHECKOUT”
  8. Under the “PARTY” section, choose, “Ivette Muller’s Party” 
  9. Fill out your address and payment information.
  10. Click “PLACE ORDER”

You’re done!  (By the way, if you live outside of the United States and want to order, we can still help you.  Just place your order and fill out the contact form with your correct address and we’ll get that taken care of for you!)

Now, for the giveaway!

I’ll be sharing my hostess earnings with one lucky winner!  Here’s what you need to do for your chance to win  one sheet of Jamberry Nail Shiels (maximum value $15).

  1. Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite Jamberry Nail Shield is.  1 entry
  2. Tweet about this post up to 3 times per day.  Post the URL of your tweet in the comments below.  1 entry per tweet
  3. Refer your friends – send them to this post and have them post a comment saying you sent them! 2 entries per referral
  4. Place an order – you can either get one of your items free or choose an additional one.  5 entries per order
That’s it!  Online party and contest ends Friday, January 27, 2012.  
GOOD LUCK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do You Reek of Desperation?

Have you heard the phrase, “Bees and dogs can smell fear?”

Well the same is true for people, we can smell desperation.

Being in the direct sales industry has taught me a lot over the last few years.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve learned more about how to build my business the right way in the last year, than I had in the last 15 years with various companies.  This is in no small part due to the information on the internet.  I thank coaches like Lynsey Jones, The Party Plan Coach, Lisa Robbin Young at Direct Sales Classroom and others for sharing their knowledge and to pick up where my uplines left off.

I don’t want to sound like a snob or anything but it used to drive me nuts that I didn’t have the “success” like I imagined I would have with my other direct sales companies.  I did almost EVERYTHING they told me to do in the training documents.  I followed the scripts to a “T”, I consumed every marketing idea and tried it, I talked to people about the business opportunity…

And nothing.

Well not “nothing” exactly, but far less than what I expected.

It wasn’t until the last year that the light came on and I realize that the direct sales business is really about relationships and not about promoting my product and opportunity.

I also belong to the largest referral organization in the world and I have learned the right way to network and life has gotten so much easier.  But, it has also taught me how to spot the “wrong” way to do things.

I can spot a desperate person a mile away.  They’ve got that crazed look in their eyes like, “I have to pass out all my business cards so I can get some business.”  They introduce themselves and all they start talking about is themselves and their business.  They tell you what they sell and ask for the sale before you’ve had a chance to look at their name tag.

When I meet someone in another direct sales business, I know their opportunity before they even know my name.

Eek…

I’m sure I sounded like them too because I was focused on me and growing my business, rather than building relationships.  And that is the key.

The other problem is that when people sense you are desperate, it turns them off to you, your product and your opportunity like a light switch.   You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.  When I see a desperate person at an event, I run the other way  – so does everybody else.

Right now I’m at a crossroads because an acquaintance of mine in another direct sales company who stinks to high heaven of desperation.  I don’t know what has transpired over the last few months that has made her so aggressive about her business, but it’s really bad.  Friends that I have introduced her too have told me they don’t like her because she’s too pushy.  Now I don’t want to introduce anyone else to her for fear of the same feedback, yet I want to help her build her business.

I’ve tried to talk to her to see what’s going on, but she has these walls built up and she hasn’t shared anything personal, she just wants to talk about business.  I want to help her and tell her how she’s coming across, but she won’t give me a chance.

Her main goal is recruiting to get people under her to make more money.  People see that and run the other way because they know she doesn’t have their best interests at heart.  Plus, the people who do sign up with her are likely to have the same aggressive personality because you attract the type of person you are.

It’s a vicious cycle!

The only way to stop the cycle is is to change the mindset about the business and opportunity.  If you work on building relationships and helping people rather than trying to see what you can get out of everyone you meet, you will be much more successful in your business.  Plus, you’ll meet some really wonderful people, build great relationships and you’ll actually get to enjoy your business.

Trust me, it works :)

The BEST Planner for Direct Sales Consultants

If you are in any direct sales company, you know the challenges of keeping your business organized.  One of the true benefits of being a direct sales professional is that you can run your business right beside your personal life with kids, family obligations and errands.

Staying organized is no longer a challenge – if you have The Diva Success Planner.  The Diva Success Planner is the first and only planner designed specifically for the party plan professional.

As a direct sales consultant myself, I find that I try to make “other” things work.  So I was using my current calendar and adding post it notes and tabs and using big clips to keep papers together so I could keep everything in one place.  I’m almost embarrassed to tell you I have lost a few slips of paper every now and then.

That’s why I’m so excited about The Diva Success Planner!  You can watch the short video below to see a detailed overview of what’s included in the planner, but here’s what I’m most excited about:

  • Month and Week at a Glance: this will help see what’s coming up in the week and month ahead.  If one of those “surprise” opportunities presents itself, you’ll know in an instant if you can participate!
  • Hostess and Customer Profiles: it’s great to have all your hostess and customer info at your finger tips so you can call them ASAP with a special that’s perfect for them or maybe pick up a unique thank you gift for that special customer or hostess
  • It’s 8″ x 5″ which fits perfectly in any purse or diaper bag
  • Goal Tracking system: keep track of your monthly goals all in one place so you can stay on target for that special incentive you’re working on!

The Diva Success Planner was created by Lynsey Jones, the Party Plan Coach.  Lynsey has been in the direct sales industry for more than 13 years and knows what it takes to build a successful business.  This is truly a custom made planner for us! (Listen to my exclusive interview with Lynsey http://www.wahmbahm.com/exclusive-interview-lynsey-jones-party-plan-divas.)

If you’d like to order The Diva Success Planner, go to The Diva Shoppe and click on “Tools for Success”.

This is what I’m getting myself with my March commission check!

The Nightmare that is Bamboopink

WARNING: Extreme rant ahead!

Seriously, I didn’t even know where to start this post.  I am so fed up and frustrated that I can’t even see straight.  This is just completely out of hand.

For those who many not have heard about Bamboopink yet, they are an “upcoming” direct marketing company that will sell fashion jewelry designed by JudeFrances Jewelry.  They are in pre-launch right now and are offering the “business opportunity” FREE.  The mere fact that they have made a free business opportunity brings out the worst in people.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have received emails, blog comments and Facebook requests from Bamboopink “consultants” that want me to join their team and earn lots of money.

A summary of most of the emails and comments I get:

“Get in on the ground floor opportunity!  It’s free to get started and you can earn a ton of money!  This is the perfect way to work from home and raise your kids. ”  blah, blah, blah

There are so many things wrong with this I have to make a list:

  1. Any time you send an unsolicited email to someone you don’t know, it’s SPAM.  This is a FEDERAL OFFENSE as outlined on the FCC website.  For details go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/canspam.html.  These “consultants” claim that they didn’t know what they were doing was SPAM and they were just trying to “help” me earn money. Seriously, give me a break. They knew it was wrong and just thought that the offer to join a company on the ground floor would be too good to resist and people wouldn’t mind.
  2. There is no product available to buy right now, no one has done a home show and no one is making money.  So how can they “claim” I’ll make a lot of money?  They haven’t made any money yet!
  3. This type of communication is what gives those of us in a legitimate direct sales business, a bad name. This is exactly the type of behavior people complain about and make them not want to even buy from a direct sales company much less become a consultant.

I have seen the Bamboopink consultants blast their “opportunity” all over Twitter, social networks, CafeMom, etc.  It’s upsetting to me because they are ruining the Bamboopink name and direct sales profession.

For all I know, Bamboopink could be an absolutely wonderful high fashion jewelry company with fabulous merchandise that I can’t help but want to buy.  However, I have a negative image of the company because they are allowing their future sales force to act in an unprofessional manner.  I find it hard to believe that a company in pre-launch would encourage their sales force to spam the opportunity all over the place.

Plus, this appears to be one of the work at home scams so many people are afraid of because it’s all hype and no substance.  There is no product to buy yet and the website does not detail when they will get started.  How do the consultants even know if there will be a good product to sell (one that they will be proud to represent), good fulfillment and good customer/consultant service?  All these are critical to a consultant’s success and happy customers.

There are so many companies that have paved the way and set the high standards for ethical direct sales businesses:  Mary Kay, Pampered Chef and Stampin’ Up! just to name a few.  This type of behavior just puts a black mark on our industry and there doesn’t need to be.  Unfortunately, we’re lumped together with all direct marketing businesses whether they are an official member of the Direct Selling Association or not.

The bottom line is that the only way to build a successful business – any kind of business – is to have a great product and deliver it with great customer service.  Those of us that choose to build a direct sales business and sponsor consultants to build a downline need to do it with integrity.  We have to be more interested in the other person’s goals than our own, we need to build relationships and we need to help people achieve their goals.  We need to be good examples so that our team will model our behavior.  We need to have integrity.

If you have been spamming your opportunity all over the internet, please stop.  You’re hurting your reputation and the reputation of the company you’re representing.  You’re giving the direct marketing profession a bad name.  You’re only making it harder for yourselves (and the rest of us) to do business.

Bad seeds exist in every company.  I am sure there are many wonderful future Bamboopink consultants who are starting their business the right way by building relationships and offering the potential opportunity.  But these actions have made it harder to find the diamonds in the rough.

To make it clear, I don’t have a problem with consultants that are sharing the opportunity in a “new” post within the social networks to let others know of the business and allow them to make a decision on their own.  My “complaint” is with those consultants who reply to people who are looking for a work at home opportunity about Bamboopink and make hyped up claims about a company that hasn’t even launched yet.  And of course the consultants who spam blogs, contact form and emails.

I thought it was almost laughable that a direct quote from Bamboopink’s website says, “Since word got out that we were launching Bamboopink, it has become one of the most anticipated and talked about direct market jewelry company in recent times.” Unfortunately, the “word” is negative from my perspective.

I’m not alone.  Many of us have been talking about this epidemic on Twitter and I invite you to read Shelly’s post on her Work At Home Business Options website.  She was more PC than I was with her first post, she didn’t name any names.  But we all knew what company she was talking about.

OK, so I am sure I have ruffled a few feathers.  What do you think?  Have you heard of Bamboopink before this post?  Have you been spammed with the opportunity?  Post your comments below!

 

Exclusive Interview with Lynsey Jones of Party Plan Divas Inc.

I am so excited to share this exclusive interview with Lynsey Jones of Party Plan Divas!

Party Plan Divas is the largest online community and training resource for everyone in direct sales.   The reason we did this interview is because I am consistently getting questions from moms who want to work at home and are really unsure about the direct sales route.  They want to try it, but they are not sure how to succeed.  Others have tried it and they weren’t successful so they are frustrated because it’s the only option for them.

This interview highlights how anyone can be successful in direct sales and work from home if they work hard.  Direct sales is not hard as in difficult, but it does take commitment, passion and the investment of time to make it work.  So, listen to this interview to learn how YOU can be successful in direct sales.  There is a wonderful community of hard workers just like you who want to help you succeed.

This is the first call in a series of 4 calls designed to help you learn about the direct sales industry and what you can do to succeed.  You can also follow Lynsey on Twitter @PartyPlanDivas.

Enjoy and let me know what you think by posting your comments below!  :)

You Spoke, I Listened!

Some of you have sent me personal messages about what you’d like to see on this blog.  THANK YOU!  This blog is for you, to help you find a work at home opportunity.  I want to provide you the information you need!

So, what did they ask for?

More information on direct sales.  But not the usual companies like Mary Kay, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Avon, etc.  Everyone mentioned they already know great consultants in their area that are with these companies.  They want to see NEW direct sales companies to explore the possibilities and see the new products.

While some of you are just getting used to the idea of a direct sales career, others have tried some and liked what they had.  They like the flexibility of the business, the products, and the income potential.  Now, it’s just a matter of finding the right company for them. I have an update for you:  I’ve contact a couple of new companies for information.  Hopefully I will have some new products and companies to highlight for you soon!

But don’t worry if you don’t want to do direct sales.  I will still be providing you with information on other work at home opportunities.

THANKS again for letting me know what you want to see.  As always, I look forward to your feedback.  YOU CAN FIND A LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!

8 Key Benefits of Joining a Direct Sales Company

This is a great article about the benefits of starting a home-based business in direct sales!  Ivette

by Shelly Hill

When it comes to working from home, often times you will find people looking into a business with a Direct Sales Company. If you are like me, you have tried working out in the corporate and/or retail world…but found that it doesn’t suit you or your family’s needs.

Lets take a look at all of the benefits of joining a Direct Sales Company.

1. Be Your Own Boss – As a consultant, you are basically your own boss. You determine how much or how little you want to work. With that being said, you do represent a particular company and will still have to follow their rules and guidelines.

2. Save Money On Childcare – If you are a parent, a lot of times when you work outside your home, 50-75% of your paycheck is spent on daycare expenses.

3. Flexible Working Schedule – You can set up a flexible working schedule to suit your family’s needs. When you need off work for vacation, sick or family time, it’s much easier to do when you work from home.

4. Business Expenses – By joining a Direct Sales company, you will have manageable business expenses such as: adding new products to your demonstration kits and paper business supplies. If you worked outside your home, you would have transportation, clothing, food and other miscellaneous expenses. In my experience, working from home is a lot cheaper than working in the corporate or retail world.

5. Product Inventory – These days, the majority of companies do not require that you stock products in your own home. You can place your customer’s order and have it shipped directly from the company, to your customer’s front door.

6. Business Training – You will find that most companies offer free or very low cost training to their consultants. This training is a valuable business education that you can certainly afford.

7. Company Rewards – Every company has a different way of rewarding it’s sales force members. You are usually rewarded with free products and/or money bonuses when you meet certain sales or team building goals. When doing my research, I saw such things as: trips to tropical destinations, diamond jewelry, electronics and yes…even cars!

8. Little to No Stress – In my personal experience, I find it a lot less stressful to work from home in Direct Sales compared to working out in the corporate world. I don’t have to commute, deal with gossip in the workplace, nor have to meet crunch time deadlines.

If you are looking to work from home, I think you should consider joining a Direct Sales Company. For those of you who have families, this might be your smartest career move as the benefits can make life much easier for you and your family.

Shelly Hill has been successfully working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a manager with Tupperware. Shelly worked in the corporate world for several years before moving into Direct Sales. You can visit Shelly online at  www.workathomebusinessoptions.com for additional Direct Sales articles and home business tips.

Article Source: www.wahm-articles.com

Sponsor Shopping in Direct Sales: Right or Wrong?

shopping card with globeThere has been an increase in a trend I’d like to call “sponsor shopping”.  While I don’t know if someone has already coined the phrase, I think it is the perfect description of the practice.

If you are in direct sales or have ever been in direct sales, you have a pretty good idea of how things work.  You are presented the opportunity by a prospective sponsor or recruiter, you say you are interested, you meet with this person to discuss the business opportunity and you make a decision if the company and income potential is right for you.  And that’s usually how it should happen.

However, I have seen a somewhat alarming trend in sponsor shopping – potential recruits looking for the “best” person to sponsor them.  Nowadays, the internet makes it so easy to find a list of people who can be your potential sponsor.  There are usually no territories when it comes to direct sales, so the field is wide open.  But what qualifies someone as being the best sponsor?

To me, the best sponsor has the following characteristics:

  • Honesty – I expect a potential sponsor to tell me that the business opportunity is great, but that it will be hard work.  There are no easy ways to make money and just like any business, a direct sales business takes hard work, dedication and persistence to be successful.
  • Trustworthy - Does the potential sponsor do what they said they would?  Call to follow up when you asked, send additional information, invite you to a team meeting, etc.
  • Ethical – This is a big one for me! Well actually, they are all important, but this one should actually be first on the list.  I want to work with someone who has built their business ethically.  Not by lying about how wonderful sales are, how many recruits they’ve gotten in a short amount of time, or how easy it is to make money.  Even if they are really successful, I want to know that they built their business the right way – not by buying recruits, underpricing their products, or stealing customers from other distributors or consultants.
  • Easy to talk to – When signing up with a sponsor, the communication needs to be easy.  There needs to be a good bond because you will be working with this person a lot. Just like with any new relationship, you know right away if you and the person click or not…trust me, you need to click!
  • Invested in my success – A true sponsor will be just as invested in your success as you are.  They will be there to celebrate your achievements, and be there to help motivate you and listen when things aren’t going well.  The best demonstration of this would be at a team meeting or testimonials from other people in their downline.  But even someone who is brand new can be highly invested in your success.  Even if you are their first recruit, you can grow and learn the business together.

Now aside from this list, I have seen potential recruits look for other characteristics before making a decision.  Here’s what I’ve observed:

  • Looking for the most successful person - Some potential recruits believe that if they sign up with someone who is successful (has a large downline, makes lots of money, has a car, etc.) that they will do just as well.  What they are failing to realize is that all that success comes with a price.  Hard work and dedication made those people a success, not the person who recruited them.
  • Looking for the best offer - When recruiters are trying to build their downline, some choose to run special promotions as an incentive to get people to sign up.  Incentives such as a free gift, business building materials, training resources, referrals, etc. are not uncommon.  It is important to note that most reputable direct sales organizations do not allow you to pay for someone else’s kit or fees to start a business.  However, there are some that still do it – that’s where the ethical sponsor details come in.

I personally do not see anything wrong with making sure you have the right connection before signing up with someone.  This is a business relationship, but just like any relationship you need good communication to be a success.  But the key word here is relationship! People who are truly interested in the business model and want to give direct sales a try, will join someone’s team because of their relationship with the sponsor, or the relationship they hope to build with that sponsor.    This decision is really based on the sponsor’s character and the way they treat people.

The bottom line is that your sponsor cannot make you a success.  Only you can make yourself and your business a success. It is up to you to look for training, determine your marketing strategy, networking and so on.  While your sponsor can provide training, tell you exactly what they did to build their business, and offer you coaching and mentoring, you are still responsible for implementing the recommendations.

So what do you think?  Do you see anything wrong with sponsor shopping or do you think it’s OK?  Have you done it before?  What was the basis of your decision? Please let me know if there’s anything I have left off my list.

I’d love to hear what you have to say!

Do Work at Home Moms Really Exist?

I never thought I would be a Work at Home Mom.  WAHM, for short,  is a possibility for all moms in today’s world.  Whether you want to work part-time or full-time, you are no longer bound by corporate rules and hours.  You can earn money working from home.

Being a WAHM is not easy.  There are no get rich quick schemes that really pay off.  If you want to work from home, you must know from the beginning that you need to work hard, be organized and be flexible.   Now I don’t want to scare you off — I just don’t want anyone to have unrealistic expectations like I did.

There are many different ways to earn money as a WAHM.  This is part one of a three part series, of some WAH opportunities that I have tried.   I’ve done a lot of research over the last few years trying to earn extra money, and I’d like to be able to share some of it with you.  Hey, we’re all busy moms…I am just trying to save you a little time!

Direct Sales – this is a great opportunity for people who love products!  In the past, I  have been an independent consultant for  Stampin’ Up!, Mary Kay, Tupperware, Home Interiors and Lia Sophia.  I was drawn to the fact that I could “earn” money while selling products I already loved.  The start-up costs are usually reasonable, and you typically get a lot of product and marketing tools to start your business on the right foot.

Now, it is possible to make good money as an independent consultant or distributor of these and many other companies.   I personally was not successful in these ventures because I am the type of person who loves the products, and the social interaction of the party plan structure.  I loved that part so much, that I didn’t grow the business like I could (or should) have to really earn money.  But there is a lot of business building help available if you are ready to grow your business.  One that I tried, with success, was The Lemonade Lady, Christie Northrup. She has some wonderful books, and now CD’s, that can help you grow your business. I love the way she puts a new “twist” on an old idea.  (If you sign up for her newsletter or visit her website, you’ll know what I mean.)   Christie has many years of direct selling experience to help you succeed in the party plan business.

I have met a lot of wonderful people as an independent consultant – many of whom I still call a friend today.  But here are a few more things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Do your research! If you love a product, and are interested in selling it, find out all you can about becoming an independent consultant before you tell a potential recruiter that you are interested.  Their websites usually have a lot of information on the benefits of owning your own business.  Specifically, look at the compensation plan.  How much money do you make on your sales?  Your downline sales?  How far does that downline earning potential go?  Multi-Level Marketing, MLM, offers wonderful ways to earn residual income on your teams’ sales.  I know of women who earn six figure incomes doing what they love!  By doing your research ahead of time, it will somewhat prepare you for the information you get from your recruiter.  Having some understanding of the compensation structure will make it a little easier for you to digest all the details.
2.    Be careful when a potential recruiter says, “Sign up with me today, it’s easy to make money!”
People who are trying to grow their business work hard to recruit others to join them.  MLM offers great opportunities to make money on team sales.  But, take a look at your potential recruiter’s success, and what she has to offer you as a business partner.  Some of the most successful people in this business have mentors to help them along the way.  I personally would recommend Jackie Ulmer .  She has many years of experience growing her own business online and is now helping other WAHM to do the same.  Regardless of what MLM company you decide to join, she can help coach you to success to build your business online.
3.    Love the product! If you love the product, it shows.  You will have a passion that cannot be faked or learned, and that will come through in everything you do.  Plus, you really do need to love the product because you will have a lot of it!  From your starter kit, to samples and prizes, you will have the product to show for your hard work and commitment.
4.    Be able to take rejection! Not everyone you meet will be as enthusiastic as you are about your product.  But that’s OK!  When you get a “no”, you are on your way to a “yes”.  In many ways, sales is a numbers game.  The more people you present the product and the opportunity to, the more chances you’ll have to find people who are genuinely interested!

These are just some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned with a direct sales business.  It really is a great opportunity to earn some money and products if you are willing to work at it! I have taken the next step after learning so much and have found success with my new direct sales business, Send Out Cards.

I would love to hear about your great experience with direct sales.  There are so many great opportunities out there…the potential is endless!

Note:  Article originally written by me and appeared on http://www.busy-mommy.com.  Minor changes have been made to include updated information and links.

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