Are Multiple Direct Sales Companies a Recipe for Party Drama?

[baychef]

I had an interesting party today! I had 4 consultants for other companies and 2 mothers of the consultants. One other guest was a relative and the other had to leave early.

I did not play my recruiting game although I was prepared. Here is the breakdown:
Person A - Cookie Lee jewelry and Brown Bag adult toy parties
Person B - Celebrating Life (new name of Home Interiors/Home & Garden) and a new jewelry company Lavie (not the name but they sell jewelry and lingere sp??)
Person C- Partylite (and also Two Sisters gourmet)
Person D - Not sure but I think the Celebrating Life

When I did talk about our kit rebate, it brought up an interesting conversation. One is making 50% commissions at the party! I tried to explain about how benefits differ from company to company, etc. Home Interiors was having their consultants pay for credit cards and for host bonuses. They have now restructured their consultant pay (sounds like ours but a higher percentage in pay). I mentioned trips and one of the mothers mentioned that if she was going on a trip she would like to choose where to go, not the company. The conversation was starting to take on a very slight "my company is better than your company" tone so I ended it and moved on.

I think this is why my recruiting game went by the way side!!!

 

[pamperedlinda]

.......I mentioned trips and one of the mothers mentioned that if she was going on a trip she would like to choose where to go, not the company. The conversation was starting to take on a very slight "my company is better than your company" tone so I ended it and moved on.

I think this is why my recruiting game went by the way side!!!

I'm willing to bet that she has never earned any bonuses much less a trip with whatever company she is with.

How were your sales?

 

[baychef]

Sales were poopy. There was jewelry set up in another room, they were going on line to order things from Terry's Village (not a direct sales but...) and I know they are all in the midst of either having a party or wrapping one up for the other companies. Not much you can do.

 

[finley1991]

one of the mothers mentioned that if she was going on a trip she would like to choose where to go, not the company.

I've gotten that before (from other DS reps) and really, we can choose where we want to go any year. I met a director who didn't want to go to London, so she took the $2500 gift card and booked a 7-day, all-expense paid (including airfare) for her family of 4 to a resort in Mexico. It cost her $2499 and the whole family was thrilled. London just didn't do it for them so they went somewhere that did.

Just an idea to keep in mind when that one pops up again!

PS: I met another rep who with her company, they HAD to take the trip or get nothing. The trip was to Arizona in July. She said that the resort was nice (not great) and that it was so hot that her family was miserable the entire time and she fought with her husband every day of the trip. Needless to say, he wasn't very supportive of her biz after that because he really couldn't see the incentive for the family.

Makes me thankful at how good PC is to us!

 

[Chef Kearns]

AZ in July!! I'm getting hot just thinking about that one! YUCK!

 

[baychef]

long post...various subjectsThe bottom line for me is that some of these ladies were chasing after companies that no one has heard of. The new jewelry company the host signed up for is expensive and for me, I didn't find much I liked.

The others were die hard loyal to their Partylite and Home Interiors/Home & Garden...now Celebrating Life. It was just strange to have so many companies represented in a small group.

The Mom that made the comment is know for saying negative things. Her daughters will let her know..."Mom, you aren't helping her out, you know." I like the Mom and she is nice but has very little filter!!

They all seem pretty fair and do love Pampered Chef. They would rather I do the parties. Which is ok with me. My growing team is taking over some of my customers that I had done parties for in the past but lost touch with. Those customers are still on my e-mail lists but booked from friends and relatives.

I am ok with it (ok, it stings a little, but I am a leader and I make myself get over it fast...I can't do it full time and they can).

Last month I had 18 bookings. I have 9 parties next month and one catalog party. With working full time and everything else going on, I am very happy.

May is stinking up the house. I can't get bookings again this year...the HWC does not go well. The last few years I have had this problem. I will be offering my own additional host special. It is either that or go without many bookings and I can not afford to not have parties.