Parties and direct sales...

[klee73010]

I attended a Facebook party last night for books. Did you know there's a direct sales thing for books?! I have now attended online parties for purses (thirty one), pure romance, nails (jamberries), pampered chef... Every single time I attend one, I want to sell the product myself. I totally fall for that, every time. Last night I agreed to sign up as a "personal use consultant" for Usborne.... I will get my kit and "launch" in August.

Do you attend these things? Love them? Hate them? Do you sell anything?

In the past, I've sold Mary Kay and Avon... They weren't great fits for me because I really don't wear make up, or take care of my skin that well... I really really wanted to sell jamberries last year or year before (and still consider it on occasion) but the reality is, I won't put the time into it to reap the full benefits... Lol!

 

[AnneofAlamo]

I abhor sales parties. My bestest real life buddy (and mom to my DIL) sells Mary Kay. I mock her, she mocks me back, but I just dislike the feel to it. Pressure and I like to shop from the anonymity of Amazon Prime! bhahahah
I love people, love them, but seriously dislike exchanging money with them.
Now that I type that out loud( haha ), it sounds harsh. I think I have seen such bad experiences with the sales in your home people, that I am soured to the whole thing.
Jamberry looks so cool, but I don't wanna try because of the pressure to feel like I must buy more and when they follow up call, I get growly. hahah
really, I am a nice lady, just not to sales....

 

[wvsandy]

I never go to home parties unless it is a real favor for someone. However, I do shop online catalogs for some of these products and I do buy things if I like them. How does a FB party work?

 

[klee73010]

Jamberry looks so cool, but I don't wanna try because of the pressure to feel like I must buy more...

I totally get that, too! I initially cringe every time I see a party request... but I also think they are fun to do online (more online than in real life though). Jamberry is awful because they come out with so many cute new designs and the collector in me wants them all! I have stuck to my guns, however, and not purchased any more past my first party (except for one small gift order)... i spent so much money on them the first go round, and said I wasn't allowed to buy more till they were gone. But they last FOREVER! lol. I still have so many left, even though I have used them a lot. Doesn't stop me from wanting more, and wanting to join, every time I see a new party request. LOL!
and books... children NEEEEEEED books... and if I'm buying books anyway, I want them to be fun and awesome books... and hello Christmas gifts?! This is what I decided... my kit is being used as Christmas gifts for all my nieces and nephews. So... Christmas shopping, done!

 

[klee73010]

How does a FB party work?

the seller creates a group or event, and you invite your FB friends to it... then the hostess and seller pump up the product, share information, games, raffles, etc. and then at the end of the event, they post a link to a shop/online catalogue and tell you to buy things. Events run from one or two hours (a "live" event) or a couple weeks. I've attended both of these types.

 

[gonewiththewind]

I'm not a fan . . . having said that, I did try a direct sales through Premier, a jewelry company. You guessed it, I wasn't good at it. I think because I always feel uncomfortable and pressured, even if the sales person ISN'T pressuring me . . . I feel obligated or guilty to buy something that I may not need or want. So that affected me in selling . . . so yeah, not for me.

 

[klee73010]

I always feel uncomfortable and pressured, even if the sales person ISN'T pressuring me . . . I feel obligated or guilty to buy something that I may not need or want.

I definitely get this. While I don't think the sales people are pressuring me, per se, I do feel obligated sometimes... this is why my husband tells me not to go to these things. he knows me too well.

 

[jenn mccabe]

i'm sorry, i'm not a fan either ... i did attend quite a few when i first moved into my neighborhood (it was a new neighborhood so it was more to get to know people/social than anything else) ... but have not bothered with them in years. once in awhile i will buy from a family member who hosts one - but only if i can find something useful.

i hate feeling obligated to buy too and cannot escape that feeling if i attend - as @gonewiththewind just mentioned.

 

[Lynnette]

They are really popular where I live, so I had to make a personal choice that I just don't attend ANY of them. I will admit to trying a few of the online parties but I don't really like those either. I'm not a big spender in general - I hate buying things just to try them or because I feel guilty. I'm not big into most of those things like makeup, nails, clothes, jewelry, etc - don't get into trends much - and I hate having stuff around that I don't use.

 

[BevG]

I sold Creative Memories scrapbook stuff for years, but never used their party model for all the reasons already mentioned. I have hosted a few Pampered Chef parties because their stuff is awesome, but it is non-consumable, so once you own what you want, unless you break it, there is no repeat sales.

In general, I think most party stuff is over priced. If you love the brand and want it all, then sign-up so you can get it at a discount. Yes, I know some people make money at these things but I don't want to work that hard. I worked only hard enough to support my own habit.

The most fun party I ever attended was some company selling sleepwear. They had samples in large sizes and we got to try them on. It was fun and silly. I still have my little black negligee; now that summer is here, I should dig it out.

 

[corsicar]

I'm not a fan of sales parties in real life. I've been to a few Facebook Jamberry parties and those are okay, mainly because I can participate as much as I want to. Still haven't bought anything because I was on a strict budget at the time. At somebody's home, I feel way too much pressure to buy stuff. Easier to just avoid the party! Haha! I could never sell anything either, I hate feeling like I'm imposing on people.

 

[klee73010]

If you love the brand and want it all, then sign-up so you can get it at a discount. Yes, I know some people make money at these things but I don't want to work that hard. I worked only hard enough to support my own habit.

The most fun party I ever attended was some company selling sleepwear. They had samples in large sizes and we got to try them on. It was fun and silly. I still have my little black negligee; now that summer is here, I should dig it out.

Yes! I totally agree. I know myself well enough to know that I will not put the effort in to "make money", but might as well get a discount on my own stuff! lol!

how fun!!! a PJ party, literally!

 

[klee73010]

I'm not a fan of sales parties in real life. I've been to a few Facebook Jamberry parties and those are okay, mainly because I can participate as much as I want to. Still haven't bought anything because I was on a strict budget at the time. At somebody's home, I feel way too much pressure to buy stuff. Easier to just avoid the party! Haha! I could never sell anything either, I hate feeling like I'm imposing on people.

Yes!!! I enjoy the online ones so much better. I think this is why Mary Kay was awful for me. I hated going to their house and giving facials. haha. Avon was better, because I enjoyed collecting the orders from my co workers at the office. I did not like managing any "special deals" or something, and absolutely detested having to tell someone something was on back-order. Lol.

 

[enjoyyourpix]

I don't mind them. I sold Tupperware for 3 years when I was in my late 20's. It was great because Tupperware was on an upswing. Everyone knew about the product but hadn't been to a party in ages. My first round of initial parties was easy because people were excited about a party and thanks to luck and persistence, I was able to easily build by party chain outside of my closest friend circle. I wasn't selling to friends or people I knew. I hosted a few open houses during the year with stop in hours over the course of the day. I loved going into someone's kitchen and building them a pantry of modular mates. That was great fun and a decent commission check. I stopped because I was having issues with my husband and child care. Once my son was in kindergarten, I felt uncomfortable selling to the school friends because at that point I started feeling that I might be perceived as being pushy. Preschool and playground and mom's club years felt totally fine. Something changed. I think too there were more parties that people were getting asked to and it was beginning to be a drain: Discovery Toys, Pampered Chef, Premier Jewelry, Usborne Books, baskets, Mary Kay, Creative Memories, Stella & Dot, Silpada Jewelry, Body Shoppe at Home, Southern Living at Home....

I had always loved Creative Memories and at one point I bought the starter kit. I was a HORRID sales person for it though. It was too personal for me I think. It's easy to say, "You need a rectangle 2 to keep your flour fresh and keep the bugs out." Harder to say, buy this $80 Power Palette, album, page protector, tools and spend 100 hours making the perfect scrapbook. Sure, I'd do it, but I didn't like to tell others to do it.

I do appreciate the benefits for women (and men) in these home businesses. Are some businesses run better than others? Of course. I loved my old Mary Kay consultant who would come to my house and tell me what make up to buy and match my foundation. I'll hop over to a friend's house and check out stuff. I'll be honest with my good friends if I'm not sure and I have left a party without buying anything if I know it's not for me. I hate hosting the party though. Too much anxiety for this introvert.

An extremely successful Tupperware senior manager would always tell us, "Tupperware (and sales) may not be for everyone but everyone should have the chance to try it". I'm grateful for the time I sold it. I met some wonderful people and learned more about myself. It did help me build self-confidence at I time I needed it. I had to go out of my comfort zone and ask people if they wanted to host a party or look at a catalog. For people who have big jobs and "do things" during their day this may be nothing, but at that time in my life, I was a SAHM who had no family nearby, in a new town with few friends. I was in over my head and feeling lousy about myself. I found validation and fun through hawking plastic in people's living room. I also tried to leave the people at the party with something to help them stay organized, save time, and save money (by not tossing out stale or over buying because your pantry was such a disaster you had no idea what was in there).

 

[scrapsandsass]

I'm horrible for getting sucked into things. Parties AND selling. Of course I'm not a sales person. LOL. I bought a ton of Jamberry stuff and haven't used it more than a couple of times. I. Can't. Even. as far as books. I can only imagine the nightmare I'd become.

I cringe to think of how much I spent on Creative Memories parties (and then only made one scrapbook that is hideous and with my ex-boyfriend). Like @BevG said, I think the lingerie parties are the most fun. I had one once and everyone had a blast. No one felt pressured, but people bought things. I remember getting invited to a Longaberger (sp?) basket party once probably nearly 20 years ago. I tried to buy the least expensive thing because I was broke. After they tallied everything up, it ended up being $60 and I wanted to cry.

I do think Pampered Chef has some great things. I've bought a few things from them over the years, and they really last and perform. I'm a garlic MANIAC, and their press is THE BEST.

I "sold" Southern Living at Home for awhile. I think I only had one real party with sales. The other was when I agreed to a party swap with someone who sold Party Lite. I went to her party and had people buy from her, but she never did the party for me. Go figure. Mostly I just bought the stuff for presents and I loved a lot of it. I also was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for awhile. I think I did one party, but it was card making, and no one bought anything. I spent a lot over the years for my personal use. My friend and I also signed up as a consultant together once and split the cost. We bought stuff for ourselves.

I had a group of friends for awhile who almost all ended up selling one thing or another. We had parties for each other. Two of them started doing jewelry. One of them ended up selling a ton. She had a son who died, so I think people had parties for her out of pity, and she ended up successful and pretty high in the organizational food chain. The other, not so much. She didn't have a good sales personality. She browbeat my husband into buying jewelry for his mom (that she never wore). Then she got mad at all of us for not buying enough from her or having more parties, and she threw a fit and wouldn't go to someone else's party unless she felt they did enough for her. it caused a divide between all of us as friends. It was really kind of sad.

 

[klee73010]

Thank you for that @enjoyyourpix ! heartwarming, to me.
I too think there are too many parties for too many things. I do see that they are an easy way to start up a larger company or customer base. My grandmother sold Avon for YEARS. She's that type of outgoing personality that loves to call on people. I wouldn't doubt in her earlier days (or even now, at 80! ) that she'd be the one saying "ding dong, Avon calling!" or whatever their really older motto was.

 

[klee73010]

I'm horrible for getting sucked into things. Parties AND selling. Of course I'm not a sales person. LOL. I bought a ton of Jamberry stuff and haven't used it more than a couple of times. I. Can't. Even. as far as books. I can only imagine the nightmare I'd become.

I do think Pampered Chef has some great things. I've bought a few things from them over the years, and they really last and perform. I'm a garlic MANIAC, and their press is THE BEST.

I "sold" Southern Living at Home for awhile. I think I only had one real party with sales. The other was when I agreed to a party swap with someone who sold Party Lite. I went to her party and had people buy from her, but she never did the party for me. Go figure. Mostly I just bought the stuff for presents and I loved a lot of it. I also was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for awhile. I think I did one party, but it was card making, and no one bought anything. I spent a lot over the years for my personal use. My friend and I also signed up as a consultant together once and split the cost. We bought stuff for ourselves.

I had a group of friends for awhile who almost all ended up selling one thing or another. We had parties for each other. Two of them started doing jewelry. One of them ended up selling a ton. She had a son who died, so I think people had parties for her out of pity, and she ended up successful and pretty high in the organizational food chain. The other, not so much. She didn't have a good sales personality. She browbeat my husband into buying jewelry for his mom (that she never wore). Then she got mad at all of us for not buying enough from her or having more parties, and she threw a fit and wouldn't go to someone else's party unless she felt they did enough for her. it caused a divide between all of us as friends. It was really kind of sad.

Usborne is mostly kids books, I think. At least everything I've looked at... so you personally might be safe, unless you start talking about your grandson...
I agree that pampered chef does at least have quality going for it... but I'm not in that "circle" yet of friends that have/love/can afford it. I wanted to host a freezer cooking party through them, but it fell through, and then I felt bad about being an hour away from the hostess, and knowing I couldn't afford anything I really wanted in the catalogue.
I don't know what Southern Living is... but I know when I worked out the taxes of my Mary Kay "business", and again on my Avon "business", I broke even both times. I think over the course of 6 months or something, i made $8 above what I paid for my stuff. and Avon was compeletly even... like $0.02 cents. LOL.
Stampin up makes kits for Project Life on the PL app... fyi. that's all I know about them...
I completely forgot about jewelry - i hosted an "origami owl" online thing couple years ago... flop. LOL. I attended party lite parties in California many years ago... and my cousin's wife sells/sold Scentsy (which I also love, and refuse to buy any more of). My cousin's wife is very much like the friend you described... she won't support other parties unless she feels they've supported her.

 

[Tiff]

I don't have strong feelings either way. I'm so frugal, though, I tend to stay away if invited, and if I do go I do not like the "pressure" of having to make a decision. So I'm not a great customer at these types of things.

My family did get into one called Norwex, which was cleaning products. I did purchase quite a few things over the period of a year or so. But when I would run out of products, I really just wanted to be able to order online or pick something up at the store. Over time I drift away from the products because it just isn't convenient to have to order at parties.

So, now that I've thought it all through ... I guess I'd much rather be able to purchase things on demand.

 

[klee73010]

I don't have strong feelings either way. I'm so frugal, though, I tend to stay away if invited, and if I do go I do not like the "pressure" of having to make a decision. So I'm not a great customer at these types of things.

My family did get into one called Norwex, which was cleaning products. I did purchase quite a few things over the period of a year or so. But when I would run out of products, I really just wanted to be able to order online or pick something up at the store. Over time I drift away from the products because it just isn't convenient to have to order at parties.

So, now that I've thought it all through ... I guess I'd much rather be able to purchase things on demand.

LOL - yep, almost got sucked into that one too... but didn't. My grandmother also sold Amway ages ago. I assumed it was right up that ally. LOL

 

[Lindzee]

I stand with @AnneofAlamo on this. I don't like to sell and I never want to buy from a friend. I did attended a few when the kids were small and we socialized with other parents for school and stuff, or neighbors too, but now I avoid like the plague.