I was recently asked by 2 different Direct Sales consultants this burning question… “Do I have the right to turn down a home party request?”

My answer is yes! When it comes to having your own home party plan business, you do indeed to have the right to turn down a home party request due to safety or health concerns.

Here are some common problems with some suggested solutions.

Example #1: Your party host lives in an unsafe area of town. If you feel your safety could be compromised, I recommend selecting an alternate location. If your party host refuses to relocate her party to a different location, I feel its your job to help her find another consultant who doesn’t mind traveling to that area of town.

Example #2: If your party host has had parties before but his/her home is unsanitary, you can nicely suggest an alternative location. You can offer to let her use your home if need be, to host her party.

When dealing with this type of scenario, please watch your wording as you don’t want to offend your party host. If the host still insists on having the party at her home, you can be tactful and explain your reasons why you feel this would not be a good idea. If the conversation has gotten to that point, 9 chances out of 10, she will decide on another location or she will come to terms that her home needs to be cleaned up.

Example #3: If the party host has a reputation of booking numerous parties with various consultants and is constantly canceling them or there are some other type of serious issues that you are aware of, you can indeed refuse the request. However, it is also your job to find another consultant for her or to refer her to corporate headquarters so that they can help her find a consultant.

These 3 examples are just that…examples of some scenarios you might face while in Direct Sales.

The important thing to remember is that you do have the right to refuse any home party booking that you do not feel comfortable with. In doing so, you are more than likely losing a customer and/or party host.

I feel it is important that you be honest with your party host about any concerns you may have and if you need to refuse the booking, help them find a new consultant who will accept the booking.

Shelly Hill
Tupperware Manager
http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
http://wahmshelly.blogspot.coma

When it comes to Direct Sales, it is important to get out of your normal comfort zone. This means…getting out and making new contacts that are not your family and personal friends.

Many Direct Sales leaders will tell you to start with your warm market when it comes to finding home party and recruit leads. However, contacting your warm market will only get you so far…and usually, it’s not far at all.

When I do new team member training, I like to teach my recruits to look ‘outside’ of their warm market for contact leads. Here are a few ideas that I like to share with them.

1. Join some local business groups in your community. I recommend small business owners, women business owners and local Direct Selling organizations. These groups are a great way to get out and meet new people, along with expanding your business networking contacts.

2. Join some charity groups and volunteer your time to worthy causes. In these groups you can make some new friends and contacts, while giving back to your local community. If your business company offers a fundraising program, you can offer the program to these particular groups for their fundraising needs.

3. Get involved with church, school and community sponsored programs. Hundreds of people belong to these type of programs in your community. Often times…you will see them sponsoring craft shows, trade shows and fundraising events.

4. You can offer to teach classes at local schools and businesses, which exposes you to new people in your local area.

Example: If you sell cooking and kitchen items, teach a few cooking classes. If you sell books, offer to read books and help children with reading, at your local library or preschool.

The most important thing you can do for your home business is to think ‘outside’ of your warm market. You need to immediately get yourself and your business out in front of your local community. In doing so, you will meet new people…which means new business contacts and sales for you.

Shelly Hill
Tupperware Manager
http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

When it comes to being a successful Direct Sales consultant, one of your biggest business assets is to invest your time in coaching your party host/hostess. If you are not investing your time to properly coach your host, you are doing yourself and your party host a disservice.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of hostess coaching.

1. When you are in proper contact with your party hosts and coaching them before the show date, they will be more excited about their upcoming party. This excitement will encourage them to work harder to make the party a complete success.

2. Working closely with your host reduces the risk of cancellation or rescheduling of party dates.

3. Hosts who are properly coached have higher guest attendance at their home shows. The more guests there are…the more sales you will make. In addition to the sales you make, your hostess will be satisfied because he/she will earn more free and half-priced products.

4. The more attendees that you have at the party, the more bookings you will receive. Keeping your booking calendar full equals a steady paycheck.

5. A big part of a Direct Sales business is building a team. Again, the more attendees at the party, means you can generate more recruit leads.

When you invest your time coaching your host towards a successful home party, you reap the rewards. Studies have shown that when you coach your hosts, they have higher party attendance which means higher party sales. Those higher party sales equals more commission for you.

If a host/hostess is completely satisfied with their home party experience, they are more apt to rebook parties from you in the future or refer others to your business. Do yourself and your business a favor…Take the time to properly coach your party hosts and you both will benefit.

Shelly Hill
Tupperware Manager
http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

Tupperware Brands Corporation has once again been recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE in its annual report on corporate reputations. The global direct selling company was ranked No. 2 in the Home Equipment and Furnishing category, moving up four spots from last year.

“Consistently being named to the FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies list is evidence of Tupperware’s core business: investing in economic and personal development opportunities for women globally and developing innovative, lifestyle-enhancing new products,” said Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware.

This marks the fifth year in a row that Tupperware has been named to the list.

The latest rankings can be found in the March 19, 2012 issue of the magazine, as well as online. To see the full list of Home Equipment Brands, click here.

Many people are looking for ways to make money from home. One popular home based business model is Direct Sales. Sometimes called party plans, direct sales companies include businesses like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and Ameriplan.

Direct Sales and Party Plan Companies are also called network marketing companies. They focus not only on selling products or services, but also recruiting other salespeople into the company. These type of home based businesses are best for people with outgoing personalities who enjoy hosting parties, inviting people to events, and talking to strangers. If you decide to sell products or services for one of these companies you will usually be an independent sales representative or independent contractor, NOT an employee. You most likely will be paid commissions when you sell a product, or when someone you recruit or sponsor into the business, sells a product. If you don’t make any sales, you won’t make any money.

There are usually costs associated with doing business, and one must consider these costs prior to joining the business. There may be monthly fees to pay, which may cover your company website or national marketing campaigns. There may also be costs associated with the products you sell. The independent consultant may be required to buy the products first at a wholesale rate, then resell the product to customers at retail price, thus keeping their profit. Other companies may NOT require the independent sale representative to carry the inventory, but rather the items are drop shipped directly to the consumer. Customers may be able to order products from a company website or only from the independent representative. The independent sales rep may need to pay to marketing materials, products, samples, training courses and monthly fees.

Before joining any company, find out the actual costs that are mandatory, like a required monthly fee. Then try to get an estimate of variable costs, like advertising expenses, from an independent rep already in the business. You may also want to talk to people who have “failed” or “quit” this business. They may give you a more accurate description of the costs involved. Calculate how many products you would need to sell per month in order to just break even after your expenses are paid. If this number feasible? How many hours or parties will you need to host to meet this minimum amount of sales? Will you have additional income from the sale of products from a company website or do all product sales come from in person transactions? These are all things to consider when deciding to start a home business in direct selling or party plan type companies.

Before joining any company as a sales representative, make sure to check out their credentials with the Direct Selling Association at www.dsa.org. Also make sure to read the Better Business Bureau report on their company.

About the author:
I specialize in small business internet marketing, giving small businesses a website presence. My featured marketing project is for Blue Cactus Pool Service – Phoenix Arizona. Blue Cactus Pool Service LLC provides Phoenix Pool Cleaning, Phoenix Pool Repair, and pool maintenance services in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Anthem Arizona.

Enjoy a fun filled day of shopping and networking at the Spring Stop and Shop!

Saturday, April 30 · 8:00am – 5:00pm
at the Ramada Inn on Church St., Murfreesboro, TN

Your chance to win prizes, get great shopping discounts and find local small businesses.

Booths include:

• Perfect Expressions
• Premier Jewelry
• Mia Bella Candles
• Personalized Creations
• Pure Romance
• Mobile medical Scrubs
• Personalize Me Hair Care
• Body Wraps
• Midway Diner
• Thirty-One
• Tupperware
• Avon
• Arbonne International
• Gold Canyon Candles
• Mary Kay
• I Dream of Bows
• Simply Said
• Pampered Chef
• Li bri Cosmetics
• Scentsy
• and more!