Show for My Previous Product Line???

[Intrepid_Chef]

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

Once upon a time, I sold costume jewelry. It was a profitable business ... when I could get someone to book a show. In other words, the commission was 10 percent higher than PC, but it got to the point where I had like 2 shows in all of 2007, and both of them were like pulling teeth to meet the show minimum.

Well, a few weeks ago, I ran into someone who was one of my best hostesses. Her mother and sister also booked shows (which never materialized.) She had two pieces of broken jewelry she wanted to exchange, and I offered to send it in with some of mine. We chatted about it and she said that now that the weather is warming up, she'd be interested in having another jewelry party.

Should I just give this one to my former director (who is a friend of mine) or do it? I was thinking of doing it just because money is money, money that could be used for PC National Conference! Of course, I'd have to borrow the books and maybe some current jewelry from my director, but she'd be only too happy to do it so she'd have another active recruit under her again!

When I signed up for PC, I DID say I wasn't quitting ... just that I didn't have time to actively work two businesses ....

 

[pamperedlinda]

If you aren't a Director, I'd say go ahead and do it.

 

[janetupnorth]

Do what you feel is best. You are not a director so you don't have an obligation to do only PC.I do know that I don't hear of people being successful trying to focus on more than one company.If PC is your focus stay there. If you can't maintain that focus or feel odd doing this, pass the show on. If you feel you can do both fine, then do it.That's kind of a wishy-washy answer but only you know what is best for you!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Well, I'm sort of wishy-washy so it works for me!So directors can't sell anything else, huh? What if their day job is (non-direct) sales?When I had this show I was doing well ... and at over $600, she was my best hostess ever. Of course, you see at the left what my best show is after less than 6 months in PC, so I know which is easier to sell.That was like 2 years ago ... with 3 bookings. Only one of those actually held and fell far, far short of the show minimum. And that was BEFORE they raised the show minimum from $150 to $250.My business took a nosedive after that. It took away one of my prime booking tools ... the concept that "it doesn't have to be a big party," only to find the hostess pleasantly surprised when the show exceeds her best expectations.So now ... I have no intention of sticking with the jewelry business ... it is far more work than I have time for, and except for this lady, the jewelry just didn't resonate with people I knew. But I figure one party can't hurt and the extra $100 or more could go a long way toward my conference fund. If there are any booking or recruit leads, I'll let my director deal with 'em. She needs them more than me, anyway!

 

[janetupnorth]

That is a good plan - do the good show and pass the bookings on...Directors sign a contract that they can't be a part of any other direct sale company. Most FT jobs don't fit that classification.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Hmmm ... I didn't know that. That explains why my director was so interested in knowing whether I'd continue to sell the jewelry, a question I honestly could not answer when I signed up. When I sold jewelry, one consultant on the team also sold Avon, another sold Mary Kay, and the reasoning was that the product lines did not conflict so there wasn't a problem. The leaders didn't sell other lines, but most had sold others in their time. I think it's just a natural progression that you really don't have time to actively promote two businesses to the best of your ability, especially when you're leading others as well.The reason I would pass the bookings on is that I honestly don't have time to chase them all down. None of them materialized last time, and I think that's because I didn't have time to keep calling and calling and calling.