When I talk with young direct selling companies, I always ask for their website addresses so I can learn more about their products and more about them. However, I also want to see where they are focusing their efforts and to check if their website reflects their intentions. If you want to concentrate on the…
Ask Victoria: Product Or Opportunity?
What is more important to a network marketing company, your income opportunity, or your products? This question may initiate a debate, which is fine. The more important question, however, is: “Will people buy your products even if they’re not making any money from your income opportunity?” You may be wondering why this matters. For your…
Ask Victoria: What Are Average Party Retail Sales?
For 90% of party plan companies, average party retail sales range from $300 to $700. The average varies based on the type of products sold, the average price per product, and the average number of items bought by each purchasing guest. The party average is important because it is used to determine several aspects of…
Ask Victoria: Do All Party Plan Companies Manufacture Their Own Products?
The simple answer is “no”, but most do. You can start your party plan company by purchasing products wholesale. By doing so, you can confirm that people will buy these products at home parties without you spending more on large inventory purchases. To be profitable, however, you will probably need to have the products manufactured…
Your Competition: Who Are They?
In life, we all compete to win. In business, winning means getting the sale. As a direct selling company, you are competing with others. You’re competing for independent representatives and you’re competing for customers. The first step in competing well is to identify your competition. Next, you can develop strategies to win.
How To Introduce New And Improved Products
Product development is not a task you should check off your list. That’s because it should never be completed! What’s New? Independent representatives and their customers expect you will offer new and improved products. Direct selling companies want their representatives to consume or use personally more of their products. Both network marketing and party plan companies…
Ask Victoria: How Do I Create A Unique Selling Proposition?
Differentiation is the key to successful marketing. A Unique Selling Proposition is one or more unique selling points. Creating a USP is work, work best accomplished by completing an exercise. Jot down the following information: Sales Methods How is this product sold? One to one? At-home parties? Is it demonstrated? If so, what are the elements of the demonstration? Delivery…
Ask Victoria: What Makes A Good Company Story?
What makes a good company story? Often when we begin working with party plan and network marketing companies, we ask them to tell us their story, and how they got to this point. During the process, we begin to see some interesting points that seem to be consistent in each of their stories. Here are…
Ask Victoria: Should I Start In A Saturated Market?
Every few months it seems that I am talking with someone who asks me something like this: I want to start a home party plan company with jewelry/makeup/skincare, but my friends say, “There are so many of these kinds of companies already, you won’t make any money.” With so many young women entering the marketplace…
Ask Victoria: What Should I Do First?
If you have an idea for a new direct selling company, you may be asking this question. It’s easier if you have some steps to follow. Here are 12 of them: Chinese proverb: “The palest ink is better than the best memory.” Write down your idea to help give it clarity and as the proverb…
Ask Victoria: Can You Suggest a Great Gift?
The holiday rush is on and you have been wondering what to get your wife, your husband… Oh wait, what about you? Throughout the year, we have spouses call us to ask about our services and how we may help their loved ones. While we provide a wide range of consulting services, my first response…
Fuel Your Business With Autoship
What is Autoship? Autoship is an automatic ordering program whereby representatives or customers of a direct selling company can place orders with the company that is shipped automatically on a periodic basis (usually monthly). What can Autoship do for my business? Autoship accomplishes several company goals: It encourages the placement of orders on a regular…