Direct Sales Parties

Xstatic3333 · January 2015

I have a sort-of MM related quandry. I know some of you ladies have direct sales businesses and maybe can advise me here. A lot of my friends have been getting into direct sales lately. Most of the products don't hugely interest me, but I did try Jamberry Nails and I really liked them. I never bother with polish since I have an outdoor job, but these worked well for me and last a week or two. Plus the colors are fun.

Because I ordered from her a couple of times, my friend now really wants me to host a party. I legit like the product, and I would have no qualms recommending it to friends. However, I feel really shy about hosting a party for some reason. I just don't want anybody to feel pressured to buy so I can get free stuff. At the same time, I really want to support my friend and wouldn't exactly mind having free stuff. It's all online so hopefully people would feel less pressured, but I still feel awkward about it for some reason. Should I just get over this? WWYD? If I don't do it, how do I tell my friend I don't want to do it politely?

strickland8052 · January 2015

Yeah, I wouldn't want to get into direct sales either. If it is something you are uncomfortable with, don't do it. Maybe tell your friend that you aren't interested in hosting a party, but offer to help her with one of her parties? Or do you maybe have a couple of friends that might legitimately be interested in jamberry? If so, maybe put them in touch with her?

formerlyGDaisy09 · January 2015

I've hosted a few parties, and been to a few....and I have a direct sales business.

At parties I've hosted I tell my friends that I'm hosting as a favor to my friend running the direct sales business, and tell them (while I love the products for whatever party I'm hosting) that I'd rather just have a fun get-together to play with products and I don't want anyone to feel pressured to buy anything just for my benefit. usually that works, things people are familiar with like pampered chef each guest often comes with a couple things in mind that they need or want...I'm not super familiar with jamberry but it sounds fun.

I do have some friends that put on the pressure to buy things at their parties so they can get bonuses...I still go but try not to let that influence me.

With my own business I used to try to get people to host parties (I did 7 or 8) but was ultimately uncomfortable pushing people to host. at this point I have enough repeat customers and products I use myself that I just purchase and sell what I and customers need...I don't make a lot of money from it but enjoy getting my products at a discount.

formerlyGDaisy09 · January 2015

oh! and as far as if you decide not to host and telling your friend, she should understand. "sorry life is really busy, I don't think hosting a party is something I'm interested in right now, but I love these products, let me know when you have a new catalogue or are running a special"

jessica490 · January 2015

I feel the same way you do about all of those party-selling events....the guilt over trying to get people to buy the stuff would kill me inside.

I reluctantly went to one of those party's that was at my sisters friends house last year sometime and I literally bought the cheapest item in the book ( a $24 make-up case-gag). I literally didn't want to spend $ on crap I wouldn't need/use. And of course I felt guilty not buying anything, so that's what I ended up getting. I've probably used the thing twice now.....I'm still pissed off about that purchase LOL.

But if it's something that you think you would be passionate about and could get into, then go for it, but from what I can tell from what you are saying, it may be a struggle for you and possibly a waste of time.....

Xstatic3333 · January 2015

Hmmm I like the idea of a "no pressure" disclaimer if I do decide to do it @Gdaisy09‌. I do have a few friends that were interested when they saw my nails. My consultant friend isn't generally too pushy either (though she is sort of pushing me right now...) and I don't think she'd make my friends feel awkward.

formerlyGDaisy09 · January 2015

Xstatic3333 said:

Hmmm I like the idea of a "no pressure" disclaimer if I do decide to do it @Gdaisy09‌. I do have a few friends that were interested when they saw my nails. My consultant friend isn't generally too pushy either (though she is sort of pushing me right now...) and I don't think she'd make my friends feel awkward.

That's good...I know I've pushed a couple of my friends who use my products that hosting a party is a great way to get some of the stuff they use anyways for a discount (I always offer my hosts 10-15% off depending on the number of guests...regardless of how much their guests purchase).

als1982 · January 2015

I despise direct sales "parties." I think no matter how low pressure the host or distributor is, people still feel obligated to buy when they're in someone's home, eating their snacks and drinking their wine. It's human nature to have the urge to reciprocate and lots of people struggle with getting things for free (a makeover etc.) without at least paying something. Frankly, now that I'm in my 30s, I've just stopped going to these, period.

All that said, I wouldn't side-eye one bit to get an email plug from a friend for a product. I probably wouldn't buy anything, but it wouldn't bother me nor would I feel any pressure to buy. So, I'd say if it helps her, definitely do the online thing.

simplyelise · January 2015

Multilevel marketing companies were the big trend among ladies at my church in 2014. For several months, I was getting invitations to more than one party a week for Jamberry, Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, or It Works! Wraps. I went to one Tastefully Simple party and purchased some things, but they were expensive and a treat, not something I'd be able to purchase regularly like the seller wants. I felt a lot of pressure to host a party and attend parties, even though our church market was clearly exhausted.

If you have some friends who have not been inundated with parties and they seem to be interested, I don't think it would be too pushy to host one party. Personally, I don't understand the point of going to a jamberry party when you can just purchase them online yourself (except that the host gets some stuff for free), but maybe that's just me.

If you don't want the seller to keep asking you to host more parties (or try to recruit you to be a downliner), you need to nicely but clearly say you aren't interested.

Whatever you decide, stay firm. Direct salespeople are trained to answer your hesitations with placating reassurances to convince you to do what they want. Know what you want your level of involvement to be and stick with it.

CuriousKiddosMama · January 2015

In doing direct sales now and have had some parties in the past. I always consider it a fun get together, and try to tell people there in no pressure to buy. I had a pampered chef party earlier last year in my new neighborhood as a way to meet some of the other ladies, and the party was amazing. But nobody ordered, and I was totally ok with that. I did feel a little bad for the consultant, but I warned her up front that it was a neighborhood get together and I had no idea how it would go.
Maybe do a Facebook party, and get some samples from your friend to give out to friends who are interested? That way you can get some discounted stuff without feeling like you are pressuring your friends into buying. Although I didn't understand how cranberry worked until I saw it, so that maybe difficult depending upon how popular it is in your area.

Xstatic3333 · January 2015

Thanks all for your feedback. I definitely will be doing the online Facebook party if I do this, not an in-person. It's nice to hear that people feel less pressured this way. I don't think I'll get much free stuff, as I don't have a ton of girlfriends anyway and most of us are on a budget, but I'm leaning towards giving it a try.

brij2006 · January 2015

If you want to host a party and get free goodies, then go for it. Don't worry about her being too pushy or your friends thinking anything. If they want to come, they will. If they don't want to, then they won't.

vlagrl29 · January 2015

Ah the jam berry FB parties. I think I was invited to at least 4 this year. I'm not into direct sales at all. If you do decide to host I would do it online as well

JoanE2012 · January 2015

I could never host a party. I hate soliciting from people. Same way I'd never ask for money for a charity run, etc. No matter what I could say to take the pressure off, I feel like people will feel obligated.

MommyLiberty5013 · January 2015

Why don't you have her "host" at her house and then you invite your friends? Then, the pressure is off for people to be in your home. But, you support your direct sales friend, still. If she provides the house and the food, you could still get a benefit from her in free product without it having to be such a BIG FOCUS to the other guests. Also, I imagine people would feel less pressure to buy in someone's home they didn't know.

amhill87 · January 2015

I am hosting a pampered chef this month, and while I would love to hit the goal to get my dutch oven free, I understand some people are not able to buy. I do also plan on becoming a consultant as a way to make supplemental income for things I would feel guilty for buying with my main income as I focus on my goals.

blondie42107 · January 2015

I really don't think direct sale parties are a big deal. I've hosted and attended parties. I only attend ones that I know I'd probably buy from. It's easy to look at the items and prices online ahead of time. Also the people I would invite know me well enough that if they don't want to come, it's no big deal. I've bought Jamberry, Pampered Chef, Thirty-one and Sentsy.

bparkhur · January 2015

Direct sales....ugh. I firmly believe that the only people who believe these are "fun get togethers" are the people trying to make money/get free gifts. Sorry just my opinion:). I wouldn't do it for that reason, but I also wouldn't want tone buying a bunch of nail polish I don't need (which is ultimately what happens when you are working with the product)

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