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racvog
Forums Member
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Posts: 1
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#121 · Posted: 20 Aug 2010 21:39
abuckigal
Your enthusiasm for Silpada is very infectious!!!
I, too, am thinking about becoming a rep in an area that doesn't yet have very many, but I'm waffling: Some days, I think that I won't be able to make a go of it; other days, I'm super positive about it.
I'm a teacher and do not want Silpada to interfere with my main job, but I do want it to be a successful business endeavour.
What happens when business trails off? Has it ever trailed off for you? What did you do to bring it back?
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#122 · Posted: 23 Aug 2010 13:19
racvog: What happens when business trails off? Has it ever trailed off for you? What did you do to bring it back?
Before you start a home based direct sales business you should set yourself up to succeed. The best way to do this and recover your initial investment is to contact everybody you know and tell them about your new business and ask them to help you out by booking a party with you. Once you get at least 6 definite bookings, then sign up!
Now to answer your question.....of course there are sluggish times. This happens in any business. I always try to replace a party with another party by asking all the guests if they'd like to host their own party and earn lots of free jewelry. Sometimes you will fail and not get a booking to replace the show you just did. This actually happens all the time. If you completely run out of parties on your calendar then my advice is always go back to the basics and start over. I would call everybody who has purchased from me within the past 6 months (or even a year) to see if they are still loving their Silpada. Try to develop a personal relationship with each customer and tell them you are trying to fill your calendar for the Fall (or Spring or Winter etc) and ask them if they would be willing to host a girls night out. Remind them how easy it really is. They don't have to be a super hostess with lots of food. People will come because of the jewelry so all they need to do is offer a couple light snacks and some soda or wine.
Another way to revive a stalled business is to get out in public and set up a table at a church bazaar or a craft show etc. where you can meet new people. Wear your jewelry every day and wear lots of it! I promise that people will comment on it. Always have a note pad handy and your business card and if they are truly interested, get their phone number and follow up with them and try to secure a home party or even a catalog show.
My sponsor left a very lucrative full time job a little over a year ago to pursue Silpada full time. She has been successful! Basically, the more effort you put into your business, the more you will get out of it. Still, the choice is yours. You can work as much or as little as you desire. There are no quotas (monthly or annually) that you are required to meet.
You have the perfect job where you can meet lots of people who may very well be interested in hosting a party.....the other teachers you work with and the parents of your students. You don't even have to be pushy. If they see you wearing lots of beautiful jewelry, they will comment on it which opens the door for you. I have actually booked parties from standing in line at the grocery store and one time, I went through the drive through and as I was paying, the clerk noticed my beautiful ring. She ended up booking a party and getting that ring for free!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Billie
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Billie
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j11_cook
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 97
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#123 · Posted: 23 Aug 2010 14:05
Silpada jewelry is really good jewelry. I have been to a few of these parties that a friend of mine hosted. What I like so much about it is that the jewelry sells itself. The atmosphere is really relaxed, and there is no pressure to buy anything. I honestly think that you could make a decent income doing this.
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princessritz
Forums Member
Joined: 10 Sep 2010
Posts: 1
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#124 · Posted: 10 Sep 2010 11:36
abuckigal
Billie, I woudl love to contact you. Your feedback has been very helpful and I would like to chat more about it as soon as possible. Unfortunately I am not able to email you. I get an error message so how can we connect?
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#125 · Posted: 11 Sep 2010 08:07
princessritz: Billie, I woud love to contact you. Your feedback has been very helpful and I would like to chat more about it as soon as possible. Unfortunately I am not able to email you. I get an error message so how can we connect?
Check your inbox. I sent you a message. 
Billie
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Billie
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lorrainebgore
Forums Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
Posts: 1
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#126 · Posted: 17 Sep 2010 10:25
My problem with direct sells is that I don't know what to say to the people when I approach them other than I see "blah". Then whats next, hand them my card and tell them that if they are interested then they can call me?
struggling here!!!
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#127 · Posted: 20 Sep 2010 13:48
lorrainebgore: My problem with direct sells is that I don't know what to say to the people when I approach them other than I see "blah". Then whats next, hand them my card and tell them that if they are interested then they can call me?
The easiest way to get sales and party bookings is to be sociable and especially to "listen" to people. When a flag goes up because of something they say, then you have an opportunity to discuss your business with them.
For example, when doing a home party, don't just stand behind your display table doing nothing. Instead, get out among the ladies and talk to them. Eat what they're eating and drink what they're drinking. Find out how they know the hostess, if they have kids or a full time job etc. Ask if they saw something they really liked on your display. Maybe she will say "I love that bracelet but it's too expensive". She has just given you a perfect opportunity to explain the free jewelry she can get by being a hostess. Or maybe she will say 'yes, I'm going to get those earrings" and then you can say "oh they are so pretty and did you see this necklace that looks so good with them"? What I'm saying is that if you can establish a friendly relationship with that person, then she is much more likely to want to book a party with you or make a purchase.
Use the same approach when you're out doing your daily routine. If you work or you're out socializing with people, they will definitely comment on your beautiful jewelry. This is a perfect opportunity to tell them that you sell it and would love to either order it for them or even do a girls night out home party with them. Ask them if you can call them or if you can deliver a catalog to their house.
If you are a rep who is trying to grow her business by building a team, use the same approaches. Listen for clues.....maybe someone will say "how much does it cost to become a Silpada Rep" or they might say "is all of that jewelry yours?". These are hints that this person is interested in the Silpada business opportunity.
Every single time that someone admires your jewelry is an opportunity for a sale or a home party booking. Just listen!! 
Billie
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Billie
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Beaner
Forums Member
Joined: 23 Oct 2010
Posts: 1
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#128 · Posted: 23 Oct 2010 04:12
I love the jewelery and recently, FINALLY, hosted my first party. What a flop! Only four of the six guests who showed purchased anything and no one was interested in booking a party.
I think I would love to be a rep, but this has really discouraged me. I invited between 40-50 people (virtually everyone I know) and people who had assured me they would come did not. I am not into pressure sales, etc, and although I'm a social and outgoing person, have a hard time "pushing" a product or a business, I think. We are told that people who do not have a sales background tend to do better with Silpada, but from what I've read on this site this doesn't seem entirely true.
I am very enthusiastic about Silpada and its business prospects, but I am also very cautious. The #1 reason i would become a rep is for additional income, so I can not afford to fail at this. But sometimes I think people can "smell" this....do you know what I mean? it gets people turned off.
I think I'm rambling. I'm just nervous and afraid that there may already be enough reps in my area, that the resources are being exhausted.
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abuckigal
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Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#129 · Posted: 8 Nov 2010 16:21
Beaner: I love the jewelery and recently, FINALLY, hosted my first party. What a flop! Only four of the six guests who showed purchased anything and no one was interested in booking a party. I think I would love to be a rep, but this has really discouraged me. I invited between 40-50 people (virtually everyone I know) and people who had assured me they would come did not. I am not into pressure sales, etc, and although I'm a social and outgoing person, have a hard time "pushing" a product or a business, I think. We are told that people who do not have a sales background tend to do better with Silpada, but from what I've read on this site this doesn't seem entirely true. I am very enthusiastic about Silpada and its business prospects, but I am also very cautious. The #1 reason i would become a rep is for additional income, so I can not afford to fail at this. But sometimes I think people can "smell" this....do you know what I mean? it gets people turned off.
As a Silpada Rep, I have done parties like this. Everybody has. Don't let it discourage you though. It's all part of the Direct Sales business and everybody runs into these types of situations no matter what they are selling.
I did a party a couple years ago where I sent out 77 invitations for the hostess (yes, I mail the invitations for her and I make the reminder phone calls the day before her party). Only two people showed up!  We didn't give up though. We kept the party open and I instructed the hostess on how to get outside orders from family, friends, co-workers, etc until she reached her goal. We ended up closing that party at over $500 and the hostess reaped the maximum benefits.
The most important thing is for the Silpada Rep to coach her hostess and she needs to stay in touch with her weekly until the date of the party. She needs to lay it out up front what she will do and what she needs the hostess to do in order to be successful. The hostess needs to be excited and then her guests will start to get excited too.
I could go on and on here with suggestions and questions about how this party was handled but then it would become a book. LOL If anybody wants to discuss this further, please send private message to my inbox.
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Billie
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yoursilverlady
Forums Member
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 7
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#130 · Posted: 17 Nov 2010 10:54
Hi Billie!
I've been reading posts clear back to 2007 and they all bounce from positive to negative! I just joined Silpada as a rep on 11/5/10 and I was able to be a vendor at an annual Home Tour & Craft Bazaar in SDCE in Ramona. To get names I made up Prize Drawing Slips to win a pretty silver snow globe that played Xmas music. Got about 16 names and some checked my box that they MAY want to host a Silpada party. Follow up calls came up ZERO! I am so depressed! I HATE the salesman push and I just don't have the contacts to have family/friends hostess parties for me to get started. My sponsor does zillions of rep parties a week and I feel sooo depressed/hopeless/make a huge mistake of getting into this business! My only advice is to make sure if you do a craft/trade/bazaar type show that you make sure the other vendors have high quality products or Silpada will stick out as way too expensive! Am I just supposed to stamp my name on catalogs and leave them at doctors' offices, beauty salons, etc.? I was so enthusiastic I spent over $2100 on my initial starter kit (so that's over $4100 retail jewelry!!!) plus 3 center fold tables plus velvet tablecloths, plus jewelry trays/liners & rolling carrying bag! Help PLEASE!!
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donnalovesmaui
Forums Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 1
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#131 · Posted: 21 Nov 2010 08:10
Hi. I am interested in joining the Silpada designs family, but i am concerned if the area which I live in is saturated with sales reps. Any way to find this info out. Too many reps seem to be a common problem with others in the direct sales field. I LOVE Silpada Designs and am totally committed to the product, but I currently work as a registered nurse, so I am usually exhausted after work & I would want to put in all the effort I can as long as I am able to be successful. Like anything, where there is someone successful & is making profit, there might be another who is discouraged & pulls out of the game. I don't want to be the one to pull out of the game. Due to health reasons, I am slowly winding down my nursing career & feel it is time to do something that i have a passion for. Is Silpada Designs too saturated in my area (the South Bay area of Los Angeles) for my success? Thanx, Donna Y
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I am interested in joining the Silpada family, but i am concerned about possible saturation of consultants in my area. I am currently a RN, over 30 years, now it's time to wind down. Any way to find out if my area has too many reps to be successful
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yoursilverlady
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Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 7
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#132 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 10:48
The answer I've been given by my sponsor is that each rep has contacts and then each of those contacts have DIFFERENT contacts so the "overlap" is minimal. Being a nurse would give you direct access to the entire medical field, including drug reps, etc. You didn't post what specific field of nursing you are in but start gathering the addressess of everyone you've come in contact with! Maybe even past patients? You'll be surprised at the list you can compile. Don't worry about "other reps" unless you're already seeing Silpada catalogs in YOUR waiting rooms/hospitals/nursing homes/etc. I think you have to expend a huge amount of work to get the ball really rolling and do a lot of recruiting so you can become more of a "manager and coach" and let your underlings hustle the parties -- typical pyramid building model -- while you make percentage of profits off of them. I just started also and did a recent post but haven't gotten a reply yet. I am hostessing 2 shows next week so IF I get any orders I get all the free jewelry & cash IF it's a qualified party. I'm doing an all-day Open House for the entire town of Ramona on 12/4 and to get my info into the paper without paying HUGE prices I'm donating 50% of profits to one of our great local charities. I'm a real estate broker in my other life so I sent e-mails to all agents & affiliated fields. I'm also hostessing an invitation party at my office -- Jewelry & Chocolate theme. If these don't generate leads to host parties I am sunk! I'd love some insight into how to keep the enthusiasm level up. You know, if you go to eBay you'll see thousands of Silpada jewelry for sale. Corporate forbids it for ACTIVE reps but you have to renew every year ($200) and those who bail out often recoup all their expenses by selling items they don't want to keep. Love to read more comments from other reps who've survived that first year!
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#133 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 12:44
yoursilverlady: I just joined Silpada as a rep on 11/5/10 and I was able to be a vendor at an annual Home Tour & Craft Bazaar in SDCE in Ramona. To get names I made up Prize Drawing Slips to win a pretty silver snow globe that played Xmas music. Got about 16 names and some checked my box that they MAY want to host a Silpada party. Follow up calls came up ZERO! I am so depressed! I HATE the salesman push and I just don't have the contacts to have family/friends hostess parties for me to get started.
I have found that working events rarely ever result in sales. You might possibly get a recruit lead or maybe even a potential party booking but overall, they are generally not worth your time. I hate to be pushy too so I completely understand what you are saying.
You have already signed up as a SDR so I can't give you the advice I always give to people who are considering it. I always say, call everybody you know. Tell them that you are planning to start your own home based business as a Silpada Rep. Ask them if they will help you out by booking a party with you. If you can get AT LEAST 6 people who say yes and who commit to a definite date, then sign up as a Silpada Rep. You will be successful enough to at least recoup your initial investment and you will probably earn lots of free jewelry during your first 100 days since you already had the parties lined up in advance. If you cannot get people to agree to a party, I would not sign up. This is just my own opinion but if you can't get bookings before you start your business, then it's going to be just as hard to get them after you have put out the money and signed up.
Now, since you have the dilemma of already being a Rep with nothing on your calendar, my advice is to read the SDR instruction manual and go back to the basics. Make a list of absolutely EVERYBODY that you know......friends, co workers, people at church, parents of your kid's friends, neighbors, people on your Christmas list, etc. Tell them about your new business and ask them if they would help you out by hosting a girls night out. Remind them that there is no presentation at these parties and that the jewelry is top of the line .925 sterling with a lifetime warranty. Explain that you will just lay it out on a table and let the guests have fun with it. Tell the hostess to keep refreshments very simple. Call the party anything you want except don't call it a Silpada Party. The hostess can say she is having a Girls Night Out or maybe a WINO's party (Women In Need Of Silver) or even a birthday party for the hostess. (All she wants for her birthday is some free Silpada jewelry). For those who absolutely refuse to do a party in their home, ask them if they would help you out by working on a catalog show and then explain how that works.
There will be good months and slow months but you have to work your business every single day to keep it going. Wear tons of it everyplace you go. If someone comments on it, get their phone number and address and ask if you can send them a catalog.
Wishing you the very best of luck!
__________________
Billie
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yoursilverlady
Forums Member
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 7
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#134 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 15:05
Billie,
You must be high up the corporate ladder! Thanks for being honest with me! I do tend to jump in with both feet and go 1000% on everything I do! If I'm not successful right off the bat I tend to want to immediately get out of it. I'm also a real estate broker and trying to impress potential clients that you can provide better service (I.E. SELLING YOURSELF!!!) than someone else gets tiring and expensive (advertising). I love helping people and my entire career has been in the "people pleasing" business -- from waitressing to being a packer/guide/cook in the High Sierra Mtns. to running veterinary clinics to owning a party planning/catering business to owning a pet-sitting business for 14 years and I love it when clients call me because they want what I have! I don't have to "sell" it. So Silpada is another venture where I have to cast a wide net and keep pushing and advertising. And then on e-Bay I see TONS of Silpada for sale, often much less expensive than catalog price, so we're competing again. I know the warranty is voided but in this economy I think everyone is looking for "the deal"! I'm just hoping to be successful enough to get free jewelry and wear tons of it! It's fun to see a friend and whip off one of my Silpada bracelets and put it on her to compliment her outfit and just gush over how good it looks on her! So I'm selling again! Wish me luck in Ramona (San Diego County) California!
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donnalovesmaui2
Forums Member
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 1
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#135 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 18:41
YSL:
Good luck & blessings to you on your upcoming Ramona CA sale. My daughter lives in Menifee & I will have to direct her to your sale. I work in a hospital which has very strict rules against approaching patients & staff members for any type of sales(including back-to-school fund raisers put on by elemenary schools , but I approach some of the female sales reps. I am determined to make this work, I LOVE SILPADA DESIGNS. I am going to my old phone books and contacting my friends & relatives & setting up some parties before I sign on in December.
Billie: Thank you for your wisdom & experience. I am following your suggestions as they seem to have worked for you for some time now.
Blessings to you both,
donnalovesmaui2
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#136 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 21:41
yoursilverlady: Billie, You must be high up the corporate ladder! Thanks for being honest with me!
I am not high up on the corporate ladder. In fact, it has NEVER been my desire to promote to a leader. I do have a handful of reps under me that pretty much asked me to sponsor them so I have earned the title of Senior Rep and I make a little money from their sales. I did not actively recruit them. I always speak from my heart and from experience. I still say that you will get out of this business what you are willing to put into it.
I started out gung ho because I had 10 bookings on my calender before I submitted my contract. Those 10 bookings plus others that I secured from those parties enabled me to earn FIVE $500 free jewelry certificates ($2500) during my fast start period of the first 100 days. It also gave me a very successful first year where I earned additional awards and recognition. Since then, I have slowed down (my choice) because it's just too hard on me to do 8 shows per month like I was doing. I am probably old enough to be your mom and I have arthritis to deal with being on my feet for long periods of time. Now my goal is only 1-2 shows per month and I'm meeting that goal and having fun. I love the jewelry and want to stay involved. I am earning enough money so that my husband and I can take a nice vacation once a year and the people and relationships that I've formed from being a SDR are PRICELESS!
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Billie
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yoursilverlady
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Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 7
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#137 · Posted: 22 Nov 2010 21:57
Hi Billie!
Actually, I'm 63, have not only arthritis but now fibromyalgia, have had THREE total hip replacements -- had my left hip done 9/4/08, then the right one 11/4/08 and doc made my right leg 1" longer than left!!! He suggested a "nice orthotic" and I said *@#__!" and insisted he go back in and fix it! So 10 days later he pulled staples and reopened all the layers of skin/muscle/bone and redid everything! So I do know pain! My comments on being "corporate" weren't meant to be mean, you just come across as extremely confident and knowledgeable about Silpada. Smart thinking to get shows lined up BEFORE you sign up! My sponsor didn't tell me about that! Hmmmmm. Well, hopefully my 2 shows I'm also hosting will be successful. God that would have been sooo advantageous to have bookings lined up B4 signing up! How dumb am I??? Anyway, hopefully others reading our blogs will learn how to play it smart and do it your way!!! Take care and please keep blogging! I love to read your stuff! Karen, Your Silver Lady
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#138 · Posted: 23 Nov 2010 10:48
yoursilverlady: Actually, I'm 63, have not only arthritis but now fibromyalgia, have had THREE total hip replacements -- My comments on being "corporate" weren't meant to be mean, you just come across as extremely confident and knowledgeable about Silpada. Take care and please keep blogging! I love to read your stuff! Karen, Your Silver Lady
Karen, I considered your comments about being corporate as a compliment!
You and I are the same age so I guess we can be the grannies of this forum. LOL
Best of luck with your upcoming shows!
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Billie
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yoursilverlady
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Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 7
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#139 · Posted: 30 Nov 2010 10:48
Hi Billie!
Have we outlived all the other questioners??? I just had my own show -- sent out over 75 mailed invitations, got 2 e-mail RSVP regrets, 2 phone regrets, and the rest never bothered to RSVP and decline and NO ONE showed up! I went through considerable expense and time -- Jewelry & Chocolate was the theme -- and had coffee, chocolate truffles, chocolate peppermint homemade marshmallows, chocolate flavored simple syrup for coffee, plus over $6,000 in Silpada spread out on silver grey cloths. Plus champagne! What a rude bunch of people I know! I REFUSE to call and beg people to come to a fun party so I was just naively assuming they'd just "show up" but they didn't! My sweet husband does all the heavy lifting and then gets the brunt of my anger/disappointment/depression over this! If I knew selling Silpada would be this hard I would NEVER have signed up! Wish I had asked my sponsor specifically what type friends, etc. she had to agree to host parties to get her going -- 'course that was also back in 2005 when everybody was flush with cash and spending like crazy! But in these tough economic times it's not that easy! I don't hang in classy circles, I guess, where women don't ask "how much is this" for every piece of jewelry they consider buying! Right now there are 79 SEVENTY-NINE pages of Silpada jewelry for sale, most WELL BELOW COST. And my local Craig's List has several ads also. So it appears lots of other newbie reps regret signing up and buying a large initial supply of Silpada -- I can't imagine a fun party where only a handful of pieces are displayed and you're expected to sit around looking at catalogs for a couple hours and then place big orders -- so I don't think I had many other options! Luckily I only bought pieces that I liked -- not what my sponsor said to buy -- so I'm so depressed that I guess I'll just wait til my year's membership is up and then cancel and legally be able to sell everything on eBay. And since I bought at 50% hopefully I'll sell and recoup my expenses. I'll bet over 90% of new reps bail after the first year, don't they? If you aren't a true salesperson/hustler you'll never make it. I get all kinds of e-mails: wake up every morning with a Silpada conference call, get those qualified parties (over $715) in and win extra bling for the holidays, come on girls, push those parties, push push push! That's just NOT me! I hope others reading this blog will think long and hard if they have the financial wherewithall and can be a salesperson 24/7 to survive and climb the corporate ladder to free trips and tons of free jewelry and financial freedom! It's been a big bust for me so far!
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abuckigal
Forums Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 69
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#140 · Posted: 30 Nov 2010 12:10
yoursilverlady: It's been a big bust for me so far!
Karen, I am so sorry but I do understand. I believe that business has slowed down for all direct sales companies as well as our local department stores and businesses mostly because of these tough economic times. You should do what you feel you need to do without any regrets.
I had a home show hostess cancel on me last month 1/2 hour before I was to leave my house and drive to hers. She said nobody was coming. But......I told her to work it as a book show and get the orders she needs to qualify for hostess benefits and that's exactly what she did! It took her two weeks but she got 10 orders that totaled over $500 so she got her free jewelry, her half price item, and free shipping.
Although many people are not buying right now, many still are. The key is how to find them. I just submitted the largest show I've ever done last night. It was over $2500 retail!! My hostess was a party girl who had lots of friends who also liked to party. She invited them for wine and h'ordeuvres and most of them came. They all liked jewelry and they all had good jobs. When I left her house, the show was at $1700 and she kept it open through Thanksgiving when family was coming in from out of town. She also took the catalog to work and convinced the men she works with to buy Christmas gifts for their wives. She was the perfect hostess! They are hard to find but they are still out there! LOL
No matter what you decide, I wish you the very best!
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Billie
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