Does Your Direct Sales/Home-based Business Attract Working ...

I was at a women?s networking meeting and networked with some terrific professional working women in my area. This women?s event in particular has only a few direct sales consultants. Most of the attendees were either real estate agents, insurance, salon owners, accountants, retail and other non-direct sales business owners. One conversation stuck with me and inspired this post. When I mentioned to this insurance lady I was in direct sales she said ?how fun, I?ve been to those parties, but I never have time to host them with my busy schedule?.

I was curious because I?ve uttered those same words myself and to be honest, most of the time I am busy, but it?s also an easy way to bow out of having to host a party. So it got me thinking ? does your direct sales/home-based business attract working professionals like the lady I was talking to?

Direct sales are mostly made up of women (around 88%). The flexibility of this business attracts moms, women who want to be stay-at-moms, retirees, newly college graduates, couples ? it?s truly open to everyone. ?But my new friend?s comment got me thinking ? there are some home based opportunities that perhaps aren?t attractive to working professionals?

A party plan comes to mind. Even though it?s part of direct sales and same with networking marketing ? a party plan is built on doing parties. This is common with jewelry, clothes, home decor, Tupperware, Pampered Chef. The difference between direct sales and a party plan is in a party plan business, it?s very hard to sell the high monthly volume required unless you?re doing parties.

There are other ways to supplement to get sales though. You can do online parties, catalog parties, vendor boutiques, one-on-one parties but these are no where as lucrative as doing a home party with a group of women. Parties is the heart of a party plan business!

But professional women are busy just like the lady I was talking to. There?s also the perceived image of being one of those people that go around bugging people they know to host parties for them. To be fair, this isn?t something you can manage because everyone has their own perception. If you?re a party planner, focus on finding people that DO want to host parties for you.

After much discussion, I was able to tell her yes I am in direct sales however my business in particular isn?t built around doing parties and you can easily build online or through coffee meetings, just like she?s already doing in her business.

The biggest challenge facing my pals who are in a party plan is that people are so busy these days. I don?t have one friend who isn?t fully committed to their family?s busy schedule. I?ve turned down multiple home parties because there?s always a conflict with my kids? activities.

Does this mean you?re doomed to fail if you?re in a party plan? Of course not as there are plenty of women hosting jewelry parties, food demonstrations, chocolate parties, jeans, clothes ? but you need to work really hard to find those hostesses because without parties in a party plan ? you will not be in business long!

How about you? Does your home based business attract working professionals?

Chat soon,

Janette

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