Thursday, September 25, 2008

Do You Like to Party?

We do! That's one of the most attractive things about what I do. When they say party, they really mean party. I know that some other direct marketing firms out there say the same thing, but we mean it. You gather your family, friends, their friends and some acquaintances and let your hair down. It can be as casual as a Friday night Girls' Night In or as fancy as a Sunday Champagne Social. If you want to party, come party with me.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Silver Jewelry & Me

A little over six months ago, a friend of mine invited me to a party. Her e-vite stated that she was hosting a silver jewelry party for friend. She said that there was no obligation to buy, just come on over and hang out with her and have some fun with the girls. It sounded like fun.

I know all of you have been invited to at least one of 'those' parties. Some pretty lady comes in and tells you all about the wonderful product that you must have for your home, your kitchen, your life, your health, your child, etc. Well, there was none of that when I got there. Sure, the pretty lady was there. And there was a table set up with all sorts of beautiful things. But not once, did she mention that I needed anything that I saw on the table. She didn't talk about all of the way I would feel when I wore it. There was no hard sell or soft sell for that matter. There was only a table filled with some of the most beautiful sterling silver jewelry I'd ever seen. Even better, I didn't suffer sticker shock when I chose a pair of peridot studs that were perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

As I stood there listening to the sales rep, I thought, "I can do this". I was looking for a part time job. I'd never done a direct marketing job before. I had been asked to do Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, etc. While I loved the products, I just didn't like the pitch. I'm not a fan of the hard sell. I also felt I had to love the product yet not be tempted to constantly buy something for myself. The sales rep assured me that Silpada would satisfy my cravings for the jewelry. They offered numerous opportunities for the individual reps to earn hundreds of dollars in free jewelry. Zing!!!!

The first six months have been a little slow. That isn't a bad thing. I'm getting to know my own personal style. I'm learning new techniques that will help grow my business. Don't be fooled by the shiny baubles. This is a serious business. It was started by women as a way to earn some cash while caring for their young children. From $50 in seed money, they have built a multi-million dollar family business. That also appealed to me. I want to be a part of an organization by women that helps other women.

Please join me as I go on this journey. I'll be posting pictures of my parties, the jewelry that I own and some of the looks my clients have perfected.