One of the reasons I decided to try Scentsy is because my teenage daughter was so fascinated by it, when we went to a party. I thought doing Scentsy could give her a close-up look at what it's like to run a small business and make business decisions. I even thought that if she does Scentsy with me and she likes it, perhaps when she is 18 she can start a Scentsy business of her own. This could give her options when she needs money to put herself through college, or if she needs to supplement her family income when she marries.
So today we sat down for a minute to talk about Scentsy so far.
We had a party with $60 in orders. We could submit those orders as individual orders, and not have to spend any money out of pocket (low-risk). Or we could submit those orders as part of a regular show order, and supplement the balance out of pocket to buy inventory (higher risk, potentially higher return). Going this route, we would have to invest some of our own money, but we would get a lot of inventory at a discount, that we could sell later.
Here's what we did:
* We ordered a Double the Scentsy multipack, first ordering the 11 bars from the orders placed at the party, then ordering the remainder of the bars and the warmers as inventory for ourselves (13 bars and 2 warmers).
* Used our half-price item to order a $44 Scentsy System for only $22 (3 bars and 1 warmer).
* Used our $15 in free product credit to order 3 Scentsy bars.
* Ordered the room spray and car candles as separate items, covering the cost by the customers' payments.
We paid $162 (before taxes) for 30 bars and 3 warmers. 11 of the bars were paid for at $5 each from the orders, so our cost was $107 for 19 bars and 3 warmers (regular retail value would be $155). 20% commission on the $162 total is about $32, so in reality our out-of-pocket cost for the inventory is about $75. If we can sell all that inventory at regular retail prices, we'll more than double our money (our cost $75, retail value $155).
As I explained to my daughter, a 100% profit on a business investment is pretty dang good.
As I also explained to her, it will take some work and some time. So we have to take the long view and be patient.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Launch Party
My first party. Well, I'd really like to be able to tell you that I sold $1000 of product, put out 4 basket parties, and recruited 6 consultants.
But ... I didn't.
Actually, only a few people came, and I only sold about $60. But, I did put out a basket party, so we'll see where that goes.
I have to be honest with you, it's disappointing. But it doesn't mean I won't keep trying. I think if you're going to do any kind of selling, you have to learn how to shake off stuff like this. For sure you can't give up.
I look at it this way: Maybe if you plant a lot of seeds, only a few of them will grow. You never know. But if you stop planting seeds, you know for sure: nothing's ever going to grow.
But ... I didn't.
Actually, only a few people came, and I only sold about $60. But, I did put out a basket party, so we'll see where that goes.
I have to be honest with you, it's disappointing. But it doesn't mean I won't keep trying. I think if you're going to do any kind of selling, you have to learn how to shake off stuff like this. For sure you can't give up.
I look at it this way: Maybe if you plant a lot of seeds, only a few of them will grow. You never know. But if you stop planting seeds, you know for sure: nothing's ever going to grow.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Leveraging My Work
OK, so I'm new to Scentsy and I haven't had a party or sold anything yet. So I don't really know what I'm talking about. But that doesn't mean I'll shut up!
I've been thinking about what strategy to take with Scentsy, and it seems to me that the whole key is to leverage personal effort.
The most obvious thing to do, in terms of leveraging, is to recruit like crazy as fast as you can. Then you have an organization working for you, and instead of profiting from just your own efforts, you're profiting from many other peoples' efforts. (Check out the compensation plan!!!) Scentsy makes it really easy to recruit, because it's so easy for people to get in and to stay active.
The next obvious leveraging thing is basket parties. With basket parties, you're leveraging your resources and the hostess' effort. You don't have to go somewhere at a certain time and stay there a few hours, plus add travel time on to that, to have a show. Instead, you're just making baskets, checking them out, checking them back in, placing orders, and communicating with your hostess.
When you have a bunch of baskets created and checked out, you have a bunch of good little workers out there earning money for you. On the forums, I've seen people saying that they have people waiting to do basket parties, because they don't have enough baskets. That doesn't make sense to me. Why make people wait to buy from you? Especially when you can put together a simple little basket for under $30. (Pour basket testers from your party testers and just use an inexpensive container.)
Plus, the return on investment is phenomenal. If I put together a basket and it costs me $30, and someone takes it and does a $150 show, I just made my money back. If it does a $300 show, I just doubled my money! (And that's at the lowest possible compensation level!) And this can keep going and going and going until the basket gets worn out!
Seems like a last obvious leveraging thing is to use technology. It's so easy for people to order from your personal web site, and to sign up from the web site, that I think you'd have to be crazy not to at least keep the initial 3 months' personal web site.
You'd also have to be crazy not to get as many emails as possible from those who attend shows (think drawings!), those who buy (they'll always need more wax!), and keep an email list that you can use for easy communication.
Beyond the personal web site and email lists - it seems like blogging (and linking to your web site from your blog), using Facebook/Myspace and Twitter - all are ways to use technology, to leverage effort. They give you a way to have a presence literally all over the world, far beyond the reach of your own friends and neighbors! And with Scentsy, you have long-distance parties from anywhere in the world - just mail a set of basket testers. So WHY NOT?!
I've been thinking about what strategy to take with Scentsy, and it seems to me that the whole key is to leverage personal effort.
The most obvious thing to do, in terms of leveraging, is to recruit like crazy as fast as you can. Then you have an organization working for you, and instead of profiting from just your own efforts, you're profiting from many other peoples' efforts. (Check out the compensation plan!!!) Scentsy makes it really easy to recruit, because it's so easy for people to get in and to stay active.
The next obvious leveraging thing is basket parties. With basket parties, you're leveraging your resources and the hostess' effort. You don't have to go somewhere at a certain time and stay there a few hours, plus add travel time on to that, to have a show. Instead, you're just making baskets, checking them out, checking them back in, placing orders, and communicating with your hostess.
When you have a bunch of baskets created and checked out, you have a bunch of good little workers out there earning money for you. On the forums, I've seen people saying that they have people waiting to do basket parties, because they don't have enough baskets. That doesn't make sense to me. Why make people wait to buy from you? Especially when you can put together a simple little basket for under $30. (Pour basket testers from your party testers and just use an inexpensive container.)
Plus, the return on investment is phenomenal. If I put together a basket and it costs me $30, and someone takes it and does a $150 show, I just made my money back. If it does a $300 show, I just doubled my money! (And that's at the lowest possible compensation level!) And this can keep going and going and going until the basket gets worn out!
Seems like a last obvious leveraging thing is to use technology. It's so easy for people to order from your personal web site, and to sign up from the web site, that I think you'd have to be crazy not to at least keep the initial 3 months' personal web site.
You'd also have to be crazy not to get as many emails as possible from those who attend shows (think drawings!), those who buy (they'll always need more wax!), and keep an email list that you can use for easy communication.
Beyond the personal web site and email lists - it seems like blogging (and linking to your web site from your blog), using Facebook/Myspace and Twitter - all are ways to use technology, to leverage effort. They give you a way to have a presence literally all over the world, far beyond the reach of your own friends and neighbors! And with Scentsy, you have long-distance parties from anywhere in the world - just mail a set of basket testers. So WHY NOT?!
Making Basket Testers
Just got done making four full sets of basket testers. I used the containers from the Scentsy set that I bought at http://www.samplecontainerstore.com/. They worked out great! I followed the instructions at http://ourscentsyteam.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-make-basket-testers-at-home.html, and it worked out really well.
But, it was a LOT of work! Here are some notes to myself for next time:
1. Line the basket testers up in alphabetical order (the labels from samplecontainerstore.com are in alphabetical order, and there are enough labels to make 3 full sets of basket testers. It's almost as easy to do three as one, so you might as well do all three).
2. Line the little empty plastic containers up next to the basket containers. Don't close them (they won't lie as flat), and don't put the labels on first (it's easier to do it after you've poured the wax and closed the containers).
3. It works best if you can get in a good "rhythm" where as you finish pouring a set of one fragrance, you have another ready. For me, what worked best was to have about 7 party testers in a saucepan with about an inch of water on the stove, with the burner set to about 4. Then take out one scent to pour, and put another scent in to melt.
4. I found it easiest to pour the wax if it wasn't completely melted. When it was all the way melted, it was easier to spill. I liked it best when there was still a small hard "crust" on the top, and I could just poke a hole down the side to pour from. This kept the wax from coming out too fast.
5. After I poured the wax, I found it was best if I let the containers cool and dry for a little while. (That way, the labels didn't smear, and they stuck better because the containers weren't wet.)
6. Then I put the labels on. I found it easiest to do this if I waited until ALL of the containers were poured, cooled, and closed. That way I could just work systematically, in alphabetical order.
I poured four sets, three in the little flat containers from samplecontainerstore.com, and one in some little containers I got at JoAnn's. Seemed to me that I used less than half of the wax in my party testers. So I think you could pour about 8 sets of basket testers from a set of party testers. A set of party testers costs $80, so I think you could pour a set of basket testers for about $10 each. You can get three sets of containers/labels from samplecontainerstore.com for about $60, so the containers/labels for a set cost about $20 each. That's about $30 for a full set of basket testers if you pour them yourself - half of the $60 cost to purchase from Scentsy.
But, it was a LOT of work! Here are some notes to myself for next time:
1. Line the basket testers up in alphabetical order (the labels from samplecontainerstore.com are in alphabetical order, and there are enough labels to make 3 full sets of basket testers. It's almost as easy to do three as one, so you might as well do all three).
2. Line the little empty plastic containers up next to the basket containers. Don't close them (they won't lie as flat), and don't put the labels on first (it's easier to do it after you've poured the wax and closed the containers).
3. It works best if you can get in a good "rhythm" where as you finish pouring a set of one fragrance, you have another ready. For me, what worked best was to have about 7 party testers in a saucepan with about an inch of water on the stove, with the burner set to about 4. Then take out one scent to pour, and put another scent in to melt.
4. I found it easiest to pour the wax if it wasn't completely melted. When it was all the way melted, it was easier to spill. I liked it best when there was still a small hard "crust" on the top, and I could just poke a hole down the side to pour from. This kept the wax from coming out too fast.
5. After I poured the wax, I found it was best if I let the containers cool and dry for a little while. (That way, the labels didn't smear, and they stuck better because the containers weren't wet.)
6. Then I put the labels on. I found it easiest to do this if I waited until ALL of the containers were poured, cooled, and closed. That way I could just work systematically, in alphabetical order.
I poured four sets, three in the little flat containers from samplecontainerstore.com, and one in some little containers I got at JoAnn's. Seemed to me that I used less than half of the wax in my party testers. So I think you could pour about 8 sets of basket testers from a set of party testers. A set of party testers costs $80, so I think you could pour a set of basket testers for about $10 each. You can get three sets of containers/labels from samplecontainerstore.com for about $60, so the containers/labels for a set cost about $20 each. That's about $30 for a full set of basket testers if you pour them yourself - half of the $60 cost to purchase from Scentsy.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Why Scentsy Could be Da Bomb
OK, I have a confession to make. (Two, in fact.)
1) I don't like selling.
2) I'm not really a candle kind of girl.
So what am I doing selling Scentsy?
Well, I've tried all kinds of little freelancing/entrepreneurial ventures, including direct sales for several other companies. I am brand new to Scentsy, and I mainly signed up because we went to a party and my teenage daughter was so intrigued with it. But the more I learn about Scentsy, the more I think that Scentsy could actually be "da bomb." Here's why:
Scentsy is sooo EASY. Most companies have a whole catalog of different products, and each has a different price. With Scentsy, I plan to mainly sell little warmers (plug ins), big warmers (deluxe warmers), and wax (bars). That's three main things and three prices to remember. That's three categories of products to stock. I barely even have to look anything up in the catalog, to fill orders, because the codes are so simple. It is just sooooo easy.
It's easy to keep your status active. My life is very busy and full right now. I need to be able to work on my own terms, when I want to, and even how much I want to. I want to be able to "drop out" for awhile if I need to, without losing my status. I don't want to have the pressure of having to do X amount of volume every month in order to remain an active consultant.
With Scentsy, all I have to do to keep my status, is place one $150 order every 3 months. That's easy. And because the product line is so simple, I can even feel good about placing an inventory order as one of those orders, then just keeping the product to sell at my next party. I can afford to "risk" $150 every three months (only $50/month!) to keep my status active.
It's easy to recruit and keep your downline. Everyone knows that people who make the real money in direct sales, make it because they have a downline. It only costs about $115 to get in to Scentsy, and you don't have to qualify per se, so it's easy to recruit. Most direct sales companies have requirements for keeping your downline (i.e., you can't go inactive, you have to sell a certain amount of volume, etc.). Of all the companies I know, Scentsy has the easiest rules for keeping your downline. You just have to stay active (ie order $150 per quarter). I can do that.
Now, you don't get your downline override unless you personally sell $500 per month. So if you decide to kick back for a few months, you might not get your downline override for those months. BUT, you won't lose the whole downline and have to start from scratch again when you decide to kick back into gear again.
Basket parties. The usual direct sales scenario is that a hostess throws a party where she invites her friends. They come to her home on a certain day at a certain time. Hopefully, they buy.
Well, everyone I know is WAY busy. Even people who really want to have a party, often have a hard time finding time to do so, and their friends have a hard time finding time to come. So these people can do catalog parties, where they bring catalogs to their friends. But products never sell as well from catalogs, as they do in real life. In my experience, catalog parties are usualy a bust.
But with Scentsy ... ! The nature of the product lends itself beautifully to basket parties. That's where the hostess just takes a container with small samples of the wax for a week or so, and sells to her friends at work or whatever. Instead of having to go to the party, the party comes to you.
Easy and convenient for the hostess, and fabulous for the consultant. (I would never do 5 home parties in a week - I don't want to be away from my family that much. But I would have no problem checking out 5 baskets in a week, then checking them back in and placing the orders!)
Great Support! As soon as I got my ID and password, I went to check out the Scentsy web site. Almost immediately, I discovered the consultant forums.
Wow, what a resource! Here you have hundreds of ladies sharing their experience with Scentsy - what's worked for them, what hasn't, asking questions and helping each other. They share everything you can imagine - pictures of their basket parties and displays; flyers they've created; little handbooks; price comparisons, all kinds of GREAT stuff!
I spent a few hours perusing the forums and felt like I got a good year's head start of experience, by getting to pick everyone's brains for their experience and ideas! A great head start for me or anyone else!
New Company. Scentsy is relatively new - only 5 years old. There's always opportunity in everything, but often the people who really make money with a direct sales company, are the ones who get in early. If you start with Scentsy now, you're getting in on the ground floor.
Yeah, I think Scentsy might be da bomb!
1) I don't like selling.
2) I'm not really a candle kind of girl.
So what am I doing selling Scentsy?
Well, I've tried all kinds of little freelancing/entrepreneurial ventures, including direct sales for several other companies. I am brand new to Scentsy, and I mainly signed up because we went to a party and my teenage daughter was so intrigued with it. But the more I learn about Scentsy, the more I think that Scentsy could actually be "da bomb." Here's why:
Scentsy is sooo EASY. Most companies have a whole catalog of different products, and each has a different price. With Scentsy, I plan to mainly sell little warmers (plug ins), big warmers (deluxe warmers), and wax (bars). That's three main things and three prices to remember. That's three categories of products to stock. I barely even have to look anything up in the catalog, to fill orders, because the codes are so simple. It is just sooooo easy.
It's easy to keep your status active. My life is very busy and full right now. I need to be able to work on my own terms, when I want to, and even how much I want to. I want to be able to "drop out" for awhile if I need to, without losing my status. I don't want to have the pressure of having to do X amount of volume every month in order to remain an active consultant.
With Scentsy, all I have to do to keep my status, is place one $150 order every 3 months. That's easy. And because the product line is so simple, I can even feel good about placing an inventory order as one of those orders, then just keeping the product to sell at my next party. I can afford to "risk" $150 every three months (only $50/month!) to keep my status active.
It's easy to recruit and keep your downline. Everyone knows that people who make the real money in direct sales, make it because they have a downline. It only costs about $115 to get in to Scentsy, and you don't have to qualify per se, so it's easy to recruit. Most direct sales companies have requirements for keeping your downline (i.e., you can't go inactive, you have to sell a certain amount of volume, etc.). Of all the companies I know, Scentsy has the easiest rules for keeping your downline. You just have to stay active (ie order $150 per quarter). I can do that.
Now, you don't get your downline override unless you personally sell $500 per month. So if you decide to kick back for a few months, you might not get your downline override for those months. BUT, you won't lose the whole downline and have to start from scratch again when you decide to kick back into gear again.
Basket parties. The usual direct sales scenario is that a hostess throws a party where she invites her friends. They come to her home on a certain day at a certain time. Hopefully, they buy.
Well, everyone I know is WAY busy. Even people who really want to have a party, often have a hard time finding time to do so, and their friends have a hard time finding time to come. So these people can do catalog parties, where they bring catalogs to their friends. But products never sell as well from catalogs, as they do in real life. In my experience, catalog parties are usualy a bust.
But with Scentsy ... ! The nature of the product lends itself beautifully to basket parties. That's where the hostess just takes a container with small samples of the wax for a week or so, and sells to her friends at work or whatever. Instead of having to go to the party, the party comes to you.
Easy and convenient for the hostess, and fabulous for the consultant. (I would never do 5 home parties in a week - I don't want to be away from my family that much. But I would have no problem checking out 5 baskets in a week, then checking them back in and placing the orders!)
Great Support! As soon as I got my ID and password, I went to check out the Scentsy web site. Almost immediately, I discovered the consultant forums.
Wow, what a resource! Here you have hundreds of ladies sharing their experience with Scentsy - what's worked for them, what hasn't, asking questions and helping each other. They share everything you can imagine - pictures of their basket parties and displays; flyers they've created; little handbooks; price comparisons, all kinds of GREAT stuff!
I spent a few hours perusing the forums and felt like I got a good year's head start of experience, by getting to pick everyone's brains for their experience and ideas! A great head start for me or anyone else!
New Company. Scentsy is relatively new - only 5 years old. There's always opportunity in everything, but often the people who really make money with a direct sales company, are the ones who get in early. If you start with Scentsy now, you're getting in on the ground floor.
Yeah, I think Scentsy might be da bomb!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Preparing Baskets for Basket Parties
I've also been working on preparing baskets for those who come to the lauch party and want to take a basket for a basket party. Ordered a basket tester kit from http://www.samplecontainerstore.com/, it should arrive soon. Bought a bunch of baskets from the local thrift store. Putting it all together.
That's one of the things that really interests me about Scentsy - the basket parties. Everyone I know is so busy, it's hard to plan an event and get people to come to it. The beauty of the basket parties, is that the party comes to you instead of you having to go to the party.
That's one of the things that really interests me about Scentsy - the basket parties. Everyone I know is so busy, it's hard to plan an event and get people to come to it. The beauty of the basket parties, is that the party comes to you instead of you having to go to the party.
Handing out Flyers
Lots of work on Scentsy. Our launch party is this Saturday. We have been handing out many flyers - about 250 so far. My goal is to hand out 40 each day on my morning walk. We'll see what happens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
