Direct Sales Marketing & Mentoring- Nancy Sutherland

Welcome back friend! I hope that you are enjoying my e-newsletter! If you haven't subscribed yet, it's just a click away. I'd love to hear from you!We don't sell, rent, share your information ever. Thanks for stopping by!

Did you know that you can vote for your favorite Direct Sales Cosmetics as well as drug store or department store brands on Alllure magazine’s Readers Choice Awards?
The deadline is approaching, so don’t forget!

Through Feb. 28 you can vote for your favorite products on the Allure magazine Web site under the category of Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Spas and/or Salons.(of course I know that all of my customers will be voting for their favorite Mary Kay products, especially the Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover that is the best selling in the US of all eye makeup removers! hint, hint!)

Click here to vote. Do it now because the deadline is Saturday, Feb. 28 at midnight Eastern Time.

I am very proud to represent a Company in my direct sales home business that has the most high quality products with a proven demand from a very loyal customer base!

Technorati Tags: Allure magazine, cosmetics, direct sales c, Mary Kay products, readers choice awards

The answer is no, not all direct sales companies are MLM or pyramids although confusingly similar terminology is being used by some Companies in an attempt to recruit.  I frequently get questions from my customers or coaching clients on this issue because they have been approached by someone outside of my company and given inaccurate information. To clarify, I consulted Mary Kay Cosmetics Legal department and here is what they said:

“Mary Kay is not a multi-level or “pyramid” company. The following points concerning the Mary Kay marketing plan are of particular importance in distinguishing it from these other organizations:

• There is one wholesale sale (Company to Independent Beauty Consultant) and one retail sale (from Beauty Consultant to customer) of Mary Kay® products. There are no levels of wholesalers between the Company and the consumer through which products pass at varying discounts before sales. Thus everyone, whether Independent Beauty Consultant or Independent Sales Director (unit Director of Beauty Consultants), purchases all cosmetic products directly from the Company at the same published wholesale prices for resale to consumers of their choice. Everyone has the opportunity to buy at the same discount irrespective of their level within the independent sales force career path.

•  Everyone recruited as an Independent Beauty Consultant is recruited to sell products at retail. Independent Beauty Consultants do not recruit others to buy products from them. All Independent Beauty Consultants are thus aware that all products purchased by them are for sale at retail to ultimate consumers (or may be returned to the Company for repurchase).

• Everyone begins as an Independent Beauty Consultant with the purchase of a starter kit. No compensation is earned by anyone on this starter kit purchase, i.e., “for introducing” a new Independent Beauty Consultant. No “investment” is required and no level within the independent sales force career path may be purchased by the payment of fees or by the purchase of a given quantity of products from the Company or anyone else. There are thus no “sales” of “levels,” “positions,” “distributorships,” or “franchises” by the Company or any of its’ Independent Beauty Consultants.

• Elevation from Independent Beauty Consultant to Independent Sales Director does not involve the payment of any fee, rebate, premium or hidden discount of any kind to either the Company or anyone else. Elevation, at the election of any Independent Beauty Consultant, is based strictly upon proven recruiting and sales ability.

• Any Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant who terminates her contractual relationship with the Company may return unsold products in resalable condition, and these will be repurchased by the Company per the terms of the Independent Beauty Consultant Agreement at 90 percent of her original net cost.

• The Company pays all commissions directly to Independent Beauty Consultants and Independent Sales Directors. The commissions are paid based upon monthly purchases and recorded on computer reports furnished with the commission payments. The entire marketing structure is based on and intended to foster retail sales to ultimate consumers. Commissions paid on any products returned by a terminating Independent Beauty Consultant for repurchase by the Company, pursuant to Item E above (i.e., products not sold at retail), are charged back to the commission recipient.”

In my early years in business, I frequently found myself in a position where I had to explain this to a prospective new independent beauty consultant’s husband because there were so many illegal pyramid and ponzi schemes at the time. In an effort to protect his wife, the husband had to understand that Mary Kay was not one of them. I admit, that as the economy is in a downturn, there are more and more of these dubious new companies attempting to recruit people on the “ground floor”. (before they are shut down and many unsuspecting victims lose money)

I hope that this post helps you to understand the differences and maybe avoid choosing the wrong company to start your home business with.  As always, if you have further questions or wish to speak to me, fill out the contact form above. In addition, don’t forget to subscribe to my FREE weekly e-zine that is sent out each Wednesday and includes many extra FREE BONUSES!

Technorati Tags: direct sales, Illegal Companies, legitimate home business, MLM, Ponzie Schemes, Pyramid Companies

Sometimes fear can become so prominent in our mind that it prevents us from doing anything. It’s like the monster in the closet in “Monsters Inc”. Have you ever felt that way?

Did you know that there are no monsters in a direct sales business? Some Companies are better than others ( in my qualified opinion) Once you have done you research on the business that you are considering, don’t wait too long to start!

There is something called “paralysis by analysis” that happens when you spend too much time reviewing the same information. There comes a time when you need to TAKE ACTION!

My father was an entrepreneur and one of his favorite quotes was “Don’t just stand there, do something, even if it’s wrong!” What he meant by that is you will learn from the experience, even if it is a mistake.  Courage is NOT the absence of fear, it is the ability to feel the fear, and do it anyway!

Here are a few things to consider before you take action:

• Do you have a good relationship with the person who will be responsable for training you? Do you trust him/her?
• Does the Company that you are considering have a good support system for you. What do they provide for you? (i.e. a web site, events, accessible staff to answer questions, product knowledge, etc.)
• Does the Company that you are considering have a buy back guarantee, eliminating a financial risk? ( mine does)
• Is there a consumable product with an already established demand for it as part of the marketing plan?
• Are you trainable?  This sounds like an odd question, but through the years, I have found people that thought that they had a better way of doing things before they were willing to try the methods that were already getting good results.

There is never a perfect time to get started. That is like waiting for all of the traffic lights to turn green before you start into town.  Once you have done your research on your business, give yourself 24 hours for what I call the “shower test”. That is, if you find yourself thinking about the business at unusual times like driving the car, cooking dinner, in the shower, etc,, that is your heart telling you that you need to give it a try. You will never know unless you try. I’d much rather be a “I’m glad that I did” kind of person instead of a “I wish that I had” person!

JUST DO IT!

Technorati Tags: are all direct sales companies the same?, directsales recruiting, fear in direct sales, how to decide which direct sales company, legitimate direct sales companies

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmNuxAZHrQ0

It’s the weekend! If you are in direct sales, you may choose to schedule some appointments on Saturday or Sunday, but it is YOUR CHOICE.   Some of you may be in a situation where you have had some inactivity in your business for some time, and are finding it hard to get started again.  Your confidence may even be shaken because when you stop doing your business for any length of time it happens. That is why before you go on vacation, or take some time off, it is a good idea to have some appointments scheduled for when you return so that this doesn’t happen to you.

When I get in that unpleasant place in my business ( yes, it happens to me too) the first thing that I do is express an attitude of gratitude.  I find all of the things in my life that are great and thank God for those. I also look to my previous successes ( large and small) and become thankful for those, knowing that the best is yet to come! This will work for you too! 

Today my prayer and my wish for you is not only that you are blessed, but that also that you realize it! Blessings are chasing you down- don’t run from them! (Think of this as you watch this 5 minute inspirational video.)

Technorati Tags: blessings, direct sales affirmations, direct selling success

mp3   (right click to download)

Karen Ann and I at Seminar

How would you like a behind the scenes look at my Direct Sales Business? I have started a new podcast series featuring an interview with one of the independent beauty consultants in my unit each month. The “Sutherland Superstar of the Month for February is Karen Ann Antonucci.

I’d like to share a bit about Karen Ann with you. She is a personal team member who has been a part of my unit since 1988. This is not unusual, since over half of my unit have been with me for a decade or more. In my business, the relationships that are developed are for life, either as a customer, or a consultant. Some become both at different stages of their life.

When Karen Ann started her business, she lived in New Jersey and I am in Pennsylvania. She was married, worked a full time job, and was ready to start a family. In those early years, we saw each other frequently at local events, and I would travel to work with her one on one. A few years ago, she moved to North Carolina , taking her business with her. ( this has happened with many of my consultants, explaining one of the reasons why I have consultants all over the country)

I hope that you enjoy getting to know Karen Ann through this interview podcast. She will give you some insight into why women choose a career in direct sales, and why they enjoy being part of my unit for so many years. Learn how she built a business that has taken her from different life stages and even geographical locations.

Technorati Tags: direct sales success, Superstar of the Month, Sutherland Superstars, Testimonials

How to Get Back on Track When Things Don’t Go as Planned in Your Direct Sales Business

I don’t watch a lot of television, but my favorite show is “Lost”. Last night’s episode was one of the best ever, in my opinion. Without, getting into the plot, or the episode details, I think a very memorable quote last night on the show can also be applied to our business.

Anyone who has been in direct sales for any amount of time will learn that your rewards don’t always come from the same place that you put your efforts. Example, you can spend an hour on the phone calling your customers for reorders and get no sales at all, leaving you frustrated. That time is not wasted. I really believe that for every effort there is a reward. Within 24 hours of when that happened, isn’t it common to get a phone call or email from an entirely new customer?

This is an important lesson to learn, if you are to be successful. It’s okay to adjust, modify, and adapt what you are doing. Just keep going! Many who contact me telling me that they are stuck have just stopped working. Perhaps they put a lot of time and effort into something that was a complete failure (in their mind)  You have to keep going! “Get up each time you fall”

Let me give you an example on how sometimes there are blessings when things don’t turn out the way you expect them to. About 20 years ago, I was rushing to get out of the house to do a party. (It had been a particularly challenging day with my 3 boys, including a trip to the emergency room) When I arrived, I realized that I had forgotten one of my bags that had facial wash cloths, mirrors, trays in them. There were 6 women already there sitting in the living room waiting for me to do makeovers. (I was late, which was unusual for me)

There was no time to go home and get them. The hostess didn’t even have a table so they were seated on the sofa, and some folding chairs. I was really embarrassed and wished that I could have just left, but I honestly explained the situation.

My hostess told me that all of her wash cloths were in the washer at the moment. Her neighbor immediately went out and took some off the clothes line for us to use. Another neighbor ran home to get some paper plates and a couple mirrors for us to use.  It was really coming together.

I started the demonstration and it was going extremely well when a thunderstorm started and the lights went out. What now, I thought? Not knowing how long they would be out, we continued with candle light. Just about the time that I was finished the lights came back on. Amazingly everyone looked great, but I quickly left without even trying to take any orders.

I had planned to just forget that that party ever happened. So many things had gone wrong. It would have been easy to do that.  Something inside me said “follow up”, so I did. I called the hostess the next day. When I started to apologize, she said, “I have some orders for you.” I had sold over $300 at that party, which was a big deal 20 years ago.  When I timidly approached the hostess about the business opportunity, she said, “It doesn’t look that difficult, I think I’d like to give it a try.”  SHE IS STILL A MEMBER OF MY UNIT TODAY ALONG WITH ONE OF HER GUESTS!

When you discover the ability to think quickly and adjust your plans, no matter how bad the situation looks, you will find blessings and success along the way! See you at the top!

Technorati Tags: direct sales team building, directselling party success, long term success in direct sales, overcoming obstacles, persistence, positive attitude

Did you know that domestic violence is the number one cause of injury for women ages 15-44? Many cases of domestic violence are unreported so statistics are difficult to document.

I am proud to be part of a company that is a major contributor in the fight to end domestic violence. The reason why I am passionate about this is that I was once a victim myself.

Even though it was many years ago, it’s still difficult to talk about. So I really understand the guilt and shame that prevents many from telling their story. In fact, one of the main reasons that I started my business over 23 years ago was to become a stronger woman and build my self esteem. You see, it takes courage to end an abusive relationship, especially when children are involved. My business helped me find that courage,

It took another two years for me to develop that courage. I remember the day that the school principle and guidance counselor called me in to discuss my 6th grade son’s bruises and injuries that were a symptom of domestic violence in the home. Yet, fear prevented me from confirming it, even though they knew and reported it to the local police. I still feel bad to this day about that.

As my business grew and my confidence, the violence escalated. The day finally came when God gave me the courage to call the police. My first marriage ended with the abuser being removed from my home in handcuffs, making me a single mother of three.

I am sharing this so that you can look for the signs of these victims. They frequently suffer emotionally from depression, anxiety or social isolation. The “Break the Cycle” campaign is focusing on helping teens to learn what a healthy relationship looks like.

You can also learn more about what my Company is doing to help by going to this link. If you want to help, there are many ways to do so. I hope by sharing my story, it may give other women the courage to talk about their experiences, or if needed, get help. I encourage you to take ACTION!

Technorati Tags: Breakthe Cycle, direct sales charitible foundations, domestic violence, MKACF, resources for domestic violence vicitims

Did you know that the most important asset that you have in Direct Sales or in any business is between your two ears? Yes, it is in your mind, your attitude, the way that your percieve things. Your belief becomes your reality. If you have a scarcity mentality, then you will produce little.

But how do you develop an abundance mentality, when everywhere you look, there is information about bad economy, loss of jobs, foreclosures on homes, etc?
It’s a choice that you make.

You can DECIDE whether you choose to become a victim or a VICTOR in the battle that is constantly going on within you. Surround yourself with positive people. Do you have affirmations that you say every day? Do you have at least one goal poster visible at all times. Do you have goals and share them with others?

Every one of these play a part in your own personal victory that you are in charge of each and every day. You may lose some battles, some days may not end up as you planned. You may even have some “failures” along the way.  Remember, it is how you process these in your mind that makes a difference. Make a conscious choice to perceive a failure as a lesson, or a setback. Read biographies of successful people. You will find that they all experienced many setbacks in their journey.

Here is a poem that I use with my unit to depict the battle that is going on within your mind all the time, and how to make that choice to be a victor-

BIG ME-LITTLE ME

I looked inside my mind, to see what I could find.

Was I surprised to see a spirit called BIG ME.

Full of courage, faith, and love ‑‑ a gift for sure from one above.

It said, “You can, you will, you must. All is yours if you will trust.”

BIG ME says, You can do it ‑ charge ahead ‑ you have the strength ‑ there’s nothing to dread.

Day by day just do your task ‑‑ It’s all so simple if you’ll just ask.

Filled with energy, vitality, and hope ‑‑ With all of my trails I now can cope.

Victory is mine. I’ll claim that cup.

Nothing will stop me ‑ I’m on my way up.

Then something appeared at the side of my mind

From the corner came feelings of another kind.

A horrible creature called “LITTLE ME” ‑‑ reared its ugly head for all to see.

LITTLE ME is unsure, full of doubt and fear.

You can’t do it! It always cheers.

It wants me to walk on the down beat side; dark emotions of guilt and inertia are its pride.

So now I’m confused which shall I follow?

LITTLE ME says be jealous and hollow.

Do you really believe you can be great?

It’s in control when I’m filled with hate.

Then I stamp my foot and take a stand and choose BIG ME to lead my band.

I’ll do my work and reap the reward. Negative thinking I cannot afford.

LITTLE ME ‑ BIG ME will always be inside. To which do I give power to be my guide?

They will struggle, but the CHOICE is mine.

I’ll pick BIG ME and I’ll be fine.

As long as I know that everyday LITTLE ME will want to act out its play

I’ll just relax and say “It’s, okay.”

I know you have come but you can’t stay.

BIG ME is my special friend‑‑ I choose to walk with her to the end.

I pray each day with thanks and love, for this, “BIG ME” my gift from above.

(author unknown)

Technorati Tags: abundance mentality, affirmations, Attitude for success, Positivethinking, success in direct sales, thinking big

Steeler Nation Trademark gives back to children with severe mental retardation.

This post is not related to direct sales today, but I believe that you will find it of interest to everyone. Since the Super Bowl, many people are still asking me what is a “Terrible Towel”? You can see them waving in any Steeler game no matter where they are playing.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and my father was a huge sports fan. Being the oldest, he taught me all about every sport as a very young girl. I can remember going to Forbes Field ( no longer in existence) and filling out the score card as I watched the Pittsburgh Pirates play with my father.

He was also a season ticket holder for 50 years and was on the Board of Directors for the Allegheny Club in the old Three Rivers Stadium until he died in 1999. His block of ten season tickets were passed on to my family. So I have many fond memories of the Steeler games.

Myron Cope was a radio announcer in Pittsburgh for many years and had a unique personality. What you don’t know the wonderful story behind the Terrible Towel that he created.  Click on the link below to discover a wonderful story that will make you smile next time that you see those Terrible Towels no matter what football team that you cheer for!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6824255

Technorati Tags: Legacy, special needs children, Steelers, Super Bowl 2009, Terrible Towel

Watch CBS Videos Online

Putting The Best Face on a Bad Economy (CBS News)

Another reason to consider a home business in direct sales as a “Plan B” is the reorder business that you can develop. Low cost, personal care products that are sold in homes are little luxuries that my customers will earn as a hostess rather than do without when funds are tight.

Listen here to me explain to you some Fast, Fun, Facts about my business. It may or may not be right for you, but taking 10 minutes with an open mind may be enough for you to decide for yourself!

Technorati Tags: Direct Sales in bad economy, Pink Ladies Thrive, Recessionproof business