WAHM Forums

Hi everyone! smileys/smiley1.gif


I just need a little advice. I am kind of bouncing back and forth between Arbonne and Mary Kay. Ya'll all sound really happy with Arbonne from what I have read, but then the Mary Kay people all sound really happy with Mary Kay from what I have read. Wich is great, but it isn't helping me decide. lol


Anyway I have tried products from both, I actually like both, they are waaaaay different but each good in their own way.


So instead of comparing products I am now comparing the business aspect of things.


My situation right now is that I have three jobs, I'm gonna be having a baby soon, I want to be a stay at home mom but my husband and I are having trouble making ends meet as is, and I am wearing myself out. I'm not real smart when it comes to the business end of things so I am looking for something that will actually be doable for me.


If ya'll have the time and could give me some quick pros and cons as to the business end of things with arbonne I would appreciate it sooo much! And really I want to hear the cons too, because I know that they exist evenwith the best of things.


Thanks so much in advance!

Hi to you. I am a District Manager with Arbonne International and I think the compensation plan is awesome. Iknow that our products do not have mineral oil in them(second cause of ageing) we also have nanosphere technology, a delivery system to the skin. We make 35% of our sales and get paid commissions and overrides on our volume. We also differ from other companies because there is no minimum monthly order or quartely order. You do not need inventory, in fact Arbonne discourages us from keeping to many products laying around. The business part is fairly simple and I just learnt as I went. I am hoping to quit my other J.O.B (just over broke) in a few months.Let me know if I can be of any help. Good luck

If I may, where is the infomation that mineral oil is the "second cause of
ageing"?

Here's a link that i found helpful mineral oils. You can do a google search on "mineral oils and aging skin" and you'll find a lot of info. I'm also a pre-med student, doing my capstone research on certain ingredients and their effects on skin (can you tell I'm hoping to eventually get into a Derm residency?)





www.HerbalLuxuries.com/mineral-oil.htm (http://www.HerbalLuxuries.com/mineral-oil.htm)


Hope that helps! :)

Please have better research than an "herbalLuxuries" site to back up the
"second cause of ageing (sic)" comment. Surely your professors would
not allow such flimsy research to pass muster. The links on this website
are in reference to mineral oil TAKEN INTERNALY, not applied to the skin.

Please understand that I like Arbonne, and feel that if one is going to use
an oil, it is better to use one that can also add vitamn E for example, as
well as to reduce TEWL. It's the regurgitation of statements not reliable
that harms Arbonne's credbility in my opinion.

Intrinsic aging is that which is genetically inherited from our parents and
ancestors. Extrinsic aging is attributed to UV Radiation (Sun Damage),
primarily,and smoking, repetitive facial expressions, gravity, sleeping
positions also can be a factor. None of the research I have seen links
mineral oil in any capacity to aging skin.

By no means was i "backing up" the statement that was made from the previous poster...i simply said that it was an informative site. It was not flimsy research at all, but an informative site for those to better understand what exactly mineral oil is. I assure you none of my professors have any problems with my current research. I do quite well, and Johns Hopkins has provided me a great amount of resources at my disposal regarding certain skin disease...please don't think that i have conducted any formal research on mineral oil.


I don't mean to sound defensive, but i feel as though what i thought was just offering help was taken too seriously. Quite Honestly, i also don't like the statement of "Surely your professors would
not allow such flimsy research to pass muster"...i was inno way attempting to come up with a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and then right a lab report...i was only trying to share some info.


Thanks for understanding smileys/smiley1.gif


Lindsay

Hi That_gurl~

That is great that you are looking at both companies so objectively. Both companies aren’t going to be a perfect fit for everyone so you just have to figure out which one is your fit. (Is that all? Lol) Pros & cons are a great way to figure it out. Especially if you have a list of “absolute musts” in a business & “absolute deal breakers”.
<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Don’t sell yourself short, doing your due diligence shows that you are smart when it comes to business things. That is something a lot of people don’t do &amp; can lead to them being surprised about a lot of things. OK, you said quick so I am going to try to be quick &amp; just list some highlights.

Pro
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" =disc>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">They really listen to their Independent Consultants</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Training Very impressive. We have free access to everything online. They spend a lot of time figuring out what we need &amp; get that training out there for us. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Business Aides are great. I have everything I need &amp; more.</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Everyone in Arbonne is so supportive. It doesn’t matter what line you are in, you get help from people all around even though they aren’t going to benefit directly. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">We aren’t scared to try new ways of doing business. We share what works &amp; what doesn’t work with other teams. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">We have fun! People love trying our products! It’s so easy to share them with people. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">The compensation plan is very generous. There isn’t a cap. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">The successplan is very doable &amp; simple (not easy) to achieve </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">We have systems in place to help you be successful. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">NO quotas!!!</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">NO stockpiling!!!</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Mercedes Benz</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">No dress codes</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">If you lose your level you don’t lose your team &amp; have to start all over from nothing again. Your team rolls up above you then when you get back to the appropriate level you get your old team back! Very unusual in NWM. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Products. I know you said you like the products but want to focus on business. But I had to list it b/c they are our business. I couldn’t do what I do if I didn’t have the products in Arbonne backing me up. I love that when I tell people what something is going to do that it’s true…I don’t have to worry about it! SO it is so easy for me to share Arbonne with people because of this!</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">You are in business for yourself but not by yourself. Our uplines are so helpful to our business. Be sure to choose one that you really click with, if you haven’t already chosen one. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">The company has had amazing growth in the last few years &amp; is on pace for even more. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">The company is built on a high standard of ethics &amp; integrity. There may be a few wayward consults every so often but the majority believe in having the business be ethical &amp; built with integrity. </LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Dr. Shad Helmstetter wrote a book that features Arbonne. The Gift. In this book, Shad reveals the “12 Greatest Tools of Personal Growth - and How to put them into Practice.” His study and support of the network marketing industry for many years helped develop this new title that features insight from several Arbonne Independent Consultants. Featured throughout the book, as well as in a chapter entitled, “The Gift of Arbonne,” he sites Arbonne as the “best” of the best for offering all 12 Tools for Personal Growth.</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Rita Davenport is our President. She is phenomenal &amp; you will love her. I could listen to her all dang day. </LI>[/list]

I could come up with more but we’d be here all day, lol.

Con
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" =disc>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">Our insane growth (1000 sign up a day) has caused some backorder issues. Arbonne is working to correct that &amp; it shouldn’t be a problem for much longer.</LI>
<LI =Msonormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">Our insane growth has also caused me to have to be on hold when I call home office now. </LI>[/list]
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Lindsay....pre-med! Impressive! You go sweetie!

that_gurl110 - I was once with MK, although not for very long and I switched because I was more satisified with the products Arbonne offered. They are more of what I was looking for. I'm not bad mouthing MK in anyway my point is just that you'll be more happy with a business that you're whole heart is into.


Besides that, Arbonne has a wonderful compensation plan and is on the ground floor right now. Not too many places are overly saturated with consultants so that leaves you wide open to meet people who have never heard of Arbonne or do not currently have a consultant. I hope this is kind of what you were looking for, if not let me or any of us know, there are many great people here!


Good luck in your decision making!

Oy. Can we please not get into the whole mineral oil debate in this thread?That not what the original poster was interested in.


Thanks for understanding!Edited by: Soonergirl74

Lindsay,

I apologize. It seemed as tho' the site was given to substantiate the "second
cause of aging", which is a false statement. I realize that the person who
made that statement was most likely unaware that the statemet was
incorrect. I see so many who are enthusiastic about their product line make
rash statements, that have no basis in truth, and it needs to be corrected.
And not propogated.

Much better to say that the basis of the botanical line is safflower oil which
adds antioxidants, for healthier skin, rather than to make unfounded
statements.

No need to apologize, i just wanted to clear up any misunderstandings ;)

I think its great to see someone do so much research before joining a company! I have never sold MK before but we have quite a few MK consultants moving over to Arbonne. I think one of the biggest reasons is that with Arbonne you have a much bigger market.(Mens line, Baby line and weight loss and vitamins) Which means more sales!! Also Arbonne is a more natural product which is what people are after right now. Good luck with whatever choice you make.smileys/smiley2.gif

So is mineral oil bad for your skin or what? I just think everone was being rude to the lady that posted that. A lot of uplines are saying that so she was juststating what she was told.

mineral oil is bad b/c it forms a film on your skin, which blocks your pores. it causes dry skin and blemishes. it is highly used in cosmetics b/c it is cheap, like $1 per gallon. the essential oils Arbonne uses can cost up to $100 per gallon. the reason Arbonne never used mineral oil is b/c in Switzerland, where Arbonne is formulated, it is illegal to use mineral oil in hospitals.

Karen, it all depends on which site you look at as to if mineral oil is bad for you or not. Those in a company who use it are going to believe it isn't &amp; have sources to back it up. It's just one of those things you have to research &amp; figure out which information you believe.Kind of hard to do if you aren't an expert on the subject, I'm certainly not a dermatologist! And even they differ on the subject. So since I trust Arbonne &amp; know what kind of people we have on our research &amp; development team then I believe their stance. I'll try to post it in it's own thread so anyone who wants to can discuss mineral oil there. smileys/smiley1.gif

Thank you all so much for all of your help.


I decided to go with another company in the end but I do apreciate all of your responses.


If anone would like more info on what I did end up going with please feel free to contact me! :)


Thanks,


Valerie Kalish


Marketing Executive


Phone:512-689-4763


E-mail:that_gurl110@hotmail.com

Thank you all so much for all of your help.


I decided to go with another company in the end but I do apreciate all of your responses.


If anone would like more info on what I did end up going with please feel free to contact me! :)


Thanks,


Valerie Kalish


Marketing Executive


Phone:512-689-4763


E-mail:that_gurl110@hotmail.com

Good luck to you in your new business venture! I hope you do great!!

Hi ThatGurl! As a former Arbonne rep I can say that the products are wonderful. I've tried MaryKay and Arbonne and prefer Arbonne. However with selling Arbonne, the mail problem I ran into was the price--people loved the products, but few were willing to pay for it. Arbonne does have a great business plan and if you are lucky enough to get a good team going, you will do great. I think you just have to tap into the right group of people to get the sales going. Good luck to you!