WAHM Forums

Hi there - I have a question aboutSilpada that has been bugging me for a while. Can anyone tell me why consultants have to be so careful in not saying the name Silpada in their posts and not having Silpada websites and such? I noticed that some of you SD gals have websites, but they are just generic ones that you can't get much info from. I am just wondering if this is a good thing or not - seems to me that you would want to be able to get as much info out there as possible about your respective company, right? It seems that most direct sales companies allow their consultants to at least mention their company online, even if they can't technically "advertise" their business. Does the company allow you to have SD websitesand allow you to take orders from them? It seems that would be a good way to get orders. I am just curious about this, and maybe others are too! I am in no way being critical of SD - so please don't take it that way!http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif I think they have beautiful stuff! Perhaps more companies are like this than I realize!
Thanks!
Jennifer

To tell you the truth Jennifer, I was worried about not being able to advertise online too. But when it came down to it, I realized that MOST of our business is not done online. With my last business, I built a team of 175 reps with great team team sales and ALL of them were in my local area and face to face appointments. All of my sales were also done in my neighborhood...nothing online.

We do not have online ordering capabilities (on our personal websites), but do have the full catalog online for our customers to see our jewelry and then it's very easy to send an email or phone call to let us know what they want. All ofthe shipping is direct to customers and only costs $4.





When looking at EVERYTHING else that SD has to offer, I could care less about our online restrictions. It's a great company!!! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif


Edited by: LuvMyJewelry

Hereare some other successful companies who have the same policy:

Cookie Lee
The Body Shop at Home
Tastefully Simple
Arbonne

I'm sure there are more...Edited by: LuvMyJewelry

The good thing about not having online ordering is that it helpslead people to have parties. If people can just order online it makes it more difficult for the consultants to get in front of people and sell to a large group and share the business opportunity. The consultant needs to be involved in order to book more parties. The money is in the parties and in building a team.

If someone out of town wanted to place an order they could always contact the consultant. Making contact is a good thing. If you have a team memberlocal to the customeryou than have an opportunity to let thecustomer know that you have someone in the area that can do a party. In the long run that party will pay off much more than if thatcustomer had just ordered one piece online through your website. IMO

I don't know why they have advertising restrictions.

I agree with Cheryl. All of my business is done offline. The main reason I did my website was to do online networking. The restrictions really don't slow me down.

MB

I guess it just seems like people are so busy nowadays, and many who can't come to a party would love to be able to order online. So many people do their shopping online now, so it would be a convienience thing for the consumer, in my opinion. Is it something that SD may offer in the future?
Thanks for the insight, ladies!
Jennifer

I agree wholeheartedly that in any direct sales business personal contact is critical to your success--in sales, booking parties, and recruiting.However, I've been working for several years in different direct sales companies that also offer online options for hostesses and for individuals wanting to place an order. I personally enjoy giving people options that suit their lifestyle and shopping preferences.








I was with Usborne books for several years when my children were younger and I had quite a few regular online show hostesses who did very well with their parties including having parties booked from theirs. I attribute that to my personally contacting each person on her invitation list and everyone who placed orders. These online hostesses enjoyed the convenience of not having to clean house, prepare refreshments, etc. when they were so busy with work, volunteer activities, carting around their children to sporting events, etc. As a rep, it felt good to be able to still offer them free books and other hostess rewards for their efforts in inviting friends to their "virtual" party. And, as a busy mom myself, it was an additional way for me to earn income without being away from home too much (although, don't get me wrong, I love home parties, too,because they do get me out of the house once or twice a week!).








No matter what your company policies for sales--in-person, online, or a combination of both--direct customer contact is a MUST! As with most things when deciding on a direct sales company to represent, it's a personal preference as to how you want to reach people. When I was recently looking at a new direct sales company to represent, online advertising and ordering was a must because I've long been accustomed to "virtual" selling and customer contact methods. And, I'm still a super busy mom who likes getting out of the house a little each week, but appreciate being able to also run and growmy business online so my husband and daughter don't forget what I look like! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gifEdited by: Jen925Jewelry

We are in the party business. Years back (before the internet, aging myself!) I had a very successful Mary Kay business with NO WEBSITE. It is still possible to do it in the modern technology age! BTW, add Siganture HomeStyles to the list of not being able to advertise your site, that is until you are a leader.

If a company doesn't want to have online ordering that's one thing. Nobody has really addressed why Silpada reps are not allowed to have a link or any advertising that takes customers directly to them. In case anyone is being sensitve, I am not bashing.

Since I was researching jewelry companies to join only a few months ago, among them Silpada, I remember reading that because corporate did so much advertising, they didn't want rep advertising to conflict with it. Or something of that nature....


Silpada reps may have more insight than I do as to the reasons for the advertising restrictions. And, if I remember correctly it's ALL advertising, online and offline.

Rhonda,

It goes against out corporate web policy. We cannont say the name nor post our link to our catalog anywhere on the web.

The philosophy behind it is that SD was born in a home show and that is where we obviously get 99% of our customers and hostesses. The home show is the life line of our business not the web.

In my opinion it would be nice to have a link in my signature but again this board is not where my customers come from, it's the home shows. So really it isn't hurting my business in anyway!

I hope that helps!
MaryBeth

Jenn,

You are also right. SD is doing a multi million dollar advertising campaign so they really are doing it for us. We are in magazines all over the place, we are on TV, at the Emmy's, etc... They are putting so much money into the campaign because they want SD to be a household name like Tupperware and Pampered Chef!

Print advertising is different. They have premade ads for us to use in newspapers or publications. If we want to do something different we can send it in for approval. 99% of those do get approved so they really are not that picky, just online.

MB

MB

Thanks MaryBeth,

I didn't mean just here. I meant anywhere, but I didn't know you could get permission to do some ads.

For me, it just makes sense to have a link and get more people to my site.

I agree, party plan means party plan. That's where the huge majority ofour sales come from. But I do like having the ability to advertise in print and online if I choose to, and my customers love the option of shopping online. Most of the ones who do have been guests at a party or two and just want to buy more pieces.

I noticed that some of you SD gals have websites, but they are just generic ones that you can't get much info from.

We are able to fully personalize the home section of our websites. Mine includes info about hosting a party as well as my "why" story. http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif

I personally find our rep websites to be full of info. When I was looking DS companies, I loved the fact that I was able to go onto my now upline's site and actually see what I could potentially earn per party and learn all about the commission, etc. As such, our sites are considered business tools designed to complement our face-to-face work, not marketing tools and we are told this right up front.

It is just a different approach then other companies have chosen I suppose, but I don't mind it at all. That was a great question, Jennifer! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

Thanks ladies for your insight and answers! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif You have satisfied my curiosity with this!


Jennifer