WAHM Forums

Hi ladies,


I've never posted on here before, but I've been reading over the posts because I've been contemplating signing up with Mia Bella, so I've been trying to get as much information as I can to make up my mind before "taking the plunge". I've enjoyed reading the posts, you ladies all are so helpful and supportive of each other, and you all have some great ideas!smileys/smiley4.gif


I wanted to ask a couple questions if you don't mind.smileys/smiley5.gif


First, is there a listing of Mia Bella reps by state anywhere?I kind of just wanted to see how much competition I'd have in my area, but I don't know if that information is even available anywhere.


Second, do you guys find it pretty easy to get fundraisers or do organizations and schools like to stick to alot of the fundraising programs they've been doing for years?


Third, do any of you work a full time job and still run this business pretty successfully? I work full time, and would not be able to quit my job until I could replace my income, so I'm just wondering how successful others have been at balancing a full time job and still be able to work and grow the Mia Bella business.


Also, if I do go ahead and sign up, what are the most popular scents that you guys would recommend to someone just starting out?


Thanks ladies,


Gail

Hi Gail! I will gladly answer your questions, give me a moment and I will edit my post with the answers - it may take me a few to type it all out :)


We do not have a listing of reps by state, and to be honest, I'm not sure if that information can be had by calling corporate either so I'm afraid your first question I can't really answer.


As for fundraisers, I am currently working on getting some of them under my belt. I am finding out that for me that having a contact that can help get your foot in the door is a good thing especially dealing with an organization or school that generally has their own fundraiser contacts already - with that said one of my contacts has turned over my fundraiser info to the county United Way, so I am keeping my fingers crossed (she loves the candles and burns them in her place of work every day).


A good way to get some references beforehand may be to start smaller, not with a standard school. Possibly a church group, small organization or even a pre-school. Let them know that you would like to do a fundraiser "on their behalf" to help out with their organization. Let them know that you will supply them with all the materials needed (scent samples, fundraising sheets, etc) and you will even work to get a table display set up at one of your local shopping places around town (should you decide to try that). Make it so they feel like they won't be overburdened with things to worry about except handing out the fundraising sheets, and have someone with you manning the table should they want.


I have already mailed out informational packages to several places that have inquired and will be following up shortly. I am still "new" to the fundraising part, but this is what I've done so far.


Lastly, I currently work full time outside of home, and my co-workers are my best retail customers! I am making an excellent retail profit to the point that my business is funding itself and starting to pay off one bill here, one bill there. It works and it's GREAT! I know the product is out there, with my label on the bottom.... I give them all a brochure to pass along to anyone else they may know that would like to buy these products and I am getting referral orders. I've also had a successful order placed off one of my webpage hits. Their order was complete enough that I arranged through the company to have the entire order sent directly to their address (you can only do this if the orders are full case orders for the jars and votives). It is possible to work full time and make a sweet profit! That's me!


As for the scents, I always recommend the Sweet Orange & Chili Pepper because it's my BEST seller. More recommendations are French Vanilla, Home for the Holidays, Heart of the Ocean (I just ordered this one... fabulous!) and Blueberry Muffin. I can make more recomendations if you like.


Feel free to visit my webpage link below and give me a call (my number is on the "contact me" tab) if you have any more questions! I'm about to head out to do a little holiday shopping, but would be more than happy to talk to you while I shop smileys/smiley36.gif.


This is truly a wonderful company to be involved in and I feel truly blessed!Edited by: dreamakr36

Hi Gail,


Welcome to out Mia Bella folder! It is very nice to have you hear. You have some very good questions and I would like to give you my expriences on some of them.


As far as locating reps in your area, you could call the company and aske them. They are the only one that have access to that information.


I have found fundraisers to be very easy to do. Alot of the schools and churchs here around me are looking for new ways to make money. So for me it has just been a matter of presenting them with the information.smileys/smiley1.gif


I, like Sandy, work out side of the home as well! And like her, may candles are a very big hit there. Work is a wonderful place to start your business if you the opportunity to present it to your co-workers!


Gail, there are so many possibilites with Scent-Sations. It was the best choice I ever made. I wish you the best in your decision, please do not hesitate to contact anyone here if you have anymore questions.


Best Wishes,


Natalie

Thank you so much for responding ladies, you girls are so nice and helpful! If this is how everyone is in the business I can see why you all are having so much fun!smileys/smiley36.gif


One more question, if you all don't mind. I've seen that there are 2 different starter kits, but if I don't purchase either one of those when I first sign up and just get the COTM, am I able to purchase those "starter" kits down the road or are they only available at sign-up time? My husband is very skeptical of home business opportunities so I want to kind of start off slowly without purchasing a whole bunch of stuff. I thought if I had the candle of the month stuff and then maybe ordered a couple different votive scents just to have a little bit of variety to show people that would atleast get me started. What do you ladies think?


Thanks again!


Gail

Gail,


I think that starting out with the COM and some mixed votives is a great idea! I always tell my team members to do what you can in the beginning, you will definitely want to have scents on hand to get that "smell and sell" technique going!!!! I believe that the starter kits are only available at start up time.....Our candles basically sell themselves! Anymore questions do not hesitate to contact me.

Hi Gail,


You are quite welcome! We are all here to help you in your business. The starter kits are only avaliable with you sign up initially. They are very beneficial if you can afford them in the beginning. But if you can not do not worry. Having a few different votives scents on hand will also help you generate a wonderful business as well. I acutally started my business as an associate member with one box of votives. Anything is possible with this business. You know what is funny, many of the people I have sponsored have told me that their husbands are the ones that are now runny the business. So do not count you husband out of the game yet. He may surprise you!smileys/smiley2.gif


I hope that helps!


Many Blessings,


NatalieEdited by: southernbg

Lol, thanks Natalie! I can be a very stubborn person so maybe his skepticism will be a useful tool for me because I'll want to prove him wrong, haha!! I want to show him that not every home business is a scam or waste of time and that there ARE people who do this full time and live off of it! I'm not expecting that right off the bat, I know it takes time, but hopefully one day I'd be able to quit my day job and still have the income, and would be able to have more time with my son. That is my goal.smileys/smiley4.gif

You WILL prove him wrong Gail!!!!! You are so right, it does take time and the potential of this business is AWESOME and it becomes what you want it to be!!!!!! I have never found a home business that gets me so excited, my passion is contagious, the future is so exciting, your goal CAN be achieved!!!!! You have exactly the right attitude and "go getter" outlook.....I really hope you join us!!! smileys/smiley2.gif

Hi Gail,


You seem to have the determination and the drive you need to make it in this business. You know when I first started, I was truly at the end of my rope with home businesses. I just did not think that there were any good ones out there. But I was so WRONG. As Margey has said, there is so much AWESOME potential with this business. It busienss has helped me to grow as a person and as a business woman.


It may not happen over night for you but IT will happen! I wish you the best in the world! smileys/smiley2.gif You will do well with this company! I promise!smileys/smiley1.gif


Many Blessings,


Natalie

Hi Gail! My husband wasn't skeptical but was supportive in my efforts. He wasn't willing to take brochures anywhere for me though LOL! That has actually changed. He's now giving me ideas on how to get word out some more, he wants us to send some candles to his parents up north and his best friend... and send brochures as well.... to get them to pass them out. He's turned from being just supportive to being pro-active now that he's seen the kind of income I've been making in retail alone!


When I first started (and it was only in October), I started with just the COTM program. Looking back, I would have chosen one of the other options for sure, but you have to work within your comfort level like I did. I had no idea how it would pan out for me, and it turned out being such a huge hit! That's why I say hindsight is 20/20 in my case.


Just ask away if you have any other questions!

Hi, Gail! Welcome! I think you can call and ask the company about buying the kits afterwards.


I bought my fast start pack after I signed upthis summer. I think we still can because it is on the online order form for a sample pack too. I would double check with customer service just to make sure.


Good luck! You will haveso much fun!

The sample pack in the back office is for a dozen jars of the top scents of the season. I checked on that already because Ihad wondered the same thing a couple weeks agosmileys/smiley36.gif

Hello Gail and welcome to the board! I actually read through these posts night after night before I actually signed up with the candle of the month. (I also wish I would have ordered the starter pack in the beginning). But you live & learn.


I asked my sponsor in the beginning if there was a way to find local distributors. She called the company for me & they told her the number of dist. in surrounding towns but would not give her contact info for them. I have since found local dist on our team yahoo board. I just wanted to touch base with them to share ideas. You know, some things work in certain areas & some things don't.My sponsor is in CA & I'm in DE. I definately wouldn't trade my sponsor for anything but it's also good to get another perspective.


Take your time in your decision & good luck with anything you choose to do. smileys/smiley17.gif

Thanks so much for all the warm welcomes and messages from everyone. Sandy that's great that your husband has become so supportive and helpful to you in your business, I hope the same will happen with my hubby!


I'll have to try to call the company tomorrow to ask about the starter kits and about if there are other reps in my area. In the meantime I do have some more questions though, lol, the more I look around at all the information, the more questions I keep coming up with.smileys/smiley2.gif Here goes...


1. I see from alot of your websites that there is a weekly candle drawing. Is this something that we are required to do by the company, or just a good way to get good leads?


2. For pricing on the products, I know the jar candles are $9 wholesale and the votives are $12 wholesale for a dozen. What are wholesale and retail prices on the other products?


3. The CD's that you guys send out to people, do we have to burn those ourselves or purchase them from the company?


4. Are the body wash samples available for purchase anytime, or are those available only with the fast start pack?


5. What's included with and what are the prices on the 2 starter kits? I remember seeing this information on a website, but I don't remember which one, and I can't remember all the info.


6. With the case of jars that come with the starter kits, do I get to pick the scents or do they send me 12 of the most popular scents?


7. I know the minimum order for jars and votives is by the dozen, is there a minimum order limit with any of the other products?


8. For the bella buns, are those sold individually or in a set?





I think that's all I've got..atleast for now. smileys/smiley4.gif


Thanks for being so patient and helpful ladies!


Gail

Hi gail the candle drawing is a great way to get leads and to get people looking around our sites!!! It is company run so we don't give the prize they deal with all of that! We have alot of other products so...it would take a while to get you all those prices! the profit is nice on everything. smileys/smiley2.gif


You would purchase a cd and then use it to burn as many times as you want! People love them!


The rest of your questions is all mainly aboutback office stuff so I would be happy to call you and go over it all!!!! It would be quite alot to type out!!! Let me know I am more than happy to help!!!!!

Hi Gail,


I do not have the anwers to all of your questions but I will definatly answer to ones I do know!smileys/smiley2.gif


1. The Candle drawing is a wonderful way to get leads. Some will only want to see if they win something, some bacome customers and other become distributor. I always contact them and send them a little infromations package, so they know there options. But it is not required to be used by the company!


2. I could email you a pricing sheet if you would like to see the actual break down of all of the products.


3. The CD actually come from John and Lise MacFadden in Canada. We only pay throught the company. You can chose to have them send you a hard copy or your can download it yourself, if you have DSL or Cable access.


4. The body wash sample are available year around.smileys/smiley1.gif


5. Here is what is in the 2 kits


Sample Pack: 1 dozen 16 oz jars, 4 bella bars, 1 bellabody wash, 1 bella handwash, and 1 car freshner.The cost of that kit is 180.10 plus shipping.


Fast Start Kit: Cost 399.00 and comes with 1 sample bag, 1 dozenof the 16 oz jars, 1 dozen votives,1 dozen mixed bella bars, 6 bella body wash, 6 bella hand wash, 1 dozen car freshners, 1 pack of body wash samples, 1 pack of brochures (100) and a Mia Bella pin.


6. You receive the most popular scents from the company


7. Yes, there is a min order for some of the other products in the back office. But not for all!


8. The bella buns are sold in a box of 16.


Well I thinking I have answered all of them.. WOW! You know were to find us if you have anymore questions. I am so excited for you!


Many Blessings,


Natalie

Hi Gail,


I just wanted to say, Welcome! It looks like everyone has answered your questions, so I just wanted to say hello and let you know that this company is awesome. I fell in love with the product the moment I got it, and my husband stood behind me when I made the decision to be a distributor, but once he saw how people responded to the candles and how delicious they smell; he was taking samples to work and probably talks to more people than I do some days about it. :) I started with COTM too, and quickly began needing to order lots more for the orders I was taking. So, do what you feel comfortable with, and just have FUN! Just put one of those candles out on your desk at work, and people will be coming to you!! You don't even have to light them, and you can smell them a ways away! If you are looking for support, you've come to the right place. I have so much support from my team, and have my questions answered in no time. I also love how we all share our advertising ideas, flyers, fundraising packets, etc.; so you don't have to create all these things on your own.


You are making a great choice, if you choose to take the step and join, and you will love this company!

Just wanted to fyi, back awhile ago I talked to customer service about the start up kit. The big one and was told you could purchase it at anytime. It doesn't have to be done when you first sign up. This came from June. HTH's

Yea, that's the fast start kit. Still may be something I will do down the road for sure because I know I don't have to worry about the products selling LOL Edited by: dreamakr36