WAHM Forums

Is it retailing or team builidng? Or both?

Hi Monica,
I am a new independent wine consultant with The Traveling Vineyard (TTV). Right now I am consitrating on sales and booking tasting parties. I have had some people at the some of my tastingsinterested in joining TTV. So I feel that if you consintrate on sales and parties the team building will come.

Hi Monica,

My primary focus is on my personal sales. Without consistent sales of my own, I have no business. Besides, one of the main reasons I love this business is its mission. I am in this business is to share the power of story and to teach people how to use storybooking to strengthen their families. As I spread the word, I naturally enlarge my client base.

Team building is a second level of this business, available to those who choose to spend the additional time and effort to teach others to do what they do. It is NOT a requirement, but rather a way to take your business even farther. However, I can effectively build a team if and only if I can teach that team an easily duplicatable system. That means I need to teach them how to make sales. But how could I teach them that if I wasn't doing it myself?

The only real way to make recruiting the focus of your business is to make your recruits your customers. When you go that route, you are walking a fine line... it starts sounding an awful lot like a pyramid scheme. You'll find that in those businesses that make recruiting the focus, you start to see a lot of pressure to make personal purchases. Usually they even have some sort of "auto ship" option that they "strongly encourage" consultants to buy into. A very dangerous path to walk, IMHO.

Blessings,
Christy

You have to do both to make any money. Most companies require their reps to have a certain amount in sales each period (month, quarter, etc). Without focusing on sales, you could lose your downline. However, the bigger the downline, the more money you make in overrides.

You need both.

Your own personal sales always has to be your #1 focus. You can not expect your team to make you your money. If you build a strong sales end of your business, the recruits follow.

Everyone comments are great. Like Shelly stated your personal business needs to grow. You need a foundation to build upon. You need to be out building your business to gain the knowledge and experience you will need to help your downline become successful. The successful distributors are not sitting at home watching TV and cashing checks. They are out in the field working the business as well as helping their downline.

Yes, it takes both to earn!
true residuals comes from Team building though.
I am glad I do not to rely on sales as Iprefer to team build and help my team duplicate.
We have an awesome system in place that is based on a matrixwherewe get help from upline in team building.
I love it!

We make $$ sooner, and have the whole team combining their efforts for a common goal.
This is what it is all about.

Iwil beselling product thru ouronline shopping website,and so glad that is available.
I will not keep inventory (did it before and spent way too much $)again except for parties to give to Hostesses and as a Free gift to my customers.

Edited by: designsuccess

Great repsonses! Bottom line, don't put all your eggs in one basket!

It's a duplication business.

If you don't sell your company's products, many people you sponsor also won't sell your company's products. Businesses without retail sales don't survive in the long term. People earn anything only when products are sold.

To become a leader, to build a stable business rather than just creating a badly-paid part-time job for yourself, and to set an example, you have to do both, in my opinion.

Yes, Yulia, you are right.
Moving product is what it is all about.
That's where our volume is for us.

Plus, people need to be on some sort of Health Regimen to maintain good health, I believe!

the Speed of the Leader is the Speed of the Gang. If they see you out booking demos , selling etc. they will follow your lead . Then you have sales and a team!!! I focus on BOTH!

the Speed of the Leader is the Speed of the Gang. If they see you out booking demos , selling etc. they will follow your lead . Then you have sales and a team!!! I focus on BOTH!

Brilliantly said Dawn as always!! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

I always try to be true to my original plan and why signed up to do direct sales to begin with. For me, it has been primarily about sales as I love to sell. As a result, the recruits tend to come to me. When my company has incentives to get new recruits, I may or may not challenge myself to work at getting recruits.For me,focusing on selling or recruiting is a very personal decision and at times, one may take priority over the other.

I love sponsoring...so the answer is easy. I love helping women discover such a flexible way to bring in $$. The jewelry sells itself, so I don't worry too much about it. That being said, you have to hold the parties/trunk shows...so I think booking and hostess coaching is extremely important!

I agree you have to do both, but as your question asks, you're inquiring about our main focus right now. Mine is team building.

I started out focusing mainly on product sales to learn the business and the product line. Then it balanced out almost evenly with both for a while, but as my team continued to grow, I now spend most of my time mentoring my team and helping them succeed.

I focus on both. When I share, I always share both. Much of my business is in sales of products. If people know there is a business oppty and they are interested, they will work hard (with some coaching)and I don't need to "convert" anyone!http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

Just an interesting observation about the differing interpretations of "team building." Some have responded to this thread with RECRUITING new team members in mind, whereas others view team building as more of working with existing consultants to help them grow their legs.

No fore drawn conclusions about that - just thought it was interesting to read the different responses.