WAHM Forums

Hi Mary Kay Sisters!

OK so I just signed up today and I was looking at the inventory packages. I am starting my Mary Kay business so I can build income and live comfortably and not paycheck to paycheck. I spoke with my sales director and she was discussing the benefits of the $1800 package and that is a bit more than I can comfortably afford. The $600 is manageable, so I was wondering if any of you started out with a little inventory and were successful. I don't want to put financial strain on myself right now. I know it takes money to make money, but I want to start small and build. Any ideas, thoughts or recommendations? Thanks in advance!

Katrina

Hi Katrina, congratulations! You will have a lot of fun. You should also know that you also have an initial $200 order option available to you in order to be eligible for the 50% discount. That's not mentioned by directors usually, but they are just doing their job I guess. If you were super-savvy, you could hold your first open house or party, or hit up relatives and friends, and gather $200 in orders so that you invest none of your own money. As you go forward you may want to keep a few of the more popular items on hand, but you can decide that as you go and get more experience.

That's just MY opinion, I'm almost certain others will have plenty to say. ;)

The ONLY reason your director wants you to start with inventory is because that is high she makes her commission checks. The higher the inventory package you order, the bigger her commission check.

To be perfectly honest, you don't need any inventory at all to start. How do you know what your customers are going to want to purchase? Your best bet is like the previous poster suggested. Gather orders (and all the cash, including sales tax for your area, to pay for them) before-hand, then place that first order. That way you do not start your business out in debt. Once you start out in debt, you never work your way out. It just keeps getting deeper.

I am so happy I started with no inventory. This was before th day of online ordering .. mind you. It took much longer to get your orders the. Just schedule your beginning shows together... ( somew will cncel so schedule more) .. My firs two parties were enough for a 600 retail order. And I always separated my money and bought myself a money order for 60 % of the amount for future orders. Tha t way I made sure I paid myself. I did not go to Career conference the first year either. ( it is minimal training anyway. .. more like promotional) this way I always paid myself. When I need to trade, I did so with some very trustwortthy trade partners.
As time went on I found I did not have to put all 60 percent into inventory if I was very judicious in not ordering anything not needed.. and trading wisely. and paying for my own items at WS price plus 10 percent.,

Sad to say, once I had a team of recruits, I realized that the amount the incoming new consultant orders is what makes the income for the director. My situatin may be unpopular because I have been striving to live debt free for about 20 years. I do not believe in using credit cards or having vehicle loans. Always made extra paymentsd on the house until that got paid off too. It seems to be working well for me. Many people who lost their homes this past decade did so because thaty had credit card debt and auto loans to pay off.

Congrats!!!

There is a formula that you should use when deciding on inventory.
You have to be totally honest when answering the questions.
I'll see if I can post it.

Here's some food for thought.
My suggestion would be to not stock up on color, as color changes a lot. If you plan on doing the Dash out the Door luck, I would order a few of those.
Also note, the liquid foundations are chaning at the end of the year, so I would only order the mineral foundations right now.

Do what you are comfortable with and be honest with yourself.
If you are planning on working 10 hours a week, you'll be better off starting with more inventory. If you are only planing on working 3 hours a week, $600 is good.
And you can always start with $200, but if you end up having to order again in the same month, you'll miss out on your bonuses.

Best of luck!

So I am taking a lot from you all here and there. I am going to start small and build like I had originally thought. For now I collect some orders and will get a few extra things here and there, but definitely for the holiday which will be here in no time, I am going to purchase a little more.

AngieMK: Thanks for letting me know about the alternative, much more practical option. :)

Sparkler: Thanks for the tip on not starting out in debt. That is exactly right. I am trying to free myself from debt, not add to it. :)

Jolly: Thats great that you were able to free yourself from debt. That is my next goal. :)

Bobbi Anna: Yeah, I am going to start part time a few hours a week until I get the hang of things, and hopefully by the holiday, or way before I can really get into the swing of things.

Congrats to you! I thought I was going to get out my popcorn and watch, but all in all, the responses you have received are true! The ONLY way to make BIG money in this business is staying focused and determined, doing show after facial after facial, building your team and your customer base. Good Luck!!