WAHM Forums

I am with Mia Bella candles. I know that recruiting is the way to go to make serious income and residual income but I need money now. I have run out of ideas and I am honestly not sure what I should do. I have invested alot of money into Mia Bella especially in stock and I need to recoup that money.


I thought about doing shows but I have ran through my warm market as far as buying from me. I am just not sure what else to do and I will be honest that I am desperate.


I am not sure if I should do a festival/fair or if I should do home parties or what.


I also already had an open house and there again I am through my warm market so I can't really ask anyone else KWIM?


I wanted this business to work so badly and now I am getting disapointed.


I posted in here because I guess I was wondering about if ya'll think I should do parties and if so how should I find hostesses and also how do ya'll keep things organized and keep getting more and more hostesses?


Any help would be appreciated! Thank you. Me being able to stay home with my daughter depends on this.


I would also like money ASAP rather than investing anything else or waiting for a commision check.


Thank You

Hi Heather!


First, you need to be working with your upline. There is not a quick fix, but hopefully we can get you started.


Yes, do a fair. It will give you new leads. Meanwhile, while you wait, call your warm market, but don't ask them to book or buy.


Make a "relax package", in it through a small votive candle, maybe some bath salts or something chocolate, and a little note saying something like "After a long day working for everyone else, it's time to work for you."


Then when you call your friends say, "Hi! I was just wondering if you know anyone who works to hard. It doesn't have to be at a job, but someone who could use a good moment to relax." Get their name and number. Then call that person and say "Hi! Your friend XYZ told me you work too hard and need to relax! I have just a small gift for you. When will you be home so I can drop it by. Oh, by the way, I'm Heather with Mia Bella candles."


Then when you drop it off, ask her questions about herself. See if she is interested in hosting or learning more about the candles, invite her to learn more and ask her if she knows anyone who could relax.


What you are doing is reaching down to meet new people. Have candles in your car so you can show them if they ask.


That should give you a start.


Also, can you do a fundraiser for a daycare or girl scout group? Be creative. Be proactive. Just do it!


Debbie

I also want to echo what Debbie said at the beginning... there isn't a
quick fix. It takes time to build a business, but if you make a solid
plan now you'll be in much better shape next year at this time. If money is an issue, look at ways to sell your products that won't
cost you anything (fairs can eat into profits, especially with lower
cost items).

Definitely look into a fundraiser. Imagine a whole school band selling your products for you. Even if you have to take a cut in your commission (which may or may not be the case), you end up with a temporary "team."

Contact all of your local non-profit groups, schools, and churches. Offer to help them run a fundraiser. For schools, you may be starting relationship that won't bear fruit til next year, but you have to do that to build a profitable business.

While you're building your business, what about earning money in other ways? There are lots of ideas on the boards here that you can use for short-term solitions (mystery shopping, and one of those at-home phone order processing jobs like West). They won't get you rich, but you can flex your schedule enough to do them with children and it might give you some time to get your business off the ground.

Good luck!
Christy

Thank you for the replies! I appreciate all the help I can get. I am thinking that I am getting it figured out what I need to be succesful and ya;ll are a big help. The Mia Bells girls help too. They are great. The only problem is my "upline" has never called, e-mailed,nothing (I joined on the web) so I am sort of out of luck there. Its been only through these WAHM boards that I have gotten help and also through calling the owner of our company.smileys/smiley1.gif


I like the "relax" idea. I might try it. I am going to sit down with my husband and create a business plan this week. Thank You I at least have some hope now.smileys/smiley1.gif

Heather--


You may want to consider Accountability Calls. I plan to start them as soon as I have a few people signed up. It will give you a group to check in with weekly, and you will have toreport to us. Plus, I will be helping you in trouble areas and giving assignments, like make a list of 10 people you haven't talked to in over a year, and other things that will help your biz, like call this week and meet with 2 potential fundraisers. Knowing everyone else is doing it will motivate you and help you build your biz.


It will also help you see others have struggles, and you are not alone.


Debbie

I recommend finding an inexpensive vendor booth so that you can sell your stock and make some $$smileys/smiley1.gif


Also make sure (your probably already do this) that you give your candles as gifts- so that they will come back for more!


Maybe try local bridal shops- see if they would put out something for you- a candle basket would make a nice bridesmaids gift.


Gift baskets are popular now...not only for bridal, but think new baby (mommies need pampering), housewarming gifts (realtors perhaps?) It is teacher appreciation day May 9- maybe call some schools and see if they would be interested in gifts for their teachers?


Okay- that is all off the top of my head...it is late...and I SHOULD be packing up for an educational booth I am doing tomorrow...but...why do now what you can do later...lol


Best wishes!

Heather,

Something else I forgot to mention to you is that if you can fit it into your
schedule, get involved with your local chamber of commerce, a local
women in business group, or anything else like this. You want to network
and find people who hold open houses, etc!

You could also drop by or make appointments with local realtor offices
and bring your products with you- they are great house warming gifts for
their clients!

Since you have so much inventory, be sure to let your neighbors, friends
and family know that if they ever are in need of a last minute gift, you can
help them out- all they need to do is drop by and you'll have a nice
variety of products for them to choose from.

If you know other women who do party plan and direct sales businesses,
see if they want to collaborate in a "one stop shop" day. A few gals I
know who do Lia Sophia, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef and The Body Shop at
Home and myself are getting together and having a one stop Mother's
Day shopping event for people to come and purchase chash & carry items
next weekend. -This is also a great way to get rid of retired/old
inventory! We each invite our customer list, and also get new cross-
customers this way too!

Hang in there Heather, you'll make it.

Hugs,
--Kitt

I agree with Kitt...a one stop day is a great idea, especially with Mother's Day around the corner. Plan a date and time, get a hold of all of your contacts and tell them you have a Mother's Day one stop shop event for them.


Look into street fairs, and split the day with another Mia Bella rep in your area. You'd be splitting the info gathered in half, but also, two people will be talking to twice as many people.


Find a good 'booking' coach, someone who can help you get parties booked, which will lead to more parties, and the business will pertpetuate itself. Maybe Debbie, who posted above can help you with that!

Heather~


It may be too late in the year, but what about a fund raiser with the local school district? Also look at local church youth groups! Another thought would be your local dance studio. Some studios do fund raisers to help the kids pay for their costumes.


Maybe make up a flyer with the stock you have and work out a price schedule for them with their profits. This could help unload your inventory. Then you could purchase the balance should you go over.


HTH~ smileys/smiley1.gif


Hang in there! It does take time.Curious, do you have to purchase X amount or keep an inventory?

It's prime rummage sale time again!

Do you know any friends/relatives who will be holding and upcoming
sales? I would ask to put a display in their sale- offer to help man the
check out table a few hours a day or to help set up/take down. Even if
you only offer votives, I bet you'll sell them- get the cheapie votive
holders and sell them for $3.50 or $3.75 each. Esp with Mother's Day
coming soon!

Any farmer's Markets or indoor craft stores in your area? We have a craft
store here that rents booths to local vendors- you come in, set up your
wares for a month, and the store owner sells everything for you- easy!

Do you have children? Set up (and supervise) a "Candle Stand" in your
neighborhood (or another neighborhood, or a park, etc.) and let them sell
votives, etc. Or, if they're old enough, dress them up in their church
clothes and take them door to door, with their wares in a wagon. Who
can resist an adorable child salesperson all dressed up and offering the
best smelling candles in the world?!

Keep at it Heather, I know you can make this work! Once you get rid of
that inventory (did you stock up for something in particular?) you can
relax a bit and refocus your efforts- and hopefully you'll gain new
customers and the reorders will come pouring in!

I Believe in You!
--Kitt

P.S. Do you have support from your sponsor?
I am happy to work with you anytime you need some encouragement
or ideas.

thank you for the replies. Believe me I am thinking about all of this. I am a person who has to read and re-read things before I get the grasp. I have anxiety disorder and so I sometimes have a hard time focusing. I will think about all of this and I will get back to everyone soon. I will be looking over this later tonight and I will form a plan.


I really appreciate all the help!!! I just HAVE to make this work! Kit, my upline has never called or e-mailed EVER. I don't even know her name. I am under shep and jan and they help but they have so many people. I might just take you up on the offer if you don't mind.


I need to contemplate everything fora couple of days. thank you all. You don't know what this has ment to me!smileys/smiley1.gif