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How long has your skincare/makeup company been in business? In today's competitive make-up market, I would only sign with the company who has had the most successes and longevity in business is key.
While some might think that the make up market is saturated with consultants, I will tell you that to this very day, I have not been approached ever from another 'consultant' from any other company let alone, Mary Kay. So, why would anyone sign with a company that has not been proven in this day and age? I am just curious.

How long has your skincare/makeup company been in business? In today's competitive make-up market, I would only sign with the company who has had the most successes and longevity in business is key.

Just because a company is successful, doesn't mean that the sales force is going to be more successful with this particular company than another.


While some might think that the make up market is saturated with consultants, I will tell you that to this very day, I have not been approached ever from another 'consultant' from any other company let alone, Mary Kay.

That's because the entire industry has made a HUGE shift towards "personal use". You just don't see the average consultant going out and actually selling like they used to "back in the day". Lots of reasons for that... one (IMO) is that the comp plans just don't really compensate enough for building teams.

So, why would anyone sign with a company that has not been proven in this day and age? I am just curious.

JMO... but I think it's more important to build your customer base with the mindset that these customers are **yours** and that is more important than what brand of goop you happen to be selling at this moment in time.

Look at it this way... if you're going to build a true "business", it makes sense that it is *yours*. If you owned a gift shop or salon... you absolutely wouldn't be basing all of your potential success on just one product line - only an idiot would do that. So why should we be different?

I've been pooped on by little companies and big ones. And some of the big ones (heck - we won't name names! lol) don't pay worth a darn when it comes to team building. I just saw the stats for the income (GROSS income that is... remember that) for a monthly check for the #1 chick in one of the largest companies for the last 53 years! ... and that check SUCKED. (imo) ... it was under $8,000. Who's got over 50 years to throw at something so you can make that kind of money? Take out business expenses and taxes... and that just isn't a decent income. Great title and it is prestigious to be #1 to all of the people that don't really understand how crappy the whole scheme really is, though.

Now think about that. Humongo company but the people don't make jack squat. Great line. Beautiful catalogs. Company is doing great. But the people absolutely are not.

So why would someone (like me - who has a great clientele) go to a smaller company? Because my business is about *me* and *my* clients..... and of course product quality and commissions come into that.

IF I were team building (and I haven't been for the last 18 months or so) ... I would be looking at how **I** would benefit by my choice of product line.

And no matter what line that might be... I'd be ready to say "buh bye" to any one of them - and that comes from developing clientele based on my skills - not by what brand I've been peddling.

JMO.

Company loyalty is sooooooooooo overrated... because any company can make changes that will blow your business apart... or cause you to quit... or they go under... or heck (in my case) they screw you out of a commission and if you talk about it - they fire you. Can happen to any of us. Big ones have gone away recently... and little ones are constantly changing over.

The sad thing to me is that the companies that have been springing up all have commission structures that suck... or the product is lacking. I don't see much out there that is balanced between the two.

So then it all comes down into how we (as individuals) plan on working our businesses. I retail A LOT of product. I also am quite capable of building a team. But until someone shows me a better comp plan for team building (with a good product).. oh... and has owners and office staff that aren't total boobs... lol.... I'm just still just retailing product alongside making my real money elsewhere.

So... there's one opinion for ya. :)

IF I was considering a direct selling cosmetic and skin care company, I'd definitely go with proven system and product.

These are the only companies I would consider for a Direct Selling business:

Mary Kay- 44 years
BeautiControl - 30 years
Avon- 100+ years
Jafra - 54 years
Color Me Beautiful 20+ years, 15 years in Direct Selling

Maybe Nu Skin or Arbonne but they seem more MLM to me, the others seem more about products and service. JMO.

I know there are many cosmetic companies out there and it is a whole different ball game if you are a professional in the industry with a clientale.

IF I was considering a direct selling cosmetic and skin care company, I'd definitely go with proven system and product.

These are the only companies I would consider for a Direct Selling business:

Mary Kay- 44 years
BeautiControl - 30 years
Avon- 100+ years
Jafra - 54 years
Color Me Beautiful 20+ years, 15 years in Direct Selling



Now that depends on what **you** want out of the "business". (I mean that sincerely)

If you're going to sell retail ...and you don't want to team build... then the ones above pay good personal commissions.

I don't pretend to know how all of those pay out on team building - but I do know that English speaking women in Jafra are not making sizable incomes. The top gal is making less than $10,000 per month (Jafra publishes this) and she has been with the company from almost the beginning... over 50 years. Go down the list... and the incomes earned go downhill fast.

So if you just wanna sell retail... then all is good. But for some of us that are looking for real incomes we can live on, it's getting tougher (much tougher) to build team incomes than it was ....oh... say.... 15 years ago before the internet came along.

Maybe Nu Skin or Arbonne but they seem more MLM to me, the others seem more about products and service. JMO.

Uhh... JMO... but they are all about products. The larger the number of sales force any company has... the more they focus on rolling out new products. Because every time they pop out a new line... the best customers are the salespeople themselves. Instead sales with every new issue - and jewelry companies know this fact very well, too.

I know there are many cosmetic companies out there and it is a whole different ball game if you are a professional in the industry with a clientale.

I'm a professional with clientele ***because*** I need to make an income. Retailing product is a big part of it, IMO. Now... I'd love to build a solid team along the side of what I'm doing these days... but I really just haven't found a company that totally grabs me yet.

Like you... I'm not so sure I want to be doing the "MLMy" thing. :) I'm really burnt out of some of the whole thing these days... it was just so fun back 15-20 years ago when we had fun meetings, etc. All of that is so much more difficult to do now, IMO.

Avon
Actually its 125years in business

Just to clarify :)

Bonnie
:rolleyes::rolleyes::eek:

I look at the products and how original they are & what kind of results they have. A good product will sell itself. I look at the Corp team & owner and see their past success. I look at the comp plan & see how many different ways there is to get paid & if I'm putting effor into building a team, I want to know how well I'm getting paid on it. I don't have a problem with being with a company that hasn't been around for years, it's actually kinda awesome being able to be around from the start & being the first to tell people about a new line!

Wow, what a discussion. Arbonne has been in business for over 30 years. It is a hybrid of Direct selling and MLM. I think this is one of the best compensation plans I have ever seen. Arbonne is very into products and service. Top management may add or change products, but that is to always stay ahead of the marketplace. It's so cool to have a new product come out and then months later see another company advertising a similar product on tv. No competition though.



I don't pretend to know how all of those pay out on team building - but I do know that English speaking women in Jafra are not making sizable incomes. The top gal is making less than $10,000 per month (Jafra publishes this) and she has been with the company from almost the beginning... over 50 years. Go down the list... and the incomes earned go downhill fast. .

I am so sorry that the top person is only making $10,000 per month. That is reached at the third level of management in Arbonne and increases exponentially from there.

Wootini, we have spoken before about your experiences and I would love to chat again...it was really a great conversation.

Have a great evening ladies.

Mary

The product's effectiveness plays an important role on your company's success, people often goes for branding or skin care (http://www.giftedtouch.com/skin-care-supplies.html) products with a famous brand. I think longevity of the business builds it reputation to people which often makes their brand famous.