questions, MKCecilia and all.. :)

[oceandreamer2]

Hello all,
I don't think i have posted here before. I have been looking at starting a home business (DS/NM) again soon to get tax breaks, financial flexibility, and more free time for my other personal passions. I hadn't posted here because i see not much activity. well, i don't see much activity in the DS forums really, but here I am.

I had PM Cecilia inquiring about what is new in MK but i thought about it and think that I may get more varied answers if I post here. I was in MK over 12 years ago, and the last time around 8 years ago. I got out of it because of several reasons, personal and such, and b/c I found -a website- at that time. the -website- discovery shocked me enough to get angry at the whole system and people. but eventually I just blessed it and let it go. there are many great directors and consultants in Canada. I know that for a fact. So i do not want to engage in a - website- discussion but rather in a healthy Q&A with you all if you don't mind.
I haven't made up my mind about which business to go with between Arbonne, BC and MK.

I would like to know what is new in MK, if anything, in the way of products, quality, business related updates such as comp plan, etc if anything. car programs, compensation, etc. do they still only offer trips to directors or do they offer anything to consultants like in BC? are quotas and inventory requirements still an issue for many? has anything changed in this regard with the company? if you are a team leader or above (don't know if these are still the titles) are you able to work your business with selling and recruiting productively or are products hard to sell? i know that Canadian economy issues are different to US ones so don't know how this affects sales in Canada if at all. especially with Arbonne growing in Canada so fast lately.

please note that i don't know anything about MK since i left many years ago, so I am not familiar at all with what's new. I have checked my Ex recruiter's site and it looks much better than the one we had many years ago. but anyway, if you could please share with me either here or PM if necessary, any info on MK's updates I would appreciate it.

thank you.
OD2

[Bobbi Anna]

Hey there, a few things have changed. The 5 step basic (formulas 1 and 2) will be phased out by the end of 2012 and will appear ocassionally as Limited Edition items. TimeWise is out there with 2 formulas (normal/dry) (oily).
A new botanical skincare will be out in early 2012.
There's new liquid foundations and mineral powder foundation.

Check out Mary Kay Inc.: Makeup, skin care, beauty tips, virtual makeover to look at the products, lip glosses (changing 12/16) the new compacts, etc.

The starter kit will change in the first part of 2012. The directors will see it at Leadership in January.

There are still trips for directors who hit $650,000 retail and above.
DIQ requirements have changed to 10 active. (It was 12 then went to 8).
To finish DIQ, you need to have 24 active team members (was 30).

There is still the $200 w/s requirement to be active. That hasn't changed.

The cars have changed a bit.
Consultants and Sales Directors in the Grand Achiever category can earn a white Chevy Malibu, The premier club is a Black Toyota Camry or a Black Chevy Equinox, the premier plus can earn a 2012 Black Ford Mustang, and of course there is still the pink cadillac.

Hope this helps. I'm sure others will share the info I missed.

[oceandreamer2]

Thank you BobbiAnna
Hope more will chip in especially with the specific questions i have on developing a business, etc.
so how much difference would it be for the starter kit i wonder? especially if someone signs up now before is out, would they send you a replacement or something? hmmm...
are you an active consultant? do you have a team or want directorhsip?

[sparkler]

My recommendation would be that you "google" ALL the companies you are thinking about and do some thorough research of your own. Those already "in" certain ones will most probably give you positive feedback as it is to their advantage to increase numbers. This is something you have to decide on your own.

Read as much as you can. "The truth is neither positive nor negative; it is simply the truth."

I love that quote!!!! Just read it today, and I LOVE it.

[LuvEmMakeupMlms]

I totally agree with Sparkler.

I have had experience with companies and they each offer different things. The question is what products do you like the best? I notice you are looking at arbonne and BC. all these companies make good products as does Mary Kay. but they each have different ordering requiements to be active.

The main good thing about Mary kay is consistency. BC has had several presidents and changed their ordering requriments and their main skin care line this year, with mixed results. Mary Kay is getting rid of an older line and bringing in their botanical. No one knows how well this will work.

It really depends on how much you want to work. If you are really going to go all out, and keep being an "active' consultant, ordering $200 wholesale every four months (that is Jan, Feb March, active) then being active in April again, Mary Kay is a good option because of this discount.

If you are going to be a part timer, then maybe the other companies might be better.

Since this is a Mary Kay board, I'll state that the biggest disadvantage is their constant having to order to keep active (get a discount) and their contant change of product. I come in and out of Mary Kay and it's something different every year that's changed. While its true that companies have to keep somewhat current, remember you as a consultant have to pay for that.

What is good about Mary Kay is their products are good, the company is stable, it's a well known product. They have great samples and a good corporate support system. .


I suggest you get products from these companies and try them yourself. I have used products from all these companies and some I just couldn't use at all. Depending on what you intend to sell, what seems to be the "bread and butter" is the basic skin care. Get samples of that and see what you like the best.

Mary Kay has good basic skin care and great makeup. Good luck!

[Jolly]

The biggest change?
Alternative options for potential customers ( competition)
When I began there was not the plethora of Walmarts, Targets, department stores and online offers.And even other DS brands were not relevant. It used to be like shooting fish in a barrel. Just whisper "Mary Kay" , pause, and wait for a new customer. It is no longer that way.

[oceandreamer2]

hello All thank you for your responses. I have tried BC products but i don't feel that is the fit for me. At this time my options are Arbonne and MK. I find that both have pros and cons, but wanted the updates on Mk so i can compare better with Arbonne.
for what i see AB offers direct shipping to preferred clients so i won't have to stock up on inventory, only my consumption. they have a larger line with health and wellness products which is a plus in my opinion and allows for men and women to build business, not only women, which expands your market.
Now. with MK i see the years of stability, system set up in place, brand recognition, 50% discount.
However, with AB i am not sure how well the direct ordering is a plus at the end for production/commission positions, price point is higher (although vegan and botanical based products is a plus), also I dont' see much training where i live (once a month meetings for 2 hours including 1 hr of guest infotalk? the rest is online/ call conf, etc); and for MK you have to deduct the hostess discounts you give out of your 50% so it is more like 35% discount (like arbonne) and i don't want to front-load myself or others if not necessary with MK.

gee, i have to go over these two again and see. I really wanted to see there were more appealing changes to MK but it looks as if it is the same as before. hmmm. will continue the research and make a choice soon. whether it is one of these or none.
thank you.

OD2

[Bobbi Anna]

I know exactly where you are coming from. I have had an Arbonne account since 2006. I love their products! However, they are pricey. So I buy the cleanser for me and the cleanser and moisturizer for my daughter. Now since I have an old account, I get the 35% discount. I'm not sure what the rule is today. I believe you do have to purchase a certain amount to maintain the discount.
They don't have inventory which is a huge plus. And they don't have meetings all the time like MK does.

If Arbonne was not priced so high, I would sell it!

I am a MK consultant. I can only wear some of the products, and nothing with SPF. However, I do love their microdermabrasion, o/f eye-make-up remover, and night solution. With Mary Kay you do get 50% (that will cause a heated debate on this board lol) but you do have to have inventory.
And I do love the sisterhood (some would say cult) in MK.

Arbonne has had a few rough patches and did file bankruptcy 2 years ago, but they reorganized their debt very quickly and have a new president and seem to be turning things around. They are only in a few countries (which has kept them down) whereas MK is in something like 30 countries.

I know NPVs in Arbonne who said they had a great November and I know directors in MK who said they had a great November.

It is what you make of it. Both have a breakaway comp plan, which means when you become a director or RVP and someone in your unit promotes to director or RVP, you become a Senior. However, your will earn a different commission on that new unit (a lower commission). So when you promote directors, your income decreases.

But no company has the perfect comp plan. There are companies out there where you have two legs (a binary) and the trick is to keep them balanced, but you are paid on the lesser leg. So in my mind, you only get paid for 1/2 of the people on your team (the one leg).

Nothing is perfect.

So, now that I have probably confused you even more...
The thing that draws me to MK is a reasonably priced product that is consumable. And there are people who absoutely love it. I've been doing this for a long time and still have customers from years ago.

Message me if you want to chat.

[LuvEmMakeupMlms]

bobbi anna I admire that you will acknowledge using products other than Mary Kay. I certainly do. I also use Beauticontrol and Jafra. I have been in all these and like you, some things in Mary Kay work better for me than other things.

for right now I am leaning toward trying to buy made in america products which is beauticontrol, mary kay, merle norman and I believe I saw Arbonne listed too. that leaves out Jafra which is made in Mexico.

I certainly understand how someone can have a hard choice between two cosmetic direct sales companies. they all have something great to offer. I know I have been in the top ones. Sad to say, the level of consultant service has been uneven enough to where I have to join a company to get good service!!

[sparkler]

Originally Posted by oceandreamer2

...... i don't want to front-load myself or others if not necessary with MK.

If you just want some pin or fun money, MK might be for you; however I lost many customers over the years b/c of the constant product changes and/or discontinuations ~~ most often of the most popular items.

If you want to make real money and move on up the ladder (in this or any DS org.), I'm afraid "front-load" is the name of the game. It doesn't really matter what product you are selling. Unless you are bringing fresh bodies into the pyramid and packing their and your homes with inventory, the cat is just chasing its own tail.

All your REAL money, rewards and prizes in MK will be based on the amount of inventory you purchase and on the amount of inventory your teammates purchase. The higher the unit wholesale, the higher your commission.

Someone can correct me on this one if I'm wrong ~~ but at one time even a consultant was able to earn a small commission if she had only recruited one person (something like 4% on the recruit's QUALIFYING order). But you can see that this will quickly go cold unless the person you brought on board is really on fire for the company and ready to sell, sell, sell.