Why A Gourmet Candle Business From Home?

When talking with people about business opportunities (mine specifically or in general) I often hear the question "Why did you choose the company that you did?".

It's important to find the right company for you because I believe your BELIEF determines your outcome and you have to find that true fit opportunity.

For those who are new or again exploring to find the right business to commit to and put your energies and resources into can be a daunting task....

It took me many "learning experiences" with things that did not quite fit me, my lifestyle and my goals to find the "RIGHT" opportunity for me.

By sharing the criteria I used to evaluate my business, one I've been with for 3+ years and plan on being with indefinitely, I might save a few of you opportunity seekers out there some time in narrowing down what is right for you.

To be successful the company has to be as I always say it has to be a "true fit" in your life. Depending on your present situation - children and family, jobs, commitments, health and so many more aspects of life - it's important you find a company where you can still succeed within your current lifestyle. Without changing your life but adding the business to it.

Here are some of the criteria I used when evaluating my present company which is "RIGHT" for me:

CONSUMABLE PRODUCT = REORDERS AND RETAIL SALES

Consumable products are the way to go! A product someone will use or deplete meaning that they will need to purchase more when they run out. This includes the candles I sell in my business but can include products such as cosmetics, nutritional products, etc.

In businesses past I was with companies that had fantastic products. But they had a long "shelf life" meaning there wasn't a reorder base and you constantly had to go find new customers. Companies into that category are ones that offer something a person might buy once or twice but not on a repeated basis.

Consumable products - in my case candles - allow me to continually market to my existing customer base by way of new products, occassions and holidays, new scents etc. Repeat business means retail profits!

UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRODUCT - SOMETHING MOST EVERYONE WANTS

For me, candles fit the bill there too! I've been with companies in the past who had great product lines but ones that didn't appeal to everyone I met. I wanted a product that appealed to everyone. The more sales you make the more successful you are!

In the past I'd been with cosmetic companies (excludes men), home decor companies (excludes for various reasons including income level, whether they own or rent and how much discretionary money one could spend on home decor) etc.

I chose candles because it's a universal product to women. Most men I know also purchase them. It doesn't matter if you rent or own. It doesn't seem to matter what economic bracket someone comes from. Candles are one of life's little pleasures and a feel-good product that appeals to everyone. The home fragrance industry is big business!

FREEDOM FROM QUOTA SALES PRESSURE

Quotas equal stress and headache! I've been with companies like that in year's past. One thing I knew: I was never going to shelve inventory or a large autoshipment of product I'd never use to get my commission check due me - again!

In direct sales it's hard to be a "part timer" with a full time quota in a business. Life deals you all kinds of things! You might have great sales one month but something could happen the next where you don't do that volume. If you have a team under most of these comp plans - what do you do? You order products anticipating the future needs of your customers and shelve them. That way you get your check....but is that fiscally sound?

Quota-driven pressure keeps many tied to the home party gig. Stop meeting your quota and you may wind up missing commission checks. So you can't really take off for a month or two from doing home parties can you? Don't get me wrong...I like home parties. But I remember in 2000 and 2001 trying to balance single motherhood, a full time job and a full time quota in my direct sales business (being part time of course). I felt guilty leaving my son of evenings as I was already working out of the home 9+ hours a day. When the business stops being fun....I did what should be done and I "retired" from that company.

I love my present company because home parties are an option but in no way a necessity! Whew!

All I have to do to get everything due me under the comp plan is make my $39.95 purchase of Candle Of The Month! How easy is that? The Direct Sales background side of me absolutely loves this! What I am doing today is so much better!

RETAIL PROFITS AND BUSINESS EXPENSES

Another consideration is the profit percentages and costs of doing business as a distributor.

Products from direct sales companies usually have a retail profit or commission percentage you derive from selling it. I've looked at literally hundreds of companys' offerings. Some of these percentages are really low, even as low as 20% although the industry average seems to be about 35%.

Think about a typical retail business - a brick and mortar store. Have you ever heard of the concept of "keystoning your product"? That's the rule most brick and mortar retailers use...they want to double their money or better to cover their overhead.

Products from a network marketing company are different. These are usually more distributor consumed and usually the retail possibilities with most of these products are minimal. Or if they do offer a retail-able product the profit margin is small.

I chose my company because of the double-your-money and better retail profits I can earn at suggested retail. I also have the flexibility of setting my own prices which I absolutely love! That means I can run specials and offer discounts for repeat customer loyalty without taking my profits down to zero or bare minimum.

What are the other costs of doing business...even if it is home based? There are costs and you have to do some checking around to find them sometimes. Are there sign up or renewal fees? Does your company provide a website or do you do so at your own expense? Can you order your marketing materials (say business cards) where you want or do you have to order from the company vendor? How about product catalogs? How often those change becomes important as this can be a big expense!

The company I am with includes the website in my monthly purchase so I get product to resell and the company website. There are no "hidden" costs which I really like. When exploring a company these are all considerations to be checked out.

A COMPENSATION PLAN FOR SPONSORING THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN ACHIEVE

The compensation plan for residual income is a consideration especially if you are looking towards residual income to change your life.

Naturally you want to go with a company that is established, in good standing, with a track record of timely payments to it's distributors.

But take a long look at the compensation plan for sponsoring. Do the math! What would it take to realize the kind of income you would like to see? Is it attainable to you, especially if you are new to the industry or haven't quite honed the skills to be a big recruiter?

I've never considered myself a huge recruiter but I am a successful sponsor and have built organizations in several companies in my background.

With direct sales companies I've found most plans for sponsoring don't go deep or in order to it takes a rather large organization to realize significant residual income. Since most direct sales companies are retail-driven, you can luck out on recruiting but I've found usually it takes more than what the average person, especially the part timer, is capable of.

With network marketing, many compensation plans are loaded with those direct bonuses for sponsoring. Think larger up-front payouts. But what happens when you stop sponsoring? Take time off? Those bonuses go away and the actual residual portion of the check isn't usually something that excites most - again unless they have a large organization under them. Again the criteria is usually more than what the average person, especially the part timer, is capable of.

The company I am with has a very straightforward compensation plan. Most in direct sales will find it exciting! While at first glance some network marketers may not, once they realize the full impact of a comp plan like we have they get excited because it's not bonus based. Meaning as they grow an organization they will have the freedom to take time out without worrying about their check decreasing! Isn't that why most people get into network marketing to begin with - freedom?

It simply takes 5 - and the power of duplication - to get paid on 6 levels no matter how wide the organization grows. No break-away groups or loss of income. You can actually promote and get paid on up to 8 levels plus leadership bonuses. So there is an unlimited residual income potential here....

But what's not unlimited is WHO it is available to! The average person can do this and succeed with our marketing plan.

THE BEST OF TWO INDUSTRIES - DIRECT SALES AND NETWORK MARKETING

Direct Sales and Network Marketing are both huge and respectable industries with millions globally earning incomes this way!

If you can find a company that appeals to both industries and works beautifully you can capitalize on the power of both those concepts and duplication! The company I am with offers that. Our program, our compensation plan, our residual profits and all the items covered above make it a winner for an individual who is in direct sales and a network marketer too!

With a background in both industries it thrilled me to find an opportunity that appeals to both! Thus I am very passionate about this fact and feel it sets the company I am with apart from most others!

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It is my hope that I shared some insight into my experiences and things to look for in your search for the RIGHT company for you! True I shared a lot about my company and why it might be the one - but whatever opportunity you decide take hold of it, believe in it, make it your passion and GO FOR IT! Best wishes and see you at the top!