Phoenix, Juice+, Ann Summers, Bluebella and the rest - What's the downside?

[Jon]

Looking at a few forums this morning I can't believe how popular these schemes have become. They certainly seem a good way of earning money online from home.

Those at the top of the chain must be very pleased as it seems the home workers do a great job in trying to reach out to recruit others to work for them ( I assume there is maybe commission involved if they do recruit someone)

It's not an area of earning from home I have ever wanted to go into. I suppose I have dabbled in it a bit before many years ago when I tried drop shipping out and soon found out the margins on it sucked but I guess on these other companies the margins are they earn based on what they sell are better or otherwise people wouldn't keep doing them.

Just got to hope that the market doesn't get too over saturated with people all working for the same company in the same area or city as that just creates competitions for the individuals who are doing the leg work I guess. I guess they want the end customer to be very loyal to that seller.

Are there any other downsides to working for these kinds of companies that I am missing at all?

 

[Phoenix]

Interesting topic Jon.Actually I would say you don't need that many customers to succeed. I could have 40 customers each ordering £20 each per month, that's £800 sales per month. I find five people teach them to do the same, so now there is 5 x £800 sales going through my network business rather than just my £800. I earn commission and a bonus based on my sales and a bonus based on the total sales going through my network business. Now just think if each of those five now find five people each and teach them to the same. Also remember each person is entitled to earn the same commission and bonuses I get. I guess the downside is lack of belief. It has taken me a while to believe in myself. But now I can see how I can succeed. Network industry is a fascinating industry to be part of and is helping families to a better life. Great stuff.

 

[cala1992]

I must agree, if you dont have self belief that you can acheive then you wont acheive, you need to tell yourself you can do it with no limits and you will see the rewards! I dont earn a hige amount of commission for recruiting people as i am not a team leader, i am happy just being a consultant therefore i just receive a free product for recruiting, i just want to see other people getting the same rewards i do and see them acheive what i have however if people want to become a team leader with 5 recruits they can
(BlueBella)

 

[Jon]

Ok so just playing devils advocate here

Are these roles not just carrot dangle roles

Always something to aim for etc. If you don't hit targets when the emphasis is on you and how you have performed as apose to to the brand or support from higher up.

I guess instead of investing in advertising they are spending money on yourself (the workers)

 

[Phoenix]

There is usually a lot of support, trainings, free downloads and discounted sales aids to help each of to succeed. Not the sort of thing you would get with a convential business. Not sure about other MLM opportunities but at Phoenix Traders are free to do as little or as much as they like.

 

[cala1992]

Can work as much or as little as you like as with in any job if you dont do the work you dont earn, we have no monthly targets that we HAVE to reach so less pressure. We have team meetings every month and consultant leader or founder of the company are on the phone whenever you want to speak.
I find if you are passionate about the products you are showing people then you do really well

 

[fionajparry]

I love this way of working and highly recommend it, there is great potential to earn extra income or even replace your J.O.B. (which I plan to do in a few years time.. who doesn't want to retire early..)

I believe you have to choose a business that suits you and as there are lots around there is plenty of choice, be aware of how many local consultants/distributors there are locally and you don't have to join with the first person you meet. I was introduced to Utility Warehouse by 3 or 4 people but actually went back and signed up under the first lady who I spoke to and we have an amazing rapport now, so pleased to have chosen her as we work well together.

I believe Utility Warehouse is a great business for me as I'm only recommending the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, people are already using the products we offer, I'm just showing them how to get them cheaper (with award winning customer service too)

We offer free training and you can go as often as you like until you feel comfortable with the presentation and details of the club, all business tools are free when you attend trainings (you can purchase extra though) and the website is free too.

The company do everything they can to help you out as this is a word of mouth company and they don't spend millions on advertising.

 

[Jon]

I love this way of working and highly recommend it, there is great potential to earn extra income or even replace your J.O.B. (which I plan to do in a few years time.. who doesn't want to retire early..)

I believe you have to choose a business that suits you and as there are lots around there is plenty of choice, be aware of how many local consultants/distributors there are locally and you don't have to join with the first person you meet. I was introduced to Utility Warehouse by 3 or 4 people but actually went back and signed up under the first lady who I spoke to and we have an amazing rapport now, so pleased to have chosen her as we work well together.

I believe Utility Warehouse is a great business for me as I'm only recommending the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, people are already using the products we offer, I'm just showing them how to get them cheaper (with award winning customer service too)

We offer free training and you can go as often as you like until you feel comfortable with the presentation and details of the club, all business tools are free when you attend trainings (you can purchase extra though) and the website is free too.

The company do everything they can to help you out as this is a word of mouth company and they don't spend millions on advertising.

Hi Fiona,

I would agree with that statement - I don't know that much about Utility Warehouse but what I do know I have always been shown through word of mouth which I imagine is a much more cost effective way to advertise your business than to do a splatter gun approach which for a national company would I imagine cost a LOT of money. Instead of having 1 corporate twitter account they can have 200 workers running their own Twitter accounts advertising the products - makes far more sense for companies of this nature I think.

 

[Jon]

I have invited reps here on facebook from
Juice+
DS domination
Freedom living
Utility warehouse
Osborne books
And the rest

To come over and make a organic thread about their franchise, a sort of warts and all about working for them and while they are all happy clappy on facebook not one of them wants to come and talk about what it is like working for these franchise even though I offer them the chance to state their case and maybe get some sign ups through referrals on here

Why do you think they never want to come and tell us what it is like working for these companies?

 

[Chammy]

Because it isn't all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows!

It's hard work for little pay but they earn more for getting more people to jump on the band wagon so need to appear like everything is amazing so they can fool others into signing up!

 

[caledonia1972]

I can only speak from experience and what I have seen of party plan isn't that great. Have never been involved in one myself, but two close friends were sold this sort of company as the answer to their dreams.

The first joined up with Jamie at Home a few years ago because she is really into her food and cooking and loved the idea of the products being backed by such a well known face. It cost her over £100 to sign up with them and get her starter kit. She did get on well with her manager but found the hardest thing was getting people to agree to have a party. Once you've exhausted all of your friends you can't start hassling them again. She spent a lot of time and money leafleting, advertising locally and offering to go to schools, playgroups etc but eventually called it a day after about a year having made only a couple of hundreds of pounds. She feels that there is too much competition in the market from high street brands like John Lewis, and the supermarkets have started doing much better cookware too.

The second friend joined Usborne books and struggled from the start. It's much cheaper to join - think she paid about £30. Problem is that she was facing huge competition from websites like "the book people" who discount exactly the same books she was trying to sell at full price. Who in their right mind would pay £10 for a book when you can get it somewhere else for £4? She found that nobody would. She would take her wee stall to school fairs and sit in the corner, everyone would ooh and aah over the books (which are very nice and great quality) and then go home and buy them online or wait for the Book People to come to work and get it then.

I am quite "anti" the concept of this sort of selling altogether. I think that it's a dying business model - internet shopping is booming, nobody has the time to go to a party any more, money is tight for a lot of people and everyone's looking for value for money. We wanted to buy some stuff from Avon recently and went straiht to the website, not out in search of a local rep. I am sure there is money to be made if you work really hard or get in at the beginning of a fad like Juice Plus, but once a lot more people jump on the bandwagon all of that changes. From a parent's perspective as well I see a lot of these schemes pushed on websites like Mumsnet/Netmums as ideal to work around your kids but they're not - as the best time to hold "parties" is in the evening and at weekends you spend less time with your kids. I just think party planning has had its day and that there are far better opportunities out there.

 

[Jon]

I have a mate who is VERY much into fitness and nutrition.

Anyway, he came across a Juice+ rep one day via Facebook and asked them some questions that I am sure most reps wouldn't know regarding if the range of products were suitable for people with diabetes and if it could fit in with their controlled diet

The rep just spouted the 'yeah yeah, it's fine' time mantra without truly realising what ingredients are actually in those things.

I think trying to shill books everywhere is one thing but getting into health and nutrition products when you actually don't know what you are talking about is a dangerous game

 

[Chammy]

I am quite "anti" the concept of this sort of selling altogether. I think that it's a dying business model - internet shopping is booming, nobody has the time to go to a party any more, money is tight for a lot of people and everyone's looking for value for money. We wanted to buy some stuff from Avon recently and went straiht to the website, not out in search of a local rep. I am sure there is money to be made if you work really hard or get in at the beginning of a fad like Juice Plus, but once a lot more people jump on the bandwagon all of that changes. From a parent's perspective as well I see a lot of these schemes pushed on websites like Mumsnet/Netmums as ideal to work around your kids but they're not - as the best time to hold "parties" is in the evening and at weekends you spend less time with your kids. I just think party planning has had its day and that there are far better opportunities out there.

This is what I don't get either, say you want something from Ann Summers, are you really going to fork out the cost of drinks and a few nibbles just in case all your friends turn up, just in case they make minimum spend so you can have your discount and then wait over a week to get it?

Though I have done Avon when Eban was newborn to try and get a few extra pennies, after the first month I owed THEM money. Then Ann Summers after I lost my last job out of desperation until the above in bold clicked hours after signing the contract. Never again!

 

[HealthandBeautyCat]

ok.. so heres the thing.. I am a direct seller.. a party plan girl.. an entrepreneur .. call me what you will..
You have to get your head around a couple of important facts with any of these companies to succeed..
1. you make your own success.. you are not going to be spoon fed work, you need to be able to work for yourself, this is YOUR BUSINESS and you need to run it as that..you have to put in the hours or it wont happen..you need to find your target audience and be prepared to get knock backs as well as positives.. no different to any other business
2. If you dont believe in yourself then neither will anyone else.
3. There will be carrot dangling, ways to get you to recruit more or do more sales.. whoop whoops and ra ra's its the nature of the beast..(luckily some are way less whoopwhoop ra ra than others) NEWSFLASH Its YOUR BUSINESS you do it as you want.. I quite like the odd challenge to keep my motivated.. but I do it for my personal earnings and not for the sake of a fluffy pen.. been there.. done that.. got the fluffy pen..now i do it for me and focus on what i'm going to earn and if i get a few freebies on the way, hen thats a bonus..
4. The best way to guarantee you'l earn money is to put in the time with YOUR BUSINESS and get personal sales..you sell more product- you earn more commission at a higher rate I do not recruit anyone to earn me money.. people join me because they want to earn money like I am. I do not suggest to anyone that its easy or that they can do not much and replicate this and earn bigbucks i dont believe that kind of scheme is right or fair.. and dare i say somewhat 3d triangular in appearance if you catch my drift!
5. If its not working .. change... but always above all else.. keep your integrity! xx www.proto-colambassadors.com/protocat

 

[Jon]

Hi Cat,

Can I ask, how much have you had to pay upfront for this franchise? How much % do you get per sale? Do you have to deal with support issues personally or do you pass them up the tree to the 1st party?

Have you tried any other franchises before and what made you want to go with this one?

 

[Scratch]

One of my mate's sisters got into Juice+ early, just before it started to get really popular in my area. She's moved up the ladder and seems to be doing well out of it. It seems a bit over saturated in my area now though and most people I know are annoyed with the Juice+ spam all over Facebook

 

[Jon]

Is there any chance you can invite them to this thread so they could give their side of the story about working for Juice+?

 

[Chammy]

Well yesterday I put out a wanted ad on my personal Facebook which was shared by a friend and so far nothing. I posted on 4 different Working from Home pages on Facebook and again nothing. I posted a thread on Netmum's saying if they are interested then PM me and I got one reply from a South Hills Design rep who I've replied to and hope she will come over here.

The Reps of these wonderful, fantastic, money earning opportunities don't seem to want to come and play

 

[Jon]

I've tried reaching out to a few more of these franchise guys and girls to see if they want to come and tell us about what it's like working for them

 

[FreeSwagSites]

I've tried reaching out to a few more of these franchise guys and girls to see if they want to come and tell us about what it's like working for them

Can you post your pyramid image here please? :