Bill O’Reilly would be proud of me today because I am going to take a “fair and balanced” approach to one of my previous posts, “The Downside of the Ground Floor”.
I was a Founding Leader for a popular direct sales company (I actually joined before the company officially launched). I also became a leader with another company that was four years old (and widely popular) when I joined. I certainly have experienced the pros and cons of being in both positions, I argued in my “downside” post that it is often more difficult to be a charter consultant for these companies than to join a stable, well-known and established company.
When I decided to write about “the down side”, I was curious to find out what fellow direct-sales moms had to say about their personal experiences with brand-new companies. Interestingly, while many people agreed with my premise, others offered wonderfully insightful “pro” arguments to joining a ground floor company. Here is a summary of some of the responses;
1). There are more opportunities to participate in local vendor shows, craft fairs and other marketing events in your community. When you are the only person representing a company in your area, vendor coordinators may actually call you to set up a booth for their event. Once you’ve participated in these events, you will often be listed as the first point of contact for your company and therefore you may have little competition for shows and events as the business grows in your area.
2). If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, it is a great opportunity for you to shape the direction of the company. Many launch companies offer wonderful incentives for charter consultants including trips, retreats and the opportunity to participate in focus groups to help develop the product and brand. Imagine how you would feel if you were a founding Tupperware or Avon consultant and had the opportunity to offer your voice on the direction of that company. That would be quite the accomplishment!
3). Your family, friends and other personal contacts will not already have a product supplier. I have a hairdresser that I adore. Her name is Maggie and she has fixed my hair for five years now. I’ve had other hairdressers try to “steal” me from her, but I am 100% committed to Maggie. The same holds true for those of us who are committed to a certain product line. It might seem silly, but we grow to trust our Avon ladies, our Tupperware ladies and our Mary Kay ladies. When you join a new company, you do not have to compete with established consultants who may already be the “favorite skin care lady” of your friends and family members.
Do you have any experiences with being a “launch consultant”? We value your opinions! Post them in the comments section.
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