Calling all current and former CMCs

[soccerchick]

I have my consultant agreement and have met with the girl I *will* sign under. However, she is one of those "it's so easy, you'll be great" glass is always not only half full, but pretty close to the top. She puts a + spin on everything, probably too + KWIM? While I like her and know she'll be super supportive, I think her glasses are too rose colored.

I have a few questions for those of you who will tell me like it really is. How many of you do the personal consultant gig -- make your orders, don't do shows, classes, etc? If you do this, do you pass on your discount to those people who order from you?

For those of you who are more gung ho, how much $$ did you really outlay to get started above the $195 kit?

Did any of you ever do an Open House/Holiday Shop kind of thing? If I get going now w/this, I was thinking of doing this to take advantage of the holidays. A neighbor has gotten started w/jewelry making and another neighbor makes gorgeous homemade cards ~ we were talking about going in together and hosting one.

Did anybody sign on this time of year? What was your experience?

The other thing is our basement is under construction, so I'll have a dedicated space to scrap when it's done and we can make some adjustments if I do this to accommodate tables, more specific storage, etc. But as far as hosting crops, etc. it will have to be on the main level of my house for a few months until we get the basement done. Is it realistic to do this.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice you might have. I was really excited about this, but now my feet are getting a little cold... Part of me would love to do this, host crops, sell to friends and family. I'm not so enthusiastic about the show/class thing. I also don't want to spend $$ and get stuck with product/supplies I won't need.

 

[Belle0101]

I'm subscribing to this thread because I have all the same questions.

My CMC said at the the last crop that she didn't mind if people signed up, got the kit and then quit as long as they placed at least one $500 order before quitting.


I would only want to do this as a hobby. I don't mind hosting crops or classes at my house, selling to friends and family ... but to have regular classes, not so much interested in that.

 

[mcdisney2005]

I have been selling now for over 3 years. I started out with a class scheduled before I got my kit so I could complete the 30, 60, 90 day success plan. This helped me build my inventory and get me some regular customers. I also didn't take any extra money out of what I made for probably the first year as I was building my inventory. Customers like it when you have the stuff on hand and they can take it with them. I do have a Holiday Open house along with doing a Home Based Business expo in the spring and fall.

I don't do many classes, except when they have specials or closer to the Holidays. The new Get-Togethers are very easy and the two that I have done so far, the customers really like it.

I don't pass on my discounts much, but I will offer at my open house things like buy an album & pages and get 1 set of protectors free.

I try to reduce my inventory around year end by only ordering what I absolutely need so I have Christmas shopping money. I have taken my bonuses that I get when I order $1200 3 months in row, I get $250 which I have been putting my savings for DISNEY

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[diznygirl]

I was a CMC for 3 years, and I recently de-activated. I never made any money from selling to other people - they always said CM was too expensive, and they were right. I liked the quality better, but Michael's, JoAnn's, WalMart, Target... they all have sutff available for less and there is the instant gratification of getting it now. I had a good group of regulars for my crops who all bought their stuff someplace else!

I did okay meeting quotas for my own personal use, but I've moved on to producing books through iPhoto and Shutterfly, so I don't need CM anymore.

I don't want to discourage you, but sounds like you need to hear from "the other side."

Good luck!

 

[TiggerFamily]

I became a CMC in Feb of this year. I'll be honest with you I love it but it has it's ups and downs. Last night I had a Get together and it was a disaster there were 9 woman and only 1 placed an order they were the rudest woman I've ever met in my life. But then I had a Croptoberfest at my home and I had 3 people and I did great. I'm building a good customer base now and that's what keeps me going. My neice's are the only ones I give my discount to. I use my dinner room for crops right now I hope to finish my basement someday soon. My husband thinks the business is going better then he thought it would but it's slower then I thought. So I would say give it a try. I have a great passion for CM and scrap booking so I'm glad I'm a CMC. I hope this was helpful to you. Nancy

 

[tubachick]

I have been selling for 6 years, and I started out having parties and crops ALOT. But as life took over and I went back to school to work on my PhD I only began to place orders as I and some of my "regulars" needed things. I have not found it hard to keep up with the quarterly miniums, and usually do better than that. If you sign up and then decided it wasn't for you, at least you'll have a good supply of basics and maybe a few extra albums.

I am also one of those CM people that CM probably doesn't like because (except for my "show" albums) I don't use CM exculsively-- I am a Michaels and Archivers ADDICT!!! and I am into painting and stamping on my pages which is a big NO-NO in the CM world.

But I do LOVE their albums.

Good Luck with what ever you decide to do.

 

[Alice28]

I didn't have the best of luck with it, but I went overboard in building my inventory. I think if I didn't do that, and stuck with just having some basics on hand (personal trimmers, pages, protectors and adhesive) I may have stuck with it longer. I just felt overwhelmed with all the stuff (I did the 30-60-90 plan- the first 3 parties I did were all pretty successful- over $300-400 in orders) but I shouldn't have done that plan. I loved hosting crops and even teaching parties, but I hated the pressure to get new customers, etc.

Good luck!

 

[soccerchick]

I am also one of those CM people that CM probably doesn't like because (except for my "show" albums) I don't use CM exculsively-- I am a Michaels and Archivers ADDICT!!! and I am into painting and stamping on my pages which is a big NO-NO in the CM world.

:

That's me too! I'd have to do some new albums or re-do old ones because I don't have a "pure" CM album.

I used to have a "source" that I could order CM stuff from and she passed on the 30% discount. Well, she retired and moved away and I miss that source. That's why I started thinking about doing it as the personal consultant thing. But, as I look into that, it seems like a lot of work to do it just for the discount. If I could make a little money on the side ( for Disney, other vacations, DS's pre-school, etc.) it would be cool. I'm also excited because with our basement I could get some cool crops going.

I do have two neighbors who would buy, as well as my sister, but other than that I'm not sure. I also work (part-time) and I don't see myself beating the bushes for customers for shows.

Thanks for all of the replies! I DO appreciate the time you all have taken to respond!

 

[cobbler]

I will tell you about me. I signed up just to get my stuff as a hobby. I thought it would be great to also make a little money on the side. Well I am not having near the luck everyone else is. I have a very hard time scheduling classes and even when I offer crops for free I only get 1-2 people who come.

So I figure ok, then it is meant to be for me just to get my stuff at a discount which is fine. Any extra is icing on the cake.

If you place an order every 3 months just to maintain and you want to save, you will need 135 every month, based on 6% sales tax. My state has 6%. So that is my game plan right now, just tuck aside 135 a month and on the 3rd month place my order for what I want.

I also have a small amount of inventory. I tried to build it up a little but realized that I am just sitting on it quite a bit and would love to get rid of it right now. I thought it would be neat to do autoship because I bought most of everything anyway but I realized that some of the things I am not and kind of stuck with them.

Its nice to get my discount but its been difficult to really make a business out of it, for me anyway. So as long as I can make my min. orders I am ok. Disheartening but that is what is meant to be

 

[wtpclc]

1. When you're just starting, no need to have room for big crops.

2. Holiday Open House is a good thing, CM has invites and give-away stuff to help.

3. My upline told me I oculd use stampms, but ink them with pens instead. That owuld match the journaling too. You could just update one demo book where you only use CM stuff, though.

4. You can start with just the kit. I tend to over stock my inventory adn wish I had never started. When you do start to make an inventory, al you REALLY need ot have on hand is adhesives, pages, page protectors and maybe some paper and pens. You can usually trade with other local CMCs if you need somethign fast. Ordering is pretty quick too, though usually.

My business really took off much easier than I thoght it would. GOod luck with yours!

 

[Cam2Mike]

I think I am a lot like you. I have two kids and a fulltime job. I signed on with very low expectations. I just want to get albums started for my kids and my neices and nephews as gifts. I also had a few people I could count on as customers. In the beginning I only scheduled classes around my quarterly deadline. My last one was January, 2004 if you can believe it. I have been getting by the quotas by adding one two new good customers each quarter. I probably have a total of ten dedicated customers/family members. I do give a break to my relatives. It doesn't seem right to make a profit off my family. I also do tend to give away good door prizes and stuff because I am not really profit oriented. I just want to make my minimums.

I wouldn't spend much $$ on building inventory. If you have to buy inventory to meet a quoto buy things you know you will use eventually. Don't buy extra tools, stick to paper, tape runner refill, pages, protectors etc.

I do host workshops and generally have 2-4 people attend which is just fine with me. By scheduling the workshops I get to work on my albums.

One of my biggest problems is approaching people about it, luckily my customers, family and friends help spread the word for me. I am having an open house this year and I an sending an invitation to everyone I know. If people come great, if not, I know somebody will put in some holiday orders to get me through the next quarter.

There is really very little downside to signing the agreement. You get so much product for $$. Even if you only make it one quarter, you will end up ahead of the game.

Three years later, I am still a consultant and while I don't make $$ (nor care too) I have made many friends and many great albums! I love getting my stuff for cost and all the neat extra's only available to consultants. It is very possible to have a small CM business. I thinks its probably more fun than having a big one.


Good luck with your decison!