Selling 31 bags?

[Nina1]

All the talk of the 70% off sale has had me thinking (got my order last week and was very happy with everything). I have been to several parties and have a friend who sells it. I like the products. Anyway, I really would like to start bringing in some extra money. We may be changing schools and would have an increase in tuition and I would like to offset that cost. I don't want to go back to work full-time - I was in corporate communications and that was always a 50-60 hour work week. I am very involved in our son's school and don't want to change that. My friend told me she averages $200-$300 per party. Is there anyone out there who sells 31? Has this been your experience? I am trying to figure out if her earnings are representative of most sales reps. Also, what do you think of the company? My friend hasn't been selling very long and she really likes the company. Any information you can give me will be most appreciated. Thanks much!

 

[plummer925]

My first question I'd ask her - does she average $200-300 in SALES at the party or in COMMISSION at the party. I can not imagine it's commission - that would be over $1000 in sales at a party!!

I used to direct sell (party plans) - a few different plans. You get paid - on average - about 25% of sales (I do not know what Thirty-one pays but 25% seems to be the industry "average"). Sure, you work only a few hours per party, but you have a lot of "hidden" expenses - gas to get there, time to get there, hostess gifts, customer incentive gifts (I used to count on $2 per customer in giveaways - like door prizes, game prizes, etc), long distance phone calls (used to cost me over $20 a month in calls...that probably wouldn't be the case now with cell phones). Then you have to deal with cancelled parties, etc.

It definitely CAN be a way to make money, but I just wanted to point out some of the financial DISADVANTAGES.

Then you have tax. Sure - the above things are tax deductible - but you have to pay not only income tax, but you have to pay 15% self-employment tax.

So...lets say you average $200 at the party (made to you) - figure 20 customers because $200 will be almost $1000 in sales. 20 customers x $2 each for gifts = $40. Hostess gift = another $5-10 (I always gave a hostess gift above what the selling company did). Gas to the party...well, figure 20 miles each way...that would be $7 in gas alone. Net profit $143 ($200 - 40 -10 -7)

Self employment tax would be about $21.50 on that (figuring the deductions above)

If you are in a 20% tax bracket you'd have another 28.50 in income tax (plus state income tax if your state has it)

So it would then be 143 - 21.50 - 28.50 = 93.00

Now, $93.00 is a nice amount for a few hours work, don't get me wrong. But if you were counting on $200....well, it's about half.

I'm not at ALL trying to discourage you from thirty-one or ANY direct selling company...but I am trying to give you some REAL numbers to keep in mind.

And again - I NEVER EVER hit $1000 in sales in ANYTHING I ever did (I have sold lingerie, cookware, Creative Memories, Tupperware, etc). I busted it hard - it was my full-time job when I did it. My highest ever party was just over $500. My average parties were only about $250.

Good luck!

 

[Nina1]

My first question I'd ask her - does she average $200-300 in SALES at the party or in COMMISSION at the party. I can not imagine it's commission - that would be over $1000 in sales at a party!!

I used to direct sell (party plans) - a few different plans. You get paid - on average - about 25% of sales (I do not know what Thirty-one pays but 25% seems to be the industry "average"). Sure, you work only a few hours per party, but you have a lot of "hidden" expenses - gas to get there, time to get there, hostess gifts, customer incentive gifts (I used to count on $2 per customer in giveaways - like door prizes, game prizes, etc), long distance phone calls (used to cost me over $20 a month in calls...that probably wouldn't be the case now with cell phones). Then you have to deal with cancelled parties, etc.

It definitely CAN be a way to make money, but I just wanted to point out some of the financial DISADVANTAGES.

Then you have tax. Sure - the above things are tax deductible - but you have to pay not only income tax, but you have to pay 15% self-employment tax.

So...lets say you average $200 at the party (made to you) - figure 20 customers because $200 will be almost $1000 in sales. 20 customers x $2 each for gifts = $40. Hostess gift = another $5-10 (I always gave a hostess gift above what the selling company did). Gas to the party...well, figure 20 miles each way...that would be $7 in gas alone. Net profit $143 ($200 - 40 -10 -7)

Self employment tax would be about $21.50 on that (figuring the deductions above)

If you are in a 20% tax bracket you'd have another 28.50 in income tax (plus state income tax if your state has it)

So it would then be 143 - 21.50 - 28.50 = 93.00

Now, $93.00 is a nice amount for a few hours work, don't get me wrong. But if you were counting on $200....well, it's about half.

I'm not at ALL trying to discourage you from thirty-one or ANY direct selling company...but I am trying to give you some REAL numbers to keep in mind.

And again - I NEVER EVER hit $1000 in sales in ANYTHING I ever did (I have sold lingerie, cookware, Creative Memories, Tupperware, etc). I busted it hard - it was my full-time job when I did it. My highest ever party was just over $500. My average parties were only about $250.

Good luck!

Thanks, Plummer925. I thought the $200-$300 was her commission. I will be sure to clarify this, though. I appreciate your real-world advice.

 

[mrssmith06]

Yeah I would clarify if that is her commission or not.
I sold Thirty-One a while back, for about a year and then gave up on it.
If I remember correctly, you have to make at least $200 in sales every 2-3 months, or you go inactive. I had to really push people at parties to make that $200 minimum.
Also what made it hard for me is I knew several girls who sold it and it was tricky... you would need to know a lot of people that you could sell too, that do not have a consultant already.
It is a great company though, and your initial investment is worth it for the start up kit you get.

 

[Minnie M6]

I sell Thirty-One, and my first several parties were in the $1200 range- all of my friends and family were buying, and I earned tons of free product and made extra money. It was great! That was 2 years ago, and I have not maintained that level of sales. There are so many Thirty-One reps now that it's harder to keep sales up. But, I don't have a sales personality- I hate asking people to buy things. I think there is great potential to do well with Thirty-One, especially if you build a team, which is where the focus is. If you love the product and are comfortable with selling, I would say give it a try- the buy in amount is low, and there isn't really anything to lose. I think if I spent more time and energy on my business I could maintain decent sales. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[momtosam]

I sell Scentsy and love it. I haven't found my commission to be consistent each month, but my October and November definitely pay for Christmas. For that alone it is worth it to me
Good luck!

 

[DisneyBrooke81]

I also sell Scentsy and love it. I started doing it just to pay for Disney vacations. With Scentsy you only have to have one qualifying month to stay active.

 

[Lisa71]

I am a nurse and we have other nurses who work 2 days a week and supplement income with Scentsy or 31..:the Grace Adele bags from Scentsy have been a hit and most of the woman I know earn 200-400 a month in commission.

 

[ilovediznee]

I started selling 31 one year ago next week and I still enjoy it. I've only done one home show as my area to really "catalog" show oriented. I put the catalog in our breakroom at work and always carry bags shopping and my daughter does too. I enjoy the products and I try and do at least one catalog show a month to stay active. The last one I did in December was over $700 in retail so I did well commission wise. It is also a nice tax write off with all my expenses.

Good luck and pm me if you have any more questions.

 

[Magical Mama]

I sold for awhile but it was hard to maintain. People can usually only buy so many bags before you feel you are bothering them. I tried catalog parties, online parties, craft fairs, school fairs etc. I am not very pushy so that may have slowed my sales but I never seen a very high commission. Basically enough to pay for my product but not counting all the other business expenses I experienced. While the products are fantastically made and really worth their price, most people cannot justify spending that on bags and I could understand that. Just want OP to not be "pushed into selling" and see other perspectives also. Def make sure you have a large group of potential customers who are willing to not only buy, but host parties. That was you are able to expand that group. Good luck with your decision!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My friend is a thirty one consultant and she is driving me nuts to have a party. She keeps going in to these home party sales ventures to get out of debt and her friends are all sick of it.

So my advice to you, is think about how you will expand your network. Your friends can only host so many parties, the same for their friends. And there are so many home party products that people are getting burnt out. So if you are going to be successful, you will have to think of creative ways to reach people you have no connection with now.

 

[Nina1]

Thanks, everyone. You have given me some great advice and lots to think about.