Thirty One vs. Initials Inc?

[Cinbride]

I am a bit hesitant on doing this bec/ it seems it is always hard to get people to book a party or buy something unless you put it in their face. I was looking at Thirty one but I keep hearing the quality of bags isn't very good as well as many problems with being sent the wrong thing. Pros and Cons on both if anyone knows of any. Thank you.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know anything about Initials, Inc., but a co-worker used to sell Thirty One.

Pros- They're cute.

Cons- They're expensive. And, I don't feel there are enough fabric choices. I only saw one or two I kind of liked.

 

[Cinbride]

thanks, I never had a chance to actually feel a bag. How was the quality? was it thin and cheap?

 

[Liberty Belle]

I never bought one, but I saw my co-workers' bags. They seemed to be at least decent quality. I know severl women (teachers) carried them all year and they seemed to hold up well. I think maybe the lunchbags, if they were washed a lot, would probably not hold up too well.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Thirty-One was very new in our area last year, so it got the interest of people who might not normally go to a home show (IMO). A friend invited me to one and shared the online catalog. I had to go just to see the fabric. I was quite impressed by the weight and "hand" of the products. Their thermal totes are popular, and I love the organizing utility bag for the beach.

 

[lemondog]

Hey, I just got into the network marketing industry myself and I looked VERY, VERY seriously at Thirty-One! I hosted a party back in the summer, the rep sold over $1000 worth of merchandise and I got a boatload of free stuff!

I have never had a problem with the quality of the items. They have held up very well, and honestly compared to other similar companies I feel the prices are very competitive.

Like I said my party was a huge one, and not one product was incorrect. All were monogrammed properly, the correct pattern, bag type, etc. They did send 2 extra items that were not part of the order...I gave them back to my consultant.

Honestly, if my area was not so saturated with Thirty-One reps right now I would sell the product in a heartbeat -- I love it and I believe in it that much! I have seen the Initials, Inc. stuff online...VERY cute but I have not seen it firsthand to judge the quality, and it is a very similar product to many companies out there right now...Thirty-One, Maddy Moo, Polka Dot, etc.

In the end I signed up with a completely different kind of company -- 100% all natural foods. It's new to my area, great niche, consumable product, low start up, no monthly quotas, wide open market, etc.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[bobcat]

I'm a bit biased in favor of Thirty-One since they sign my paycheck

The new catalog is available Feb. first and has many items on my personal wish list. The new patterns are supper cute!

I carry many of the products daily and have never had a problem with anything I own. I'm a stickler for quality and I was impressed with some of the updates and changes the company recently made.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have never heard of the other company. I own a wallet and a purse (the changeable one) from thirty-one. All I can say is...my heart grew fonder for them when craft paint got on my thirty-one purse (when I picked up my dd from a birthday party), but I didn't see it until 4 hours later and then couldn't address it until 2 hours after that. With some diligent scrubbing/scraping, I was able to get most of it off the straps and the cover.

My friend sells it and is doing extra-ordinarily well. So it is selling the area I came from. I haven't heard of anyone selling it up here--but I don't see much of anything being sold up here through the party circuit.

 

[belle&beast]

I hosted a Thirty One party last year and earned 10 bags. Everything has held up well and my 9 yo daughter takes 2 to school with her every day. I even ordered a bag for my diaper bag because I have been so happy with the quality. When I had my party, everything came shipped to me to distribute and all items were correct. I think the price is great for the quality and every month there is a special which means some type of savings. I have never heard of the other company you mentioned.

 

[Cinbride]

thanks everyone. Can anyone give me prices on shipping for customers? And do you have to go to any meetings or anything?
thanks.

 

[bobcat]

Shipping is 8% plus $4 for direct ship if you want it to come directly to you and not the hostess. Hostesses can earn free shipping.

 

[Cinbride]

Thanks bobcat. That is not bad. Where are you located? Why don't you pm me your site?

 

[bobcat]

Thanks bobcat. That is not bad. Where are you located? Why don't you pm me your site?

I'm not a consultant, I actually work for Thirty-One here in central Ohio. I can help you find a consultant if you need one though.

 

[WDWAurora]

I haven't purchased any thirty-one yet, but I got one of the utility totes for Christmas and it is awesome. I want a thermal tote and one of the skirt purses, because I have shoes I can change like that and LOVE THEM. I've heard great things about the quality, and am so far happy with the quality of mine. A coworker got the utility bag right before having her first baby and used it instead of a "real" diaper bag. Not my style since it doesn't close, but it does have great pockets for bottles! Hers is still going strong, and her oldest is over a year old now (#2 en route will be using the same bag from what I understand).

 

[Cinbride]

thank you. I've signed up and just waiting on my big pink box, already have 2 bookings. I'm hoping for big things ahead our family could really use a boost this year.

 

[pink_zebra]

I just found your post. Congrats on your decision to start with Thirty One! I have been a consultant for just over 4 months, and I LOVE it. I have been blessed so much by this decision so far, and had my largest party yet this weekend- over $1100! You will have so much support from other ladies on your team who are working to do the same thing. And to answer your original questions- the quality I have seen thus far is great, and my orders are almost always right, and if not, they are immediately corrected.

 

[InitialsInc. by Kim]

I wish I had seen this earlier!

Initials, Inc. is great! The biggest difference between the 2 in my experience is that personalization is always free with Initials, Inc. The pricing between them is fairly comparable. Initial's products are well made, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a rep. I have two small (1 & 3) children that give my bags a run for their money and they hold up very well.

I'm so happy that the line has expanded a great deal in the last year alone. Having been a Thirty-One customer prior to being a Initials, Inc. Creative Partner, I did/do like what Thirty-One has to offer, but Initials, Inc. was a better fit for me. I love the products and have so much fun at my parties.

I wish you luck with your new business...and if anyone else has questions about Initials, Inc. please feel free to contact me.

 

[momof1princess]

i am in the process of trying to decide whether or not to join thirty-one. there is a recruiting freeze right now, but i've already read the materials and have a sponsor, so if i want to join, all i need to do is fill out the paperwork and buy my kit.

do any of you who work for thirty-one and companies like it find that you have trouble booking parties? do you worry about meeting your sales goals? are friends starting to avoid you for fear of getting a sales pitch?

 

[belle&beast]

i am in the process of trying to decide whether or not to join thirty-one. there is a recruiting freeze right now, but i've already read the materials and have a sponsor, so if i want to join, all i need to do is fill out the paperwork and buy my kit.

do any of you who work for thirty-one and companies like it find that you have trouble booking parties? do you worry about meeting your sales goals? are friends starting to avoid you for fear of getting a sales pitch?

I sold Creative Memories for 7 years and quit about 5 years ago. I loved it, but I will say it was difficult to maintain once most people had what they needed. I was selling it to maintain my own scrapbooking supplies, so I was not a pushy salesperson and having my second child really limited the amount of time I was willing to give up in the evenings- I worked part-time outside the home, too. The thing that I found the most frustrating was that I had to depend upon someone else for my show to be successful- the hostess had to invite people, they had to show up and be willing purchase my products.

 

[momof1princess]

I sold Creative Memories for 7 years and quit about 5 years ago. I loved it, but I will say it was difficult to maintain once most people had what they needed. I was selling it to maintain my own scrapbooking supplies, so I was not a pushy salesperson and having my second child really limited the amount of time I was willing to give up in the evenings- I worked part-time outside the home, too. The thing that I found the most frustrating was that I had to depend upon someone else for my show to be successful- the hostess had to invite people, they had to show up and be willing purchase my products.

these are two of my fears-that there will be no repeat business and that the hostesses won't put in the effort to make the party successful.