Upline Archives - SammyStyleLife

Your Direct Sales Company is closing. It’s hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t been there how this feels. I think a liking it to death is extreme, however, here’s an alternative analogy I can get on board with:

Remember that boy in school you had a crush on and how that relationship progressed? From the first attraction to plucking up the courage to start talking to him. Then going out together and wanting to spend every waking hour with him. It may have been love and you couldn’t stop talking about him non-stop for months. Then suddenly just like that he dumped you or worst “ghosted you” (listen to me all up with the latest lingo)

This is how I felt when the Direct Sales company, I was so passionate about (so much so I “bought” into it) decided to close its doors in the UK. It felt like my world had fallen apart. Given my US ties and travel plans I know I shall buy products in the USA but it won’t be the same. The company is still amazing and will continue to flourish in the States but sometimes you just have to make a tough business call that will affect others, after 20 years in HR, I get it! However, I know so many other Independent Stylists won’t be in a position to be as pragmatic.

In the world of fempreneurs and self-employment, some of my colleagues are not just losing some of their income they are losing all of it! The thought that these women whom I have bonded within a tribal, stronger together mentality are going to be disbanded saddens me.

Now the vultures are circling and so I want to help my fellow Stylists and others who may be going through the same thing.

Tips on getting through a Direct Sales closure

These are my tips on how to get through it:

You are not alone

Firstly you need to turn to your upline if you need to and your fellow company reps, they are going through what you are going through, they’re “grieving” too. Gain support from your small coaching or networking groups this isn’t the first time a company has withdrawn from a particular country.

Don’t be quick to switch

If you can afford not to, do NOT jump into a new company straight away. Some DS companies will give you notice that they are winding down the business so use this time wisely to sell off any inventory, if applicable, and maybe talk to your upline and fellow reps in the same boat and see what their plan is. Whatever you decide research is paramount as is the love of the product or service when searching for new alternatives.

In a hurry to switch?

If you do want to go with a new Direct Sales company then start talking to the reps of companies you have personally shopped with. Maybe you’ve secretly had your eye on well now you are “fancy-free so there is nothing stopping you from signing up with “Acme Direct Sales” but remember that Rebound Boyfriend? Now is the time to do your research, if you have it, so ask questions of the potential upline, such as:

What is the reach and online presence of the new company like, does it attract you?
What will the company and potential upline do to support you? Is there training and online support tools?
What is the commission structure and What are you likely to realistically earn?
How many reps are already in your area?
What targets, if any, do you have to reach?

Ask your current ideal customers

Ask your existing customer base for their thoughts on certain brands you’re considering. This is a great time for an engagement post if you have a VIP FB Group. Your customers have become vested in you and they’re also your target client so it would be good to know what Direct Sales products they are interested in. It also shows your customers you care about their opinion and they may want to help.

Stand up to Recruiting Spammers

Be strong where spammers are concerned because you will be spammed. These approaches will be made by other Direct Sellers you’ve probably never previously spoken to. They’ve seen the news and they have actively been searching social media accounts so they can swoop in like vultures. These people are NOT your people. These types of contacts are not authentic, so why on earth would you want them as your upline? Recruiting this way is insensitive. Although I would say it’s ballsy, it’s these approaches that give the world of Direct Sales a bad name.

Mindset

Mindset is everything. Whilst I know you’ve likely just seen that flexible income disappear, it’s important to still remain professional. If you do decide to go to a new Direct Sales company, how you have behaved in the midst of this closure will be seen by a vast audience including your existing and potential customer base.

For those of you affected by a recent closure, stay focused on what you want to achieve and go for it! Everyone else will follow.

Have you been affected by a recent Direct Sales business closure? I’d love to hear how you’re doing and if you need any further support.

Are you looking to start your side-hustle and need tips for choosing a direct sales company? When I joined Stella and Dot I didn’t give a second thought about whether it was a Direct Sales company or not. My sponsor was my good friend and my Stylist and I was in love with the jewellery. When I realised I could get paid to wear and share it I jumped at the opportunity. I made a small investment and got lots of free jewellery for doing so.

Choosing a Direct Sales Company

If you’ve read my article “Direct Sales or Network Marketing” then you may now be ready to join a reputable Direct Sales company. When you join a Direct Sales (DS) company you earn commission on your products through selling to your customers. In the beginning, this will be your friends and family. To increase your earnings you’ll need to work at selling to new contacts and you’ll need support to do so. Your support will come from the DS company and specifically your “Upline”, for the purpose of this article I’ll refer to those as your Sponsor.

When someone is trying to “recruit” or “sponsor” you, you’re basically being offered an “opportunity” to invest some money into a small business. Working in Direct Sales gives many people the opportunity to work from home and earn some extra money. Direct Sales is ideal for many new mothers who don’t wish to go back to their permanent jobs or work full-time.

Choosing a Direct Sales company to join is hard, especially if you’re not really sure what you’re getting yourself into with Direct Sales. I have 4 top tips below which can help you pick the right Direct Sales company and opportunity for you.

1. Love the product

Do you love what you are thinking of getting paid to share? This is paramount because your customers deserve authenticity. Customers will sniff out fakeness a mile away. In addition, you are more likely to win sales when you are passionate about the product or service. Customers want to know you genuinely use and love the product.

Is this a new product or service that a friend is offering you an “opportunity” to buy into? Make sure you know as much about the product as you can beforehand. Try it yourself before making that investment otherwise you could find yourself coming off as a disingenuous, this is not an attractive look for your customer!

2. Pick your Upline

You may already know the person talking about the opportunity and so feel confident in their knowledge and experience.

If you don’t know your Sponsor, then make sure you find out everything you can about them. You’ll need to be comfortable that this person is the one to support and lead you into this business opportunity:

How long have they been with Direct Sales company X?
What training will he/she personally provide in addition to company led training?
How many people do they have already on their team?
Do they hold meetups for their team, online or in person, in order for you to network with other sellers?
How much have they earned since joining the company?
What do they enjoy most about working for company X?
What do they struggle with, when selling the product?

Getting the answer to these questions will help you with your decision, listen to your gut! if something sounds too good to be true I find it generally is.

3. Find out about Company Minimums

As an example, Stella and Dot don’t require their Stylists to hit a certain level to stay in the business or to get discount, many other companies will. You, therefore, need to know what the product selling minimums are, if any, and then consider if you’ll be able to achieve them. Your Sponsor should talk you through your concerns. It could be now isn’t the right time but at least you’ll know

what you can work towards for when the time is right for you to take this exciting plunge.

4. Examine the Commission Structure

“Show me the money!”

This is really why you’re in it, right? You want a side-hustle which you can make money from. Be sure to ask to see the full current commission structure. Just as in any sales environment you earn commission on how much you sell. If you decide to recruit or sponsor yourself you could earn further bonuses on your team performance.

It’s an attractive opportunity to “recruit” your own team because usually, your earning potential will increase. However, if you don’t want a team under you, that’s OK, don’t be disheartened you can still earn your way.

Sammy with Stella & Dot

My personal experience with joining Stella and Dot was enjoyable. I trusted my Sponsor, I couldn’t see a loophole or tricks to get me to sign-up. Once I had made my minimum investment I can continue to be a Stylist and still get my discount for as long as I pay the current annual membership of £39. I didn’t need to sponsor a team if I didn’t want to but I’ve found doing this with others is more fun, so I did!

If you want to know more about earning extra money by joining Stella and Dot, give me a shout, I’d love to talk more about it with you so contact me

here

Upline