Network Marketing Trials

I’ve been an Independent Sales Representative for an international cosmetics company for many years and have enjoyed selling their broad selection of popular products directly to consumers.

However, about three years ago, the company adopted the network marketing business model. This meant that each Independent Sales Representative could now recruit and build her own sales team. Up until this point, only District Sales Managers (corporate employees) were allowed to recruit new Sales Representatives. The commission structure was revised to make it financially rewarding to invest time in recruiting and training new reps. In fact, if you were good at it, you could earn commissions higher than your annual commissions from product sales. The second revenue stream was enticing.

Many of us struggled with this new business model. It was difficult to find the most effective way to reach people and inform them of the business opportunity. The worst was at the beginning when I was dragged out to mall parking lots and tried to speak to people who had other matters on their minds – young mothers with their children in tow, looking frustrated by me trying to speak to them. I never found a comfortable way to approach such a person. I felt guilty and embarrassed for bothering them.

Now I think I'm finally discovering the right approach. Through your Beyond Networking workshops, reading your book Leadership, and other books about network marketing, I’ve realized that it’s all about building relationships, not charging after people. For example, while waiting for a bus or standing in a line-up at a cashier, I've found ways to talk to people about the business in the course of a natural conversation. The person I’m speaking with may not be interested in a business opportunity, but they may know someone who is.

Valerie Harmer

1-866-613-2866

www.interavon.ca/valerie.harmer

 

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