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Over the past few years, I have taken the liberty to research several direct sales (home party planning) businesses…from companies who were start-up to companies in business for years. I must say it was fun trying new products and testing the market’s wants and needs. Most importantly, it was fun learning about myself and what I want in my business and any company that I represent.

Since The Body Shop At Home closed in 2009, I felt very lost. You see, that was the very first company and experience that I had with direct sales. I loved everything from the products, parties, people I met, and everything the company stood for. I loved the women I had became really great friends with and the joy of conference each year. I was with TBSAH for a little over 3 years and there was nothing I would have changed about my experience.

Their closing the US Division came as a sudden shock to me and I found myself at a lost on what company I would devote my time to. And let’s not forget the income I had grown to enjoy and need to support my family. For more than 3 years, I had built a prosperous business and team!

Unsure of what to do, I jumped on the first opportunity that came my way.   It was a chance to experience and grow in the Romance Industry. I did a little research about the specific industry and learned that it was lucrative to be a romance specialist, but quickly learned the late night parties and “fun” entertainment was not going to work for my family. Although I was in the top 10 (in the company) for sales and recruiting, I had begun the search for another direct sales company that was more suitable for my family’s lifestyle and needs.

So I began my search again. I thought if I embarked on the journey of a newly launched direct sales company, I would have longevity and guaranteed success with the company and in the industry of direct sales. I had received a call from my previous director at TBSAH and she had fell upon a skincare and baked mineral makeup (of italian artistry) company that was ground floor. I became consultant #45.  Although I said to myself after TBSAH, that I would never go back into skincare and cosmetics, I found myself on the same road. And it was rough. I tried building a business for about a year before I called it quits. I called it quits because I realized that I wasn’t a makeup person and I found myself trying to be something that I truly was not. I hardly wear makeup and don’t have a clue as to what colors blend with what or how to even apply professional makeup.

So here I thought the best way to go was with newly launched companies…it was just that I picked one that I had no expertise or interest in.

I was approached by a friend about Vault Denim – a designer jean home party planning company. I remember the conversation very well…”Kat, did you ever hear about this new jean company? OMG! Our friends will go crazy over designer jeans for less!”. I looked in to the company and it was only $99 to join, so we really had nothing to lose or did we. The thing about this company is that you carry no inventory and it was totally new to our area. The closest regional coordinator (who checked the jeans in and out between the local reps) was about an hour away. And she had just gotten the inventory a day or two after we signed up. So at that time, we had not seen the actual product we would be selling. Boy, was that a bad choice. When we did get a chance to see the inventory for my very first party, it was not what we had imagined. The brands that we thought and were told by our recruiter would be included, were not a part of the inventory or company stock.

Newly launched company sign up gone bad.

I stayed low and decided to do some soul searching about what I really wanted and desired in a company and business venture. I knew that I enjoyed helping women build businesses, incomes, themselves and their lives. So direct sales was something that I couldn’t stay away from. As I was still in search for the RIGHT company, I was approached by AnyArt – a newly launched direct sales company who desired to build a nationwide salesforce. They wanted to sign me up to help them grow a nationwide team. I had to check out their products first and make sure it was something I could attach my name to. Of course, I’ve learned from the past that it was important tosee the product first. So I ordered a custom oil painting and fell in love! The products are superb and a quality of no other. I loved the fact that I now owned a custom painting and could offer the same choice to someone just like me.

So why did I call it quits with AnyArt? I learned that when you are with a newly launched company, it costs a lot to brand the company name and get people to trust you and the products/company. They are also in what I call the “discovery” phase. They are trying to figure out what hostess programs work and whether they should focus on sales or recruiting. You’re also more by yourself than on a team. And it was a struggle for me. I knew what I finally wanted and was missing from my direct sales business!

I was looking for the same “team” network, values, and structure that I missed from TBSAH.

I’m approached by people almost every day about their business opportunity. They always want me to join their team and of course, they tell you all the great benefits of their company. And trust me, every company is great, but the most important question is, is it great for you!

How did I get with Thirty-One Gifts? Well, whenever I did a craft show or vending event, I would always find myself near the Thirty-One table. I began to notice that everyone was carrying a Thirty-One product. I, myself, LOVE the tote bags and started to tally up and mark the catalog on what products I wanted. I told myself, if the total was over the price of the starter kit, I would just join for the discount. Well, my total was WAY OVER the kit price of $99 and I decided to join. I would have never deeply looked at the business opportunity if it wasn’t for who I would call mysister. She just so happened to call me when I was about to sign up and told me what an amazing culture Thirty-One had. I switched gears and started to look at Thirty-One as a business opportunity.

Thirty-One reminds me so much of what I had with TBSAH. It is all about celebrating, encouraging, and rewarding women. It fosters a culture of a team whose helpful and dedicated to see you succeed. It was the values of helping the community and others (Thirty-One Gives Foundation) and all the systems, policies, and procedures in place that attracted me. Thirty-One is about 8 years old, so it’s not a new company, but it can very much be new to your area. What I love most is that it is a faith based company named after Proverbs 31 – verse on the virtuous woman.

My search has ended and I have found a new home…a more stable, encouraging, and more me.