stella & dot trunk show...direct sales??

[Anonymous]

tl;dr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this was an interesting/hilarious/sad thread!

I've been an S&D stylist for about a year and I have to agree with a lot of what's been said in these comments. If you're in it to have an actual career, I wouldn't recommend it unless you are able to spend a lot of money up front and work your butt off for commissions. If you have a lot of friends or acquaintances that LOVE fashion and jewelry and have a lot of disposable income you might do alright. If you are able to network easily and have a very large pool of people to pull from then MAYBE you'll make some money. Sad truth, it rarely happens.

I'm a pharmacist and a mom of 3 and still work part time on an as needed basis since I am lucky enough that my husband's income allows me to stay home most of the time. So why did I bother to do this? Frankly I loved the jewelry but thought it was WAY WAY overpriced. I STILL think it's overpriced. But when the necklace I wanted was $200 and I can spend $200 and it actually come out to $450 in product credit, why wouldn't you sign up? You also get 50% off everything (except business supplies and display items which sadly YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR ON YOUR OWN) for the next 30 days and 50% off everything 3 times a year as long as you sold $250 worth of product in the previous 3 months. Given I had already spent at least that much over the last few years on pieces the discount alone with was worth the sign up. I'm debating on whether or not to pay the $59 renewal fee when my year is up next month but I just might to keep the discount. I guess I look at it like a Costco membership for jewelry (sadly).



So bottom line, if you want to make money doing this GOOD LUCK! It's not impossible but it is difficult and if you don't have the personality to sell sell sell it will more than likely not end well and you will spend a lot of money and get little back. However, if you simply like the jewelry and would probably buy it anyway then by all means sign up. For me the discount was worth it and I actually did sell enough over the course of the year to make back my investment (plus the stuff I got at 50% off later) and break even. But it took a YEAR to do it. So in the end I have a lot of cute stuff that "technically" was free but no real extra cash to show for it. I don't bug people to host (I just feel crappy doing that) but I have friends who already knew S&D who were more than willing to host a show to get free stuff. It also helped that I had friends and family that love this stuff too and would buy from me as their "stylist". Or that I could use my 25% discount FOR said friends and family during the rest of the non-sample period to get them a better price than they would get otherwise and it would still count toward my "sales".

If you go into this with those expectations it's not too bad. Any expectations higher than those (especially if you think you'll make tons of money right away) are pretty naive and difficult to attain.

I wish I knew who your upline was because it sounds like you did not get a very good understanding of how to approach this business in a strategic manner or did not take advantage of the jump start. I earned over $7500 in commissions in my jump start, I earned $3500 in free jewelry and I have not paid out-of-pocket for a piece of jewelry or business supply since I started and spent $199. It's a shame that it took you so long to earn your investment back. I coach all my stylists to work and use their jump start to the fullest. It sounds like you maybe did not get the best coaching during your jump start. p.s. I work full-time and have two young children so I know this business can work, but you do have to do the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently a Stella & Dot stylist from So. Cal and find most of these comments ridiculous. I also have a full time job as a Designer and love both. I started the S&D business because I wanted more money and liked the product. Is it for everyone...No. Have I become rich...um NO, but in two months I made back my initial investment plus what I spent on product, simply because I know how to sell. I don't force people to buy or host. If your interested great if not that's fine too. I don't think they prey on stay at home moms and we don't get paid with points. You get your commission loaded to your card weekly. Do you earn points, of course, they want you to get product for free and not spend all your money building a display. Direct sales is not for everyone, but if you'd like to make an additional $500-$1000 a month and can't really work a second job it can be great.

No such thing. You are not a stylist. Been invited to Emmys?

This Emmy comment is so bitchy. Who do you think you are to act like that? You should be embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:tl;dr

I read all the nasty comments on this site. You all have all the time in the world to insult people, call other women "bitches" etc., but when someone replies with a thoughtful response, you cannot read it? Guessing it's because I'm actually right and none if you would want to admit that. And I'm calling some many of you our for being compete a-holes.

[Anonymous]

I am quite upset to see all of this negative stuff on here, I am sure that some of it is unnecessary and a little mean spirited.

I work for Stella & Dot and I have never asked my friends to help me, they have offered, and all we are asking is for them to host a party or a casual day/evening/event in their home, we all know the score, they can say yes or no. I made a decision not to ask my friends directly as I didnt want to be that Mum at the school gates who was avoided by others. I choose to run my business in my way and at my pace, so that I build up a certain amount of trust and I certainly do not want my friends to feel guilty for not having a party or to be under pressure to purchase from me or sign up! I only ask if they show a lot of interest or ask a lot of questions, if you had a job that you thought someone was interested in and you knew that it would either make your job easier or earn extra income and they wanted to do it, would you say no, I am not giving you that opportunity?

I love what I do, many friends work full time and don't have time to shop for gifts, so they browse mywebsite and order so easily from me, knowing that a gift will be on its way and on time. Any problems and they know where I am, it is all about building up the trust and not annoying them, although I am sure I do with the odd FB post but I did before I started anyway

I also do lots of pop ups in offices etc and the staff either love it or ignore it, again its everyones perogative. I wouldn't turn up, uninvited to someones house and set up and try to sell, people are invited to see Stella & Dot and they do come along, and... if they want to buy, then of course I will sell to them.

We all sell, everyday, we sell, we sell ourselves, we sell our privacy by acting shy, we sell our personality when we apply for jobs etc, we are all sales people in one way or another, but its how we choose to sell as salespeople/stylists that matters. Everywhere we go, people are trying to sell to us, our friends, they want us to think they are worth keeping and of course they are, shops sell, cafes sell, they sell themselves to keep us interested, on the TV we are sold to. We get sold to in charity shops, parks, streets etc subliminal selling goes on all the time. Sadly we can't escape it, but it is a fact of life, often it helps us find what we want, without too much effore and at least with people who work for fantastic companies such as Stella & Dot, you know what you are getting!. Incidently all of the stylists that I have met, have been awesome people!

If a friend asks me to go out with her, it costs me money, if she asks me to join her for dinner, to the gym, to a dance, to a club, if she asks me to go to one of her parties, of course I will if I can because I want her to have a good time and I want her friend to do well and If I can help her I will. Other business's such as finance, garden maintenance, dog walkers can all be referred, we might a little more help in the beginning and I am happy to do it all because it makes the world go round.

Regarding the products, they are not second rate, they are well made and often at a fraction of the price of other couture designed jewellery and accesorie. There is room for them all. I could not sell something that I didn't love.

Don't be too hard on people like us, we do care and we are not machines, we are people trying to make a living in a very competative world, if you meet a scary Stella & Dot lady, it won't be me.

Everyone deserves a chance and every business deserves a chance too, the fact that we sell to friends should be our friends choice, the fact that we get people to join up, should be their choice, the fact that we love the products is our choice and the fact that we choose to sell is our choice, the choice for you to buy is totally yours....

www.stelladot.co.uk/mandydineley

[Anonymous]

I omitted to say that the company itself are excellent, extremely supportive to both customers and stylists with a hugely happy vibe that is very infectious. I have worked in IT and retail for years and this is so refreshing and enjoyable. I have loved most of my jobs but not in the way that I love this one, my choice, my time on my terms X

The only pressure is the pressure that we choose to put on ourselves or others.

Stella & Dot Great company

XXX
www.stelladot.co.uk/mandydineley