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

[Anonymous]

What is the sales person offered you something free for attending? Wine, food, drawing for a gift card for a massage or mani/pedi?

[Anonymous]

This blog caught my eye and unfortunately I wasted quite a bit of time reading some really wierd comments. The quality issues people are mentioning are concerning but I can tell you it hasn't been my experience with Stella & Dot so far.

I have had a successful sales career for the past 15 years. I work for a Fortune 500 company. I can tell you that no matter what industry you are in there are always "pushy" sales people in the mix. I know a few and can tell you that's why my long term customers purchase from me and not my competitors. That sales style doesn't work in today's marketplace. Not at the car dealer, the mall or anywhere else.

I recently signed up with Stella & Dot. I have loved the pieces I purchased at a party last summer. They really held up from a quality stand point. The whole reason I signed up was because I really liked the styles and thought it would be fun. I have some friends that are doing well financially and some that have been unemployed or still are. I hosted the first trunk show at my house. I probably spent almost as much money on the food & alcohol as I earned on commissions that night. I really wanted everyone to have a good time. It turned out to be a great time! Many of my the attendees I hadn't seen in a while so it was great catching up. About half of the 18 people that showed up purchased something from me. I am not a high pressure person. Anyone that thinks being "aggressive" gets you the sale is living in an old school world. Buyers now are much more sophisticated and do not like to be "sold to". They can sniff out this type of sales person a mile away. I can tell you also that I would never purchase from this type of sales person. I think liking what you sell goes a long way in how successful you are. Standing behind what you sell is also key. I don't need the income from Stella & Dot and probably at this point have not made back my initial investment but will treat it like what it is....some extra spending money and the way to get some cool stuff at a discount.

My final word of advice....ladies who want to work in a multi-level marketing company should choose something they can be excited about. Choose a company with good policies and learn the golden rule of sales....treat a buyer the way you would like to be treated. Agressive tactics will ensure you lose friends and you fail.

Good luck to everyone and I will be on the look out for bad quailty on the product I'm representing.

[Anonymous]

I am glad that I found this thread. I went to a S&D trunk show about a year and 1/2 ago & then another this past wkd. I really love their stuff & their what they represent. I am thinking about being a "stylist." I am looking to do this for several reasons:
1. make it a business
2. I love to socialize
3. I love fashion & jewelry
4. I think time with women is important.
5. I miss working & having something for myself

I am not at ALL the pushy kind of person. I will ask my friends and family if they would like to host a party. If they do GREAT! If not that's ok too. I would never end friendship over something like this...and like a poster said, if your friend is doing this...well then it's time to reevaluate your friendships. And this is coming from a mental health therapist.

People that can't say no...that's your own issue. Just SAY NO! Don't go if you don't want to buy it or be honest with your friend. And if your friend gets mad then that's their issue.

I'm excited about it all & I hate seeing all the negativity about it. I agree with the above poster, I don't think your business has to be pushy & I don't plan on running mine that way.

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am glad that I found this thread. I went to a S&D trunk show about a year and 1/2 ago & then another this past wkd. I really love their stuff & their what they represent. I am thinking about being a "stylist." I am looking to do this for several reasons:
1. make it a business
2. I love to socialize
3. I love fashion & jewelry
4. I think time with women is important.
5. I miss working & having something for myself

I am not at ALL the pushy kind of person. I will ask my friends and family if they would like to host a party. If they do GREAT! If not that's ok too. I would never end friendship over something like this...and like a poster said, if your friend is doing this...well then it's time to reevaluate your friendships. And this is coming from a mental health therapist.

People that can't say no...that's your own issue. Just SAY NO! Don't go if you don't want to buy it or be honest with your friend. And if your friend gets mad then that's their issue.

I'm excited about it all & I hate seeing all the negativity about it. I agree with the above poster, I don't think your business has to be pushy & I don't plan on running mine that way.

Cheers!

You are wasting your time.
First, your family and friends are likely to NOT host a party for you.
Second, this is a sales job and you do need to be pushy.

[Anonymous]

I just recently went to a Stella and Dot party, not impressed
For the price. I travel abroad and find great pieces for cheap at local flee markets. NYC has great funky costume jewelry on the street or markets(soho),for 1/2 the price with better quality and design. I guess it appeals to women that shop at the mall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just recently went to a Stella and Dot party, not impressed
For the price. I travel abroad and find great pieces for cheap at local flee markets. NYC has great funky costume jewelry on the street or markets(soho),for 1/2 the price with better quality and design. I guess it appeals to women that shop at the mall.

Hey, I love the mall and Stella and Dot is about as appealing to me as soggy bread.

[Anonymous]

1. Hate the look and quality of Stella & Dot. It just looks cheap to me.

2. I hate Mary Kay, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, and any other companies who expect their sales people to rely on their friends and neighbors for sales leadsl. And don't even get me started on Cutco! I would never host a trunk show and hate the whole concept.

Your mileage may vay.

[Anonymous]

bitter....party of one!
Ignore the comments. If you think it's a good idea, try it! Good luck~!!!

[Anonymous]

There may be no pressure to buy, but there will be follow up to pressure you to have a party. Whether you buy anything or not.
If you don't buy, you are still an asset to the stylist because she can tap in to you and your "crop" circle of friends to host a party.

I don't see anyone in this thread actively considering becoming a S&D stylist, just those who are talking their friends out of it.
Trust me, you are doing them a favor. The company makes their money off the stylists buying their (foreign made out of the bones of Chinese baby girls) samples for parties.

Its not so much a scam as just a ridiculous endeavor that yields a select few a decent income. I believe they have some top tier people salaried with
"coaching commissions" who are quietly exempt from the quotas they demand of starting stylists so that they have leaders in place to be mentors and cheer on the newbies.

The leader of the cult Jessica Herrin, is a Stanford Business school dropout who can TALK and puts the I in IDEA all day long. They keep getting VC funded in the 10's of millions of dollars.
Save your $199. and the thousands more you would SPEND making your hostess happy, your parties nice, buying samples and accessories for display, gifting your hostesses, and correcting
crap that breaks out of your own pocket.

PASS

[Anonymous]

WOW. Ok - here's my take. I was a stylist for about 2 years. During that time the company underwent major logisticaly changes, some of which led to customers having to wait longer to get their jewelry than the 5 business days it normally takes. In response to that, S&D gave everyone affected $25 in credit, whether they asked for it or not. For Christmas, they upgraded shipping to overnight on S&D's dime. I loved that my hostesses wanted to book two shows a year - not that I asked - THEY ASKED ME. I've been a part of many holiday shopping events, and although my product was to be ordered rather than taken home that day, I sold TONS. People have asked me to come to their home to show the jewelry for a private shopping session. I've been asked to keep an eye out for this or that limited edition (or recently discontinued) piece because a random customer that has never come to a show of mine would like to buy it. I am NOT pushy - I did one trunk show with my friends which turned out to be HUGE (over 4k in sales in one show) and when I called those buyers to see if they'd gotten their jewelry yet, several of them wanted to get free jewelry like the original host did. So I did shows for them. And my business grew that way.

Honestly, it did get a little sticky with my friends. When I got the first hint of trepidation, I dropped the subject of Stella & Dot. Totally. And of course, we are still good friend who see each other socially all the time. No friendship lost over S&D.

I believe that the quality has gone downhill over the last year, precipitously. That's the biggest reason I couldn't continue. There are changes taking place that I just don't agree with. It is a free country, however, and the business seems to be thriving. It's just not for me. But I'd never talk it down because I was always treated with respect. I'll return the favor and respectfully bow out of S&D. I wish them luck, but I think some things have to change so the jewelry can return to the great quality it once was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is my issue. I was going to be an S & D stylist, until I found out that while some of the designs are done in the US, the jewelry is made in India and China! I will not promote sales to other countries when we have Americans who are out of jobs and starving.
Yes, the jewelry is cute, but my country is worth more to me than looking good!

You should have done a bit more research..the jewelry is designed in the US, but made in Mexico, for the turquoise, India for the semi precious stones, China & Thailand for their metal work..they are all fair trade locations, where the workers are paid a fair wage for their skilled labor. This is a company started by women for women to earn an income and still be able to stay at home with their children..Please research the stella & dot foundation and see what they are doing for the girls and women of the us! They just helped fix up a school in Harlem with the money raised from the foundation bracelets sold. This is an amazing company and I have been with them for almost 4 years. Just thought you should know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just joining in on the discussion but I have to say, most of of these parties REALLY don't want you to buy if you don't like it. I mean, really, do they want someone bashing their business!!! Give me a break ladies. When you walk into Macy's, they have their items on display, they don't hide them until you ask about them. It's a business, and it's a way of making money. If you buy jewelry, which you do, you should consider their jewelry or their cookware, or their bags. Just because they don't have a Brick and Mortar store doesn't mean it's crap! What's wrong with helping a friend fund her family life, vs Macy's helping fund their shareholders. Get over the stigma of direct sales!! It's sales. If you want to buy, buy, if you don't, don't!!! Get over yourselves and stop thinking it's about you, It's not!!! If you don't love it, don't buy it. It's just business. They like a product enough to be personally invested in it. And I have to ask? Why did you buy your Coach purse? It couldn't possibly be because you're friends have it or because you've heard good things about it. Why did you buy coach? Because they have a brick and mortar store, doubt it! Just Pathetic!

Direct sales has no other way of promoting itself other than via friends/family/contacts. They do not pay for a storefont etc. It's entirely word of mouth. If you don't like it, stop talking about it!!

Happy Holidays

Amen!!! very well written~thank you from one of those stella & dot stylists who works very hard at what she does for a living!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended a stella & dot trunk show yesterday afternoon at a friends house and just loved it. The stylist was so cute and trendy that it made me want to sign on. I have never sold anything in my life. Does anyone have experience with direct sales? if so, what do you think? I think it would be a great way to earn some extra cash. TIA

Please don't listen to the negative nellies on this site..Oh my gosh..I cannot believe how negative these people are..to start out with stella & dot sure you ask a friend and a family member to get you started, but in all reality, if you are doing a good job with this..you should never have to bug any friend or family member to have another show..they will come to you when they see how much they earn in hostess rewards..You will end up booking with strangers more than friends. The hostess loves the end result just for having the girls over for a glass of wine. This is a fun night, morning or afternoon for the girls to get away for awhile. I've been doing this for almost 4 years..if you want to do this..go for it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry PP, I disagree with you and echo what the other posters have said. I get invited to at least one trunk show a month. They're always billed as some sort of party or girl's night, but they're not. A party is an event held for the entertainment of the host and her guests. A trunk show- no matter what it's called- is an event held with the purpose of selling a certain product. Most people I know hate being invited to these events and only attend because they feel obligated. I personally resent it when a so-called-friend of mine uses our friendship to try to sell me something. I find the whole direct sales thing to be extremely tacky. If I want jewelry, I know where to buy it. I don't need someone pushing it on me.

While not everyone may agree with me, there are plenty of people who do. I have known several women who have done this kind of thing (including 2 Stella Dot reps). Trust me, their friends all complain about being sales targets and all say how distasteful the whole thing is. I would think the little cash you could make would not be worth alienating some of your friends and acquaintances.

Yes, thank you for saying this. I have been invited to many of these time of "parties" and hate feeling obligated to purchase an item just because I am there. It is tacky to use friends like this.

Then don't go when you are invited respond no..the friend won't care if you don't come..Why on earth would you go if you feel like this? Ug!!

[Anonymous]

As someone who is looking at jewelry sales (trunk show/party and online), I have found this thread very insightful. I am doing this a tad differently...buying the wholesale jewelry myself and selling, so middle man like Stella and Dot. I decided to do this since I have been unemployed for six months and haven't had much luck finding any job - full or part time. Gotta pay the mortgage somehow, right.

Given what I just shared would you find this more/less as offensive as Stella and Dot? I would appreciate your feedback.

Many thanks and Cheers!