Reader Question

YoYoMeFeb 15, 2012 05:06 AM
I'm not sure where to post this, but I happened to see that a bunch of the limited edition items for the upcoming catalogue (not this one) are on eBay. I thought we couldn't do that? Doesn't that hurt other consultants?
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First, my apologies that your question wasn't addressed sooner. I just noticed - for awhile we didn't have the tickler at the right that showed the newer comments and that is usually how I check the comments.. that being said..

We are not suppose to sell any products on ebay. It is also against the agreement all of us sign when we become a consultant. Yes, selling product especially for below retail does hurt honest consultants who are trying to earn money thru running their businesses. The sad part is that there are dishonest people everywhere, even in Mary Kay and they will do whatever they want and they do not care who they hurt or affect as long as they are getting what they want.

Mary Kay Legal does try to catch these people to shut them down - and they do but it is more than a full time job and for ever one they shut down two pop up.

People who have had a bad experience will say hey so what, but if a consultant wants out of Mary Kay - there is the product buyback option available to them & it is always with them because it is a moving year window... - seems obviously to me that if they want out, why would they care if they use the buyback option that they can't be a consultant again, in most cases it is something they know they won't ever want to do again, so just use the buyback... the Company offers it so use it..that individual would get 90% of what they paid for the product back and it wouldn't affect those running their businesses honestly and to earn some money.

From some of the comments from the negative sites that I have read it seems they believe if their experience was bad, that everyone's must be bad - not true... and contrary to their belief - not everyone in Mary Kay is bad or brainwashed. I guess this is a way of justifying doing something that hurts (or may hurt others).

When it is product that is limited edition before it is even available to the consultants - that is even sadder because that probably means it is a director who is suppose to be setting an example of others... but knowing that we received the new products at leadership, and diq's and future directors were allowed to attend - there is a chance that some of those individuals would take that option.

Some people will do anything to win a prize, get recognition, etc... and they will not even give a thought to what is right and what is wrong. We must always remember that just because the decisions we make may be involved in a business... it is still a matter of right or wrong.. and in the end .. I would prefer to have a clear conscious on judgement day.

Mary Kay Named a Top 20 Brand by Brand Keys

Mary Kay Named a Top 20 Brand by Brand Keys
Published 03.02.12 WE DID IT AGAIN!!!!
Mary Kay clearly is hitting the mark with consumers, as we’ve once again been recognized by independent research firm Brand Keys as a “brand that delights”!
Brand Keys has studied consumer behavior for the last 16 years and just released its annual Customer Loyalty Index Survey. The 2012 survey examined customers’ relationships with 59...8 brands across 83 categories. Mary Kay tied for first as the top brand in the cosmetics category and was listed as one of the top 20 brands overall in the “Brands That Delight” category. This is the second year Mary Kay has been given that unique distinction. Brand Keys describes a “delightful” brand as one that excels at offering meaningful experiences with products and services at a higher level than its competitors. According to Brand Keys, consumers demand more from a brand than just satisfaction with a product’s performance; they demand quality experiences and authentic brand values.
The overwhelming majority of brands included in the “Brands That Delight” list are relatively newer, technology-based brands like Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung and Facebook. Mary Kay, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, is not only the brand with the most longevity, but also the only cosmetics brand listed among the top 20.
“Being recognized as a brand that delights by Brand Keys offers additional validation to Mary Kay’s steadfast commitment to offering a great opportunity for women, exceptional customer service and products that are simply irresistible,” said Sheryl Adkins-Green, Mary Kay Inc.’s Chief Marketing Officer. “These three critical pillars influence all aspects of our business. We hope that anyone who interacts with the Mary Kay brand can say with confidence ‘I love my Mary Kay!’”

The New Botanical Line

The new botanical line is wonderful, I have tried it for awhile and I of course being over 25 will stay with the t.w. but I am very happy to have this to offer all my classic basic clients and those clients that t.w. is not an option for. I was pleasantly surprised how wonderful it felt and I do not believe I will have much trouble moving my classic basic clients over to it.

For us to provide the best products to our clients, there are times improvements are necessary. The classic basic is approx. 30 years old and so is the technology and the ingredients. There have been so many advances made, it is time to bring the "classic" into the "present' and that is exactly what this new botanical line does. It is not only enhanced with natural botanicals but the packaging is environmentally friendly which is also a big plus as many of us are becoming more aware of the well being of our plant!!

More info from Mary Kay Intouch:
Great news! Botanical Effects™Skin Care is now available to your
customers who are looking for a simple, effective skin care regimen.

Available in three formulas: Dry, Normal, Oily
Each regimen offers four products sold separately:
Cleanse ($14) Freshen ($14) Hydrate ($16) Mask ($14)


Botanical Effects™ Skin Care is infused with the goodness of botanicals personalized for each skin type to bring out its healthy radiance. We tested the regimen to make sure those with sensitive skin could share in the beauty of its botanical benefits. And yes, they can! Botanical Effects™ Skin Care is hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, alcohol and synthetic dyes. Plus, the packaging is gentle on the planet while the price goes easy on your budget. Now doesnÙt that just feel good?

Make the Switch.
Help new customers who are not yet concerned with the signs of aging or have sensitive skin concerns switch from their other brand of skin care to Botanical Effects™. And, help your Classic Basic® customers make the switch to new Botanical Effects™.

Avon - Update

Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Andrea Jung, CEO of Avon Products.
By msnbc.com news services

Updated at 3 p.m. ET:

It is important for us to stay informed with what happens in the industry.

Soon there could be far fewer Avon sales representatives ringing doorbells to sell the company’s cosmetics directly to consumers.

Cosmetics giant Avon Products reported a fourth-quarter net loss Tuesday amid declining sales and rising commodity costs. Chief Executive Officer Andrea Jung said the company doesn’t expect its margins -- the revenue the company keeps after paying its costs -- to improve this year.

The downbeat forecast comes amid a Bloomberg News report that says the company is planning to restructure its global operations with the help of consulting firm McKinsey. On a conference call with investors Tuesday, executives said they see “immediate” potential savings through reducing headcount, which likely means fewer door-to-door sales representatives in the not-too-distant future.

advertisementThat would surely hurt a company that markets itself as the world’s leading direct seller. Avon markets to women in 100 countries through a network of 6.5 million independent sales representatives, according to information on the company’s website.

Once a thriving cosmetics company, Avon is now seeking to right the ship of its sinking operations after years of tepid earnings and declining profit.

In December it announced the departure of longtime Chief Executive Jung as soon as a replacement could be found. Additionally, Avon has been hurt by an internal bribery investigation that began in China, and its stock has come under pressure over the past year because of the company’s poor performance in countries like Brazil.

Shares of Avon have declined some 60 percent since hitting a high in 2004.

Bloomberg News reports that a company overhaul will include cutting costs in Avon’s North American unit, where sales have dropped every year since 2007 and slid about 7 percent in the third quarter.

Bloomberg interviewed one analyst who was skeptical of the plan's potential success.

“This is a rudderless ship right now, and trying to turn it massively may not get you anywhere,” said Ali Dibadj, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in New York. “The problem with Avon isn’t that it needs a restructuring, it’s that it has been in perpetual restructuring, literally for the past 15 years.”

2012 Makeover Contest Coming Soon!

The 2012 Mary Kay® Makeover Contest – Get Beautiful. Give Back. offers more chances for you and your customers to feel beautiful, while helping others at the same time. The contest works the same way as the 2011 Mary Kay® Makeover Contests with the same three phases and lots of great prizes! And coming soon in April is a mobile application for your Apple iPhone and Android device to help you easily enter the contest right after you conduct a makeover!

You can begin holding complimentary color makeovers now as of February 1, and then submit photos beginning
April 4.
1. Entry/Submission – April 4 – June 4
2. Public Voting – June 5– June 15
3. Private Judging – June 15 – July 13
Prizes:

Independent Sales Force Members:

•Early Entry Incentive – April 4 – 18
50 Independent Beauty Consultants could win a fabulous J.J. Winters pink leather clutch embossed with an exquisite Ostrich Print, as featured in the Mary Kay Trend Report advertised in the May 2012 issue of People StyleWatch® magazine, valued up to $195!
• Participation Incentive – April 4 – June 4
Five Independent Beauty Consultants, one from each Seminar affiliation, could win a $100 VISA gift card for themselves and a $5,000 donation to a charity of their choice*
•NEW! For 2012: Independent Beauty Consultants of the three Grand Prize Winners in the Consumer contest can also win:
◦$500 donation to a charity of their choice*
Consumers:

• The top 100 vote-getters in the contest will receive a TimeWise® Trial Miracle Set
• Three Consumer Grand Prize Winners could win:
◦ $2,500 VISA gift card shopping spree
◦ $5,000 donation to charity of choice*
*Subject to sponsor's final approval

Protect Yourself & the Company

Have an Awesome Weekend Everyone!!

We can all get all excited and say things we don't mean... as in I just "won" my MK car.. when Mary Kay always said, you "earned your use" of the Company car. Yes, for most it is understood, you didn't win it in a raffle but if someone wants to be techincal or nit picky, it is best not to misrepresnt anything about our business or the Company... here are a few "do's" versus "don't's" from our www.marykayintouch.com site.. Always good to know these things.

Don’t say this: >>>>>>>>>> When you mean this:

Win a free car
or company car ..>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...Earn the use of a Career Car


Go into
management ...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>....Move up the career path


Job ... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...Mary Kay “business” or “opportunity”

Pay raises ...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>....Give yourself a raise

Training ...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>....Education

Paycheck ...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...Commission check

Salary ...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...Commissions

NEW! Pages are here!!

Hey all,

I just added a page!  This is long overdue and the page is not actually what I want it to be, rather it is me asking you to help us create what it needs to be.

Look at the top of the page.  You will see two tabs.  One says "Home" the other "Mary Kay Fact Check"  Click on "Mary Kay Fact Check" to see the page and what I am looking for.  Please help!

At any time you can click on "Home" to come back to the blog posts.

Post comments here (not there) to let me know what you think about this idea.

Post comments there (not here) to add information or questions you would like answered.

Clear?  If not don't worry.  Just post your comment wherever you want, it doesn't really matter, just as long as we can make this resource the best possible Mary Kay resource available!

THANK YOU!