Should initial inventory purchases be limited?

It is interesting to read the different comments about initial inventory purchases.

Let me throw a few ideas out there, and then let me know what you think.

What if.....

• ...consultants could only order a maximum of $600-1200 in their first order.
• ...the time limit for the initial inventory bonus was extended from 2 weeks to 2 months (or some other time frame)
• ...there were a "waiting period" between when the application was submitted and when a consultant could purchase inventory (such as 5 days or longer)?

What do you think? Are there any other limits or suggestions you would like to see?

Stump the MK Newbie

Okay. This shouldn't be too hard. LOL

MKHonesty had a pop quiz for me on one of the posts, so I thought it might be fun for the experienced MK consultants to ask questions that every newbie should learn/know. I will do my best to answer. ;)

If you have a question, post it here and (hopefully) get an answer!

If I get stumped (highly likely - LOL), then I will cry uncle and someone else can answer.

This should be fun and great training, too! :o)

If you were on trial for being a Mary Kay consultant....

....would there be enough evidence to convict you?

I have a group of home business moms (over 400 members). I am always looking for moms to invite to the group. If I see a car with a bumper sticker for a home biz (or find out someone has a home biz by chatting with her), I ask for her card and hand her one of mine. (I have some just for my Home Biz Mamas group.) I am always amazed at how few are actually prepared for doing business - no biz card, nothing to write info down, etc.

So.....could you be convicted of being a Mary Kay consultant? Take the following quiz:

If you are talking to someone and she asks for a Look Book, what is your first thought?

1. "All of my stuff is at home! Oh no!"
2. "I don't have any Look Books! I need to order some!"
3. "I have 2 in my On-the-Go Tote. And samples and biz cards, too."

How many business cards did you hand out today?

1. 1
2. "What business cards?"
3. "I handed them out to everyone I talked to. And I got them to fill out the info card for me."

You meet a great prospect for your Mary Kay business. You need to get her name and number to follow up with her! What do you do?

1. Scramble around for a scrap of paper and a pen. Now where are they??
2. "I'll just keep it in my head. I won't forget."
3. You pull out a 2-part biz card. She fills out the info side, and you hand her the part with your info. You set up a time to call her.

If someone was looking for a Mary Kay rep, how would they know you sold Mary Kay?

1. "I have a biz card if she asks for one."
2. "Um. I dunno."
3. "I have a Mary Kay bumper sticker, a MK pin, and a Tote with Look Books in it. She'll find me!"

In closing, let me just say that customers are not going to fall from the sky if you are prepared to do business.

But they are certainly harder to find if you aren't.

Wow! (This ain't your Mama's Mary Kay!)

I just got my starter kit, and all I can say is, "Wow!"

I am completely blown away by how different this is from what I received when I signed up 13+ years ago.

Full-sized products, samples, online ordering options, an appointment book, DVD's showing a skin care class, an opportunity CD. And the bags! They are GORGEOUS!! When I was in, the starter kit had a big pink box you lugged around. LOL This starter kit bag is absolutely beautiful!

And the tote! Perfect size for taking with you, and wonderful for showcasing a Look Book. I can definitely see how just using the bag can get you some referrals/customers.

So now for some input - I would love to hear from all of you!

• Do you use your On-the-go tote? Do you keep a Look Book in it? Samples? Biz cards?
• Have you gotten customers/hostesses from it?
• Do any of you hand out samples with business cards?
• Do you wear your your name tag? Pin? Have you gotten customers from that?

I would love to hear any stories about how using these tools led to finding a customer or consultant for your team!

If you have NOT gotten results using these tools, I want to hear that, too! Tell about your experience and maybe all of us can brainstorm about how to help you get more leads from using the Tote and your pin.

What about the part-timer?

Well, boys and girls - I am getting my kit from MK tomorrow! WOO HOOOO!

Hubby asked about my goals/plans - so we sat down and talked about them.

I am actually going to work my Mary Kay business part time to start. Hubby and I worked out which nights I will do SCC's and facials and I will go to a meeting a few times a month.

We discussed inventory choices and made a decision about what to do with inventory.

I told him that I want to earn a car through MK, but that I am not putting pressure on myself to do it in my first year! I am going to build my business and put my family first.

This is one of the great things I love about Mary Kay. I did not sit down and tell him the hours I had to work - we discussed what my ideal schedule would be - and that is what I will work.

The fact that Mary Kay offers excellent earning potential by working a part-time schedule that I choose is one of the most awesome things about this company.