Self Employment!

Maybe you could go to some local businesss, like offices, and ask them if you could drop off some cards to put in the break room. Or even set up a small display in the break room for people to buy. I'm a teacher and we sometimes have things like that set up in the lounge. I know that someone has set up Cold Canyon candles in the lounge and lots of people order them.

I have been a PartyLite consultant for 12 years....the best way to start your business is with the people you know - ask them to host shows for you, ask for referrals, ask, ask, ask...flyers don't really work - make a contact list and start from there - - use your leader for advice too! She's probably been there and probably has tons of ideas. I also recommend attending all trainings your company offers. Home based businesses are the way to go!! Good luck - but don't sell too many candles - leave some customers for me!!

Mostly word of mouth works, it may take a little time to get yourself known as a GCC distributor. Also, you need to become "The candle lady" in as many ways as possible. Keep business cards handy, get one of those vinyl stickers for the back window of your car. Slip GCC into all your conversations.
Have some candles on display near your front door so people can see them as they enter your home. Good Luck! Network marketing is fun. I've been a consultant for Noevir Skincare for 20 years. Check-out my website: www.mynoevirbiz.com/radiantskincare ~H.~

Business Cards handed out to everyone you meet is a good way to get new customers, as well as word of mouth. If they have your card it acts as a reminder. Always have catalogs with you because you never know when someone will do a catalog party or just wants to stock up. I know you can not advertise on ebay or craigs list, but check out local small newspapers in your area because they usually have cheap advertising rates (and remember anything you do is a tax deduction so keep receipts). How about having an OPEN House for those in your neighborhood...this is a good source of repeat business. Hope this helps. Best of Luck to you.
V.

I know that I'm part of The M.O.M Team and I work from home too. Spreading the work about how you can help others work from home or get products is hard. One of the ways I was suggested to get my name out there is to make a business card (you can get them real cheap from www.vistaprint.com) and place them on cars or on bulletin boards. You can also hand them out to your friends and they can hand them out to their friends. A business card can really travel. Also, speaking of bulletin boards or community boards be sure to place a flyer with your information on it wherever you see one. Also, since your kids are in school be sure to give products as gifts to your kids teacher/ instructor (you know like valentines day gifts or easter gifts), be sure to include a business card ;)

www.momtomombiz.com

Hi C.,

My sister sells jewlery for a company and she is not allowed to use the internet to promote herself. She seems to stay fairly busy with it though. I think you should focus on the fact that what you offer is a consumable item! Follow-up, follow-up and more follow-up. Once somebody expresses the slightest interest or purchases a candle, keep yourself in front of their face. That candle (or their other candles) will soon burn out. My friend sells for Gold Canyon and she sends out a monthly email. Everytime I see her, she asks me if I need anymore candles. She does it in such a way that i don't feel like she is bothering me but genuinely concerned. lol If that is hard to believe! If I tell her no, she doesn't take it personal and we continue our conversation. You can also get yourself in front of people by doing tradeshows. These can be expensive though.

It appears you probably know alot of people already with your kids. Use that advantage and contact them. Tell them about your new business and ask to be allowed to follow-up with them. I find, if they give you permission to email them or call them periodically, it is easier on you and more difficult for them to say no.

Good luck! I know I like my Gold Canyons.
K.

HI C., I don't mean for this to come out the wrong way but candle companies are the worst DSA businesses to get into because of that exactly reason. There are so may others out there that will let you advertise however you want and do not have monthly quotas like they do. Pampered Chef that is another that is really bad about those things also. When starting your own direct sales business you really need to do a lot of homework and find out which ones will work best for you. Az. is one of the hardest states I have ever seen in doing party plan businesses and takes a lot of work. You basically have to just market, market, market as much free stuff as you can find out if they have any old catalogs in stock and buy as many of those as you can if they will allow you to do that then pass them out with your name and # on them everywhere you go. Print up fliers and always have have business cards on hand and lots of samples to pass out. Then leave them EVERYwhere you go.

Hope that helps L.

i have had a small business of my own for several years now making jewelry. i started out by having a holiday trunk show with food and wine. i sent out invitations to friends(really nice ones with ribbons, handmade but still really nice!) offered incentives for them to invite as many people as possible (ex: get 10% off if you bring at least 3 people with you) and had a lot of fun. i'm not sure how much flexiblity you have with the company for price-adjusting but a trunk show is fun and always makes money. another thing is to tell friends they can get free merchandise if they hold and organize a trunk show. some people really like that.
home-based business can be rewarding if you remember everything that you are building. a good way to reward yourself is to set goals for yourself- immediate, short-term, and long-term- that are realistic and keep a chart or a visual path that you can put stars stickers on whenever you meet a goal. good luck to you and blessings to your new business!

The best way I have seen is to always have business cards on you. You can put them up on grocery store boards, in restaurants that have bulletin boards, hand them out to people, etc. Talk to all of your friends, see if you can get them to have a party, and have them invite people you don't know already. Another thing I have seen is booths at the Women's Expo or home and Garden shows. They can be expensive, but if you have other demonstraters to buddy up with and you all split the cost, it's not too bad an option. If you go to church, spread the word there!

Hi C.: I am not self-employed but I have some suggestions. I would give your booklets out to local places of business, church, etc. You can also approach a business about displaying your items (not sure how it works if you would pay some rental fees). I have seen some Gold Canyon Candles at my pet groomer's shop. I don't know if the owner sells Gold Canyon also or not, but it's an idea. I have also seen people go to home shows and display the candle there.

Here is my best advice though. Go to your kids school, find out when they are doing a carnival/fundraiser. Donate a basket with some small candles, etc. And you can write it off on your taxes and also, you can get connections that way. Oh and don't forget to leave them in the teacher's lounge. I donated my time to schools, and always saw avon books, gold canyon books, etc in the lounge. The candles are great and pretty much sale themselves. I have a friend that been trying many different items for business. I asked her when are you going to sell Gold Canyon so I can buy them from you, she finally started. Blessings on your business. I will pray that God will direct you. I don't really
think there is a right and wrong way. If you ask if you can display your books the owners
will either say yes or no, and you can go from there.

Take care,
K.

Hi C.,

Congratulations on starting your own business! Have you thought about joining a networking group? I am an Officer for BizEMoms and have found it to be a wonderful resource in getting your name out there. We represent a wide range of businesses and are always looking for new members. We only allow one rep from each company and only 4 companies per product/service category in an effort to limit direct competition with fellow members. It just so happens that our Gold Canyon rep had to step down from membership because she changed her business focus. You can check out our website at www.bizemoms.com or email me at ____@____.com for more information on membership.

Whether it's BizEMoms or another networking group, I have found that networking is a fabulous way of increasing your exposure and client base. Keep us posted on your success!

T. Hight
Senior Personal Wine Consultant
AZ TOB Ambassador
The Traveling Vineyard
www.myttv.com/Tamara10612

I would start by hosting your own party and inviting all your friends. Or get a few close friends to host a party and then you get others to book parties at those parties...does that make sense?

You can also list your business on mamasource.

Good luck! And let me know how it works out. I'm the "bread winner" in my family so I don't know that I could make enough doing that type of stuff to be able to stay home but I would love it if I could.

I thought of something else. Go to your kids school and ask if you can do a demonstration during lunch in the teacher's lounge. We have someone that does Mary kay once or twice a year.