TLC out of the Direct Sales business

Ravish30 · Posted: April 11, 2008, 1:32 am Post subject:

When it comes to scrapbooking, I am different. I don't like the cookie cutter chains except for basic stuff that I run out of.

I like buying exclusive designs and tools and I want the higher quality and unique things.

I would estimate that 1/2 of my scrapbooking stuff I have purchased from various wahm's with home scrap businesses...the other 1/2 of my supplies I would break into 1/4 chain stores and a 1/4 mom and pop local small scrapbooking stores.

I need to find some ZOO themed and Amusement park stuffies next.

Back to the original topic....I don't care what a companies excuse is...they should have enough respect for the sales force who has kept them in business to give a BIG ADVANCED warning.
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Anita · Posted: April 11, 2008, 6:57 am Post subject:

Lauren · Posted: April 12, 2008, 2:43 am Post subject:

Oh, I'm in complete agreement with you both! I'm just stating it as it was written by "The Big Guy" at Home Office. Just like a local airline did around here last week - employees/passengers show up in the morning, but the airline went out of business - no warning over night!

Still kind of waiting for the dust to settle while I figure out what direction to go in with my ScrappinWAHM site. And still kind of soul searching when it comes to my ties with TLC. There's a part of me that wants to give this new structure a shot - see if the next 9 mos of having a website with them brings in any revenue.

TLC's a Buyer's Club now - I may find people who are interested in paying $25 to have a 25% discount for a year with TLC. The Team Bulding pressure is gone, which means I could just focus on the marketing of the buyer's club if I wanted - hell a lot of that is already in place with my website and blog and wouldn't be much different than what I was doing before. They've lowered the prices, and with that and the BC discounts the products are much more marketable - and I DO love the products!

Or am I just sticking my head in the sand?? Getting back up on my fence?? LOL!
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Anita · Posted: April 13, 2008, 6:07 am Post subject:

pattygale · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 703 Location: Wisconsin

Wow.. I guess it's pretty obvious that I don't get down in this folder often enough as today is the 13th and I'm just now reading this.

Lauren, I am so sorry! I had no idea all this was going on.

Yes, I completely agree, very poor business practice on their part, indeed.

To leave people without access to their teams, especially is just plain tacky and to hang it out without any warning at all is really disgraceful on their part.

If I understand correctly, you can attract people to your site for the Buyer's Club and then earn a commission from that? Do you have to have monthly quotas or anything like that?

In a way, that sounds more like an affiliate program in some ways. Even if they're not calling it that, the structure is very similar.

Patty

Lauren · Posted: April 13, 2008, 8:48 am Post subject:

Okay-is this a sign?? I just Googled Top Line Creations - these were the results I got...
http://www.google.com/search?q=Top+Line+Creations&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS245US245

Is it just my computer or is my name coming in right after the company name - in other words except for the TopAd Sponsor - I'm ranked #2 for Top Line Creations?? That's my (ex)Consultant site - but seriously! Really someone Google Top Line Creations and see what you get. May just be my computer finding me first (that would kind of make sense)

Yes Patty - it is sort of like an affiliate program, I earn a referral bonus for everyone who joins the Buyer's Club through my site or using my member#. Plus we get a discount on the products depending on our membership - I'm free Standard for a year. Plus I still have my website thru TLC that is paid up thru January, 2009.

So why not take advantage of whatever indexing I do have within Google, or ranking within the search engines and see what it gets me for the next 3-6 months?? I do love their products, and the new designs they are showing for June are incredible!

I'm doing my best to make lemonade out of this without having to reinvent the wheel! LOL!
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Anita · Posted: April 13, 2008, 9:24 pm Post subject:

ROFL! No, it's not just your computer - that is the official results!

This would also explain why you're getting bombarded with offers to join other companies Wink

And - wow! That's awesome results! That's not even in the quotes!

You know why you're coming up that way, don't you? Because you went out of your way to market your business. You created a personal site ... you marketed your sites. You networked, advertised, etc etc etc. All the things that a lot of DS reps do not do.

You didn't go with the "build it and they will come" mentality - another thing way too many ds reps do.

And forgive me a moment while I throw out a shameless plug here but ... this is the exact reason why we built DirectSalesHelpers.com. We built this site, our products and send out that weekly newsletter to show DS reps that they ARE in an Internet Marketing Business. If they're going to use the internet to do most of their selling and recruiting - they DO own an Internet Marketing Business. This is something many do not realize.

The only reason I mention this is because I know you are a "student" of DSH and have taken the advice we've shared AND went above and beyond what we've said and put it to work for you. And well, the proof is in the results Wink

Sorry! LOL! I so had to throw that in there because I know you've put a lot into this business - a reason why I feel so bad this has happened to you. And of course I know you've taken a lot of advice that we've shared with you, lol!

Lauren, that IS excellent results and honey, if you can make it work for you without re-inventing the wheel - I say go for it. Besides, if their prices are lower now ... that'll make selling quite a bit eaiser for you Wink

Take care,
Anita Razz

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Lauren · Posted: April 14, 2008, 5:07 am Post subject:

Oh, I am a graduate student of the University of Direct Sales Helpers! LOL! And, it was you and Kara who first beautified that site, and I built on it from there! So I have you and Kara to thank for that as well!

What's nice is I can change the content, customize the member site (just like I could the Consultant site) so that it's not just another "cookie-cutter" Rep. site. Having the flexibility to put content there, plus my links really helps bring attention to it too!

There is no way you're going to get your business noticed on the internet without some sort of Internet Marketing! And it is a business, because basically how else are you going to attract customers, recruits, whatever without marketing yourself!?

So, now I take a bit of a different marketing approach with my new situation - I have personal experience with the product - all of the marketing tools are already in place. I've taken pages down, now it's time to revamp and reword them and get them back up!
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Anita · Posted: April 14, 2008, 6:58 am Post subject:

Oh yeah! Graduate with honors! And I forgot all about us "beautifying" that site, lol! I guess we did!

Congratulations & Good luck with turning those lemons into some sweet-tasting lemonade Wink

Keep us updated!

Take care,
Anita Razz

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