Retail is work, no doubt. It is unfortunate that people fail in business, but I think some folks just don’t understand business. I’ve had 3 successful small businesses in addition to my recent Mary Kay compliment. One was an accessory boutique – retail. I bought and sold items like purses, fashion jewelry, etc. at the exact same price point ratio as Mary Kay allows for it’s consultants: I had to buy some inventory first (started with a little and used profit to increase) buy for $1 sell for $2. All expenses, including store rent and utilities, employees, advertising, AND business growth planning, etc. had to come out of that gross profit. Mary Kay’s buy sell ratio allows an exact same gross profit model with which to run your business. It works, if you do. You can’t buy the kit, show a few friends and expect to earn well. It absolutely does allow for flexibility and earning. Naysayers… you may just need to take a few business and marketing classes and try something else. ps. failing in business the first or even second try almost always happened to people who have persevered and eventually succeeded.
New to Mary Kay, have reached out to all of the Women on my Friends List (who are a lot of people I really don’t know, but have mutual friends, or I do know but have not spoken with on awhile) But have had no luck. Was suppose to be holding a party tonight, and now the girl after sending her a message yesterday after speaking and her saying she would do the Party Thursday, I sent her a message yesterday (Friday) and sent her one today just asking her if she had a time she would like to have this party, after not hearing anything, I sent a message simply asking her if she was still wanting to, and if not that is was okay, but to please just let me know. Still nothing. Just very, very frustrating. I think out of 100 messages, I got about 5 replies, one who is currently now not answering. I have reached out to people threw Social Media, with very little to basically no progress. I have made phone calls to neighbors, contacts in my phone, what little Family I have, and nothing. I don’t know what else to do, to get the things rolling with having parties, getting people to even try a free facial!
You need to start warm chattering. Talk to people at the stores you shop at, the banks, everywhere. Make little treat bags with your business card in it and go hand out to business women.
This is the WORST part of Mary Kay — the stupid “warm chattering,” otherwise honestly called unwanted soliciting. It’s annoying and can get you thrown out of many public places. Women aren’t stupid. They know why you are doing this. Maybe back in 1962 when all this MLM/Mary Kay stuff was new, they didn’t at first but now…give me a break!
I love to warm chatter – ask them to be in my portfolio – “You have been so helpful/great service – here is a gift for you. ($10 shopping spree on back of business card or small package of samples) I would love for you to be my model and be in my spring portfolio with Mary Kay- you would be perfect for my – ‘blue eyes section’ or ‘career selection’ – I What is the best time to call to set up a time OR I do them on Tues, Thurs, Saturday next week – which would work best for you. Great I will call/email with more information when I get home – When is the best time to chit chat.
I love to work all over with my Mk – just got home with a 2 week vacation – warm chattered a lot of woman that gave me great service and worked with team members out of state/customers met on FB while driving to Disney world/Florida from Nebrasaka — This past weekend went into MO & KS for weekend trip with kids and did 2 MK things – deliver product from FB order in MO – team member open house in MO & MK workshop in KS.
I am just a beauty consultant working full time but love the flexibility with my MK 2nd job.
Hi Jillian, I’ve been in the insurance business for almost 4 years. If you are getting 5 out of 100 you are doing awesome!! In any sales position the rate of return is about 1-2%. 2% is on the high side! I recently joined Mary Kay to grow my business. If I did not have the sales understanding like I do I would be frustrated as well. I see all these negative comments on the internet about how they tried this or that sales job and they neve made money. One thing that everyone fails to remember, if it was easy everybody would be doing it! I did own a small boutique and it was really hard to make a living. I went into the business without doing research just thinking because I said this is “my business” I was going to make all this money. Wrong! Check at your local colleges and see if they have a Small Business Association. If they do, it doesn’t cost any money to go and meet with them. They have access to a VAST amount of information that will help you if you desire to start your own business whether it’s Mary Kay or whatever you choose. I hour this helps and good luck
Jillian,
Get creative with your marketing. Maybe you can create some flyers and go to different neighborhoods and leave the flyer on their front door (door knob flyers). If you don’t want to do that, try meeting some new people through local groups (book clubs or other hobbies through meetup.com) and when you introduce yourself tell about your business. Also when trying to gain customers, tell them about how you can provide them with excellent customer service and product knowledge. This is an opportunity to get them to host also. Really sell the idea of free samples, people love that! Hone in on your customer service skills and try not to hard sell…. that’s a big big turn off to people.
I can’t get nothing sold I’m nice I’m giving I’m offering discounts and nothing. … what should I do if I decide to go door to door… should I just leave a sample on the door or knock…. help…
I’m not a Mary Kay consultant yet. But, my consultant suggested I do Pre-orders to get money to get my starter kit(I recently lost my job). Now, I have tried everything I can think of to get customers. Anywhere from messaging all my lady friends on Facebook to the ones in my phone contacts. I even decided to start a fund raiser on gofundme.com. Not to mention a selling page in my area on Facebook. But, no dice. I need help. Is there something I’m doing wrong?
I am a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. And, even though I struggle too, I find that you cannot give up looking and trying new ways to work your business. You have to build a relationship with people as you meet them because no one wants someone just wanting to sell something. They want to know you care about them and they want to know what’s in it for them. I am learning as I go, praying, trying new things when I notice something isn’t working. One thing you cannot do is negative self-talk. You also have to stay consistent and keep track of everything including your time. Mary Kay supplies you with pretty much all the resources you need. And what is not supplied by the company, your Sales Director or MK family should. I love my Mary Kay family and will continue to grow and learn as I share our amazing company and products with amazing women and as I grow in my business! NEVER GIVE UP!
I have a love for Mary Kay products and it is hard to convince people to buy the products. The same products they market are in your local department stores and drugstores for a fraction of the price. I have always wanted to sell Mary Kay but in my town, everybody is in direct sales. How can you make yourself stand out from the rest, is the question.
I have passed the one year mark and cannot return my products. I have spent 3000 and only have sold about 1000 in over a year. I advertise on my car and to my friends and family and facebook. Although I get a few orders I am starating to feel like this was a huge mistake. I just want to get rid of my inventory and I try to sell for 1/2 off and still no takers. I honestly feel like I have less friends since I started doing this because they don’t want to be asked to buy make up from me. I am stuck with all of this inventory that I am practically giving away. If you are thinking about it please reconsider.
You can return any products you purchased in the last year. Just wanted to make that clear in case some of the items you have are not a year old.
I’d request a return form and send it all back and see what you get. Or try selling your lot or some popular items on eBay. They can’t do anything about that. Good luck.
Retail is work, no doubt. It is unfortunate that people fail in business, but I think some folks just don’t understand business. I’ve had 3 successful small businesses in addition to my recent Mary Kay compliment. One was an accessory boutique – retail. I bought and sold items like purses, fashion jewelry, etc. at the exact same price point ratio as Mary Kay allows for it’s consultants: I had to buy some inventory first (started with a little and used profit to increase) buy for $1 sell for $2. All expenses, including store rent and utilities, employees, advertising, AND business growth planning, etc. had to come out of that gross profit. Mary Kay’s buy sell ratio allows an exact same gross profit model with which to run your business. It works, if you do. You can’t buy the kit, show a few friends and expect to earn well. It absolutely does allow for flexibility and earning. Naysayers… you may just need to take a few business and marketing classes and try something else. ps. failing in business the first or even second try almost always happened to people who have persevered and eventually succeeded.
New to Mary Kay, have reached out to all of the Women on my Friends List (who are a lot of people I really don’t know, but have mutual friends, or I do know but have not spoken with on awhile) But have had no luck. Was suppose to be holding a party tonight, and now the girl after sending her a message yesterday after speaking and her saying she would do the Party Thursday, I sent her a message yesterday (Friday) and sent her one today just asking her if she had a time she would like to have this party, after not hearing anything, I sent a message simply asking her if she was still wanting to, and if not that is was okay, but to please just let me know. Still nothing. Just very, very frustrating. I think out of 100 messages, I got about 5 replies, one who is currently now not answering. I have reached out to people threw Social Media, with very little to basically no progress. I have made phone calls to neighbors, contacts in my phone, what little Family I have, and nothing. I don’t know what else to do, to get the things rolling with having parties, getting people to even try a free facial!
You need to start warm chattering. Talk to people at the stores you shop at, the banks, everywhere. Make little treat bags with your business card in it and go hand out to business women.
This is the WORST part of Mary Kay — the stupid “warm chattering,” otherwise honestly called unwanted soliciting. It’s annoying and can get you thrown out of many public places. Women aren’t stupid. They know why you are doing this. Maybe back in 1962 when all this MLM/Mary Kay stuff was new, they didn’t at first but now…give me a break!
I love to warm chatter – ask them to be in my portfolio – “You have been so helpful/great service – here is a gift for you. ($10 shopping spree on back of business card or small package of samples) I would love for you to be my model and be in my spring portfolio with Mary Kay- you would be perfect for my – ‘blue eyes section’ or ‘career selection’ – I What is the best time to call to set up a time OR I do them on Tues, Thurs, Saturday next week – which would work best for you. Great I will call/email with more information when I get home – When is the best time to chit chat.
I love to work all over with my Mk – just got home with a 2 week vacation – warm chattered a lot of woman that gave me great service and worked with team members out of state/customers met on FB while driving to Disney world/Florida from Nebrasaka — This past weekend went into MO & KS for weekend trip with kids and did 2 MK things – deliver product from FB order in MO – team member open house in MO & MK workshop in KS.
I am just a beauty consultant working full time but love the flexibility with my MK 2nd job.
Your not alone I too having same issues
Hi Jillian, I’ve been in the insurance business for almost 4 years. If you are getting 5 out of 100 you are doing awesome!! In any sales position the rate of return is about 1-2%. 2% is on the high side! I recently joined Mary Kay to grow my business. If I did not have the sales understanding like I do I would be frustrated as well. I see all these negative comments on the internet about how they tried this or that sales job and they neve made money. One thing that everyone fails to remember, if it was easy everybody would be doing it! I did own a small boutique and it was really hard to make a living. I went into the business without doing research just thinking because I said this is “my business” I was going to make all this money. Wrong! Check at your local colleges and see if they have a Small Business Association. If they do, it doesn’t cost any money to go and meet with them. They have access to a VAST amount of information that will help you if you desire to start your own business whether it’s Mary Kay or whatever you choose. I hour this helps and good luck
I meant to say I hope this helps
Jillian,
Get creative with your marketing. Maybe you can create some flyers and go to different neighborhoods and leave the flyer on their front door (door knob flyers). If you don’t want to do that, try meeting some new people through local groups (book clubs or other hobbies through meetup.com) and when you introduce yourself tell about your business. Also when trying to gain customers, tell them about how you can provide them with excellent customer service and product knowledge. This is an opportunity to get them to host also. Really sell the idea of free samples, people love that! Hone in on your customer service skills and try not to hard sell…. that’s a big big turn off to people.
Good luck to you!
I can’t get nothing sold I’m nice I’m giving I’m offering discounts and nothing. … what should I do if I decide to go door to door… should I just leave a sample on the door or knock…. help…
I’m not a Mary Kay consultant yet. But, my consultant suggested I do Pre-orders to get money to get my starter kit(I recently lost my job). Now, I have tried everything I can think of to get customers. Anywhere from messaging all my lady friends on Facebook to the ones in my phone contacts. I even decided to start a fund raiser on gofundme.com. Not to mention a selling page in my area on Facebook. But, no dice. I need help. Is there something I’m doing wrong?
I am a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. And, even though I struggle too, I find that you cannot give up looking and trying new ways to work your business. You have to build a relationship with people as you meet them because no one wants someone just wanting to sell something. They want to know you care about them and they want to know what’s in it for them. I am learning as I go, praying, trying new things when I notice something isn’t working. One thing you cannot do is negative self-talk. You also have to stay consistent and keep track of everything including your time. Mary Kay supplies you with pretty much all the resources you need. And what is not supplied by the company, your Sales Director or MK family should. I love my Mary Kay family and will continue to grow and learn as I share our amazing company and products with amazing women and as I grow in my business! NEVER GIVE UP!
I have a love for Mary Kay products and it is hard to convince people to buy the products. The same products they market are in your local department stores and drugstores for a fraction of the price. I have always wanted to sell Mary Kay but in my town, everybody is in direct sales. How can you make yourself stand out from the rest, is the question.
you don’t have to convince anyone…. they have a need and you can provide help to assist in getting the need taken care of
I have passed the one year mark and cannot return my products. I have spent 3000 and only have sold about 1000 in over a year. I advertise on my car and to my friends and family and facebook. Although I get a few orders I am starating to feel like this was a huge mistake. I just want to get rid of my inventory and I try to sell for 1/2 off and still no takers. I honestly feel like I have less friends since I started doing this because they don’t want to be asked to buy make up from me. I am stuck with all of this inventory that I am practically giving away. If you are thinking about it please reconsider.
You can return any products you purchased in the last year. Just wanted to make that clear in case some of the items you have are not a year old.
I’d request a return form and send it all back and see what you get. Or try selling your lot or some popular items on eBay. They can’t do anything about that. Good luck.