Make $ Stamping Your Creativity

In January, one of the resolutions the 30daysof...blog suggested was to send your sentiments in a real greeting card versus an email, text or facebook message.  It's just more personal.  For this reason, I was excited to learn more about the business opportunity Stampin' Up.  You can be creative AND make money doing it your way.  I interviewed Gina Shaw to learn more about the business opportunity.

30daysof: What is the name of your business?
GS: Cards by Gina. I'm an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business?
GS: I recently took a voluntary retirement package from Scholastic Inc. after working there for 18 years. In my most recent position, I was the Editorial Director of Original Publishing for the Scholastic Book Clubs. 
For more than five years now, I have been passionate about creating scrapbooks and greeting cards. My career counselor at The Five O'Clock Club helped me to realize that I wanted to follow my passion into my next job. She actually found a Stampin' Up! blog and told me to look at it. I did and I got in touch with the blog owner, Mary Fish, who told me all about the Stampin' Up! company and what it meant to become a demonstrator. I was hooked immediately! 

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars?
GS: Yes, there is a start-up cost since you do need to purchase the Demonstrator's Starter Kit for $199 and you can add on the Stampin' Memories kit for $50. Please note: This is the price in the SU! Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book and Catalog. A new catalog will be released on July 1, 2009 and I'm not sure if there will be a change in price at that time. With these two kits, you have all the items you need to run workshops, host parties; etc. and you really get to see and use the quality products that Stampin' Up! has to offer. 
Stampin' Up! has been in business for 20 years and they have an excellent business model for helping you to run your own business (or, if you are a hobbyist and want to buy materials for your own pleasure). When you become a demonstrator, there are discounts on the products you purchase and what you need to earn is minimal in order to stay active. Again, this may change so I can't give a figure here. 

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc...
GS: My upline Mary Fish and her group, the Stampin' Pretty Pals, as well as the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Web Services site keep me very motivated. There are always new techniques being shared; ideas for workshops being posted; stamping challenges you can take part in; great specials for my customers and my party hosts; etc. All of this and my love for the end result of cardmaking and scrapbooking keep me extremely motivated and inspired. 

30daysof: What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?
GS: Wow! That's really hard to say. I love the stamp sets because they are high-quality and affordable--the best I've ever used--and SU! offers so many choices that you're sure to find more than one that you'll love; their paper is beautiful, with the color soaked through and through, and very easy to work with; SU! coordinates all of their colors--papers, ink pads, markers, designer papers; etc. so it's extremely easy to make beautiful projects. Their prices are great, too! 

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?
GS: Getting the word out so that people can find me. My greatest joy as a demonstrator is to share what I know and what I learn by having access to SU's demonstrator's web services site and my Pals group. I love running hands-on workshops; showing techniques and products; and making people feel very creative! 

30daysof: How do you get paid? 
GS: I get a percentage of the products I sell as well as free merchandise, depending on the amount purchased by my customers.

30daysof:  Is there room for advancement (growth)?
GS: Yes, that's the beauty of Stampin' Up!. You can run your business any way you're comfortable with--as a hobby to a full-time business. Each demonstrator runs his/her business to suit his/her needs, time, etc.

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours?
GS: My competition is all of the retail stores that sell rubber stamps and cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies. I chose Stampin' Up! because of the high-quality and affordablity of its products and because they don't sell into retail stores. They only sell through demonstrators. and with that comes so much information! 

30daysof: What is the best way for someone to contact you?
GS: My website address is: http://www.cardsbygina.stampinup.net and my
e-mail address is ginatshaw@gmail.com. It's helpful to put Stampin' Up! in the subject line of an e-mail. You can leave messages for me at both places.

Read More

Make $ - but lose weight!

Garages, cars, and refrigerators get cleaned out regularly so why shouldn't you?  With so many toxins and pollutants entering our system everyday, (both voluntarily and non-voluntarily) monthly maintenance is a MUST.  Isagenix is a company that focuses on weight loss through cleansing.  I interviewed Sherry Donaho to learn more about the business opportunity and the product. Also, in January I focused on lowering your cholesterol for a resolution.  There is a picture of how our arteries get clogged.  It is the same for our intestines.  Clean them out!

30daysof: What is the name of your business?
SD: Isagenix

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business?
SD: I didn't go into wanting to get into the business. I used the products and loved them. When people saw the weight loss and the change in my hair and skin they started asking me what I was doing and wanted to sign up. They came to me.

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars? 

SD: There is a $49.00 membership costs annually. The rest of the start up costs is the shakes and products that you will consume. To stay active as a consultant you need to be on the Autoship program and purchase 100 BV points a month which equals about $150.00. If you are using the products everyday this total is very easy to come to. They do have contests and you qualify to enter the contests by signing up new consultants under you. The contest is usually a trip somewhere.

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc...
SD: Isagenix has weekly dial in calls with top sellers in the company and the people who create the products. They are a great way to stay up to date with the latest and greatest with Isagenix. They are in the evenings so I can call in after work or on my drive home. My upline has monthly meetings and will have "tasting" parties every week. I can bring pepople who are interested to the party and they can get more information and actually sample things before they buy them. We all have our before and after pictures and that keeps us all motivated. 

30daysof:What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?

SD: My favorite is the Ionix Supreme. You only drink 1 to 2 oz a day. I drink mine before I go to bed at night. It relaxes me and I sleep better. I wake up the next morning ready to take on the world with better mental clarity. I have people who only buy this. 

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?
SD: Right now its the economy. People run away as soon as they hear the cost. But if I get to have a dialog with them and explain that they won't need to get as much at the grocery store any longer since this will be the bulk of their diet, the savings and cost of Isagenix equals out. Plus its healthier and they will feel better!

30daysof: How do you get paid? 
SD: Everytime I cycle they download my commission onto a Visa debit card.

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)?
SD: You can go as high as you want. Put the work into it and the skys the limit!

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours? 

SD: I just recently heard about Shaklee although I haven't done alot of research on them yet. GNC sells all kinds of shakes and cleanses. I chose Isagenix because I saw first hand the results. My Aunt who I hadn't seen in a year looked 15 years younger and 30 lbs lighter. That was enough for me!

30daysof: Who can I contact to learn more about this product?
SD: I'd be happy to talk to anyone interested 714-414-8718. Or they can go to www.isagenix.com and read more for themselves. 

Read More

Make $ the Scentsy Way

I adore these wickless candles by Scentsy.  They are my favorite gift to give to friends, family, and teachers. Recently I purchased The Patriotic Candle for the 4th of July decor in my home.  To learn more about the product and the business opportunity, I interviewed Lisha Platta, Lead Consultant for Scentsy.

30daysof: What is the product you sell and tell me a little about the company:

LP: Scentsy Wickless Candles is a home fragrance company that use warmers and scented bars to fragrant your home or office.  There is NO wick, NO flame, NO soot, NO smoke, so we offer a very safe alternative to the burning candle.  They use a 25 watt lightbulb to melt/warm the scented bars which are made of wax, maximizing the fragrance time in your home.

30daysof:  Why did you get started in this business? 

LP: Because it was a fantastic product no one had heard of and there were very few consultants in California! I was getting in on the ground level and knew success would be easy. The company is based in Idaho and just celebrated their 5 year Anniversary this year.

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars?  

LP: The start up cost is only $99 and that includes everything you need to sell! There is no stock to buy, so you are not spending your own money upfront.  When you join at $99 that includes a warmer, scented bar, room spray, car candle, 50 catalogs and order forms, literature and training as well as 80 scent testers to get started! You are completely ready to begin.

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who  inspire, etc... 

LP: My motivation purely comes from the passion and excitement I get from my customers reactions to the product! You would be amazed how "smells" can really lift a persons spirit or mood and transform them into another place and time with that fragrance. 

30daysof:  What is your favorite product or the best selling product  (service) you offer? 

LP:  The best selling product are the warmers by far, with the scented bars. They are very affordable at only $30 and each scented bar is an amazing $5!!  The hot sellers currently (warmers) are the Safari Collection (zebra, cheetah, giraffe) as well as the Resaissance Collection. The nice thing is you are not replacing a $20 candle every time you want a new fragrance in your house or office... you just switch out the scented bar and instantly you have a new scent!

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?  

LP: Don't need too...the minute people see it, or walk into a scented room and ask what's that yummy smell, then they are instantly sold on the product!!  My bathroom plug in warmer gets noticed everytime someone goes in there to use it and they always ask where did I buy it (and that strikes up a conversation about Scentsy!) Also, our warmers light up so they have a certain beauty about them.

30daysof: How do you get paid?  

LP: By the company (25% commission on up) and by my customers at 100% profit if I sell products I received at no charge.

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)?  

LP: Yes...by the amount you sell and by introducing people to join your team!! That is what I am currently trying to do, since there are not allot of consultants in California yet. It's great exposure since the market has never seen this product yet!! 

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours? 

LP: The only other candle company that would be considered competition would be Gold Canyon, although they offer only 7 warmers currently, and we offer around 40.  Their scented bars cost $6 and last for up to 20 hrs, while Scentsy scented bars cost $5 and lasts for 60-80 hrs. 

30daysof: How can someone contact you to learn more about this business? 

LP: At my website at www.scentsy.com/lisha by phone at (949) 636-4988 or by email at lishaplatta@gmail.com 

Read More

Make $ designing inspirational quotes.

Everyday as I walk downstairs I see a quote adhered to my family wall.  It reads, CHERISH YESTERDAY, DREAM TOMORROW, LIVE TODAY.   This constant reminder dissuades me from pettiness and inspires action in my everyday life.   Everyone has a favorite quote they live by but many times we can't remember what it is. Uppercase Living is a company that sells decorative quotes so people can transform their spaces into a reflection of themselves.  It is also a business you can make money your way.  I interviewed Wendy Pierson (WP), a representative for Uppercase Living to learn more about the opportunity.

30daysof: What is the name of your business?  

WP: Uppercase Living~vinyl expressions that are easily applied to walls or many other items to decorate your home.  You can very easily design your own personalized expression.  A great way to earn free product is to host an Open House.

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business? 

WP: I fell in love with the product and I knew I would regret it if I didn't promote it.  It is beautiful, fun, easy and makes your home more "you".

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars?  

WP: There is a start up cost.  Right now UL is offering the starter kits for only $99.  There is a requirement of $300 in quarterly sales to stay active.  It has never been a problem for me to meet this goal.  There is a 25% instant commission and also other promotions throughout the year including a cruise for those who are very motivated.

30daysof:  How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc... 

WP: I am pretty much word of mouth as I do this part-time and for a little extra income....and fun too!  I usually try to have 1 party a month and generally get bookings from other parties.

30daysof:  What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?  

WP: I love all the products.  They are great for every room in the house and also make great gifts.....Teacher Appreciation Week is coming soon!!

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business? 

WP:  I am not a go getter.....I prefer to let the business come to me from word of mouth.  I don't like to be pushy.

30daysof:  How do you get paid? 

WP: I get paid directly from the customer and then put the order on my credit card, minus the instant commission.  This has worked very well.  I have a credit card for my business so it is not linked to my personal account.  UL also offers a way for the customer to order directly off the demonstrators website and also for the demonstrator to accept credit cards.  There is a fee for these services.

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)?  

WP: Yes.  There are several levels up the ladder of success.

30daysof: Who is your competition? 

WP: Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours?  None that compare to Uppercase Living.  UL offers more designs, more colors, and amazing customer service.  Also UL offers the customer a way to easily design their own custom expressions.

30daysof: How can they contact you or learn more about the company?  

WP: My website is http://wendypierson.uppercaseliving.net or my # is (951) 858-8377.  The catalog can be viewed on my website.  Contact me for any qestions or for any orders.

Read More

Make $ with Southern Living

If you love decorating and entertaining in style then Southern Living at Home is a business opportunity to look into.  I interviewed Tasha Bantau, a 2 star consultant, to learn more about the business.

30daysof: What is the name of your business? 

TB: Southern Living at Home (AKA...SLAH) It is Southern Living at Home's mission to create a feeling of welcome, comfort, and beauty in homes all across America, while fostering the spirit of Genorosity in the lives of their consultants and their families.

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business? 

TB: That's simple, I just wanted the kit. SLAH has no minimums. You can simply by the kit and walk away with all that product. It wasn't until someone told me that they wanted to do a party that I even considered this as a business. Then I learned how awesome this company truly was. Most direct sales business make you purchase catalogs and other business supplies...not SLAH with every party you submit you get credits to purchase supplies and we just pay the shipping cost.

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars? 

TB: The cost for signing up is $199 plus tax (no shipping). You get over $600 worth of product plus all your business supplies (catalogs, order forms, training materials,etc...) oh and ME, as your fabulous trainer! SLAH is very generous with promotions...once you hit your first $1000 in sales you become a qualified consultant which means you get to start earning commission off anyone you recruit. After that its very simple to start promoting higher with more recruits you get as long as they are active ($500 in sales a month). With SLAH you don't earn a car, you earn cash! I recently earned my first incentive trip to Cancun, everything was paid for. I only spent money on the excursions that I wanted to do off property. We stayed at the all-inclusive Cancun Palace Resort. To earn that trip all I had to do was earn 13,000 points between January 1 - April 30. Each $1 = 1 point and each recruit = 1000 points. SLAH gave us the opportunity to earn double points in February where each $1 = 2 points and in March each recruit was 2000 points. That made it really easy for me to get this trip. 

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc... 

TB: We have a great bunch of women in SLAH that keeps up motivated really well, they include us on conference calls where we meet SLAH consultants all over the US and they buddy us up with others so we have our own personal cheerleader. Our group recently read The Energy Bus what a great motivator this book was. It really is all about our positive energy that determines if we will exceed in everything we do.

30daysof: What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer? 

TB: Almost every customer wants the Entertaining Bucket and Stand, so the best way to earn it is through hosting a party to get a % of your sales towards FREE products!

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business? 

TB: I work a full time job in Orange County so it's hard for me to really market well in the area that I live in.

30daysof: How do you get paid? 

TB: Anyone paying by check writes the check to me so I collect my commission right away. If they are paying via credit card then SLAH will direct deposit the commission into my bank account.

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)? 

TB: Totally! It's all up to you...what you put into your business is what you get out of your business.

30daysof:  Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours? 

TB: I had made purchases with SLAH back in 2002 and loved the quality of the product, in fact my husband told me that if I was buying anything else from direct sales companies he only wanted me to purchase through SLAH because of the quality that was good enough for me! Princess House has started selling some similar items so I guess that would be our competition.

30daysof:  What is the best way to contact you to learn more? 

TB: Your clients are welcome to call me via cell at 714-742-8274 or email me at Livingsouthernca@aol.com. Of course, they are welcome to look at my web site www.southernlivingathome.com/SoCal to see the specials for the month for hostess and customers. I live in Corona but I'm willing to travel...I've done parties in Long Beach and all the way down to Chula Vista.

Read More

Make $ with acai.

Many of you have driven by a car that has the sticker on the back with the words MonaVie applied to it.  Or a person who is glam'd up with this companies name all over their hat, their shirt, jacket and even on their jewelry.  MonaVie is a juice drink featuring the acai (/ah-sah-EE/) berry.  I interviewed numerous people to share the business module and product information.  The interview featured is from Jean and Steve Schulte (JSS) who are extremely passionate about sharing MonaVie.

30daysof: What is the name of your business?

JSS: We are Steve & Jean Schulte - MonaVie Independent Distributors

We have a BOTTLE OF FOOD...19 Superfruits - each hand picked for their superior nutritional value - with the #1 Superfood in the world - the Acai Berry being the CROWN JEWEL!  Combining the BEST of Science and Nature, this singular nutritional beverage is packed with a broad spectrum of phytonutrients and antioxidants to help you feel and look your best!

30daysof: Why did you get started in this business?

JSS: Because we wanted HEALTH AND WELLNESS in our lives on a LONG TERM BASIS and knew our family wasn't eating the 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables we are supposed to be getting each and every day we started drinking MonaVie - and were SO COMPLETELY blown away by our own personal results we knew we had to share it with others!  I  had Cancer 8 years ago and NEVER wish to get it again...and I fully appreciate and understand the power of ANTIOXIDANTS eliminating FREE RADICALS in our bodies - which are the pre-cursor to cancerous cells.  My main goal has and ALWAYS will be to help people get HEALTHY  both physically AND financially for those who wish to create an additional income stream!  The WELLNESS Industry is the LARGEST sector of industry right now and within that SECTOR the primary driving force is the Functional Food Category or Functional Beverage Category. 

 

I saw HUGE opportunity mixed with a much higher purpose of helping bring a tremendously healthy product to market worldwide.  Initially, we started to share MonaVie to just try and "earn our product for free".  Needless to say....it went WAY beyond that very quickly!  In just 18 months, we've created an additional income stream that matches my full time corporate career annual salary!  And we've created that.....PART TIME!! This is passive, residual income that will bless our family for many years to come!  Now we get the privilege of showing others how to create that for themselves!

 

30daysof: Is there a start up cost? Describe the start up cost and what you need to do to qualify for promotion or revenues, trips, cars?

JSS: The TYPICAL start up cost is a $39 Enrollment Fee and whatever product you purchase at wholesale.  As a MonaVie Stimulus Package - the Enrollment Fee is WAIVED so you can put that into your Product instead!  If you want to be a consumer.....you just need one case per month per adult in your household.  For less than $4.00 a day...you can get the equivalent of 13 servings of fruits and vegetables from an antioxidant content in just 2 oz. twice a day!  MonaVie is a great VALUE....it's always there and ready for you - pour your shot and it tastes great!  If you were to TRY and eat 13 servings of fruit a day - you would no doubt have waste and fruit you would have to throw away due to it "going bad".....you don't have ANY waste with MonaVie!  It's quick, it's easy and it's a value!  Exactly what people want and need! 

 

If you want to build a business.....we have bulk order options that allow you to greatly reduce your cost on a per bottle basis to anywhere between $20-32 a bottle.  You can order 3, 6 or 12 cases to get your business launched and have "no lag" time in being able to put product in people's hands when they say "YES".  

30daysof: How do you stay motivated? Books, quotes, people who inspire, etc...

JSS: I read and listen to alot of motivational authors and speakers!  A few of my favorites are Jim Rohn, John Maxwell, Mark Yarnell and Joyce Meyer.  Leaders are readers......and investing in ourselves and in our ongoing personal development is an important aspect of my personal philosophy!

"Success is neither magical nor mysterious.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals."  - Jim Rohn

What we think about, we bring about....so feed your mind positive messages and surround yourself with positive people!  It's infectious!  We become our environments!!  

 

30daysof: What is your favorite product or the best selling product (service) you offer?

JSS: My favorite product is the MONAVIE ACTIVE juice!  It's an amazing whole food that has made a world of difference in my health and my family's health!  I also have to say the MonaVie Gel packs in individual servings refrigerated or frozen are GREAT for  traveling!! (Kids love it too!) 

30daysof: What is your biggest challenge in marketing your business?

JSS: Finding ENOUGH time to make ALL the visits and calls to EVERYONE I know and LOVE to share this AMAZING product!!

30daysof: How do you get paid? 

JSS: First of all - MonaVie has the FINEST Compensation Plan in the Industry!  MOST Network Marketing Companies payout only 10-15% of total profits to their Distributorship.  MONAVIE pays out 50% of the GROSS profits on a weekly BASIS - every week for the past 4 years.  

WEEKLY we get paid every FRIDAY.....we call it GOOD FRIDAY in MonaVie!  We get an email notifying us how much MonaVie is depositing to our Mona-Visa card!  

Right now in America.....an extra $500 a month can sometimes be the difference between a family keeping their home or losing it.  We show people how to create that additional income stream coming into their household with this amazing home based business!  And whether your goals are an extra $500 a month or $5,000 - it's all possible!  We are living proof of that!

30daysof: Is there room for advancement (growth)?

JSS: ABSOLUTELY!!  There are over 300 M people in the US and only about 2 M people thus far consuming MonaVie and only 7% of that figure actively Distributing it!  MonaVie was founded in 2005, and is just 4 years old - and proud to be a Debt Free Company with the profile of a Fortune 100 company.  MonaVie reached the $1 Billion mark in sales in just 3 years - thus making it the fastest growing Network Marketing Company of all time. Faster to the $1 B mark than Amway - which comparatively took them 11 yrs - with a vast product line.  The Management Team is a team of EXCELLENCE!  Our long term goal is to be a $20 Billion Company in 20 years.  At this pace...that won't be a problem!!

30daysof: Who is your competition? Other companies that sell the same products or services? Why did you choose yours?

JSS: When we looked at the Functional Beverage Category -we realized this was the LARGEST sector of the Wellness Industry.  The Functional Beverage Category is a $50 Billion market sector (including MonaVie, Red Bull, Gatorade, Monster, etc)  We felt MonaVie was superior due to it's HIGH antioxidant AND phytonutrient components. It was a HEALTHY beverage that packed much more "punch" than the competition!  There are 11,000 Baby Boomers retiring everyday.  They all want to be healthy, active and stay looking and feeling young!  What if YOU knew what 1 Billion people worldwide needed?

1) We particularly LOVED the fact that the primary Ingredient was the #1 SuperFood in the World, the ACAI BERRY from the Amazon Rainforest.  

2) MonaVie holds the PATENT called the "Opti-Acai Process" that allows them to LOCK in 100% of the nutritional value of the Acai Antioxidants thru a patented freeze drying process.  Other companies spray or air dry their Acai only capturing 2/3 of the nutritional value.  

3)  MonaVie is the largest purchaser of Acai from Brazil - thus allowing us to get the PREMIUM fruit. Acai is the #2 Export from Brazil next to wood.

4)  We were completely impressed with the Five Star Opportunity of MonaVie!  The Right Product, The Right Timing, The Right Management Team, The RIGHT Compensation Plan and The Right Cause - The MORE Project which stands for "MonaVie Operation Rescue" which was founded to hep disadvantaged children overcome their circumstances and become self-sufficient through education and training.   

30daysof: How can they contact you or learn more about the company?

JSS: Please contact us so we can share this AMAZING product and opportunity with you!  We welcome your phone call or email and promise you will be impressed with our commitment to providing outstanding service, Leadership and support to our team of consumers and Business Builders!  

Get in touch with me so I can share the Opportunity with you either over the phone or in person!  You can check out my website at www.mymonavie/jeanschulte

Steve & Jean Schulte

Corona, California

(951) 898-9317 home / (951) 642-3396 cell

email:  TheAcaiAdvantage@prodigy.net

website:  www.mymonavie/jeanschulte

Read More