Direct Jewelry Sales - How to Choose a Company to Represent

Whether you think you want to sell jewelry, makeup, or the latest acai berry weight loss product, there are several things to consider when deciding which direct sales company to join. The following five tips will apply to direct sales in any arena, and later I listed key features to consider about six popular jewelry companies I researched.

1) Interest. Sell something that interests you. Sure, you COULD sell something based on how much money you think you will make, or how hot the product or service is right now, but will that keep you motivated in the long run? Especially if your sales don't skyrocket like some uplines might promise. Most people will tell you that success in direct sales takes a willingness to stick it out for the long haul.

2) Reputation. Research several companies in the field of interest you've chosen. You'll want to know how long the company has been around, who is running the company, what is its financial situation, what kind of customer service do they have, what is the quality of their products, and how do they treat their reps? What is their return policy? Find out if the company is a member of the Direct Selling Association (http://www.dsa.org/). The DSA has a standard of conduct that members must adhere to. Many work-at-home sites review direct sales companies, or will have forums where you can gather feedback from others who have dealt with the company. If you search on the company name you should come across news articles as well.

3) Compensation. You can usually get some of this information on the company's website, but you may want to call or submit a request online to get more detailed information sent to you. You'll want to find out what is the company's compensation model? What will be your commission for your own personal sales? How are you paid? Can you retain your commission at the time of sale, or do you have to wait for a check from the company? On how many "levels" of your downline will you be paid an override commission? And what is your commission for recruiting?

4) Training. What kind of training will you receive? Will you work with your upline for your first few sales? Or are you on your own? Do they offer in person or online classes? What about a training manual or DVDs? Most companies provide a manual or training CDs with your sign up kit. Be sure to find out if and how much you will have to pay for any training materials. Also, find out if there is an annual renewal fee.

5) Marketing methods. Does the company have its own advertising campaign? Does it provide leads? Can you advertise? If so, what are the company's policies regarding print or online advertising? Can you use the company's name or create your own marketing materials?

Once you've carefully considered all of the above, and know how much money you can afford to invest, you should be ready to make a decision! In the next section I will review several home party jewelry companies that I researched in making my own decision.