Ok... I signed up. I go full throttle when it comes to things I am excited about, and I am so excited about Paparazzi. Since "About Me" covers my story a bit, I wanted to tell you why I picked THIS one, over so many. First, let me take you through the things I loved about this company.
First off, the biggest thing because without it there would be no point... Paparazzi is actually cute! Sure, there are style's I wouldn't pick for myself, but there is no style that wouldn't look great on someone. There are pieces for any genre of woman I can think of. From tweens to seniors, I could sell SOMETHING to anyone! There are preppy hair pieces, urban chunky brass and leather, eclectic bright feathers, simple strands and clean lines, big chandelier earrings and cocktail rings, elegant show stoppers, perfect pairs for the office, and lot's that would transition day to night. And it seems every one of them is truly interesting. That sounds like a lifeless statement, but I think I would seriously notice every piece I've seen. I have lots in my jewelry box that wouldn't happen with.
The second most important thing to me is... Paparazzi is so affordable! As a stay at home mom with a husband working at a church, it is an understatement to say I rarely spend money on anything extra. Eating out is a once a month delicacy and going shopping means getting groceries in this house. How in the world am I going to ask my friends and family to spend $50-$100 at a party when I could spend only a quarter of that few and far between? Everything here is literally $5.50. Ok, not quite everything... The kids items are $1 flat a piece. A DOLLAR! You can literally go to a Paparazzi party, purchase something and come home satisfied with product in hand that day, accessorize with your new buy, and get complimented all for change I can probably scrounge up in my various cushions and jars of coins.
My third excitement... Paparazzi is as easy or as complex as you want it to be! You can sign up for $40, buy 7 collections (5 pieces each), sell the 35 items for $5 and recoup your cost right there. Or you can buy a kit (I went back and forth but after speaking with consultants I am SO glad I did) and make $200 on the smallest one. Or if you own your own business like a boutique, salon, clothing store, consignment shop, etc. you can sell large quantities under your business and make a huge profit. You can set up whatever kind of system works for you as long as you don't low blow your competition with prices under $5. The company has set you up with open horizons instead of putting all of these rules and structure around you. You are required to buy 100 pieces within a years time. If you buy the smallest kit, you're already done for the year "quota" wise (plus the $40 sign up fee is waved). I like the flexibility I see!
Ok, you've hooked me... I want to do this.
Wanting something and actually deciding on doing it are 2 different thing. There were somethings I was worried about. At this point you're saying "WHY would you EVER tell people all of the not so comforting things about starting a direct sales business? You said you were once in marketing?!" Because here I intend to operate with integrity, to be honest about my journey AND because I want you to see how you can overcome these "standards" you come to know about a "normal" direct sales company. Because I honestly want to succeed at this and I think other people would genuinely want to as well.
So, the things I was not so excited about... There's no catalog! No online inventory, no "here's all the huge number of things I can give to you", no volume but your own. To my analytically wired and sort of scardy cat self, this sounded like a big task to overcome! How do I communicate with my clientele what they should buy? Then I sat back for a few minutes. I get to be in control. No one is asking for me to get them what I don't have and no one has to wait for their order and twiddle their thumbs. Is'nt that the thing I hate most about other orders I've made with other consultants? Ok, no catalog fear conquered. But no online inventory... This is hard for my digital marketing background to deal with. Commence "sit back" again. I get to control my products available and I am allowed to use almost any digital means necessary. Facebook can become my playground! I can create a website that costs me nothing but a yearly $10 domain charge! I am KING of my JOB. End online attachment. Honest truth, I will have to work more without a corporate site of my own, taking time to build an empire from meager beginnings. But by having that control I get to brand myself, control what my customers see, socially market the way I want, and when I do a good job my business can be more successful than a corporate website would ever do for me. About the time this revelation emerged I figured it out. THIS is why I get to buy a piece of jewelry, make a 45% profit, and charge only $5.50 with everything included. This is how Paparazzi does business, and this is why I love the structure of the company. You work harder but you keep your costs down, you keep your consultants options wider open than I've ever seen, and you cultivate a PERSONAL touch to your brand. Brilliant.
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