Direct Sales Opportunity Review: Silpada Designs
August 5, 2008
Silpada designs is a company that markets sterling silver jewelry through direct sales. It was started in Lenexa, KS, by Teresa Walsh and Bonnie Kelly.
Bonnie and Teresa met as school room mothers. The two had a lot in common and quickly became close friends. Soon, they were working together to find ways to earn income from home. They tried several different home business, but didn’t truly begin to love their work until they started Silpada Designs, because in addition to families and the need to earn additional income, they also shared a passion for jewelry.
The two met as school room mothers, quickly became friends and began discussing ways to earn money from home. They tried several business ideas, but only became truly passionate about their work when they started Silpada Designs. This is because in addition to kids and the need to earn extra income, they also shared a love for jewelry.
Silpada Designs began with $25 saved back from a grocery fund. Bonnie and Teresa made the jewelry themselves and sold it at informal parties they called, “A Fun Ladies’ Night Out Playing Dress-up with Jewelry”. The Silpada Designs direct sales opportunity was born out of customers and hostesses coming to them, saying, “How can we get involved? You two look like you’re having so much fun!”
In 1997, Silpada Designs emerged out of the basement to become what it is today. Now it is the fastest growing .925 Sterling Silver Home Show in the U.S., with thousands of independent Representatives and Home Shows averaging $750 in sales.
The Silpada Designs Direct Selling Opportunity shares the appeal common to most network marketing companies. It allows Representatives the freedom to customized their businesses to their specific needs and schedules. Representatives may work full-time or part-time. They may advance in the company rapidly or gradually. The choice is theirs. As with most mlm companies ,the way to advance is to sponsor more and more new recruits and lead them to selling success.
As is the appeal with most MLM companies, the Silpada Designs business opportunity affords Representatives the option to customize their earning and workload to their specific desires, goals, and time schedule. Representatives can advance in the company as fast as they choose, by sponsoring new Representatives and guiding them toward success. A particular benefit of Silpada Designs is that, while rapidly growing, it is still a relatively young company, so the market is still open for new Representatives.
Representatives earn 30% commission on retail sales. There is no waiting period or sales quota to meet in order to obtain commissions. Representatives can also earn commission on the sales of recruits they sponsor. This begins with the first recruit.
Home Shows are the primary method of distrution for Silpada jewelry. The atmosphere of these shows is very informal, just friends having a party to try on jewelry and buy what they like. Representatives are not required to make formal sales pitches.
Hostesses can receive up to 30% of the total Home Show sales, and extra bonuses if the Representative obtains two bookings from the party.
Silpada Designs still clings to traditional network marketing tactics, such as recruiting neighbors, friends and people at the grocery store. Many network marketers have found such methods discouraging, as they often result in the representative becoming a neighborhood pariah whose business is at a stalemate.
The Internet has opened up new ways to generate leads without ever having to cold call or pester friends. Successful Internet marketers have prospects calling them, already sold on the product or business opportunity they offer. Nevertheless, Silpada Designs holds to the following policy:
NOTICE TO ALL ACTIVE INDEPENDENT SILPADA DESIGNS REPRESENTATIVES
According to the Silpada Designs Corporate Web Policy active Independent Silpada Designs Representatives are prohibited from listing on a business directory or other Web site using the company’s trademarked terms, including, but not limited to, “SILPADA” and “SILPADA DESIGNS”. As such, all active Independent Silpada Designs Representatives may not list on this Web site. Any such listing will be considered a violation of the Silpada Designs Corporate Web Policy and will be subject to all remedial actions.
Those interested in buying Silpada Designs jewelry or becoming Silpada Representatives may use the corporate website to find out how to contact a sponsor near them.
It costs $199 to become certified as a Silpada Designs independent Representative. Included in that price are training materials to help new Representatives build their business and develop recruiting skills. Additionally, Representatives need to purchase jewelry kits to bring to Home Shows so that guests can touch, feel and try the products on.
The Initial Certification Fee to become a Silpada Designs independent Representative is $199. That covers the cost of learning materials needed to get started, including tools to help boost recruiting abilities. In addition, Representatives must invest in their own jewelry kits to bring to Home Shows, so that guests can touch, feel, and try on the jewelry before making a purchase.
Representatives receive a 50% discount on all belts jewelry and watches. The Silpada Designs opportunity might not be for everyone, particularly those desiring to utilize technology in their marketing. However, for jewelry aficionados, it could be a really fun way to earn extra income simply by wearing, sharing and talking about the things they love.
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