Direct Sellers Stick to Your Own Product Line

Something has been baffling me for quite some time.  Mayhaps someone can explain it to me.  Why do some direct sales independent consultants use product lines, other than their own, to promote their products?

For example, if you sell candles, wouldn’t it make the most sense to give away a wax sample of Autumn Sunset?  Or if you sell herbs and spices, wouldn’t you want to provide potential customers with a sampling of your top selling Scampi Blend?

Certainly this may seem like a blinding glimpse of the obvious; but bear with me.  I know of some consultants who take the time and expense to make up labels bearing their contact information and company website, and then purchase mini-chocolate bars and wrap them with their labels.  This would be adorable if you were in the chocolate business or even the customized label business.  Not so much for kitchen gadgets or candles.

Likewise I’ve witnessed some consultants begging for promotional items such as chap-stick, bearing their consultant contact information.  Okay, if you sell cosmetics and you’re offering a sample of your own product line.  However if you’re trying to promote children’s toys, can’t you find something within your own product line to offer rather than someone else’s lip moisturizer?

Consider the bottom line.  Consider profit margin.  Consider whether or not what you’re about to participate in will increase sales – that is, sales of your own product line.  Cute and adorable will only take you so far in business.  If the action you take today won’t lead you closer to the next customer, hostess or recruit, it might be time to rethink your action plan.  If you’re a direct sales independent consultant, you’ll do well to stick to offering your own product line.