GREATEST SALES WOMAN OR NOT!

Several years ago I got myself into a bit of a rut.  I was busy with the kids, busy with my job, busy with my home and pretty much I threw on whatever I touched first in my closet on any given morning and the only accessory that I put on were my hearing aids – I was in a rut but I needed to hear! Makeup just sat in my makeup box wore very little or next to none, I couldn’t be bothered.  I wasn’t depressed if that’s what you’re thinking, I was just too busy and couldn’t really of cared less if someone found me attractive or not.  One day I woke up and went through my morning routine of not bothering and then I looked in the mirror  – let’s just say I wasn’t impressed I looked rather dull, washed up and for some reason that morning I cared!  Strangely enough I got an e-mail from one of the parents in my son’s school that she was starting a new business, selling a jewellery product(can’t mention the name here) and wanted to know if anyone was willing to hold a jewellery party.  I took a look at the catalogue and thought why not, I’ll help this lady and maybe get some free jewellery while I was at it.  I had the party and I earned about $400.00 in free jewellery and I have to say that the jewellery saved me from my bottomless rut that I was in.  I loved the jewellery and I kept thinking I need this to go with this and I bought a few more pieces and then about 6 months later I had another jewellery party and earned more free jewellery.  I started to not look so drab and I don’t know if it was the sparkle of the jewellery but people started to comment on my wardrobe and how I was looking so much more put together.  I was hooked I wanted more so I decided to put my money where my mouth was and become a sales representative for this nameless company.  At first it went pretty decent I got a few parties and from all the training I received I should get parties from parties – it was at this point that I discovered that even though I loved the jewellery and was enthusiastic – I’m no sales woman.  At one of my parties there was a woman looking at the display and going through the catalogue and she complained about the price, the product and the shipping cost blah, blah.  Now I’m supposed to smile and point out how fabulous she looked  wearing  the cubic zirconia necklace and how it brought out her eyes – nope I turned to her and said if you don’t really want the jewellery don’t feel obligated to buy it, you’re not doing anyone a favour especially yourself!  Well that didn’t go over well and to be honest I think she was somewhat surprised by my bluntness and needless to say I did not make that sale and even though I pointed out that she could earn free jewellery by having a party, she didn’t offer to have one.  Not that I haven’t had successes, I have repeat customers and they all tell me that my honesty is why they deal with me and that they appreciate honesty.  Now here is the whole point to this blog – the sales people who do the best really push sales and bother people and maybe they are not dishonest but they can be misleading and they do way more in sales than I do. I would much rather deal with someone like me,  I don’t push and when someone tells me they can’t afford something or are not interested, I say ok thank you.  I don’t go well you can put this on your Visa and pay later after all you look so fabulous and you can’t afford not to look fabulous, no  I don’t go there I just say ok.  I figure if someone says they can’t afford something then why push it.  Just the other day I was out and someone in a line-up commented on the necklace I was wearing, so I tried like the training says to take all opportunities that come my way,   I said ” it’s the company that I can’t say the name and I sell it, here is my card” and the lady said “no thank you!”  Now all she had to do was take the damn card and never talk to me again.  I’m told by other reps that they are successful with giving out cards when people compliment them, not me this lady wouldn’t even take the card.  I do sale the jewellery at somewhat of a discount and guess what I make some sales but not like you think I would.  So I have my base customers and can’t see myself making tons of money on the side here, let’s just say I’ll keep my day job and I don’t plan on not being myself so I guess I’ll just continue on being the worse sales woman ever after all I just might make a little extra to afford that new bracelet I’ve been admiring.