The Big Heave Ho!

After just 6 months, I am quitting the Body Shop at Home. 


I think I have finally seen sense.


When I first decided to join back in October everyone around me was against it, yet I couldn't understand why. I didn't go into it as a job or a job alternative, I merely wanted some extra things on my C.V. Like I have mentioned before I am currently training to be a beauty therapist, and I thought that this company could have given me a lot of experience in:
- basic treatments
- selling
- ingredients
- self- employment (time management etc)


Since October I have had 2 parties. That is not good on anyone's books. One of them was my own!! I have had no chance to practice everything.
I have advertised everywhere I possibly can, expect newspapers. I use Facebook, Ebay, adverts in shops, online selling sites. No-one is interested and it makes me wonder why?


I then decided to take a different avenue and just stick with catalogue sales. Again, no-one is interested. I'm not a pushy sales person, yet that seems to be the only way you can survive within the company. My only saving grace in the last 3 months has been a business buyer in Bristol. She buys from me in bulk giving me £400+ orders each time (about 2 x a week). 


HOWEVER she wanted to buy at a reduced price. As a consultant I get 25% off everything I buy for myself. So I found myself putting her orders through in my name, and sometimes taking more off than 25%, on one occasion I actually PAID her to order, because she paid less than the actual total was! Stupid. Bloody Stupid. Its TBSAH 18th birthday this year, and to celebrate they are having a ball at Luton Hoo Hotel. Not everyone gets an invite, but 1 way you can bag an invitation is by being in the top 60 sellers nationwide. (Basically generate sales of £3000 between February - April)
I really REALLY wanted to go to this event. BUT it clashes with Eurovision, so **** it! I am leaving the company, with sales of £2597. So close, and I am the 36th top seller in the U.K.
This is going to make it hard for me to give a reason to my manager for leaving, as my sales don't reflect my genuine failure. So I shall just leave quietly. 


Even having stalls at fairs and events. I was losing money! I would pay £10 for the stall, then however many £'s for petrol only to sell nothing. I sit at my stall and people would look at my stock as if it had fallen off the back of a lorry. I would also be in constant competition with companies like Avon, Vie at Home and professional therapists.


So, i have had enough 
I recon in the 6 months, what with everything I sold and spent, I have probably only made £100. 


Do I regret doing it?
No, because I do still have the proof that in the last 3 months, legitimately I have accumulated sales of around £2500. And since November my total sales are just over £3000. That will sound very tasty to potential employers as it proves my selling power. I also was self-employed, I had to manage my time and I was working within a global company. 


I'm not a quitter. This is just not the right thing for me to be doing. I'm glad I tried it. I feel I gave it a good shot. And I am sad, because I did want it to work. But, i'm learning that in life you have to walk away from the things that won't work.


All I can say is now, CHEAP BODY SHOP ITEMS ON EBAY!!! :D

The Body Shop

So, as I may or may not have mentioned before, I am a Consultant with The Body Shop at Home. This is a job I have been doing since October 2011.


I make money in a variety of ways, catalogue orders, stock taking, fairs and parties.
To date I have only had 2 parties, one of them was my own! The other was an experience I won't forget, but may not rush back to. Many treat a Body Shop party as "something to do" while they all get pissed. I long for the day when someone ACTUALLY wants to listen and be pampered!


Fairs are my usual way of taking money. Either by buying product cheap and selling on at a good profit, or by taking orders. Have done many of these now, and to be honest I don't make a lot on the day, but it's a day out! I have met some wonderful people, and us stall holders all help each other find events, which is nice!


So to the products! I must admit I rarely used their products. It was the sort of company that people only consider using at Christmas - (still an element of truth in that). 
My top sellers include the Hemp range, which has been recommended by doctors for the use on very dry skin. 


The body butters are a bit of a flop. They are almost unique to Body Shop, especially the wide variety of scents available including: strawberry, Shea, pink grapefruit and olive. But although they smell lovely, they sell badly!


I tend to avoid make-up. I've never really been a huge make-up fan! I always preferred stage make-up. However, going into the Beauty industry I appreciate that personal appearance is crucial! I accept the fact that I will have to be wearing minimal make-up on a daily basis, something i'm not overly looking forward to! But despite my lack of confidence in this area, with Body Shop it is almost a neccesity as it tends to be the products that sell best!


So what would I say to someone wanting to join?
This is a tricky one to answer! Obviously, the more people I recruit, the more money I make. BUT my attitude to it is this......I DO NOT force people into the business. I openly tell them the pros and cons and let them make their own decision. I do not force selling targets upon them (just as I refused to join if they were put upon me). I like to take it all at my own pace. For me, this is not a career path, it is merely something that I wanted to do to add to my C.V. Each person has their own reasons for joining, that is mine.