Consultant Tip: Stay out of Debt!

This is something we don't talk about much in the industry, but it's such an important lesson that it MUST be shared.

STAY OUT OF DEBT. DO NOT CHARGE YOUR CARDS WITH PRODUCTS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM OR NEED TO MAKE A QUOTA.

About 13 years ago, hubby and I joined a health & nutrition/weight loss company. We bought products and I was a retail machine - I had lost 62 lbs. and therefore everyone wanted to do what I was doing. But it was a financial nightmare for us. We stockpiled inventory and helped ourselves to whatever we wanted, charging huge sums on the card but retailing it off we were able to pay back a couple thousand dollars each month. After all, we were doing what our upline said and we were going to be RICH. Right.

After 3 years, it was unsustainable. The payments on the cards (notice there are now multiple ones) were going to take 398 years to pay back at the minimum. So we tucked our tails between our legs, gave up the business, and filed for bankruptcy protection. Ouch.

Obviously, I loved direct sales, as I started back into it a few years later with Southern Living at HOME (now Willow House). My biggest rule of thumb is I never charge any products I want - no matter how much I want them. I'm very proud to tell prospective consultants that I earned back the $199 I spent on my kit at my own launch show, and was turning a profit by the end of my first month. Sure, I add things on to orders for myself, but when I deposit funds to my SPECIFIED Willow House bank account, I know exactly how much is mine to spend. There is never any question as to whether I could "afford" to purchase a certain piece. I hostess once or twice a year myself to earn the Host Rewards and get it for free or at big discounts.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - if you are in Direct Sales, NEVER spend more than you're making. Sure, the discount is nice, and you earned that money, but go back to the reason you decided to get into the business before you make your own life harder. If it was for products at a discount, spend up to the amount you earned (and have that seperate bank account so you know for sure!). If it was for an extra $500 per month to pay DOWN your current debt, then spending everything you make on more product will only upset your husband and make you feel like a failure. Whatever your reasons - YOU know them. Hold yourself accountable.

As for me - I don't own every product Willow House makes. My kit came with plenty to show at parties so there is a nice sampling, and the Enhancement Kits we can get each year allow us to have some of the newer products. While I did purchase the Holiday Enhancement Kit, there wasn't enough in the special bank account to also get the Fall one, so I added a couple of pieces to a Hostesses order (retail points count too!) and I'm fine with that.

Go forth with your dreams & goals in mind, and PUT YOUR CARD AWAY. If you don't understand this, may I suggest checking out Dave Ramsey...

Love,
Crystal

Inspiration for Finding YOUR Style

Get your own Inspiration Guide FREE at any of my Willow House Events this fall.

Willow House: Hyacinth Measuring Cups

Our Product of the Week, Hyacinth Measuring Cups, make baking special sweets so fun! Standard 1 cup, 1/2 cup and 1/3 cup measures make these ideal for baking — and since measures aren't printed directly on the cups (although there is an interior line for exact liquid measurements), they're ideal as serving bowls, too.
The set of 3 is only $29.96, add them to an order of $39 or more and you can get this adorable set for only $14.98.

Please share in the comments section how YOU would use them.

Working With a Theme to your Design Presentation

One of the things I'm finding success with in my Willow House business is sharing a different theme within the design presentation portion of the party. I don't mean theme as in "Tacky Party" or "Sangrias & Senoritas", but sticking with a lesson that changes each month.

In August, it was "Fave 5 for Style" - working in Odd numbers, Texture, Height, Hue & Pattern, and Cool. For September, our focus is the "Fab 5 for Fall" and the presentation will be completely different. So anyone who attended one of my August parties will get a completely different experience in September, and I'm changing the games up just a bit as well. In October, the plan is "Jolly Holidays" with a focus on decorating, entertaining, and enjoying the upcoming Holiday Season. November will be all about "the Spirit of Giving", with some great gift ideas and lessons on spectacular packaging. And for December... I haven't decided! But I think I've got some time yet. And I'm sharing each of these with my team, so there is no need to "think up your own" - I've got you covered .

Spice up your presentation, change what you're showing at parties and give lots of ideas for each product you are sharing with guests, and you will soon become the "hottest ticket in town".

My Baby Turns 15 today!

Isn't it funny how long 15 years can seem in one breath, and how short it feels when you celebrate your oldest child's birthday?

My beautiful Emily, pictured here from Homecoming last year, is an amazing person. Her style is so unique - and she pulls it off somehow, too. I could never look as cute with purple highlights, spiky hair, or combat boots, yet she is never afraid to be true to herself and who she is.

Emily makes me so proud every day. Even when she thinks she's let me down, I'm proud to call her my daughter. She is one of the most sensitive, caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. While she doesn't have hundreds of friends, those that do know her are lucky that she calls them friend. She will always look to protect them and loves them more than she loves herself.

What a talented artist she is, too. Her gift for seeing details in her drawings and photography blow me away. While I appreciate that God gave me a gift for design, I know he passed a piece of that on to my dear daughter so that she could help the world see it "her way".

Again, Happy Birthday to the light of my life, my dear, sweet daughter. She will do amazing things and touch many lives, whether she realizes it or not. How Blessed we are!

Willow House Graymont Entertaining Bucket and Stand

With a black-etched floral pattern, built-in towel bar and lower shelf for storage, isn't this perfect for a Labor Day barbeque?

Another fantastic idea I heard was to set it on the front porch for Halloween, fill the bucket with candy and set a pumpkin in the bottom.

Wouldn't it also be great filled with fall mums?

Hostess a party this month and you can get this piece for only $43.79 (retail price $145.96) when you choose it as your 70% off item.

Please share your ideas! And not just for Fall - how about at Christmas, Spring, Summer?

Football Season is HERE!!

Okay, I admit it. I'm one of those die-hard Sports Moms. Whether it's our beloved Spotswood High School or recreation league basketball, I'm into it. But Friday night football - my heart skips a beat thinking about it.

This year, a new high school was built and they took half of the kids from Spotswood (previously 1300+ students, now around 700) and sent them to East Rockingham High School (now about 600 kids). These are kids that have grown up together, played football with each other since they were 8 years old, and now they're facing off TONIGHT at their brand-new facility. The rivalry is unprecedented around here. And of course, we are going! I'm curious to see how it all comes out, who ended up at which school, what the upcoming Juniors bring and whether sportsmanship will rule the night.

My 10-yr-old son is also a die-hard football lover and plays Right Guard on his rec league team. He counted the days for the season to start, and is excited about his first game coming up in a couple weeks. Practices started Monday and are 3 days a week, and while last year he came home sore and bruised, this year he's relishing the hits on the offensive line. He's on a short break from his Travel Baseball team during the season - check him out - #17 in the photo. Add into the mix the 13-yr-old playing Volleyball for the Middle School and she's also been invited to a Fall Softball team, and the 14-yr-old is doing the books and managing for the Varsity Volleyball team, we are in for one jam-packed fall!

Hubby and I will gladly sit in the stands for all of it, cheering the great plays and silently cringing the bad ones, but in the end my goal is always to enjoy each moment of watching my children grow up. I'm so grateful I have a job that allows me to work around my kids' schedules.