When you think of direct sales you may envision visuals of pyramid schemes, door-to-door selling, and unwanted inventory cluttering homes. Combating direct sales myths can be difficult, including separating real opportunities from “get rich quick” schemes. We’ve collected some of the most common questions, myths and truths behind direct sales. Read on to learn about becoming a Wine Guide with Traveling Vineyard, and how we’re different from the rest.
Mythbusting Direct Sales
Combating direct sales myths can be difficult, but we do our best. Traveling Vineyard is a leader in direct sales because we make a point of providing our Wine Guides with training, support, and delicious award-winning wine. These tools help our Wine Guides learn the product, build their businesses, and pursue their personal ideas of success. We’ve answered a few of the most common concerns about starting a direct selling career. Including how we do things differently here at Traveling Vineyard.
What is direct sales and the party plan business model?
Also known as direct selling, direct sales is defined by Direct Selling: A Global and Social Business Model as a “channel of distribution for personally selling products directly to consumers away from a fixed retail location. Direct selling includes sales made through one-on-one demonstrations, a party plan, and other personal contact arrangements as well as Internet sales”. Traveling Vineyard works on the party plan business model which is a sales presentation made to a group of individuals (guests), invited by the homeowner (host/hostess). For example, a host invites a Traveling Vineyard Wine Guide to a social event at their home, where potential customers get a chance to sample and order the company’s products. At Traveling Vineyard, we refer to this as an opportunity to “try before you buy.”
Is Traveling Vineyard a pyramid scheme?
Simply put, no. Pyramid schemes are defined by recruiters earning their money based on how many people they recruit and the money those recruits pay to be part of the business. The main aspect of a pyramid scheme is there are no products being exchanged. Pyramid schemes are illegal. Traveling Vineyard revenue is primarily (over 80%) derived from sales outside of the organization. A Pyramid Scheme would be the inverse, with 80% or greater of sales derived from sales made from inside the organization.
Are direct sales and multi-level marketing the same thing?
Some people confuse direct sales with multi-level marketing. An MLM is really just a method under the umbrella of direct sales. The key difference in an MLM is consultants will receive compensation for recruiting new salespeople to act as a team under them. While this isn’t inherently bad, you will want to keep an eye out for direct sales companies that only rely on team building, and not on selling the product in question. At Traveling Vineyard, as you add new team members you will only get paid when you actively work your business.
Can I make money working in direct sales?
Absolutely! Direct sales gigs are an opportunity to earn supplemental income. Working your business can help you pay for “extras” in life like kid’s after school activities, a date night out once a month, or even to help pay towards your monthly phone bill. Be wary of companies that use “get rich quick” language. Companies playing up the urgency factor, know that it will attract people who are in a tight financial spot. Legitimate extra income opportunities won’t promise you’ll see immediate results with hardly any work. At Traveling Vineyard, we tell our prospective Wine Guides that if they’re looking to get rich quickly and do a minimal amount of work, they’re in the wrong place.
Why are the start up costs so high?
If an extra income opportunity comes with a hefty price tag simply to “join the club,” beware. We’re not saying there won’t ever be an investment cost to begin, but we encourage you to make sure the cost is reasonable. Before you jump in, read the fine print to see exactly how much you’ll be paying, how often you’ll be paying it, and why you’re paying it at all. Some less-than-reputable companies say it costs a certain amount to get started and tack on excessive fees later, including hefty monthly dues, penalties for selling less product, etc. By investigating beforehand, you can save your hard-earned cash and find an extra income opportunity that doesn’t require a second mortgage to finance.
When you join as a Wine Guide, you purchase a Success Kit of your choice ranging from $59-$179. That’s it! Plus, we include three complimentary months of website fees in the initial start-up fee (after the first three months, the monthly website fee is $15.95).
Becoming a Wine Guide with Traveling Vineyard
Now that we’ve shared many of the direct sales myths and warning signs that signal un-reputable extra income opportunities, maybe you’re wondering how to find a legitimate opportunity that can help you reach your goals. Though we’re undeniably biased, we truly believe Traveling Vineyard is a great place to start looking. We value creating a safe and quality environment, which is why we’re BBB accredited with an A+ rating, a member of the Direct Selling Association, and a firm believer in abiding by their Code of Ethics. Furthermore, we’re a warm and welcoming community eager to see you succeed.
An essential part of who we are is our 5Fs: flexibility, friendship, fulfillment, financial reward, and fun! Many Wine Guides join for the financial reward of the wine business. However, they quickly discover the fun, friendship, flexibility and fulfillment that the Wine Guide Life has to offer. Our Wine Guides are the heart and soul of who we are, and that will never change.
Should we talk about the wine? Our business model of free in-home tastings makes it easy to build your business big. After all, who doesn’t want to sample complimentary wine through a fun, educational tasting experience from the comfort of home?
Our exclusive wines, sourced from vineyards across the globe, regularly receive high ratings from competitions. So, we’re happy to vouch for the quality of the product. There’s also the fact that direct selling wine is a brilliant business decision. Not only do your tastings give people a chance to sample the product before they purchase, but wine is simply a great industry to be in because it is a consumable product.
There will always be one thing that makes us better than any direct selling company, and that’s people like you. Are you ready to explore the Wine Guide life? Click here for more information and join a company that puts you first.