Why I Chose Arbonne, Part II

If I said that I was sold the first time I used an Arbonne product, I would be a liar. In fact, I used Arbonne products off and on for a couple of years before it ever occurred to me that maybe I would like to sell the products, even with my personal consultant (who eventually, through her perseverance, became by upline) encouraging me to do so periodically (usually ever time I bought something through her!). Mainly, the issue was price. I often hear this complaint about Arbonne, and this was at the heart of the issue of the lady at the post office, as well. I was a Revlon girl not a Lancôme girl, so I suffered some sticker shock. Add in that shipping cost, and it looks astronomical. Years ago in Arbonne, before they had Preferred Clients you could sign up as a consultant, not actually sell anything, but get a 35% discount on your product, so I took advantage of that to alleviate my costs. But I was always still looking for the magic product with fat results and a super skinny price tag.

If you asked me now, however, I would quickly say that the products sell themselves. And they do. When I stopped just occasionally using the products while looking for a cheaper alternative and started using the product (namely the Clear Advantage set) consistently and as directed for a month or so, I came to two conclusions. The first being that a little bit goes a long way, after one month I had used maybe 1/3 of the container. Secondly, its hard to put a price on results, particularly when you have an actual problem, like I did with my skin. I mean, you can put a price on it, and I’m pretty sure my husband would insist that I do put a price on it at some point, but you know what I mean. Within reason. The product set cost $64.50 ($78.54 with tax and shipping if I purchased one set at a time), and if I replaced that even every other month (rather than every three, which is closer) I was still only spending less than $40 a month at full price to have a nearly perfect complexion, which I was only able to get otherwise with a combination of products and facials that were actually costing me far more. Also, I was only paying 65% of that, about $27.00. That suddenly seemed quite reasonable, once I put it all into perspective.

So, for me, that was one hurdle. Product usage. I started truly using the product and fell in love. It was my Gateway Drug into Arbonne. I tried more product, and the more I tried the more I loved, and the more I loved it, the more I tried. Then I learned more about the ingredients Arbonne uses and doesn’t use, as well as their commitment to offer environmentally sound vegan certified products and before I knew it, I was developing a relationship with the company behind the product. I never would have chose to market a product for a company I felt negatively about.
So, for me, that was one hurdle. Product usage. I started truly using the product and fell in love. It was my Gateway Drug into Arbonne. I tried more product, and the more I tried the more I loved, and the more I loved it, the more I tried. Then I learned more about the ingredients Arbonne uses and doesn’t use, as well as their commitment to offer environmentally sound vegan certified products and before I knew it, I was developing a relationship with the company behind the product. I never would have chose to market a product for a company I felt negatively about.

However, the idea of starting a business with Arbonne was still undesirable and laughable. Initially, I just honestly had no interest in having my own business. Some people don’t. They are happy where they are. Leave them alone. But also realize that things change. They did for me. After a couple of years of happily keeping house and children, I started thinking about what I was going to do with myself when my youngest children entered school. I could stay home…while an attractive option, I knew I would need something besides domestic bliss to fill my days. I have a degree in biochemistry, so I am not uneducated and could easily enter the work force again, but laboratory jobs tend to be under compensated and inflexible. I thought of getting a teaching degree and teaching high school science, but did I really want to go back to school? About as much as I wanted to stick a hot poker in my eye. That’s when Arbonne started blipping on my radar. Keep in mind, my Arbonne consultant was still present in my life. She didn’t disappear from it because I didn’t business build with her a couple of years ago.

But I have to say, Arbonne was still just a blip. Direct marketing and network marketing have bad raps. I think the attached stigma grew from the general bitterness felt by those invited to cookouts and dinner parties only to have some schmuck whip out a bulletin board and pointer mid event to show “what Amway can do for YOU!”. Also, not everyone wants a relationship with their skin care product. Some people just want to buy what they like and be left alone. And that’s OK. The hard part is, finding out whether or not someone is that type of person in a way that doesn’t make them feel pressured by you. I wasn’t sure could do that.

And frankly, I’m not a salesperson. Even if I could magically differentiate between those interested in product or hosting or business building, how would I be able to “seal the deal”? How would I be able to sell without feeling as though I was being “pushy” or potentially insensitive? I get uncomfortable talking to people I don’t know the moment they don’t respond in a way that I expect or would like. How could I talk to strangers? How could I explain away and alleviate fears without sounding like I was arguing with them? What did I do if people tried and disliked the product, or they didn’t feel it worked for them? It sounded daunting. And maybe only slightly more pleasant than a root canal. Of course, I was being reminded by my future upline that Arbonne has quite a few resources on how to sell the products. My main problem was that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with many of the methods that sales people had used on me in the past, and if I had to sell in that manner, that wasn’t really something I wanted to do.

Also, when I asked about starting my own Arbonne business, I started immediately computing in my head how much money I would have to spend to start. Consultant fees are $109 year plus tax at this time. And then there is you initial inventory…you don’t have to stock for Arbonne, but you should have at least an re9 bag on hand (and a baby and Clear Advantage set wouldn’t hurt) to show people at parties, and if you aren’t going to have an example of most of the products on hand for people to look at, you need samples. Samples cost money, as do Arbonne web pages, product literature and catalogues. It was obvious to me that I would need around $1500-2000 to be able to start off like I wanted. And as far as consultant fees and product literature, I was initially offended that they wanted me to pay them to sell their product. I was also unsure I wanted to risk a couple of thousand when I didn’t know if it would work out.

There was also a matter of time. I didn’t want to spend every night and weekend away from my family or be on opposite schedules from my husband. And I still had two small children at home, a teenager who seemed to need to be everywhere, and a household to run. I also had other interests that I didn’t want to give up, that would have been too much like having a J-O-B. I kept hearing about hard work and determination, and quite frankly, I wanted to know that I could do great things with hard work and determination, but I also wanted to know if I could make it worth my time with only part time hard work and determination.

So, you may ask, “What happened?". Let's look at that next time :-)

-Carli
www.sensationalskincare.myarbonne.com

Why I chose Arbonne, Part I

I am a relatively new Arbonne consultant, and I am still learning to deal with the look friends and family give you when you get into direct marketing. That look, I know, holds people back, we all want to feel pride in what we do, and what people think, quite honestly, matters. I had to get past that, as well as many other obstacles to even begin to start my own network marketing business. I was like a lot of people, I really truly thought it was not for me, initially.

I recently had a conversation with someone at the post office about Arbonne products, and received a negative response, Apparently, while at a party, she purchased an $8.00 product and after tax and shipping as charged over $20.00. Needless to say, she was not impressed and even after being assured that I would not treat her that way, she refused a catalogue or my card. This is what really led me to several days of thinking about my own journey from being outspokenly anti-direct network marketing to being a gung-ho Arbonne consultant.

For the next few days (however long it takes), I am going to outline my arguments against starting my business (I am sure many, if not all will be familiar to you)and what caused me to work past them..and why I am glad to have done so!

-Carli
www.sensationalskincare.myarbonne.com

The birth of an Arbonne mom

Hi! My name is Carli Clark, and I wear many hats, but this blog is dedicated to my journey as an Arbonne Independent Consultant in beautiful Southeast Tennessee. I am a mother of three incredible daughters. I have a degree in biochemistry, and most of my employment has centered around health care, but I have found myself fortunate enough to be currently staying at home with my children. Arbonne not only provides my household with amazing products, but the freedom to provide additional income while working from home.

I am a lucky woman...who also happens to have super sensitive skin, with a unique ability to be oily, dry and acne prone all at the same time. One of my toddlers seems to have inherited my finicky skin and is prone to rashes and blemishes, as well. I am also coping with post baby weight loss and IBS effects. Basically, I am like everyone else...like YOU....with the average physical maladies we all suffer to one degree or another. Arbonne products have been on the forefront of my life helping me through these obstacles and I intend to use this page to share with you my experiences with the Arbonne business and products.

-Carli
www.sensationalskincare.myarbonne.com