LaBella Baskets anyone else a sales consultant and how are you doing with it??

Angela - posted on 03/11/2011

Hi Nikki,



I hear your concerns and wish you had a better experience. The co-founders work very hard everyday to make this not only the best company as possible, but for each consultant to reach for the best.



I've worked with another company and didn't receive any training, support or encouragement. I'm very grateful for LBB and each day I enjoy growing my business.



The LBB training center doesn't insist, suggest or advertise that anyone should buy any out of pocket marketing material. We are free to market in anyway we choose. I don't think you were at fault for believing you would receive 200 leads because that ad recently became incorrect. You're also not at fault for purchasing a postcard list, because that was your personal/business choice.



I'm sorry the templates weren't compatible with your computer. Sometimes consultants have to add newer version of Word or update their browsers to be able to edit the templates.



Take care and I wish you the best,

Angela

Nikki - posted on 03/11/2011

Angela I've been to the forum and asked for help and been told I was the one at fault. I know about direct marketing. I sold Avon and my parent sold Amway . I've been in retail for 10 years.When I asked the forum about leads I was told that there were no free leads but I was wrong to pay for the postcard shipping list. I know all about vistaprint as I have used them for other things in the past years.Part of my issue with the templates is they are not compatible with my computer. I know all about the no quotas and how other companies have starter kits and such. I was told by the person who posted the ad no money out of pocket ever. Yes I signed on knowing the $19.95 fee still seeing on LBB's own website free everything. I just think maybe LBB needs to be truthful and say exactly what you do and don't get. I understand that no business is going to be a get rich quick but false advertising isn't a good way to keep consultants.

Angela - posted on 03/09/2011

I've been with LBB for almost a year and I'm very happy with the company and plan to continue earning, learning and growing my LBB business well into the future.



I'm very sorry your having difficulties growing your business, but with any direct sales business you have to market consistently to see results. LBB does provide all the tools necessary to grow your business. We have lots of support! Company calls throughout the week, a forum, team leaders and co-founders that truly care and mentor.



The 200 postcard leads are on the Training Center, but were discontinued because they found consultants were getting better results with placing postcards in high traffic areas.



The Training Center is in the process of being updated and that lead info will be changed. A new consultant must have placed the ad for 200 leads without knowledge that they've been discontinued. They do have links to companies that do provide free leads. You can also do a Google search for sites that provide leads. Actually, the best leads are those you create through word of mouth or using social media.



We do have a free business card template on the training center that can be printed on your home printer. The Vista Print business card link takes you to free business cards, you only have to pay a small shipping fee, which is under $10.



With some companies you have to meet quotas, buy a starter kit, catalogs, etc. I feel the $19.95 is worth the 2 websites, support and training.



We do have a great support system and I hope you will join us on our company calls and/or visit the forum. Our consultants are always willing to help and share new marketing ideas.





I wish you all the best.

Selina - posted on 03/06/2011

Try Just Jewelry.. it's not a consumable product and obiously is a luxury, but because the prices are so affordable, people loves to buy them. Prices ranges from $22 to $38. This company has a low start-up cost, and it doesn't has any hidden fees like other companies. It's a Christian based company, the jewelry are beautiful, the prices are great and people loved it!!

Bonnie - posted on 03/04/2011

There are many other ways to get the word out about your business. Are there any networking groups in your town (Chamber of Commerce, etc) that you could attend their events? You can also advertise your jewellery for free on www.Kijiji.com and Facebook, if your company allows you to. Wear your jewellery everywhere you go and you will get compliments and questions from other women about where you got it. You shouldn't have to go door to door for your jewellery. But, maybe you could post some flyers at local community bulletin boards, etc. Hope this helps. I do have some other ideas if you are interested and you can pm me. Remember, it will take hard work to get your business going....unfortunately, success won't happen overnight. I wish you all the best.

Bonnie

April - posted on 03/03/2011

Hi Nikki!

I am sorry that you are having a bad experience with LaBella. Your situation inspired me to write an article about it on my blog and I have posted it in the links section as we are not allowed to post links to blog in conversations so if you look in the links section of this community you will see my blog post about when is leaving your MLM the right thing to do.

My first failed business was with Premier Jewerly and while I am not here to tell you either way what business is right for you, I will just give you my experience with working with a party plan and a jewelry company so that you will know what kind of questions to ask before you sign up.

Any home based business is going to take hard work and determination and nothing happens overnight. A party plan is hard in a different aspect because it takes you outside of the home. If you have children you will need to find someone to care for your child so you can go out and do parties. You will need to book 4-5 parties a month to keep the momentum going and generate more leads for party bookings and to make money. Not every party will generate another booking.

My experience with Premier was that I quickly discovered that the company retired a large portion of their line twice a year to release a new Spring and Fall line. So I was constantly stuck with jewelry that I could not use anymore and had to try to get rid of. I can't show a piece of jewelry at a party that is not longer offered in the catalog so I had to buy new jewelry in the new line. Plus a display cloth, cases for the jewelry to go in, order forms, new catalogs, etc. I spent way more money than I ever made. Plus my starter kit was like $700.00 and 6 months later almost half of the jewelry that came in my kit was retired.

Premier and Lia Sophia are on the expensive side when it comes to costume jewelry so in the current economy how well will you be able to market the jewelry?

Jewelry is also not a consumable product so its not something that people need, it's a luxury item.

The other thing I found challenging with a party plan is that I never knew what kind of party it was going to be. I was at the mercy of the hostess as to how hard she worked to ensure people would show up. I had shows where 14 people were there and I had shows where 2 people were there but the work and time that I put into a show was the same whether 14 showed or 2 showed up.

I know consultants are successful at it and again, I am not here to bash any company. I am just giving my personal experience with working with Premier Jewelry in hopes that it will help you ask the right questions before you spend your hard earned money to sign up.

If I can help you in any way just let me know. I have been in this industry for a long time so if you want to brainstorm or research other options just let me know how I can help.

Be sure to check out the article that I posted and I have a lot of other great articles on my blog which is dedicated to helping moms become MOMpreneurs.

Best of luck and wishes,
April

Nikki - posted on 03/02/2011

April I believe it was LaBella themselve that promised 200 leads as well as all marketing supplies-business cards flyers etc. Once you sign up and go to the training site you find out no leads business cards is a link to vistaprint and flyers are downloadable templates that don't work.Plus you pay $19.95 each month for your websites that they maintain. So in a month I've spent $100 on marketing material and fees. I didn't find anything online before I signed up but am finding out alot now. Unfortunately too late.

I'm researching Lia Sophia jewelry but have to wait to do anything to see what happens next. I may sign up for it as a back up to the other. From what I've seen their compesation is better and they've been around alot longer.

April - posted on 03/02/2011

Hi Nikki,



I replied to another post that you did with some info that hopefully will help.



I will have to say that the person that enrolled you was unethical for advertising 200 free leads and then not producing those leads. There is no such thing as 200 free leads in network marketing. That is not the right way for this person to be recruiting other people into his/her business. I know two other people that are with LaBella and they too are struggling with their business. Be sure to read my other post. Finding the right business takes time and due diligence and you have to ask a lot of questions (how will I be trained, what are the marketing practices of the company, how long has the company been in business, etc.)