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It sounds like a storybook doesn't it? Perhaps Cautious Cathy belongs with a gang of kids, and a dog and smugglers and coves?! But then Cathy uses some magic Arbonne face cream...and hey presto! She is transported to another world .... hmm ..........ok very tenuous link!! For those that haven't guessed - I am "Cautious Cathy" and my "new adventure" is indeed Arbonne. For those that don't know, Arbonne is a company that produces exceptional quality skin and wellness products. You may not have heard of it before.....that's because Arbonne does not advertise, the product is marketed through a network marketing method of distribution via Independent Consultants - aka moi! I had initially intended to use this blogspot as a way to keep clients and consultants informed. However, some of my Facebook/Twitter/Linked In posting has prompted questions and this has encouraged me to put together this business summary and to share my blog openly (Yes - another - blog!)
So, me (Cautious Cathy), who has worked for a small corporate for seven years followed by a PLC for the last three. My career in Lettings therefore carries a grand total of 10 years. Phew. Over the years, I have hesitated and played it safe with cautious (cathy) decisions (I quit the seven year job twice, but both times they convinced me to stay - third time lucky I guess?) and cautious expenditure (I changed my mind on three properties before I bought my existing flat). Over the years I have been asked and encouraged numerous times to set up my own Lettings Company. However, money, energy and a question mark over my desire to take this route long term, has held me back. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I have harboured other desires of "something" - My own business was one (but in what?) or re-training (How could I afford it?) or writing more (the percentage that make a living out of it is small). Oh what to do?
Therefore, being introduced to Arbonne as a way of earning additional income, was an incredibly exciting prospect. I didn't need to quit my job. I would be self employed. I could fit it around my life, and not the other way round. The set up expenditure was low. The product was great. My gut instinct screamed "YES!!", but my alter ego "Cautious Cathy" needed to satisfy her head. After all, there would be a financial commitment - albeit a small one - and a time commitment. I also had a "dream catcher" telling me it was pyramid selling and that "there would never be any real money in it". So there were misconceptions to tackle, and financial reward questions, to be answered.
Clearly, I have jumped in and started my business. So why? Why now? And how does it actually work? So let me talk you through three key reasons I said "Yes" to this business opportunity, and "Cathy" naturally dissolved her cautiousness.
1/ The model of network marketing
2/ The health and wellness movement
3/ The product
Before I explain these three key areas - which will overlap - let me quickly put them into context for you by answering this question.
Why do people sell products through Network Marketing rather than selling them in a shop?
In the instance of Arbonne, the vision was very clear. The founder - Petter Mork (A Norwegian botanist based in Switzerland) developed an extraordinary premium skincare range, that was pure, safe and beneficial. But he wanted this product to be available to the likes of you or me - eg ensuring it was in a reasonable price bracket. In traditional retail the consumer is paying for the content of the product, plus the advertising, plus the retailing, plus the wholesalers, plus the distributors. This is why the end product of skincare which is Swiss, exclusive and premium will end up being in the £100- 400's price range. This is not affordable to the likes of me - not if I want to eat anyway! So, if the product were to be made affordable to "the masses" he had to find a different method of distribution.
So, 32 years ago Petter Mork took the product to the home of Network Marketing - America - to start his business. Network marketing rewards individuals within a consumer network via a compensation (commission) structure for introducing the product to others. It is a retailing method by which the price of the product can be kept reasonable. To place this into context, in traditional retail, stars are paid 20-30 MILLION DOLLARS (!!!) purely to be the face of a product.....therefore, distributing via a network of Independent Consultants is hugely economical by comparison!
So to little Cautious Cathy over here, who like to understand "why" all the time, the context of "why" Arbonne is marketed this way, totally made sense, and the concept of network marketing (which seems so alien if you have not come across it before!) started to gently click into place.
So what is network marketing with Arbonne? - In very basic terms. I have stopped buying my skincare, body care and make up from shops. I have started buying them at wholesale discount - from myself. I have then shown clients how to re-direct their existing spending by buying products from me, and I am showing consultants how to buy from themselves, and teaching them to teach others to do the same. So....People know people who know people who know people. It's really that simple. I am then earning a commission from the people who know people, who know people.
Ok, so possibly a smidge baffling. Let me give you a mathematical picture to demonstrate my point. When I was learning about this business, I was asked whether I knew just 4 friends (that have skin and hair) who also possibly wanted their own home based business/extra income....(yes....) If so, did I think that I could then help them find 4 friends each, that wanted to do the same (yeess....) And so, could I then help teach them, to help their 4 friends to find 4 friends...(yeeessss) well those 4 people would give me 84 consultants in my business (never mind all the clients along the way). 84 people....But...I personally... just knew 4. What about if I knew 6? what about if i knew 8? (Hmmmmm...interreessttinngggg.)
I don't know about you, but Cautious Cathy's cogs were seriously turning by that point....afterall we are in the age of networking - social media sites, networking meetings, rewards for recommend a friend...this totally makes sense to me....I then went on to learn that building networks is predicted as THE business of the 21st Century, eg traditional retail is evolving in new directions - just look at the shift towards internet shopping....Network marketing is on the up. It's just not something we are particular familiar with here in the UK, or if we are, there tends to be a little bit of poo-pooing of the idea. But you know what, if its good enough for Robert Kiyosaki*, it was good enough for Cautious Cathy.....
*(Look up The Business of the 21st Century with Robert Kiyosaki's books/CD's)
Health and Wellness Movement/Revolution - Were you aware that we are in momentum for a massive shift in this sector of industry? No, nor did Cathy (she was slightly less cautious by this point) Any new movement or shift is fuelled by a need and a desire. Our need in the modern day world is driven by growing obesity and unhealthy living. The desire is for people wanting to be healthy, to look good and look younger - for longer. People are also leaning more towards prevention - rather than cure - wanting to feed and fuel their bodies properly. This movement, which is currently in momentum, has been earmarked as the next trillion dollar industry, as predicted by Paul Zane Pilzer. Oh...he predicted the dot.com boom by the way....Oh ...and he's a nobel prize winner ....I think the guy knows or thing or two. His prediction is, that the next 10 million millionaires are going to be in this industry....(check out www.paulzanepilzer.com)
So, where does Arbonne fit into this movement? Firstly, the products are safe, pure and botanical. As time goes on, where we have become concerned about the ingredients in our foods (Grow your own! Be organic!) people are also becoming more educated about what they are putting onto their skin. This is just as important as what you put in your mouth - 60% of what you put onto your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream ! Scary! So, the fact that Arbonne is Vegan, free from mineral oils and parabens means that it is already tapped into the needs and desires of the skincare marketplace of the future. Cautious Cathy had no idea what mineral oils or parabens were until Arbonne...google them....you'll be reading the indgredients on your beauty products straightaway, just like I was.....
This combined with the fact that the range of product, spreads across huge predicted growth areas of the health and wellness industries - such as anti aging, mens skin care, make up, nutrition and weight loss and detoxification means the product is incredibly well positioned for massive growth. (Visible anti-aging results in 24 hours baby!)
The Product - So what about the "selling" of the product? Cathy was pretty comfortable with talking to people about things she was passionate about. However, "convincing" people to buy creams she knew little about at that stage, may have been a little ....tricky....? However, Arbonne introduced her to "Try before you buy"! I can solemly declare - I LOVE this part of the business! No outlay by the potential consumer, unless they know it works for them - to me this made it ethical, and transparent - there is no "forcing" your mates to buy your products - they could decide for themselves, by simply trying the ranges first. Potential clients/consultants take home one of the (full size) gold/blue or brown bags of product, and use it exclusively for 3 days, day and night. Assuming the result is positive and one chooses to become a preferred client or consultant, then I would go on to show them the best value way to buy the products or start up kit for a consultant. "Best Value". Showing people the most economical way to buy. How to get discount! How to get freebies! How to take advantage of the best offers! The order is then processed online and it is shipped - by courier - directly to the individuals door (Yes, that's correct, I do not have a stash of product in my flat that I have to sell on...just as well, have you seen the size of my flat !!??)
This is such a great way to do business - Could you imagine walking into a department store and asking them if you can take home six or seven items from their flagship and most expensive range......or viewing properties and then asking if you could move in for a week, to see how warm the house is, and see what the neighbours are like. Genius. And skincare genius is not something I profess to be. But I learnt the basics, and my clients have taught me the rest - by sharing their results with me.
However, the list goes on. Arbonne also provides other everyday items - shampoo's/conditioners/body washes/shower washes/body moisturisers/make up. These are everyday items that everyone has in their bathroom - You need to wash your hair, you need to wash and moisturise your body - and probably you prefer to do this everyday....if not twice a day ? "And so?" is what Cautious Cathy initially questioned.... !
And so....if a company is supplying a product that everybody wants and needs daily and people like it, buy it, use it.....well eventually they use it UP.....it is consumable.Which means people will re-order. And re-order. And re-order. And every one of my clients are always affiliated to me - they can't nip into town and buy from someone else - so I am rewarded for every purchase, not just an introductory order. So your client base continues to build over time, with clients receiving their own log in details to the website and typically needing to re-order every 3-4 months. Consumable is key. If I were to introduce you to a truly fabulous mop and bucket...well its infinitely less interesting for a start..... But, also ...how often will you need to replace it....?? Every couple of years? This was another huge lightbulb moment for Cautious Cathy....
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So, the convergence of a fabulous consumable product, with a growing network marketing industry, crossed with the next big lifestyle shift and merged with the massive movement of internet shopping, meant that for me, the Cautious Cathy alter ego, totally fell away. These are the layered reasons I - and many others besides me - have grasped this opportunity with both hands and are frantically building networks.
Learning this information also made my trade off of my financial and time investments, versus the possible long term rewards, an easy justification. Was this the right business for me to give a financial and time commitment.? Yes, it was. Was I therefore prepared to make a financial investment that was the equivalent of 1 or 2 nights out a month, for 12 months, to build this business? Yes. I was. Would I be prepared to give up some personal time to meet people for coffees or wine to talk them through the business or the product. Yes I was. I knew people who washed! I knew people who wanted to earn extra money! I knew people that would become as grossly fascinated as I have, with this business! Let me get my hands on the products !!
Let me also be clear here. Anyone can do this business (Do you think I knew anything about skincare before I started this?) but another massive eye opener for Cautious Cathy was meeting others in the industry and this offered that cautious nature, true validation. I am talking about educated, smart, successful, professionals from all walks of life and background, some of whom have actually been able to turn their back on corporate employment, in favour of working part time, growing their network and being able to spend more time with the kids/husband/wife/the garden/down the gym. It's also worth mentioning, I have met some of the top earners from both the UK and the States...and my dream catcher can be well assured; There is absolutely, most definitely, money, in this business.
And the great thing is, I can share all of this (rather than store it)....it's networking after all......
So. Thanks for reading.......I hope you enjoyed "Cathy's" story.
And now. Ask yourself this.
Like me, do you have 4 people you could tell..............?
