I have spent considerable time presenting the idea and the value of home-based business to my gentle readers in the past couple of months. I do not try to write a daily article as that would become tedious for me and for you. I do not want to take the space provided for me, today, to harangue about a bad experience but I do want to present a few thoughts I have had in the past couple of years since moving from MLM to “handmade”.
This idea struck me because I was responding to a question on one of the several forums I visit each morning which are dedicated to scroll-sawing and/or pen-turning. The question was “How did you get started in this hobby”. My reply is:
“My wife and I had been in a MLM program. We added some crafts to our ‘lineup’ in order to get into a couple of shows that allowed the MLM products but required some handmade crafts. Since we were selling spices and other kitchen ‘goodies’ we added a few aprons. The aprons began outselling the MLM products and we found that we made more money on the handmade crafts. We added crocheted hand towels and some table runners and the crafts began selling better and better. At our last show of the season, 4+ years ago, my wife said “You need to do something to help with the craft side of our business too.” At the same time Sears had a sale on their scroll saws. I bought the saw then began to research what I could offer on the crafts side. Since then we have given up on the MLM program (MLM = Most Lose Money), I have upgraded to a Yellow Beast (shoulder surgery – too hard to set the tension on the Craftsman), added a lathe, and am now the local “Pen and Clock” guy – hence the website “Pens, Clocks, ‘N More”. I have discovered that my passion is working with exotic woods. I’m anxious to see if I can find some bamboo cutting boards that were mentioned elsewhere on this forum (I know – not a wood – but definitely ‘exotic’)!”
I realize that the above response is a little negative on the MLM side. My reason for saying this is that most MLM programs indicate that you can make a lot of money simply by recruiting. My upline, in the MLM program, constantly derided me for trying to make money selling the product. In fact I was told that “nobody makes any money delivering bottles of product door-to-door”. What I realized, however, was that I was not good at, or interested in, recruiting. I also discovered that selling the products at craft fairs, food shows, and the like, I was only making the retail profit which was only covering my costs (if that!). After moving into the crafts, completely, I have discovered that I am making the retail profit, the wholesale profit, and the manufacturing profit!
I still don’t make a boatload of money, however, my wife has a couple of very nice sewing machines and I have an excellent scroll saw and a nice lathe with all the accessories needed to make pens. We also have a lot of ‘paid for’ fixtures that will have plenty of uses for us should we ever decide to quit the ‘craft show’ circuit and go more towards on-line sales (we’ll see about that more in future years – right now I am just dabbling with my website, Pens, Clocks, ‘N More .
I still want to encourage everyone to look at how each of you might want to start your own business to help fight a struggling economy. I just have a couple of ‘caveats’. Pick something you truly enjoy! Be your own boss! If you think the ‘recruiting’ is for you then MLM might be the way to go! However, research the various programs and plans that are out there very carefully. Do know that MANY people are alienated by being recruited by family and friends – don’t spend all of your ‘social capital’. Don’t be afraid to change your approach and plan until you find your own niche. Keep smiling – It makes people wonder what you are up to! Have a great week!
DCPenman
