Times are tough and everyone can do with an extra income. Four women tell us how they earn it with direct selling.

.

1. ROSHNI DAVID from Lenasia South has been an AMC Cookware consultant for 15 years.

I’ve been buying and using AMC products for over 30 years. Because of the confidence I have in the cookware, I thought: “Why not sell it myself?”

A consultant came to my home one day to show me things that I wanted to add to my collection. I told her that I was keen to join, which I did straight away.

I had been working for a corporate company for 30 years. But having a laatlammetjie (late child), I needed the extra money. I was a part-time AMC consultant for 15 years, and last year I decided to do it full time.

Word of mouth is important in this business; it’s the best form of advertising. I also do demos at people’s homes, and when they host it, they qualify for a hostess gift.

There’s a lot of legwork but it pays off. The commission structure is very good. Every month there are new incentives for you to work towards.

I have travelled overseas because of them. I’ve been to places like Brazil, Portugal, Turkey, Singapore and Las Vegas. This May I’m going to Phuket and mainland Thailand. The treatment you get on your trips is red carpet all the way.

Because I always qualified for two tickets, I’ve been able to take my husband on these trips.

I’ve revamped my home and bought a car, all with my AMC money. The company definitely spoils its consultants. You get recognised for the work that you do and receive awards – I have two suitcases full of them. The people in the company are good people.

Direct selling is difficult but I believe that what you put in is what you get out. But you do need people to keep you motivated. The company gives us that support structure.

I’ve learnt about hard work, setting goals and working towards them.

.

2. PUKIE HLATSHWAYO from Mpumalanga is now a regional director in Avroy Shlain Cosmetics.

I joined Avroy Shlain in 1993. I was staying in a small area in Komatipoort so I didn’t know anything about the company.

But when I went into town, I met a woman, Rina van Niekerk, who wore a fragrance I liked. She said it was available only from Avroy Shlain Cosmetics and also told me about direct selling.

I was interested in earning more money because I have three children. As a teacher, my salary didn’t meet my needs. I wanted my kids to have a good education. I was impressed with the flexible hours and the company’s great incentives, such as overseas trips.

I go house to house to make my presentations. I also invite people to my home and I go to malls, to the church or choose a person to talk to about the business. I tell them that if they are energetic and interested, they can do this.

Being a beauty adviser changed my life dramatically. Before, I was living in a two-roomed shack. With the money I earned, I built a house with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. I also own four cars.

And I’ve been able to pay for my children’s education. My eldest son went to Pretoria University, and both my youngest son and daughter went to Wits. And now they’re all working happily – in their chosen careers in IT, chemical engineering and social work.

In 2001 I resigned as a school principal. I was earning more as a consultant. Now I have a career with the company, and work from my home office. I’ve become a regional director.

Through the years and hard work, I’ve been able to travel to 12 countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Thailand, Greece, Spain and Italy.

I just give praise to God, especially when I look back at my humble beginnings.

.

3. CATHY VIRIRI from Kempton Park is a part-time Honey Fashion Accessories sales consultant.

I started selling Honey products part-time about two years ago, because I wanted an extra income.

I personally wear the jewellery myself – it’s the only way to market it. And it does boost your self-image when people compliment you.

My clients are fashionable women who have an eye for beautiful things, like to look good and who want to spend on things that are reasonably priced.

The best way I sell is to have client parties over the weekend or in the evenings. Many people work during the day so I have a cheese and wine evening or a weekend breakfast. I invite clients, they bring their friends along, we have fun and do lots of sales.

It has nothing to do with my full-time job as a customer relationship manager for an environmental services company.

Selling Honey Fashion Accessories has done a lot for me. I have many friends in the business. I’m doing a lot of training development, so there’s personal growth. I’ve networked with a lot of people, met different women at different stages of their lives, and shared successes.

Financially, it has made a huge difference. The first year I was able to redo my kitchen. And my family goes on holidays and getaways more often. For example, we went away to Swaziland for a long weekend. They are little luxuries that we otherwise couldn’t have.

You can achieve your dreams in the direct selling business as long as you’re consistent, disciplined and put in an effort. And because of the amount of recognition you get when you sell products, you feel good about yourself. I always get gift hampers, which boosts my confidence.

.

4. CHRISELDA KHATOLA from Bram Fischerville in Roodepoort sells Tupperware products part-time.

I’ve been selling Tupperware for three years. I needed the extra money.

I love the products, and used to buy them from a lady I know. One day she gave me a catalogue and asked me to give selling a go. So I did and I found that I enjoyed it.

I have Tupperware parties, go door to door and also show the catalogue to people at work and at places like taxi ranks.

Most of the women I sell to are from Bram Fischerville, between the ages of 23 to 40. They love Tupperware. They know the products can be expensive but they can’t resist them. When we have our society visits, the ladies bring their things in their Tupperware. And if you have a new Tupperware, then you know that you’ve got style. It’s almost like a status thing.

My Tupperware sales have allowed me to do a lot of things in my house. Before, I was struggling. I’m a single parent with four kids. I have a full-time job at The Star’s Angela Day Kitchen, but I know that at the end of the month, I have an extra income because of Tupperware.

I no longer struggle. I have enough income to buy clothes for my children and all my kids are at school.

Doing this has taught me to chat and get along with people. I’ve grown as a person. I will definitely continue doing this. It’s very much a part of my life and I can’t imagine not doing it now. I’ve benefited financially. Before I was selling clothes doing jumble sales.

Lots of people are selling Tupperware products. To be competitive, you have to know how to talk and understand people better.

.

NEW DIRECT SELLER IN SA

.

PATTY BRISBEN, an American, is CEO of Pure Romance, direct sellers of relationship and intimacy aids, which launched their products in SA late last year. Here she explains how she, as a struggling single mother of four, started off as a direct sales consultant.

.

A medical assistant at the time, Patty Brisben was inspired 29 years ago by a talk show which showcased a company that recruited women as direct sales consultants selling intimacy products.

She resolved to get involved. A a single mother of four children, she needed an extra income to improve their lives. It was a struggle to feed them. Night after night she kept herself busy in the kitchen so that her children wouldn’t see that there was no plate for her.

She was successful in her new venture. She regained her confidence and started booking six parties a week. Within a year her income had doubled. She quit her job and became a full-time consultant.

However, the company folded leaving her with no product supplier. She bought intimacy products worth $5 000 (R38 000) to jumpstart her business.

Fortunately, she landed a contract with a manufacturer and recruited upbeat sales consultants who like her loved the idea of earning money by boosting women’s self esteem.

“What helped me decide to focus on intimacy products was hearing women share their curiosities and hopes. I felt proud to have given them a free space to talk and laugh, free of judgement. The parties became less about spicing this up in the bedroom, and more about helping women feel confident,” she says.

Pure Romance was born in the basement of her home. Today, there are 75 000 consultants around the world, “and they’re the reason I am so passionate about this business”.

“This business fed my family at a time when I had lost all confidence in myself and life seemed so bleak. It gave me faith and confidence and today is giving so many other women that same confidence and financial freedom.

“The best business advice I ever got came from my brother-in-law. He told me that I could never try to know everything. Instead, I should surround myself with people who want to help me reach my goal, who can be passionate about it with me. I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by incredibly supportive and hardworking people, and I think the most important job for any entrepreneur is to build a team like that.

“You know, I’ve been scared to death at every step of creating and growing Pure Romance, but I did it anyway. I’ve always tried to listen to my inner voice and trust my gut and most of all, to never turn back, to keep running forward towards my goal. None of this has been easy and it has not been a joy ride. Along the way I often did not take paychecks. I had to support four kids on my own and faced many hardships. But I was chasing something I cared so much about and my strength came from that. The biggest lesson, though, is that I know that I could have never done it alone.

“The Pure Romance business is suited to women who wear many hats in their lives – because of the flexibility as well as the potential for immediate income. Our launch in South Africa is timely given the entrepreneurial spirit among the South African women, many of whom are responsible for most, if not all, their families’ income. I am inspired by their stories of home and empowerment, because I have lived their struggles.”

Visit www.pureromance.co.za or call 0800 ROMANCE