My History With Network Marketing (MLM)

Tracy - 8-24-2017
Tracy - 8-24-2017
All Makeup by AVON

My History With Home-Based Businesses

I remember first hearing about home-based businesses when I was a child, probably around age eight or ten. I babysat for someone who was a Jafra rep, though I didn’t know what that meant. Just that she had some unique skincare products in her bathroom with royal bee honey in them-that part stuck with me. Because I thought it was strange that there would be face cream with special jelly that came from queen bees, and it was supposed to make your skin look amazing.

Other MLM Companies

Likewise, I remember hearing about Shaklee when I was about the same age. I was tall for my age and always thought it would be glamorous to become a fashion model. So, when there was a weekly evening class on modeling being offered at my grade school by a former model and “miss” something or other, I signed right up. I remember one class she taught in her home, and she used some skincare products on us from that company. Again, the concept stuck in my head that these were products that couldn’t be purchased at a store. You had to get them from someone who was a representative. I also recall hearing about Herbalife and saw television programs featuring people who had earned piles of money selling their vitamins and supplements. But I never did try the products or know anyone personally who was a distributor.

The Seed Was Planted

But the seed had been planted in my brain early on about becoming an entrepreneur.

When I started dating the guy who would become my first husband, I got a taste of what multi-level marketing was all about. His parents were very active Amway distributors, and throughout our courtship and first few years of marriage, they became pretty successful, attaining Gold Distributorship status. I watched as they moved from their small, older home into a large, brand-new home and purchased two new cars-all funded by their Amway business. After attending several of their home meetings, we decided to sign up and give it a go ourselves.

But shortly after we were married, my new husband joined the Army, and we moved away to another state, far from home and family. We tried to build the business ourselves but didn’t have the local connections or support system we would have had back in our hometown.

Word of Mouth Marketing

Yet, I believed in the power of Word of Mouth marketing. It just made sense to me that a manufacturer should skip paying all of the advertising and marketing dollars spent in traditional product promotion. Instead, network marketing companies reward each person with a commission for any sale that resulted when they told a friend about a particular product. Duh. That’s an absolute WIN-WIN!

bpcc_logoAnd that was my initial introduction to network marketing. I fell in love with the concept. So much so that, with the help of my current husband, I started my own gourmet coffee, tea, hot cocoa, biscotti, and treats MLM company. We called it Brown Paper Coffee Company (BPCC for short), and we ran that business for more than three years, with consultants I recruited in five different states.

 

But that’s a story for another time 😉

Below is a list of the TWENTY FOUR (24) network marketing companies I have joined over the years. You’ll find a brief description of each with my thoughts and opinions. Some I can recommend, and I’ll tell you why. Others I don’t feel so good about. I’ll let you know about those, too.

MLM Businesses I Have Joined –

Avon – Is my TOP RECOMMENDATION for a low-startup-cost, high-commission, home-based business opportunity! Avon offers a very wide variety of products from skincare, cosmetics, bath and body, fragrances, hair care and jewelry, to clothing, children’s products, home decor, and recently have even added a line of health and nutritional supplements. VISIT MY AVON STORE HERE

HB NaturalsHB Naturals – Health and wellness products including a variety of CBD oils, weight-loss products, skincare, and more. If you’re excited about wellness, or want to focus your home-based business on CBD oils, then this is a great opportunity for you! HB Naturals is another company with a great marketing plan! It’s FREE to sign up and begin earning commissions! HB Naturals is the only other network marketing company I’m currently actively involved with. VISIT MY SITE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE ACCOUNT.

Amway – As I mentioned above, Amway was my first experience with multi-level marketing. They offer a very wide range of products from health and nutritional supplements to skincare, hair care, cosmetics, fragrances, household cleaners, laundry supplies, jewelry, clothing, car care, and more.

 

Tupperware – Offers a wide variety of food storage, cookware, and other useful plastic items.

 

Mary Kay – Higher-end cosmetics and skincare company.

 

Rexall Showcase International – Out of Business. They offered primarily weight-loss, nutritional, and health and wellness products.

 

 

 

 

 

House of Lloyd/Christmas Around The World – Out of Business. They specialized in home decor and Christmas decoration items.

 

 

 

 

NuSkin – I joined as a distributor then later actually worked as an employee at their facility in Provo, Utah for four years. They offer a comprehensive line of higher-end health and wellness products.

 

 

 

 

bpcc_logo**BROWN PAPER COFFEE COMPANY** – My Own Gourmet Coffee Network Marketing Company. I’ll write a separate post about this at a later date.

 

 

 

Party Lite – Offering a wide range of fragranced candles, other home scents, candle holders and associated decorative items.

 

AHA logoAt Home America – Out of Business. They offered a wonderful selection of contemporary country-style home decor items.

 

 

 

Isagenix – Primarily weight-loss and other health and wellness products.

 

 

Xocai – Healthy Chocolate – also now defunct. But what a fun home-based business concept! If you’re interested in pursuing a side-gig based on chocolate then VISIT THIS PAGE AT ISAGENIX, as they offer a healthy chocolate product you might like.

 

 

 

 

 

Pampered Chef – Offers a wonderful selection of cooking utensils and other chef-oriented products. If you’re a passionate cook, a home-based business based on kitchen tools might be a perfect fit for you! Their products are good quality and come with a great guarantee!

 

 

AmeriPlan – Affordable discount health-care coverage for the entire household on a subscription basis. Offering access to a vast network of healthcare professionals who offer their services at a discount when the patient pays cash at time of service. Not insurance coverage.

 

 

Park Lane Jewelry – Distinctive jewelry and accessories.

 

 

Scent-Sations – This is an awesome company offering a delicious selection of premium natural wax candles and melts. if you love delicious fragrances, then this could be a great home-based business opportunity for you!

 

 

Younique – Higher-end, all-natural cosmetics. Too expensive, in my opinion. Especially when comparing the quality to a product line like AVON’s.

 

 

 

 

 

Jamberry – An amazing variety of beautiful and adorable heat-applied nail stickers. An alternative to nail polish. Styles available for both adults and children. Even designs with licensed Disney and NFL art/logos. But for my purposes…I prefer the dry nail lacquer versions available from ColorStreet. They leave no jagged edges and there’s no lifting, as I frequently experienced with Jamberry’s plastic nail art. Plus, there is no heat-application requirement. And the ColorStreet nails can be removed with regular nail polish remover.

 

Purium – Primarily weight-loss and other health and wellness products.

 

 

Asirvia – High-tech, “proximity marketing” devices.

 

 

It Works! – Primarily weight-loss and other health and wellness products. Their “flagship” product is the “Wrap” that is impregnated with a botanical mixture that helps to release water and weight when applied regularly.

 

Senegence – Long-lasting, higher-end cosmetics. Their “flagship” product is “LipSense” – a lip _stain_ that will not come off on beverage glasses, clothing, or others. It mostly only comes off with their signature remover.

 

Magnabilities – A line of inter-changable magnetic jewelry and accessories.

 

 

Melaleuca – They offer a wide range of products from health and nutritional supplements to skincare, hair care, cosmetics, fragrances, household cleaners, laundry supplies and more. Most, if not all their products, contain their signature ingredient, Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca oil).

 

 

New U Life – The only FDA registered, topically-applied HGH (Human Growth Hormone) gel available on the market.

 

 

 

ColorStreetColorStreet – As I mentioned above, ColorStreet real lacquer nails leave no jagged edges and there’s no lifting, as with other nail-art options. There is no heat-application requirement. And the ColorStreet nails can be removed with regular nail polish remover. If you love fashionable nail art, then ColorStreet could be a GREAT home-based business option for you!

 

PaparazziPaparazzi Accessories – A brilliant marketing concept for fashionable costume jewelry and accessories! Every piece is just $5.00! So, they make it super cinchy easy to sell tons of eye-candy!

 

If this information was helpful, you might like this post about Do What You Love: Entrepreneur or JOB.