With Adult Home Party plans/companies popping up at a very rapid pace, it is very important that you ask yourself and the companies you are researching the following questions:
How long has this company been in business?
You can always verify these facts with the Secretary of State. The make or break time frame historically for businesses is 5 years. There are many reputable businesses out there that have been in business for more than 5 years, so ask smart questions. See HERE to learn about For Your Pleasure's history.
Is the inventory housed at your location, or do you have to order in?
If the merchandise is not fully housed at that location a red warning light should be flashing. This is usually an indicator of delayed shipments.
Who are the principal owners?
Again, this information is available with the Secretary of State in any state.
What are the backgrounds of the owner/principals involved?
Degrees, financial background, purchasing, sales and marketing etc. If the individual(s) that are running a company have no financial background, in most cases run! We have had many gals come on board FYP that came from foundling companies that were promised better money and more perks and then never paid what was promised to them. It is very important that there are individuals at the helm of a company that will steer it in a responsible fashion, which means being able to project cash flow, manage commitments of a company etc.
How long have they been paying their distributors commissions / overrides?
It is important that you can easily expect that you will be paid what this individual/company is telling you that they will pay you? There are some companies claiming that they will start you at 40 or 50% and give you this, that and the other. When you examine these companies, you will find they are usually start-ups. Ask how long they have been in business. Ask how long they have been paying at the higher end of these programs. What happens with some of these companies is they lure you in by telling you that you will get paid this, that and the other. When someone actually gets to that level, the program is changed or they cannot pay. Where are you now? We have seen it happen over and over.
What are you being asked to charge each customer for shipping & handling?
This is another area where many Business Associates struggle. The company has set too high a shipping and handling charge and the customers are not liking it. They may pay it once, but they will think again the second time around. We hear this frequently. For Your Pleasure charges a flat fee of $4.95 for shipping to hostesses and $7.95 to ship to an individual.
Why do some Companies insist you lug the store?
It is not necessary to lug anything but a kit and a smile. We did away with our old program years ago that required you to do this. FYP now has a very streamlined operating structure designed to give you more money with less time invested. We call ourselves "The Working Smarter - Not Harder" Company. But if this type of program is what you are looking for then do research on those types of companies. What type of history do they have?
Do I need to obtain a Merchant Credit Card Account?
You will want to have the ability to take credit card sales as this factor does effect your party sales. At For Your Pleasure we process all credit card sales for you. There is no need to obtain a Merchant Account. For a flat fee of $10 a month, you can process unlimited cards. Some companies charge more than 3% of your sales!
What do you really mean by the impulse sale? Fact or Fallacy?
For Your Pleasure Distributors have very high show averages. We believe this is due to the fact that we have a wider selection than most (over 1200 products) and the FYP pays the Hostess Credits so our Hosts find comfort in knowing the Distributor has nothing to lose by awarding every penny earned in sales. We have monitored our sales since the inception of our new 101 page full color catalog and find that, additionally, show sales averages have increased for our Business Associates by an astounding 30%. It is very important when comparing companies to know what that companies shows are averaging and what are the sales tools being utilized. Are they carrying the store (carrying inventory) to get the sales, are they using professional sales materials etc.
Are you expected to pay the Hostess Credits?
If yes, check out the program thoroughly. Calculate how much of your commission this will take up. You can now deduct 5 - 15% of what you are really earning % wise on these shows. This can take up quite a chunk of your paycheck if you are trying to compete with some of the better Hostess Programs out there. The Hostess program can really make or break your business. It should always be a win - win situation.
Can I take my business to the Web?
For Your Pleasure Independent Business Associates are encouraged to build a web presence with our assistance. We will help you get your site up on the web! In-house support. Pascale is full of resources to help you make a website just like this one for only $6 a month! Or even free!
Do you have a color catalog?
This is very important. There are many companies out there that just print off pictures, just have text, or give you CD's that you have to print from. This is extremely expensive as most printers in the home today are color inkjets. And text-only flyers really cannot give you a feel for the products. You really just need to know that you can purchase a color catalog from the company and whether or not you like their sales materials?
How much time is involved from the time I submit my orders/shows until it gets to my hostess / customer?
This will make or break your business. For Your Pleasure, Inc. houses its entire inventory. We average same day turnaround on am orders/shows and Next day turnaround (sometimes- same day) on pm order/shows. (Varies by season) The process is streamlined. We ship directly to your customers and/or hostesses with everything bagged and labeled individually. When you do not use this method here is what happens. You do a show or take an order. You then must order this merchandise because even if you carry inventory, there is still a very high probability that you do not have everything. The merchandise is then shipped to you (you pay shipping & handling) and then you must bag it, label it and ship it again (additional expense and large time commitment). Now, ask yourself which of the above systems is more time efficient, cost efficient and leaves you with happier customers/hostesses? Is this an important decision factor for you? If you are concerned about personalizing your package, FYP will put contact labels on your products for $1 a party. Yes, One Dollar. Any additional info or promotions can easily be sent separately. For Your Pleasure, Inc. provides UPS Tracking numbers so you can alert your hostess and customers of the arrival time of their package.
Which system is better for the seasoned party plan professional or the beginner?
That's very easy... just read about our program and then compare many other companies and follow the guide above or create your own guide based on what you want or need to get out of your business.
With the advent of the Internet and the way people are changing how they do business, (i.e.: job seekers freelancing more and looking for ways to make more money with less effort), we know we are the solution for those already in the Adult Home Party industry or those just now getting their feet wet. With For Your Pleasure you will never have to worry about how much money you have tied up in inventory or how slow it is going out the door. This is the snag... you're trapped. You have all this inventory, but the items you thought would sell did not. And you now have a room or rooms filled with merchandise and a lot of money tied up. We hear this over and over from individuals that choose to join For Your Pleasure, Inc. because of the streamlined process.
We hope you found this informative and helpful. We truly do nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of everyone affiliated with us. (Men and Women.) For Your Pleasure, Inc. was founded with that one objective in mind. We continually strive to make our programs better and better. The "WIN! WIN!" attitude. We hope to welcome you aboard soon! We really do hope that you will take the time to research if this is an area that you are interested in. It really is a lot of fun and can be very lucrative. Good luck in your endeavors. Reach for your stars!