Suddenly set adrift, I needed to figure out my next move.  I was not interested in learning another area of law and developing a new practice. I was tired of the rising expenses of rent, salaries, and all the other incidentals that add up in a big way. Strangely enough, I turned my eye to Direct Sales. The Direct Sales business is financially lean and extraordinarily efficient.  Not only is the overhead extremely low, but the time and expense of product development, manufacture, storage and shipment  is undertaken by the company. My job was to market the products and create a customer base in addition to introducing others to the opportunity and then training and developing them.  This was perfect – I ran my own successful business for 15 years. I knew what it took to start a business, build up a clientele and reach success. Helping other women build their own businesses was something that would fill that emotional hole left by the closure of the law firm.

With so many direct sale companies out there, how do you choose? I used the head/heart approach.  Whatever company I decided upon had to make fiscal sense (head).  But, I had to love the product so I could be genuine and authentic (heart). For me, the perfect fit was Miche Bags.  The interchangeable handbag was patented, which meant I was not competing with other direct sellers nor retail.  The only way a consumer could get their hands on an interchangeable purse is through an authorized Miche M-Bassador. Fashion is consumable and trends come and go seasonally. Miche Bag customers would buy new Miche Faces or Covers as they are released, creating return business. There are only about 2000 Miche M-Bassadors nationwide and that number is centered in the mid-West and South; the Miche presence in the Northeast was still in its infancy.  Most of all, I fell in love with the concept.  To not have to dump out the contents of my purse to change my look was mind-blowing to me! I felt as if the concept was created just for me.

So its been a little over 3 years since I joined Miche.  I hit a top level of Executive Director in 18 months and my team is still growing and developing.  I am actually having FUN! I have a whole new family of Miche sisters all over the country. I’ve been to places I have never traveled to before.  I have grown as a person through coaching and keynote sessions.  Looking back, I cannot imagine not being a Miche Ambassador.

If you want to find out more about Miche and the Opportunity, I would be more than happy to discuss it with you.

I did this online seminar for my Miche team but posted it on YouTube because really any direct seller or entrepreneur can benefit from the tips I share.  Rule #1: You are not at vendor events to sell – you are there to qualify leads. “What?!”, you say! That’s right – leads are the goal.  Sales at Vendor Events are short term but people, we are after the long term. We want good, solid leads for future business, parties and team members.  

So learn how to select the right vendor events for you and how to qualify leads to maximize your time at the event:

What are your thoughts on vendor events? Do you find them worth the time and money? 

For those of you who might be Pampered Chef virgins (I heard you do exist) here is a quick summary from their website:

For more than 20 years, The Pampered Chef® and its sales force of Independent Consultants have been helping to gather families around the table for quick, delicious meals that are as much fun to prepare as they are to eat. The business was launched in 1980 by company Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Doris Christopher — an educator, home economist and mother who saw the need for professional-quality kitchen tools in the everyday kitchen.

Capitalizing on her knowledge of food preparation techniques and her natural talent for teaching, Christopher amassed an inventory of what she considered to be the essential home kitchen tools, promoted them under The Pampered Chef® name and began showcasing them at in-home cooking demonstrations called Cooking Shows.

I hosted a Pampered Chef party in my home last week and it was at that party that I made the decision to join the team. I realized that 1) I love to cook 2) I love their products (seriously!) and 3) I love to party – why not get paid to do what I love? Out of the numerous network marketing and direct sales opportunities out there, Pampered Chef fit my lifestyle. Guess what? Everyone needs food – we all have to eat and most of us would love to be able to prepare delicious, nutricious meals at home – quickly and easily. I can show you how to do exactly that and with the proper tools.

So I’m busy researching, compiling recipes, and learning the business. And, of course, I have to do it my way. I’m creating some theme parties because seriously that is going to be such fun! I don’t want to have the same shtick each time – I’d rather come in wearing a big, garish sombrero with margaritas to celebrate cinco de mayo or something like that.

Have you ever been to a Pampered Chef party? Do you own any products? Are you looking for some extra income to pay off those credit cards, save for a new car or possibly quit slaving away at your day job? Look no further! I would be happy to introduce you to Pampered Chef – visit my Pampered Chef personal website for more information on products, hosting parties and joining my team!

I love Sunday mornings in Manhasset, everything seems possible in the morning, with the whole day still ahead. The less hectic vibe of Sunday is an opportunity to reset and collect your thoughts for the week.

I have lived in Manhasset for 17 years and have, more often than not, taken to the quiet streets of Sunday mornings for long walks. Whether alone or with friends I am always appreciative that I live in such a beautiful place.

It is with this hope, my faith in the potential of Sunday mornings, that I suggest a seasonal Farmer’s Market. The barren, weekend LIRR parking lot seems to lie-in-wait of such a thing. How lovely it would be to stop by after church to pick up local, organic strawberries in the spring. How inspiring to find raw honey from Long Island bees after your morning run all summer and perhaps some fresh apple cider in the fall after you drop off the kids at soccer practice. Can you taste it?

I see the Farmer’s Market as a place to feed our bodies but also our minds and souls. What a positive visual for our community and families. Let’s remind our children that fruit and vegetables are actually grown, that the imperfections of non-industrial food are to be embraced. Let’s challenge ourselves by promoting real food that isn’t shrink wrapped, bagged or boxed. Celebrate food that doesn’t need a nutrition label!

I see local businesses involved, promoting themselves and the best they have to offer. I have done a lot of detective work for my health coaching & nutrition clients and they are surprised that they can find nutrish AND delish choices right here in Manhasset. This would be an opportunity for us to highlight the wealth of choices we already have. My hope is that it would also encourage new business into Manhasset. Wouldn’t it be amazing if our town was seen as a beacon of health and wellness prompting a new juice bar to open on Plandome Road?!

So, Manhasset… What do you think?  Do you agree that a Sunday Farmer’s Market would be a great addition to our community?  If so, please visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/we-want-a-farmers-market-in-manhasset/ to sign an online petition to express our community’s interest in this concept. I will also post a link on my website ThriveNaturally.com. The more support we get, the more likely this can become a reality.

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference. Why live when you can thrive.

MaryAnn Jones, Holistic Nutritionist

C E R T I F I E D  H E A L T H  C O A C H,  A A D P

thrivenaturally.com

thrivenaturally.myzrii.com

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Why live when you can T H R I V E. We all have unlimited potential-find yours at integrativenutrition.com Mention my name to access the latest tuition scholarship.