What Led Me to Switch Direct Sales Companies
Two years ago (almost to the day) I started my direct sales business. I was PUMPED! The amount of joy that I had unpacking those boxes could easily be one of the biggest moments of my life. I had just started a business! However, I’m also here to tell you that companies change, people change, and circumstances change. Here are the top 5 signs that it might be time for you switch companies.
5. You dread your shipments.
My previous company was a big promoter of constantly having new inventory to show your customers. So I did, every single week. I would order – even if it probably wasn’t the best financial decision. I couldn’t disagree with their logic, customers love getting pumped up for new items. I would dump that whole box out on the floor with the anticipation of having so many beautiful pieces to show my customers. About six months ago I realized something HUGE. When those boxes came, I didn’t dump them out anymore. I opened them up, quickly rummaged through them, and then let them sit. Sometimes for a couple days, sometimes for a week. Those items didn’t excite me anymore. It may be true that there is someone out there for every item but I didn’t want it to be my job to hunt them down anymore. I knew who my ideal client was and they weren’t going to be anymore excited about those items than I was. I knew it was time to switch companies when I couldn’t stand behind the product I was selling.
4. You’ve lost faith in the company executives.
This was a big one for me. I would listen to my home office call every week, after all I had a team of girls to look out for! For the longest time I gave some of the company’s decisions the benefit of the doubt. I thought that everything was just a bump in the road for a growing company. It took me a long time to finally admit that the chances of things getting better were slim to none. I kept thinking that they would hire some actual business minded people to help them out. However, after a ton of failed launches and less than heartfelt apologies I quickly realized that I could no longer represent a company I had lost faith in. When I made my decision to switch companies I made sure that the leaders of the company knew where their business was going and how to get it there.
3. The product is super hard to sell.
When I started my business I could sell things as fast as they came in. The brand was new and it was exciting for people to try it. I completely understand that it’s normal for people to move on to something else eventually. That wasn’t the issue however with my previous company. People didn’t move on from what I was selling because they wanted a different brand or that they were tired of it. People moved on because they could see the issues the company was having, they could read about the major product defects, and they could see the frustrated and upset consultants. The company had expanded far too quickly and they lost control. They could not control the amount of consultants going out of business at the same time and not following the “no discount policy”. Over saturation was a huge factor for my local business and an even bigger factor online. No one wants to pay full price for something that’s 50% off next door. I don’t blame them – I’ve always been a sale shopper to – but I couldn’t compete with it any longer.
2. You can’t support your team anymore.
It broke my heart when the amazing girls on my team were having the same issues I was and I couldn’t help them. I know that they would have been fine with me just saying “Girl, me too,” which I did multiple times. But I wasn’t fine with that, my team consisted of close friends and family and I wanted to help them and fix the issues, but there was nothing I could do. Keep in mind that I went to almost every training and convention for my company that I could go to, so I wasn’t just uneducated. I took the suggestions and I did what I could with them, I passed them on and told my girls to do the same but it just wasn’t working anymore. I couldn’t be a leader and honestly my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. You have to have passion for your own business if you want your team to have passion for theirs.
1. You no longer find joy in what you’re doing.
This is number one for a reason and it’s pretty self explanatory. The quote “do what you love, love what you do” has been one of my favorites for a long time. If you don’t love it anymore – whatever the reason may be – don’t settle. You can change what you’re doing, you can move on to bigger and better things, and you can find joy again. I know I did! If you think it’s time to switch companies or to head another direction with your business I’d be happy to talk you through it!
