Should I become a consultant?

[quirkycooking]

Sue, you can do demos at any time you (or they) want to do them - so if you're busy Saturday mornings, you could still do them Saturday afternoons and evenings, plus weekdays/evenings...  The only problem with the breakfast menu idea is that there is set menus for the different demos, and you're not supposed to deviate from them too much, except when you're changing it to suit someone with allergies (eg. celiac/dairy intolerance). 

I don't really feel pressured - maybe it depends on your GL?  Not sure...  I find her very encouraging and motivating, but not overbearing at all!

Thermoheaven, I never had trouble getting enough sales to stay in, but have just gotten more as I've gone along, as people from previous demos become ready to buy.  I think it really helps to stay in contact with anyone who's interested at a demo, by sending emails with recipes, special offers, etc.  I've had a lot of people tell me that my blog emails are what kept them interested, they couldn't stop thinking about it because they kept getting yummy recipes in their inbox that they couldn't make easily without a Thermomix!    (But I don't hassle people - I'm not much of a 'salesman' - I just show them what the tmx can do, and tell them how much I love it and use it, and if they want me to I send them the newsletter/recipe emails.  I only ring them if they're interested.) 

Hope that helps, Sue

[sue_h]

thanks for your input everyone. It has helped. Tomorrow I'm signing on the dotted line (at least I think it's dotted). The positive experiences have spurred me on and the negative are letting me walk into this with realism. I have a few people who've said that they'd love to see a demo. Some because they've heard about it and others because I'm passionate about it. I have no expectations at this stage and just want to get through the first 6 demo's and hopefully have some more. My attitude is that I'm giving it my best shot, if it works and I can stay in then fantastic, if not, then that's Ok too, I've learnt lots along the way, fed a few happy people and met a few more.

[Meagan]

Good luck sue great attitude. That is similar to me and I am still consulting over a year later

[thermoheaven]

Congratulations, Sue.

Quirky, how long have you been a consultant, and how long has it taken for the sales to come along? Thanks.

[quirkycooking]

Yes, that's a good way to look at it Sue!  Hope it goes well for you.

Thermoheaven, I've been a consultant for nearly 2 yrs.  I sold about 2 a month for the first couple of months, and now my average is more like 4 or 5 a month, which I know isn't a lot, but I'm a homeschooling mum and busy with lots of things, and can't do as many demos as some can.  So it's at a level that I can cope with, and I enjoy.  I have had months with 6 or 7 sales, and sometimes only 1, but never less than 1

[thermoheaven]

That's great, Quirky. This is so different from what I've heard from some consulltants. 4 consultants I've spoken to have said they're lucky to get 1 or 2 sales a month and have experienced months where they have not had any sales. It's good to hear you're doing so well.

[sue_h]

that's great Jo to hear you're doing so well. I think you have a great attitude and excellent nutritional knowledge would help as well.

Meagan, you sound like you're enjoying it as well. Very positive.

I'll have to wait another couple of weeks though as I can't sign up until Saturday. Why is it that when you've made the decision you get impatient to get underway. Time flies though so I'll just settle in and continue all the great meals in the TM.

[quirkycooking]

Thanks I thought I was a bit slow compared to others!  I've heard of some who've sold 20 something in a month, and I know one lady sold 32 last month, so I feel like the 'country cousin' in the Thermomix world!!    But I enjoy it

[Meagan]

Jo I reckon that is great for sales considering all you do!! Mine ranged from 1-9 per month last year. It just depends on so many factors- holidays, ilness, customer base, etc etc
I plan to reach club 100 this year

[quirkycooking]

Me too, Meagan! 

[zarbos]

Don't be fooled. Working for Thermomix is hard work. There's alot to carry to each demo, and it can be heavy. It also takes up alot of time and effort, and there's lots of paperwork to do. This really needs to be factored into the time it takes to make a sale. When all this is considered, the hourly rate they pay isn't very good - you'd be better off with a regular job. Thermomix really counts on people who like doing it to do it because no one would do it based on their hourly rate.
Whether you make sales is purely based on luck, and don't let them suck you in when they say it's your business. It isn't your business - you can'tsell it when you want to finish with them. I really doubt whether they hang onto 10 per cent of the people they recruit because there is such a high drop out rate, and I'm sure people wouldn't drop out if working for them was so wonderful. There are also alot of consultants who aren't happy; you just don't hear from them. Not every one of them is a success story. Just go in with your eyes wide open.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do. give it a go and see what you think. I'd like to hear what other ex-consultants think; they shouldn't worry about voicing their opinions because they aren't alone - there are tons of them out there.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Good food for thought there Zarbos and welcome to the forum.   I agree it is good for people to know some of the problems they can encounter if they decide to become a consultant.  For some people it seems to be a rewarding and enjoyable career, but it certainly isn't for everyone.  I have often thought I would like to be a consultant as I love my thermomix and enjoy administration work (a nice change from teaching kidlets), but I just don't think I could drum up enough customers.  I wonder how the average thermomix consultants yearly income would compare with other consultants - perhaps Tupperware?

[zarbos]

Hi Chelsea,
Nice to meet you.
The people in the group I was with had varied sales numbers, and it wasn't uncommon for some not to have any sales for the month, and it wasn't uncommon to do several demos and not have any sales. The company would say that it was because the "close" wasn't done properly, but to be honest, you can't sell something to someone if they don't want it, and to force them would be unethical. This is not to say that it doesn't happen as there is a woman in the group who really pushes a sale and needless to say that her sales numbers are high and the company loves her and doesn't care what she does as long as she has sales numbers - that's what it's all about at the end of the day.
Drumming up sales is what it's all about, and the company expects you to do it yourself. They say they help, but in all honestly, the "help" they give is feeble. On top of that, question anything, and they have an answer for it, and it all comes back to hit you in the face.
As for income, the commission is on a sliding scale, so to make anything to replace a job, you'd have to look at no less than 10 sales a month, and I can tell you that that is a rare occurence. In a group of about 20, there were only a few who managed 4 sales last month. Does that satisfy your curiousity? I know nothing of Tupperware, but I think people doing Tupperware have it much easier.
One thing I will say for Thermomix is that they squeeze as much as they can out of you - they get alot more out of you than you get out of them. If you look at the recipecommunity site they created, the competition was for them to generate more recipes. That's a good example of how they get people to do their work  (and advertising) for free.

[baf65]

zarbos you sound a little bitter
i do agree with most of what you say though from my experience anyway...too many meetings to attend as well as demos to make it worth while

[zarbos]

Hi baf,
Nice to meet you.
I didn't mean to sound bitter - just trying to say it as it is.