I’m a fan of direct-order products.  Once upon a time I was an Arbonne consultant because their skincare line was the only product I could use on my daughter’s sensitive skin.  I loved it so much that I became a consultant and did home parties and direct sales.  It was so much fun but it was not working out for my family’s busy schedule and I had to drop it.  Still, I love supporting mom-preneurs and trying new products.  There are several direct-sales brands that I enjoy purchasing.  Here are just a few that I buy from:

Pampered Chef

Thirty-One

Matilda Jane

Kelly’s Kids

Chez Ami

Longaberger

Discovery Toys

Silpada

Lia Sophia

Scentsy

Southern Home

Do you find yourself loving these products, too, but holding back because of the expense?  While it’s true that these items can often be pricey, there are ways to save.  Here are some ideas from my experience as an independent consultant.

1. Find a consultant who you love and stick with her.  Loyalty is a great thing in direct-sales, and your consultant will take care of you if she knows that you are going to buy from her.  The Matilda Jane consultant who I buy from lives in another state.  We’ve never met, but she always makes sure I get a great deal on my order.  So don’t worry if your consultant is not local.  What matters is great customer service.
2. Sign up for the emails.  Usually the newsletter will be sent out once per month, and it’s often loaded with specials and deals.  You’ll miss out on these FYI’s if you don’t subscribe.
3. If there’s a specific item you’re longing for, tell your consultant.  She can keep an eye out for you.  When that item goes on sale or she can get you a good discount, she will try to help you out.   This is how I get good prices on the more expensive things I want.
4. Have a catalog show.  If you don’t have time to host a party in your home, set out a catalog at work.  Many busy moms don’t have time to attend a party but they’ll always find something they want to order. You’ll get some freebies this way and it’s so much easier than having an in-home party..
5. Consider getting the consultant deal if it works for you.  With Arbonne, I was able to get a 35% discount for one year plus a free product for my $29 sign-up fee.  There was no minimum purchase or requirement to sell the products.  It was a no-brainer for me!  When I did parties, I often encouraged customers to sign up so they could get their free product (they could even get the $79 night crème for free!)   While this meant that I didn’t earn the commission from the sale, it saved my clients money and that was more important to me.
6. Pay attention to the specials.  For example, Thirty-One always has great deals going on that are really good savings at low minimum-order amounts.  I take these opportunities to grab gifts, too.
7. Just ask how you can get a better price!  I was always able to find a way for my clients to get what they needed at a price that we could both live with.  Sometimes I was able to wiggle on the shipping rates by combining orders; other times I could figure out a way to stack the discounts to make the bottom line even lower.  Often times my clients would tell me not to worry about it, they were fine with the price (Arbonne products are THAT good!)  but I always tried to get the best price for my customers.

Do you have a good tip for saving with direct-sale companies?  Share, please!

If you’re an independent consultant for a company, I’d love to hear from you, too!  Please share your tips and bargains for customers.  Feel free to leave your contact info and/or website in a comment below!