Direct Selling Myths and Facts

MYTH #1: Most direct selling companies are pyramid schemes 

FACT: There’s a big difference between legitimate direct selling companies and pyramid schemes. Pyramid schemes seek to make money from you (and quickly). Legitimate direct selling companies seek to make money with you as you build your business (and theirs) by selling real products and services.  In fact, legitimate direct selling companies work hard to protect consumers from pyramid schemes. 

Before you sign up with a company, investigate carefully. A good way to begin is to ask yourself these three questions: 

(1) How much are you required to pay to become an independent consultant? If the startup cost is substantial, be careful! The start-up fee in direct selling companies should generally be low and cover the cost of your start-up kit (usually sold at or below company cost) which can include training materials, sample products and other items to get your business going. These companies want to make it easy and inexpensive for you to start selling. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, make nearly all of their profit on signing up new recruits. Therefore, the cost to become a distributor is usually high.

(2) Will the company buy back unsold inventory? If not, beware! Legitimate companies that require inventory purchases will usually “buy back” unsold products if you decide to quit the business. Some state laws and the DSA Code of Ethics require buy-backs for at least 90% of your original cost.

(3)  Are the company’s products sold to consumers? If the answer is no (or not many), stay away! This is a key element. Direct selling (like other methods of retailing) depends on selling to consumers and establishing a market. This requires quality products, competitively priced. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, are not concerned with sales to end users of the product. Inventory purchases should never be more than you can realistically expect to sell or use yourself.

MYTH #2: 99.9% of direct sellers lose money

FACT: More than half of direct sellers report that their net income from direct selling, after taxes and expenses, is positive. In addition, a positive net income is reported by nearly half of new direct sellers — those representing their current company for less than a year — and by nearly half of direct sellers who say that they are not very likely or not at all likely to continue in direct selling in the future.

In addition, research shows the following:

-82% of direct sellers have been with their current direct selling company for one year or more, and 47% for five years or more.
-89% of direct sellers rate their personal experience in direct selling as excellent, very good, or good.
-84% of direct sellers say that direct selling meets or exceeds their expectations as a good way to supplement their income or as a way to make extra money for themselves.
-91% of direct sellers say that direct selling meets or exceeds their expectations as a business where the harder they work, the more money they can make. 

(Source: 2002 National Salesforce Survey, Research International, Inc.)

Simply put, most people do not lose money in direct selling. Neither the facts nor common sense supports that theory. 

MYTH #3: Recruiting is the key to success in direct selling

FACT: There’s no doubt – recruiting is an important element of direct selling – just as expansion is important to any business that wants to grow. For direct sellers looking to build a business, recruiting others and mentoring them so they, too, can achieve their goals is important. But, recruiting is not a requirement for individual success in direct selling, and compensation must always be based on the sale of products and services – whether your own sales or the sales made by your recruits.

Consider the following: Thirty-four percent of direct sellers do not earn money from the sales of others, but just from their own personal sales. (Source: 1999 National Salesforce Survey, MORPACE International, Inc.)  And what about those customers? It is true that most direct sellers are also consumers of the products and services they sell – for many, they got involved after having already used the products, and some get involved just to buy those products at a discount.  But, half (50%) of U.S. adults purchase products or services using the direct-selling retail channel during any given year. That’s roughly equivalent to 150 million people in the US alone who make at least one purchase from a direct selling company in a 12-month period. When you consider there are 15.6 million direct sellers in the US, that leaves a lot of customers who aren’t also direct sellers. (Source: 2004 General Public Attitudes Toward Direct Selling, Burke, Inc.) 

MYTH #4: Direct selling products are overpriced  

FACT: The consumer market won’t sustain products that are overpriced for long. Competition is a powerful force and products that aren’t competitively priced won’t sell and can’t last.  But for direct selling, there’s a bit more to the price equation than might immediately meet the eye.  The decision to sell a product through direct selling is often based on very specific factors. 

For example, products that require demonstration to convey the finer points of their operation are ideal for direct selling because a knowledgeable salesperson can personally conduct that demonstration for every customer. In a traditional retail setting, consumers might not understand the product’s unique qualities based on appearance or packaging.  It’s true that some direct selling products are priced at the upper end of the retail market’s acceptance level, but there is higher acceptance based on the value-added incentive of the demonstration and personal service. 

Lexus brand cars are also at the upper end of the retail market acceptance level, but superior performance and service after the sale make that higher price reasonable.  Each customer needs to weigh the price, quality and desirability of a given product and make a purchasing decision accordingly.

MYTH #5: Direct selling is an outdated method of buying and selling

FACT: More and more people are getting involved in direct selling because they enjoy the personal service that accompanies shopping this way. With hundreds of direct selling products and services to choose from, both those looking for supplemental income and those looking for a fun way to shop and socialize with friends find direct selling appealing. Parties and Events offer great opportunities to chat with friends in a relaxed atmosphere and browse through great products at the same time. And, you might even learn a new tip, trick or skill, or even pick up a new hobby. Many direct selling companies today emphasize education about a particular topic, taking the focus off the sale and onto having fun.  Similarly, person-to-person demonstrations of products provide an opportunity to try products, talk to a knowledgeable salesperson and get personal service that only comes with direct selling. 

Outdated? Not at all. Today’s consumers demand high levels of personal service that many retail establishments just can’t deliver. Couple that with fun and flexibility, and you’ve got a winning combination! Direct selling is based on people, so it easily changes with the times.

MYTH #6: Direct selling companies are unregulated 

FACT: Several governmental bodies, as well as the Direct Selling Association and organizations like the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, National Consumers League and Better Business Bureau, work to protect consumers against fraud. It is an unfortunate truth that some scam artists try to masquerade as legitimate direct selling companies, making these laws and regulations necessary. Here are a few of the protections on which consumers can rely:

-All 50 states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have cooling-off laws that provide consumers with an unconditional 3-business-day right to cancel an order or contract. These laws are designed to counteract high-pressure sales and allow people who change their mind about a purchase to make a quick and easy return.
-In addition, all 50 states, the FTC, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Postal Service have anti-pyramid scheme laws or regulations that they can use to prosecute and shut down such frauds. (See citations for examples of State anti-pyramid scheme laws.)
-On the federal tax side, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulates direct sellers through a special form, 1099-MISC, to insure income tax compliance by direct sellers. Direct sellers are independent contractors by virtue of section 3508 of the U.S. tax code. A 1099-MISC form must be filed for all direct sellers who have received $600 or more from the company with which they are affiliated. In addition, a 1099-MISC form must be filed for those purchasing on an annual basis $5,000 or more of consumer products from the parent company. Direct sellers also must file a Schedule C with the IRS in order to claim business expense deductions.
-The Direct Selling Association’s Code of Ethics is also a powerful self-regulatory document by which all DSA member companies must abide. The Code includes important provisions including a buy-back requirement (for both inventory and sales aids), a cooling-off period and other provisions enforced by an Independent Code Administrator. Consumers who feel a Code violation has occurred should file a complaint with the DSA Code Administrator.

MYTH #7: Everyone who gets involved in direct selling wants an easy way to make moneyFACT: People choose to get involved in direct selling for a lot of reasons. Some hope to make it a full-time career, but most sign up to either earn a little extra money or to receive a discount on their own purchases.  Legitimate direct selling companies are very careful to represent earning potential accurately. 

The DSA Code of Ethics requires companies and their salesforce members to provide potential independent sellers with accurate information about the company’s pay structure, products and sales methods.  And no one should be fooled into thinking direct selling is a way to make money with little or no effort. 

Don’t be fooled by ads or people who tell you you’ll instantly make thousands of dollars just by signing up or recruiting a few people. As with any business, it takes time to establish a customer base and build a business.  While direct selling is not an opportunity to get rich quick, you can be successful if you establish your goals and a plan to reach them. Legitimate direct selling opportunities offer the flexibility to set your own goals and achieve them on your own terms.

LOOKING FOR A CAREER CHANGE, SOME EXTRA SPENDING MONEY, OR A WAY TO SUPPORT A CAUSE IMPORTANT TO YOU? 

CONSIDER JOINING OUR FAST-GROWING RODAN + FIELDS TEAM.  I would love to answer your questions and help you take an important step toward creating your own financial security.

Get information about Network Marketing Statistics in the US here: http://theskinuarein.blogspot.com/2013/09/official-network-marketing-statistics.html

Find information about Residual Income here: http://theskinuarein.blogspot.com/2013/11/residual-income-should-be-part-of-your.html

Primary Source: DirectSelling411.com

RESIDUAL INCOME SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN!

If you've read my blog post on Network Marketing Statistics, you know what your financial future is up against, at least in the U.S. But, don't give up! You can still overcome your obstacles by making smart decisions about your time and financial investments.

WANT TO OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

If you don’t have an extra $40,000 to $1.2M to risk taking the plunge into the world of Franchise Opportunities, then perhaps the Multi Level Marketing Model is just what you’ve been looking for!

Consider the importance of Residual income, also known as passive or recurring income. Residual income is different from a regular wage that's based on the number of hours invested in a particular job. Residual income continues to generate itself even after the work has been completed. Such income helps you earn more while working less as it continues to pay recurrently for work done once. Sounds great, right?

If you are working on a job and earning a salary, there is a 1:1 ratio (sometimes less) between the hours of work put in by you and the dollars you earn. You would stop generating an income when you stopped working. You would only be able to earn significantly more money by getting a promotion or working longer hours.

To earn a residual income, you do need to put in a fair amount of work over a period of time, but the rewards are for a longer duration and continue to come in even if you decide to cut your hours. You won’t find that in an 8 to 5 job!

Paths to Residual Income can include Insurance Sales, Authoring a Book, Owning a Rental Property, Running a Paid Parking Lot, Purchasing a Franchise, Earning Dividends on Investments, and Network Marketing (MLM). Of all of these, most MLM companies will require the least investment initially and over time.

BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION… 

If, like me, you’ve concluded that MLM is the best low-risk and high-reward opportunity, please do your research! Evaluate the whole of the company you’re considering: its creators and their reputation, the company’s financial health, the company’s future plans, and equally important, its training and compensation structures.

Only choose from those companies that are regulated by the Direct Selling Association Inc. (DSA), in place to ensure you’re investing with legitimate businesses.

WANT MY OPINION? 

Well, you may not. But you’ve stuck with me this far, so why not hear me out?

Alongside my traditional work-all-the-time-or-make-no-money photography business, I opted to partner with -- and leverage the reputation of -- two dermatologists known around the world (literally). Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields made their mark with Proactiv in 1993. Continuing to see patients in their respective offices, they watched Proactiv become a multi-billion dollar business! 

What is so fantastic about these doctors is that their R&D has never stopped. All along, they’ve been creating anti-aging products! In 2002, they unveiled some of these skin care products under the name “Rodan + Fields” in high-end retailers and quickly became the #1 clinical brand.

Knowing that they could reach and improve even more skin, they took their top-selling brand out of retail and opted for the direct sales route. That’s BIG news for those of us who partner with them! Remember those billions earned with a single Proactiv product line? Multiply that by 5 lines (and growing), and you’ve got Rodan + Fields’ future potential. 

This time, it won’t be a large firm or retailer working as the middleman and making the bulk of the profit. It will be the direct sales consultants who are benefitting from the clinically proven products and telling their friends and colleagues about them. Double bonus!! (New products will be introduced in 2014!)

One more important thing to note: Since 2008, the DSA has given more awards to Rodan + Fields than ANY other company in its 100 year history. They’re recognized for a variety of things, including consultant training tools.

So, my opinion is that you will do yourself a disservice by NOT considering a partnership (for less than $1000 & a 60-day money back guarantee) with a brand that has grown 1400% in less than 5 years, is going global in 2014, and expects to see exponential growth while addressing a $3B+ anti-age industry. Rodan + Fields is a once-every-30-years opportunity and it’s now knocking at your door! 

I can help you work through questions or concerns to determine if this is a good fit for you. If you are hungry and coachable, you’re perfect and I would be thrilled to have you join my team! (US residents only, until further notice.)

Message or call me soon so you can start earning residual income!  I am in the Midwest, but this business model can grow anywhere, so we don't need to be in the same area!  I can coach you by phone or Skype.  

~~ This NOT A PARTY PLAN. You DO NOT STOCK INVENTORY. Products are SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO YOUR CLIENTS. Both you and your clients have A 60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!~~

Love The Skin You're In!

Jen, 937-272-1771

Jennifer@throughjenslens.com             

https://jensherwood.myrandf.biz

Don't stop taking care of your skin just because you're not showing it off!

It's time to winterize.

Call me at 937-272-1771 today to learn how Rodan + Fields can help.

Or visit my website.

Exfolation is Best for Radiant Skin

Clarisonic or Macro-Exfoliator?

Exfoliation can help maintain your skin’s healthy glow and prevent acne and other blemishes. The epidermis is composed of around 30 layers of cells stacked upon each other like bricks. Like a brick wall, an intercellular “cement” runs between them like glue, and between the cells are microscopic fibers that anchor them together. Daily epidermal cells are invisibly shed through the body’s natural means of exfoliation. But dead skin cells can build up, and our bodies need help freeing the skin’s surface of these cells and other clogging debris that can cause blemishes. Poor exfoliation practices and plugging beneath the skin’s surface can lead to acne, blackheads and even large-looking pores.

The most common form of exfoliation is physical exfoliation, or mechanically removing superficial layers of the skin. 

This can be done with with exfoliating cleansers containing sugar or salt crystals like R+F's Microdermabrasion Paste, or by using specific dermatologic grade tools.

In recent years, microdermabrasion has become a popular exfoliation method both in spa or dermatologist settings, or at home. This helps remove the more superficial skin cells, revealing the fresher, healthier skin below. In an office or spa setting these repeat treatments may become costly, though effective.

The Redefine Macro-Exfoliator* is a hand-held, personal, at-home exfoliation tool that sweeps away dead skin by removing the stratum corneum (the top layer of skin) leaving your skin smoother and healthier looking with a more luminous complexion. The diamond tip head sloughs off all the dead skin that accumulates itself on our face. Dead skin cells enlarge our pores, sneak themselves into wrinkles to make them appear larger, and just makes our face appear dull overall.

Just 5 minutes. Once a week. 5 MILLION dead skin cells = AMAZING results!

But, for a radiant glow, your skin needs BOTH physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation.

Chemical exfoliation involves applying products containing a form of alpha hydroxy acids and/or beta hydroxy acid that dissolve the "glue" around the skin cells, hastening the shedding of several layers of the epidermis.  Step 1 of R+F's REDEFINE Regimen and REVERSE regimen are excellent chemical exfoliators.

The Clarisonic has a brush that cleans, softens and smooths skin. The brush is gentle, yet typically can remove makeup, oil and dirt better than manual cleansing alone. It does not exfoliate.

So, there you have it.  I hope that cleared up any confusion about the differences between the Clarisonic brush and the Macro-Exfoliator.

Love The Skin You're In!

Jen

NOTE: It is not recommended that any make-up removing tools or brushes be used in conjunction with a Rodan + Fields skin care regimen.  Regimens are designed to be used with finger tips or soft cloths only.

* Our 3rd party, clinical results showed that 95% of participants experienced an improvement in their skin texture after ONE use!

How to Avoid Those Wrinkles...Or Make Them Less Noticeable!

LET'S TALK ABOUT WRINKLES

Of course everyone ages, but the way in which your skin ages is very much under your control. According to Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields, here are 4 lifestyle changes you can start to make right now:

1. Get your beauty sleep…on your back. Over time, a nightly face plant into your pillow will cause those pillow creases to become permanently etched into your skin. Train yourself to get off your side and sleep on your back.

2. No smoking, or quit if you do. It makes you look a decade older than you actually are. Smoking breaks down collagen, impairs wound healing and restricts blood vessels, resulting in sagging, sallow and course skin.

3. Don’t drink from a straw. The puckering associated with drinking from a straw has been observed to increase wrinkling around the lips.

4. Keep those eyes covered. Sunglasses are a must, everyday, no matter how cloudy it is.

To help reduce the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes, try Rodan + Fields REDEFINE multi-function eye cream. It works!

Your Journey to Younger-Looking Skin

Want more youthful looking skin? It's not hard to get!

The AMP MD is only available to preferred customers and consultants in 2013.

Quality Over Quantity

Michelle Haught - Finding Quality Over Quantity

Posted by Rodan + Fields on Friday, September 27th, 2013



Michelle Haught was eight months along in her pregnancy and working full time in the spring of 2011. Her career as an industrial engineer was demanding of her mental energy, and her time, and she wasn’t looking for anything more to add to her busy life. She would be a mother of three when her baby arrived in a month’s time, and she was preparing for a full home while still keeping up with the pace of her job. She was a very unlikely candidate for a side venture into direct sales. Yet, that April she signed up to be an Independent Consultant for Rodan + Fields®.

The path that led Michelle to her Rodan +Fields business began with an event she and her husband attended to learn about the Company. She recalls thinking it sounded like a great business, but it wasn’t something for her because it was just too different from her line of work. She decided to join somewhat reluctantly after her husband urged her to give it a try. Her intuition and frank approach have rewarded her years later with a business she takes great joy in pursuing. She is grateful that she married someone who encouraged her to do something she was hesitant about at first, but which has rewarded her in the long run. “I’m thankful to have someone in my life who opens my eyes for me sometimes. My husband is my biggest supporter.”

A Family Adventure

Sometimes we all need someone to give us a little nudge in the right direction. Michelle is glad today that she took the challenge of trying something new even if she was timid early on. She laughs now about being nervous about telling her mother that she was doing with Rodan + Fields, because it was so unlike anything she or anyone in her family would pursue. She also admits to having felt shy and awkward in the beginning and to taking a very passive approach when she was starting out. What turned her confidence around was when one of her best engineering friends approached her and asked about becoming part of her Rodan + Fields team. This was someone she respected, and she relates, “It validated what I was doing to have someone I respect join, and it boosted my confidence.” She also got a boost of confidence from the skincare products themselves when she started using the REVERSE Regimen. Just for fun, she took a before picture of her face and an after picture eight weeks later. “The changes were gradual, but after eight weeks I was blown away by how much my skin had changed.”

Michelle still works full time as an engineer, and continues to grow her Rodan + Fields business in the hours she has to devote to it. Her advice for people who are considering their own Rodan + Fields business but don’t feel like they have time is to do as much as you can with what you have. “I focus on the quality of time that I devote to my business, not the quantity.” She finds that her quality time with Rodan + Fields is an enjoyable time, because it’s such a contrast to the stress of her day job. “I spend all day looking at a computer, so the fact that I get to chat with other women in the evenings is amazing.” She has been able to devote ten hours a week to her business, and over time, she says her perspective has changed along with her goals. While she loves her engineering job, she now has a deeper understanding of how the Rodan + Fields business opportunity impacts people’s lives in positive ways. Now that she has reached LEVEL V status, she is not as concerned about keeping her own business afloat and has time to focus on helping her team more. While she doesn’t have plans to quit her job as an engineer, she does plan on continuing to expand her Rodan + Fields business so that it will one day give her the chance to explore her options. For now, she is glad she has made it a part of her world. “I really see the bigger picture of what this does for so many people, and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Michelle and Family



Want your story to be featured here? Learn more about joining our team by calling 937.272.1771 or visiting https://jensherwood.myrandf.biz. God Bless!

Leap of Faith

Are you a risk taker? Do you regularly take leaps of faith? You're here, so I know you like to educate yourself. And, you feel like you recognize great opportunities when they appear, right?  But, do you...? Most of us view opportunities through the eyes of our own needs and areas of expertise. 

Maybe that's not such a good idea. For example, I don't drink coffee, but if someone offered me the chance to open a Starbucks for a minimal investment, I WOULD DO IT without hesitation.

I have no history in running a hotel, but if Donald Trump allowed me to invest in one of his at a reasonable price, I WOULD DO IT without thinking twice.

If a multi-decade veteran of an industry told me that investment in a specific company was a once-every-thirty-years kind of opportunity, I WOULD DO IT with enthusiasm.

And, I DID! I took that leap of faith and partnered with two of the most respected names in Dermatology--Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields (the creators of Proactiv). To do for aging what they've already done for acne is the aim of their newest business venture, Rodan + Fields Dermatologists. For less than $1,000 investment in consumable product, I began this successful business by fitting it into the nooks and crannies of my 'day job' as a photographer.

My skin looks younger, I get compliments everywhere I go, AND when I tell people what I'm using, they ask how they can get it. Rodan + Fields Dermatologists products are only sold through Independent Consultants like myself. (Read "residual income." ) There are no hostess-credit style home parties and no inventory to haul around or stock. This is MY business to run as I choose.

Sound like something you could do? Then, take this journey with me. You can only be first once and once R+F goes international in 2014, the sky is the limit for those of us who have been willing to take that leap of faith!

Connect with me by phone or email.

Best,

Jen Sherwood 

937.272.1771 | jennifer@throughjenslens.com | https://www.facebook.com/TheSkinUareIn

Official Network Marketing Statistics in the U.S.

11.12.13 See my follow-up post here.

Ever wonder what the statistics are on how many people succeed in Network Marketing? Do a lot of people actually make this thing work? Let’s look at why the Network Marketing industry is exploding and the numbers that explain it.

The Great American Dream is gone. Official U.S. government reports point out that more than 3.5 million jobs have been eliminated in the past 10 years. This includes over 2,000 jobs per day last year alone. More frightening; an estimated 55% of all jobs created in the next 10 years will be near minimum wage. Currently, 90% of all the people in North America earn less than $40,000 a year and today’s two-income family are not living as well as their parents did. As well as what has been just stated, check out these economic facts:

At age 50:

-75% of the population has less than $5,000 in the bank for retirement.

At age 65:

-45% of Americans depend on relatives.

-30% depend on charities.

-23% are still working (most can’t afford to quit and work until they are no longer physically capable).

-Only 2% are self-sustaining.

At the current time:

-It is impossible to support a family of two working full time at minimum wage.

-For the first time in history, the current generation is averaging a lower standard of living than their parents.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also states:

Out of 100 people that start working at the age of 25, by the age of 65:

-1 is wealthy.

-4 have enough money to retire.

-63 depend on social security or charity.

-29 are deceased.

One of the most disheartening statistics is this:

-95% of people, age 65 and over cannot afford to retire and work until they die.

Well isn’t that great news? There is a solution though. Since the beginning of the MLM industry in the 1950’s there have been six recessions in the United States of different degrees. With each recession the MLM industry has experienced significant growth because as the economy goes, Network Marketing goes the opposite. Currently our economy is just coming out or going into another official recessional period, depending upon who you ask. Once again, indicators are showing that the MLM industry is beginning another growth trend here in the United States. Many MLM companies, large and small, have experienced record growth in overall sales and sponsoring in the last year. Furthermore, with the start of the New Year many of those same companies are seeing even greater growth from month to month.

So why does the Network Marketing Industry increase during down economic times? Simple; because there are more people looking for another stream of income. There are more potential business partners in a recession because of the uncertainty of their current and future financial situation. Many have lost their jobs, had their wages or overtime cut back or simply are concerned that they may be next in line for being laid off or cut back. For those that are financially stable, they are realizing that they may no longer be safe and that additional income wouldn’t be a bad thing.

The MLM Industry gives the average person the ability to create residual income, the king of all income, meaning that it comes in, month after month, for work that one did once in the past. It also provides this opportunity with a much smaller investment than what it would take to build a “brick and mortar” business. There are many that are able to build a large income in the MLM Industry that provides full financial freedom, but for most people, the average bonus check is between $500 and $1,000 per month which equates to supplementary (read "college fund" or "fun fund") income for mass amounts of people.

Because of this ability to generate extra income for the average person, there will be a rush into this Industry over the next several years. People will need alternatives.

So you can see for yourself, the following are the official Network Marketing statistics in the U.S. that are going on around you (Direct Selling Association & U.S. Census statistics):
-Someone starts a new home business every 10 seconds (U.S.).

-15.8 Million people working from home full-time (U.S.).

-Another 38 million or 12% of the total population working from home part-time (U.S.).

-8,493 new home businesses open every day (U.S.).

-Increasing by over 600,000 people per year (U.S.).

-82% of distributors are female and 18% are male (U.S.).

-By 2015, it is estimated that 50% of homes will be involved in the MLM Industry (U.S.).

-$28.56 billion in Direct Sales (Network Marketing) in 2010 (U.S.).

-23% of all Network Marketing sales are related to the Wellness Industry (U.S.).

-Average work from home income $59,250 per year (U.S.).

-20% of home based entrepreneurs said that their business grossed between $100,000 and $500,000 last year (U.S.).

-Home based business wage earner’s success rate is over 85% compared with small businesses like retail shops and restaurants, at about 95% failure rate after 5 years.

-84% recommend working from home to others (U.S.).

-29% work at home with other family members (U.S.).

If you thought the United States Network Marketing statistics were good, the World-wide MLM statistics are even more explosive!


Final Thoughts

If you are looking at the Network Marketing Industry to increase your cash flow, the most important decision you will make is choosing the right MLM company to join.  I am writing this to let you know that Rodan+Fields Dermatologists is an opportunity you will not find again.  It's the kind of opportunity that comes around every 30-40 years.  

If you are ready to take control of your future and you're willing to give 10-15 hours each week, ("talking" about products you use and love), along with a positive, entrepreneurial spirit....you owe it to yourself to learn about the opportunity that Rodan+Fields can offer you.  

The time is NOW.  And, I am here to help guide you.  Call me 937.272.1771

Love The Skin You're In!

Jen

NOTE: Much of this information was gathered from www.thebalanceyouneed.com, April 2013

Rodan + Fields is in the Press Again!

Exfoliation - Redefined

Says the San Francisco Chronicle ----

"The REDEFINE Macro Exfoliator: Remember the first time you used a Clarisonic cleansing brush and your face felt cleaner than it ever had before? This handheld tool, created by Bay Area dermatologists Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields, ups the ante.

Intended to be used just once a week, it suctions away the millions of dead skin cells on the surface that dull the complexion, in a modified version of the technique used in doctors' offices. Techie types can also download a companion app that provides reminders, helpful tips and other information.

The system includes the appliance, eight ampules of post-treatment cooling gels, a charging base, AC adapter, tip cleaning brush and spare exfoliation filter. $279, www.rodanandfields.com."

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>> The Macro-E is only $252 when you become a PC PERKS customer and it's **LESS THAN $100** when you pair it with a regimen right now! (Price is good until Aug. 31, 2013 -- after than, I can't guarantee it!)

This patented technology has never before been this affordable. Don't miss your opportunity for beautiful, fresh skin! Call me - 937.272.1771 

Be good to the skin you're in,

Jen

Silky Smooth Legs

Follow These Steps to Get a Smooth Shave with a Disposable Razor Blade

1. Check your razor. Make sure it's clean, sharp, and undamaged. If you have very fine hair, you can use the same blade repeatedly. If you have coarse hair, you may only get a couple shaves out of a blade. Once you feel the blade pulling or catching when you shave, you'll know it's time to change.

2. Hop in the shower. Or bath. Whatever makes you more comfortable. Do your normal washing routine before you shave. You want to let your hair and skin get wet for about two to four minutes, but not so long in hot water that your follicles start to swell up, inhibiting a close shave.

3. Use an exfoliator, like Rodan + Fields Enhancements Micro-Dermabrasion stick or their Micro-dermabrasion Paste, to slough off dead skin cells.  This should always be done prior to shaving. Exfoliating after shaving can cause redness and irritation.

4. Have a seat. If you're showering, have a seat on the edge of the tub. If you are in the bathtub, prop a foot up on the wall. You want your leg bent so that you can easily reach your ankles.

5. If needed, apply shaving cream. Try to find something that has moisturizers in it. The emollients help smooth the skin. 



6. Start at your ankle. Begin at the bottom of your leg, and with long strokes upwards, shave the hair against the grain. Don't rush; it's important to make smooth, even strokes.

Work your way up the leg, and don't forget your inner and outer thighs.

7. After you've finished with one leg, rinse it off, and repeat the entire process on the other leg. When you're satisfied you haven't missed a spot, towel dry, and get ready to moisturize.

8. Use a non-greasy moisturizer to reduce or eliminate the red bumps that sometimes occur with shaving.  If you have sensitive skin, try Rodan + Fields SOOTHE Sensitive Skin Treatment for its calming effect.

9. Go out and show off your beautiful, smooth legs!  

Love The Skin You're In!

Jen

Tips for Keeping the Skin Around The Eyes Healthy

Healthy Looking Eyes

In addition to choosing the proper skin care product, other things are important in maintaining healthy skin around the eyes:

• Drink plenty of water. Water plays a critical role maintaining the skin's elasticity. 

• Get plenty of rest. Fatigue can cause skin to look pale and gaunt.

• Stay out of the sun. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays causes melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells, to mature abnormally. This results in age spots and uneven pigmentation. UV rays are responsible for up to 90% of aging and can add several years to your appearance.

• Avoid smoking cigarettes. Nicotine constricts blood vessels in the face and under the eyes. Constricted vessels also make it difficult for nutrients to be absorbed, which leads to a breakdown of collagen.

• Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting.

• Limit alcohol intake. Excessive drinking can cause dehydration.

• Use cotton balls when removing eye makeup to avoid unnecessary tugging on the delicate tissue.

• Use a quality professionally recommended skin care product, like Rodan+Fields Multi-function Eye Cream, for the area around the eyes.

Call me at 937-272-1771 or visit my website at https://jensherwood.myrandf.com  to purchase.

Are you a cotton ball user?

COTTON BALLS VS. GAUZE 

Cotton balls retain over 80% of the product ...and then you throw it AWAY!

Use GAUZE instead with the toners to get the most out of your treatments.

1) The light texture removes cellular debris--without irritation.

2) The lint-free cotton does not stay on a guy's beard.

3) The absorption is amazing--holding up to 400 times its weight,

then depositing almost ALL of the toner to the face.

4) The gauze is almost dry after use--no wasting the treatment toner. It certainly doesn't do your skin any good in the garbage can!

Is it Time to Break Up With Your Skin Care?

What to Do When Your Skin's Needs Change

Why Do Skin-Care Products Stop Working?

Even the best skin-care products may seem to fall short after a while. There are many potential reasons for this, but often it's that your skin type is no longer what it was when you began using the products. For no apparent reason, dry skin can become oily or oily skin can become dry or combination. Sometimes rosacea creeps up on you or a type of dermatitis such as eczema causes problems. Most worrisome to most of us is the inevitable development of wrinkles and brown spots from those years of sun damage.

Your products may also seem to stop working because you're not seeing the dramatic results of the first few weeks or months. That's to be expected (it shouldn't be blamed on the products) because with ongoing use, the changes won't be as dramatic as they once were. Instead, your skin is in a healthy maintenance mode.

Why Your Skin Type Can Change

Unforeseen changes in skin type actually are quite understandable given the many factors that influence skin type, such as sun damage and skin disorders that crop up with age. For example, more than 50% of those with lighter skin tones will develop the skin disorder rosacea between the ages of 30 and 60. Another factor is menopause, which almost inevitably causes changes, such as never-before-seen breakouts and oily skin for those over the age of 40, and for others a change from oily skin to dry skin (often mislabeled as "mature skin").

Sun damage is cumulative, acquired over many years, and leads to many of the unpleasant skin changes we often associate with age, when in fact they are not about age at all. Over time, sun damage can cause enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, dull skin, and, of course, wrinkles. So, while age is not a skin type, the mere passage of time brings about changes, changes that will show up differently on different people.

Climate Change Affects Skin

Moving to a new location with a different climate can also create changes in your skin type, changes you never thought possible. We hear from women all over the world who are dealing with climate-induced skin changes. Whether moving from a dry, arid environment to one with high humidity, or from a tropical climate to a cool climate, these drastic changes can send your skin into a tailspin, causing even the most reliable products to seemingly backfire.

Skin-Care Confusion

To add to the confusion—it could be a combination of the issues mentioned above that make the products you once loved impractical. What's the solution? It might be necessary to only partially revise your skin-care routine, or you may need to change it completely, to address the changes taking place with your skin type. Knowing what products to start (and stop) using when your skin-care routine needs to change can give you back the skin you were once happy with before things went awry.

What to do When Your Skin's Needs Change

Don't assume that everything you're using is to blame because that might lead you to remove some of the truly beneficial products from your routine—a mistake that can make your skin's topsy-turvy state even worse. 

Despite the confusing out-of-nowhere changes in your skin type, whatever the reasons, simple changes to your skin-care routine may be all you need to get your skin back to normal. Of course, there are times when your skin-care routine may need a complete overhaul, but it's always best to start with small steps. 

Most cases probably won't require an office visit to your doctor, but it's good to have a relationship with a dermatologist just in case the need arises.

Because Rodan+Fields Dermatologists offers a wide range of skin care, chances are good that transitioning from one regimen to another will solve your skin care issue.  Your personal R+F consultant can walk you through that process and include inputs from R+F on-staff nurses, when necessary.  And, our 60-day empty-bottle money back guarantee helps take the financial stress out of changing routines.

It's YOUR skin! Treat it well!

To beautiful skin,

Jen

Note: Much of this material was gathered from: http://www.paulaschoice.com/

Did you know...?

You can thank Mr. Tupper (in part) for your direct sales success!

In 1951, the retail world was transformed when Earl Silas Tupper pulled his storage containers off of store shelves and presented them directly to the consumer. With the help of a charismatic single mom, Brownie Wise, Tupper developed the direct-selling strategy that would turn into a phenomenon—The Tupperware Party.

Today, the grandmother of all home party systems is still going strong. In 2011, Tupperware Brands had over 2.7 million sales professionals in almost 100 countries, generating revenues exceeding $2 billion.

Thanks, Mr. Tupper... and Mary Kay...and all the others who have paved the way for Rodan+Fields current and future success!

Direct Sales: The Pros and Cons at a Glance

Do you focus on the PROs or the CONs when considering a business opportunity?  

I like to focus on the PROs because of each of these "Cons" is easy to overcome, especially 

with a great company like Rodan+Fields Dermatologists.

         PROS                             CONS

1. Minimal investment	1. No guaranteed income
2. Easy to fit into an already busy schedule	2. You may have to regularly place orders to receive commissions
3. Residual income	3. Overcoming misconceptions about the industry
4. Maximum control over your time and income	4. It may take months to build to a substantial level of income
5. Built-in personal growth opportunities	5. Products or services without a unique selling position may be difficult to sell

Understanding Your Aging Skin

Where did those wrinkles come from?  

Young skin has healthy amounts of collagen and elastin fibers, keeping it firm and supple. As we age, our skin layers become thinner and less able to withstand environmental assaults. Two components of our skin - collagen and elastin - degenerate.  If this isn’t bad enough, the number of epidermal cells decreases by 10% every ten years, compromising the skin’s ability to repair itself. The end result: skin looks dry and dull, pores become visibly larger, and sagging, creasing, and wrinkling ensue. 

While it may be natural, it's not fun. And so considerable research has been done to understand the aging process. Studies now show that products containing bioactive ingredients (those that interact with living tissue) can benefit skin that has been sun-damaged, discolored, and aged. 

Unfortunately, most anti-aging products are full of promises and hype, but they rarely deliver results. With the Rodan + Fields® REDEFINE Regimen, empty promises are a thing of the past. Committed to providing at-home skincare that works, Stanford-trained dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields have developed an intelligent approach to addressing skin aging based on facts rather than fiction; real science over fads. With the REDEFINE Regimen Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields have created a unique multi-pronged approach that synergistically helps target each of the causes of skin aging, decelerating the visible aging process so skin looks its best. 

    Smooth   -    Firm   -    Correct    -    Defend

Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen is a four-product, daily system that delivers visible and quantifiable results. This comprehensive system layers the latest advances in peptide technology and clinically proven skincare ingredients to visibly firm skin and reduce the appearance of lines, pores and loss of firmness.  

Want to know more? Visit me at https://jensherwood.myrandf.com or email me at jennifer@throughjenslens.com

Not a Rodan + Fields customer yet?

Rodan + Fields Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream...it really WORKS!

You might want to be after seeing these BEFORE & AFTER images of women who have benefitted from Rodan + Fields Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream!  

I have been using this myself for about two weeks and have seen noticeable improvement, which I am thrilled about.  My eyes look younger...and happier!

https://jensherwood.myrandf.com

What's to LOVE about Rodan + Fields?

1. I LOVE that we stand by our products!  These are products designed by dermatologists and I get those benefits without paying for the office visit or prescription. Each product comes with a full 60 day MONEY BACK, EMPTY BOTTLE GUARANTEE (although we have less than a .3% return rate because our customers love our products THAT much!).   The products are financially risk free! They even come with the support of a nurse who is available by phone to answer our questions and the questions of our clients. 

2. I LOVE  that it’s a virtual-based business!  We DO NOT need to do home parties, we DO NOT stock inventory, and we DO NOT deal with deliveries!  I am never worried about who will host my next event or how I am going to get rid of a closet full of products – and my paycheck keeps growing!  Our sales are completed via our personal websites so it only takes a few minutes of my time to enter a new order on my laptop or iPad. Not only is this efficient but it also means I can take my business with me wherever I go: vacation, ball game,  etc.

3. I LOVE that I get to be a business partner with these two incredible doctors who are revolutionizing anti-age skin care!  And because the award-winning R+F direct sales business is still so new, I get to be one of the FIRST in this ground floor opportunity and look forward to a lifetime of residual income.  All the while, I still get to be my husband’s wife, my kids' mom, a photographer, and the friend that doesn’t have to pester you to host a party for me!

What's to LOVE about Rodan + Fields, you ask?  My question is, What's NOT to LOVE?

Great Complexion

Don't you love it when people tell you that you have a great complexion?

Well, I do!  And, it's been happening a LOT lately.  I have to say it has been a nice change of pace from the past, ummmmm, well, not sure how many years, to be honest.  It was 20 years ago that I last recall being envied for my skin.  

Since that time, my body's largest organ has done its job of protecting me, but it has gradually shown the results of sunbathing without sunscreen...sleeping chest-down...scarring from skin biopsies...not exfoliating...pulling at my eyelids to place contacts...and more.   

I used to assume that I was doomed to a future filled with increasing wrinkles and lost collagen.  Kind of depressing, but better than the alternative, I thought.  And then came Rodan+Fields.  A modern miracle as far as I'm concerned.

My biggest dilemma now is deciding how many girlfriends I want to share my skin care secret with!  :)

To great skin,

Jen

I made this...just for fun