Websites & Domain Names For Sale - CHEAP

Kara and I are cleaning house a bit around here and we've decided to let some websites and domain names go. Since there are a couple of domain names in there for direct sales reps, we figured we'd post them here too ;-)

You can see them at Websites & Domain Names For Sale - CHEAP

Enjoy!

Next Wave Charts Course for Smooth Selling

BY SANDRA GUY Sun-Times Columnist

Sales parties in women's homes are no longer old-fashioned social teas or trunk shows. The saleswomen, who wield samples from jewelry to cookware, advertise on their own Web sites and use sophisticated software and automated e-mail to stay organized. A Naperville company, Next Wave Logistics, is playing a key role in equipping these direct sales forces with the latest technology.

The strategy takes advantage of today's booming direct sales industry, which has shaken its image as a cult or a pyramid scheme.

Parties in a hostess' home provide a more personal experience than shopping in a store and offer an atmosphere where people enjoy each other's company and get a great deal of attention, said Amy Robinson, spokeswoman for the Direct Selling Association, based in Washington, D.C. The direct-selling model also provides entrepreneurs and small companies with consumer recognition for their merchandise more quickly than trying to sell it to a big retailer.

Next Wave Logistics got its start when co-founders David Proctor and Harold Zimmerman worked together at a consulting firm in Oak Brook and realized that the fast-growing direct-sales industry needed tools to increase its business efficiency and professional image.

Zimmerman, 36, the CEO, left a six-figure-salaried job seven years ago -- two days after his daughter was born -- to start the business.

Each man invested $10,000 to buy a computer server, which they put in Zimmerman's basement. They decided to take no bank loans or venture-capital money.

Proctor, 41, the executive vice president, stayed at the consulting firm, and paid Zimmerman's bills -- mortgage, groceries, car payment, utilities and other living expenses -- until they were able to support themselves through the business.

Next Wave Logistics won its first client in the first few weeks of its existence, and Proctor joined full-time in the summer of 2000. The 52-employee company posted fiscal 2006 sales of $10 million.

Next Wave supports its services with its own data center serving more than 300,000 users a day. It prides itself on providing white-glove service that focuses on customizing software to a company's needs. It sends in SWAT teams of three or four developers to set up the service in two to four months at a typical cost of $200,000 to $300,000. Next Wave also charges a subscription fee per user per month to cover intellectual property licensing, hardware and support.

Next Wave creates Web sites and sales tools that adhere to a company's strict logo rules and marketing standards, but part-time salespeople might personalize the sites to gain attention.

"If I'm in business part-time, whether it's selling for PartyLite or Pampered Chef, I want people to visit my Web site. I don't want to pay a developer $3,000 to create it. Yet the parent company wants a consistent brand message," Proctor said, explaining the business case for the service.

Next Wave Logistics also provides software that preps the salespeople in developing their sales pitches, helps them organize party dates, gather guest lists, and send out invitations and thank-you notes online.

The software gives the salesperson a calendar that automatically gets filled in with the dates of parties and steps to take beforehand, such as reminding participants of the date, getting RSVPs via e-mail, and following up on sales leads.

"We are getting much more response on the Web than we ever did when we sent catalogs to people who could not attend the party," Proctor said. "And it saves mailing and printing costs."

Among Next Wave Logistics' clients are Creative Memories, a St. Cloud, Minn.-based scrapbooking company, and Lia Sophia, a Bensenville-based jewelry seller.

Rick Schwartz, executive vice president at Lia Sophia, said Next Wave Logistics' software has enabled Lia Sophia's 15,000 independent salespeople nationwide to book orders and shows, and recruit other salespeople online.

"It has taken away the admin- istrative paperwork in a big way," Schwartz said. "Next Wave is constantly working to stay ahead of the curve."

The next wave?

In about a year, Lia Sophia salespeople might be carrying Blackberries.

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Media Source

Following the Rules?

A good friend of ours coordinates offline events on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, I have personally been to one of her events and she does a tremendous job. She really does go above and beyond the call of duty - now if all the vendors would just appreciate that.

Anyway ... this post isn't necessarily about her. This is more about vendors who participate in such events such as hers. I just finished reading a blog post entitled Attack of the Satin Hands and I was literally appalled at the actions of a mother - daughter team vendor.

Make sure you ALWAYS follow the rules of the coordinator and remember the golden rule ... treat your customers as you'd want to be treated yourself!

Being Your Own Boss Drives Many to Direct Sales

The mall and the web are still the way most people do their holiday shopping. But the hottest new place to buy clothing, jewelry, make-up and food is at home.

The direct sales industry raked in a whopping $30 billion in sales last year! So it's no surprise that more people are leaving the office behind to earn money by throwing home parties.

More than a dozen of Megan Rego's family and friends have gathered on a recent Wednesday night to eat, drink and be merry.

"It's good to get out of the house and enjoy the company of friends, in someone's home. You just have a great time," Megan explains.

Laurie Muniak is the Market Day Gourmet representative serving up delicious food in the comfort of Megan's own home.

Muniak started selling market day gourmet about a year ago. Her kids were in school and she wanted to make some money but on her own terms.

"You are in control of what you want to make, your own hours, you are your own boss," she explains. "If you want to take two weeks off, if you have a family vacation, no one is going to tell you no. I like that."

While Muniak uses direct selling to earn some extra money, the Gmitter's of Austintown are using it to help build their new 22,000 square foot house.

"When I started in Avon, I was only trying to earn a little extra money," explains Lisa Gmitter.

She didn't want to juggle work with family. So she started selling Avon, when her two older children headed to school.

As she climbed the ranks within the company, husband Mike started working with Lisa in the business.

"We believe that we are building a company that we can pass on to our children, something they could have truly to themselves," Mike says.

The Direct Selling Trade Association claims that there are now more direct sales representatives in America than traditional retail employees. There are an estimated 14 million sales consultants across the country employed by more than 1,500 U.S.-based direct selling companies.

It's an appealing idea to many, but certainly not for everyone.

"You have to have a positive attitude, you have to believe in what you are selling. You have to be secure in who you are," says Cheryll Rose, a Lia Sophia jewelry representative.

Rose uses direct selling as a way to bring in money when she isn't working at her seasonal job in Port Clinton.

For Rose, the key to success isn't how you sell, but what you sell.

"If you believe in the product, it will sell itself," she says.

Media Source - WKYC-TV