Direct Sales in AK-Does it fly?!? (Fairbanks, Kenai: how much, hotels, home)

[inmt]

Hi All~
We are planning a move to Soldotna/Kenai and I have a very successful direct sales biz...Private Quarters. Are direct sales popular in AK? Is Pampered Chef there? Do you have vendor fairs?? Home improvement shows?? I have been doing this for 1.5 yrs, putting my hubby through school. We help families sleep better-featherbeds, comforters, sheets...

If you have a moment and are curious (then you could give me your thoughts on if this is possible) the website is www.MyPrivateQuarters.com

PS-I am not advertising my biz, just wondering if this is viable in AK. We don't have any consultants there-so I don't have anyone to speak with about it! So, no stones, please!

[Barkingowl]

It might work in the larger cities. But I'm thinking that smaller communities may see the products as frivolous & spendy. I personally love how cozy a feather bed feels. Have you thought about offering the products to hotels & cruise lines?

[ASpilot2be]

There is Pampered Chef up here, along with various other types of companies.

[kittymama]

I've done Pampered Chef before. It depends on how much you want to make. I live in Fairbanks (though for not much longer) and it's one of the bigger places in Alaska. You can support a few parties on the side. But if you plan to support yourself with the business, I think it's hard. It's not because Alaskans don't buy - they actually do buy. It's because it is very easy to recruit yourself out of business and you also have a limited customer base. Consider that if you live in the lower 48, even if you live in a small town, you still have a lot of surrounding places to drive to for a party. But most people will make a major Pampered Chef purchase (or like products) about once or twice a year. Your host will invite all her friends and relatives to the party. Then they will all make their major purchase for the year and be glad to have another party next year. If you sign any of them up, since they all know each other, you've just recruited yourself out of that business.

I know people will say that's not the case, but I think it's hard to build a team here because everyone knows everyone and it's not like you get a bunch of fresh influx of people. We have a lot of consultants, but not many directors. I think you can successfully earn enough money on such a business to support a car payment or save up for a vacation or some other small goal - but probably not enough to live on here. I notice a lot of consultants that live in major metropolitan areas have no problem building large teams and quitting their full-time jobs to sell Pampered Chef and earn trips and all kinds of incentives. And you won't believe how many people in town will already be someone else's customer when you meet them at the Fair, etc...

BTW...Fairbanks has a lot of this stuff. We have Mary Kay, Cookie Lee, Stamping Up, Arbonne, umpteen health and beauty products, etc... There are lots of fairs - The Tanana Valley State Fair, the Home Show, Women's Affair, The Winter Show, Wedding Show, etc... This town loves its fairs. The problem is, usually only one of each type of company can sign up. It will be one of the directors (usually the first one to make director in town) who signs up and then his/her consultants are the ones who work shifts and get all the leads from that event. So if you move here and are under a different director, you might find it hard to get into some of the events. My advice would be to poke around and see what products someone doesn't already sell here - because the first to sign up and bring the products to town will be able to build a team and turn a steady profit.