Recently, I attended the Pint Size Social holiday party (which was SO much fun, btw!) and I was able to peruse the other vendors in attendance. One person I wanted to talk to was the woman behind the Stella Dot table. I had heard about the jewelry, saw the web site, and knew that they offered women an opportunity to create a business around jewelry.
Well, every time I circled around to her table she was busy with customers so after several tries I finally got to speak to her. I had to get the scoop on this business opportunity and see whether it was A) Legit! and B) profitable! The latter seemed to be true since it seemed she was racking up sales like a bandit. So, we traded cards and we did a little Q&A about her experience. Enjoy!
The History of Stella Dot
A few years
ago, our founder and mother of two, Jessica Herrin, had a vision to create a
new kind of company that would help today's busy woman thrive. As a successful
entrepreneur, who co-founded WeddingChannel.com (yes, you saw her on Oprah!),
Jessica wanted to use her talents to help solve the modern woman's dilemma. How
to find a successful career you love that you can balance with a bustling life
and family? Never satisfied with the status quo, Jessica felt too many of the
existing home-based business opportunities offered ho-hum products, high
pressure sales tactics, and limited marketing opportunities with a dated
approach. Worse yet, far too of these "opportunities" just put inventory and
supplies in people's closets, and no profits in their pockets.
Jessica's
vision called for an entirely new concept--an opportunity that combined the
best of direct sales with the ease of e-commerce and social networking to
create an oh-so-doable business more flexible and lucrative, fun and stylish,
than ever before. All built on a foundation of irresistible product and
exceedingly personal service.
Stella & Dot is a company inspired by and created for strong women--just like you!
The Lowdown: How to get started as a rep, benefits, etc.
Your Stella & Dot start-up can be an easy, part-time way to earn $10,000 in six months, or a full-time career mentoring other Stylists and making six figures. It’s all up to you. There is no requirement to build a team of stylists. The effort you put into it will match the rewards you get out of it. It costs $199 to get started. You receive $350 in jewelry plus all the materials to launch your first few trunk shows. I always like to loan my jewelry to a new stylist. I know when I started I did not want to make a major investment in a lot of jewelry, so I borrowed a seasoned stylists’ collection. The free jewelry credit I earned from my launch party, I used to invest in more jewelry for my business. The rest is history!
The benefits are indescribable, because I get such satisfaction sharing this brand new jewelry line with women. They love finding that new style that no one knows about. Yes, I am making great money selling the jewelry but the biggest reward is sharing the opportunity with women. As a stylist I earn 30% on my sales. We just had an incentive trip to Cabo.
1.
How did you get involved in Stella Dot? How long have
you been working for them?
I heard a friend mention that
she had a friend selling Stella and Dot.
I like to think I am pretty in-the-know with current fashion and
business; however I had never heard of this company. I googled it while I was on the phone with my friend. In 15 minutes I knew this was the
business for me. That was July
2009. Since graduating
business school I have not been able to satiate my inner entrepreneurial spirit
and urge to be my own boss. Stella
and Dot is everything I want in my own business. I just did not have to invent it and literally started
making money from my first trunk show.
2. How many hours a week do you put into it? What are the
kinds of things you do for the business on a typical day?
I focus 10-15 hours per week and want to do more. My calendar has been stacked with trunk shows in December since people are preparing for the holidays. Funny though--most customers are buying for themselves right now. Love it! My method is – do a little Stella and Dot every day. One day I may send 15 look books to potential hostesses. Today I am sending follow-up emails to my customers to see how much they love their jewelry. I work full-time too and have a 14 month old, so I make it all work. I find myself falling more and more in love with Stella and Dot and right now I am looking to grow my team of stylists. My goal is to spread the love in 2010!
3. How do you work full time AND do this? Isn’t it
overwhelming? Especially with kids?
I have a great support system at home (my husband). He works long hours too, but we keep a family calendar on the fridge. I try to do one weeknight show per week and then leave the rest up to lunchtime and weekends. So far, so very good!!! I also have to tap into babysitters. One piece of advice I got from other stylists is- start taking orders at your trunk shows right away. You are not at the shows to party, you are there to make sales and earn free jewelry for your hostess.
4. What personality traits do you need for this type of work?
Positive, Professional and Optimistic! I used to think I was quiet and reserved. Becoming a stylist has made me more confident networking with women and one might even consider me a fashionista now. One thing I had to stay true to is “less is more.” I go to trunk shows in jeans and a cute, basic tee or sweater. Most girls do not need new clothes when times get tight, so I show my customers how Stella glams up the simplest things in their closet on a very reasonable budget. You do not need a degree from FIT or an MBA to be a stylist--just a love for meeting new women and making them look and feel incredible.
5. What kind of support does the company give you?
We have incredible training resources through S&D TV, and a customer support team that is amazing. We have our own Facebook called Stylist Space, so I network with other stylists, read their inquiries and share ideas. There are open forum conference calls where stylists can dial in weekly and ask questions. We have regional meetings where stylists get to network and share tips. There is an annual meeting called “Hoopla” where stylists network, meet our leaders, designers and view a fashion show of the upcoming collection. There is on-going training for stylists who want to emerge as leaders. I can’t say enough amazing things about the support and incentives in place to help stylists to succeed.
6. Is there a monthly membership fee? Annual dues? Monthly sales quotas or monthly purchase quotas? Do you keep inventory?
There is no monthly membership fee. There is an annual stylist fee which is $59. No sales quotas or montly purchase quotas. I like to commit to 4-6 trunk shows per month. I do not have inventory just samples which are also my best adverstising when I wear the samples. I plan to sell my fall/holiday samples in January. Most stylists will sell their retired samples and reinvest it into the new season samples. Our spring/ summer collection launches January 15!
7. Are there any perks that you particularly enjoy?
I LOVE earning the free jewelry. It Is so rewarding for me to look at my free jewelry credit
and business supply credits after I’ve done a few trunk shows. It is so great to sit down and decide
what new pieces I want for my trunk shows, and the dollars stay in my pocket.
8. What are some challenges to working as a jewelry rep?
I would say the biggest challenge is getting over that direct sales “ick” factor. We’ve all been invited to those parties where you feel required to make a purchase. Stella and Dot is so not. I think that is what I love most about this company. Women fall in love with the jewels and even make wish lists. The minute they see our website or catalog--no explanation is needed. They want to see more. We have something for everyone- what we like to call affordable luxury.
9. Why is this an ideal work at home opportunity for moms?
A stylist can book trunk shows whenever she likes. She can host playdates, weeknight evenings, weekends, office lunch trunk shows--no one keeps tabs on her schedule. I like to stick to 4-6 shows per month. Of course if she does more, she earns a lot more. I have to say I plan my Gymboree jewelry each week. Everywhere you go someone wants your Stella and Dot. I can almost sense other moms are saying “darn it, why didn’t I find this opportunity before this girl?” It’s a slam dunk.
10. What are your top sellers? What are your favorite
pieces?
The initial charm necklaces are big sellers right now. The Jasmine Gold Filigree (she is wearing them in the picture) and Garden Party Chandelier earrings are favorites amongst my customers. My favorite is the Natasha embroidered bib necklace featured in People Magazine this month. I resurrected a 7 year old little black dress and voila!
11. What is a hostess and how much jewelry have your hostesses earned?
[Note: hostesses can be anyone who hosts a party for Ashley in their home, inviting their friends] My hostesses typically earn $250-$550 in free jewelry. They also earn 2-4 additional pieces at half off.
12. Great! This sounds perfect…how does one get started?
Stylists sign up online using a credit card. My stylist ID #102805. I will be contacted when you sign up and make sure you know the tools Stella and Dot offeres. We will discuss your launch trunk show and goals.
If you are interested I (Mira) will be hosting a Stella Dot party at my house Either Wed. Dec. 30th or Sat. January 16th. Email me (miraspark@gmail.com) if you're interested (with the best date). Ashley will show her line for us and answer any questions about the stylist opportunity.
To contact Ashley directly and check out her site:
Ashley Travers: ashleytravers@gmail.com /www.stelladot.com/
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Lucy
http://businesseshome.net
Posted by: Lucy | February 03, 2010 at 12:04 AM
I was once a S&D stylist and I was quite disappointed with the level of support and having to deal with constant backorders on product. I'm now with another jewelry line where I have awesome support and my commission rate is at 30% instead of S&D stating that "you can make up to 30%". If you don't have girls under you then your rate is 25%. When I had first signed up with S&D the silver was .925 sterling silver but with the line that was just launched in Jan.2010 the silver pieces are plated. Not good for folks with nickel allergy. I'm in no way slamming the company because they do have a great line but I just wanted to share the flip side of the company.
Posted by: Silver Princess | February 12, 2010 at 10:21 AM