The Beggars Are Choosing

I'm dabbling in what some would call the 'dark art' of direct selling - also known as Multi Level Marketing (MLM) and Social Selling. It's a simple concept, and let's get this straight at the top of the page, nothing to do with dodgy pyramid schemes, Ponzi structures or scams. 

MLM is a legitimate business model that exists in some measure in every business there is. As consumers, we share informal news and reviews of our purchases with the people in our lives. We recommend restaurants and movies and makeup and real estate agents. Car dealers will tell their customers "recommend us to your friends and if they mention your name, we'll give you a free tank of petrol". We all prefer to spend our money in shops where our friends and family work. It's a sales model that has been operating for over a hundred years, and includes such iconic brand names as Avon, Tupperware, Amway and Herbalife.

In the almost-six-months I've been in direct sales, I've had fights, I've lost friends, and I've felt the slightly condescending chill of former colleagues and friends, even family peering down over a cliff of corporate superiority at poor little ol' me, and shaking their well-salaried heads at how far I've fallen.

One of the two companies I represent is Jamberry, a relatively new company selling a range of revolutionary nail wraps. "Revolutionary?" I hear your forehead wrinkle in confusion. Okay, they won't overthrow any governments, but they are throwing the nail fashion business on its ear. Jamberry has only been operating in Australia for six months, and has done amazingly well. It's a good company. They reward their consultants well, their staff at head office adore the company, they have positive values, and they really do believe in supporting the communities that support them. Last year they raised over USD150,000 for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal, and every year they team up with Autism charities in the USA to raise money through sales of their wraps.

They have done the same in Australia, partnering with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to raise funds through the sale of especially designed wraps. It's fair to say that we've had to give this American based company a crash course in Australian culture, and they've listened well, with $1 from the sale of every wrap sold in Australia to Legacy. It's a great charity, and I'm so proud to be associated with a business that is so willing to do this.

Having said that, we're now halfway through April, and Jamberry Head Office has had to announce to its New Zealand team that despite a determined effort, they have been unable to find a suitable charity in New Zealand to partner with Jamberry in fundraising for New Zealand Veterans. 

It wasn't until the last two weeks that I learned just how far down the societal totem pole direct sales organisations are: there are charities that don't want our money. Yep, those wonderful organisations that hold endless cake stalls and raffles and lamington drives and sausage sizzles to keep the meagre funds flowing don't want funds raised via Jamberry.

I know our people tried to talk to several organisations in New Zealand. I know that there are prominent New Zealand associations that assist veterans, and which could have benefitted from a few thousand dollars to stock up on blankets and woolly socks before the winter. 

Instead, those funds that would've gone to New Zealand veterans will be rolled in with the funds raised for autism charities in New Zealand, another very worthy cause.

It's not only Head Office that does the fundraising, though. There is a robust fundraising system that allows consultants to partner with local organisations. The process is similar to selling raffle tickets, or holding a Pie Drive, or selling chocolates to support the local hockey club, except of course, we sell nail products. The consultant teams up with a registered charity, and provides marketing materials, and might hold demonstrations, parties and stalls. The organisation distributes the marketing materials and collects orders/money - although that can all be done online now, so the charity doesn't have to handle orders, cash or inventory. The consultant collates the orders, coordinates deliveries and at the end of the month, Jamberry writes a cheque to the charity. 

I have prepared fundraising proposals for four local causes in the last six weeks. I've been knocked back by two of them, a third started advertising a Jamberry fundraiser with a different consultant without even letting me know, and the fourth hasn't responded.

Within the space of half an hour last week, I received a coolly polite rejection letter from one local branch, and a letter begging for a donation from the national office of the same organisation. Is our reputation so poor that others are loathe to associate their name with ours? My fundraising offers have even been knocked back by a committee of which I am a member. 

Next time I hear that a charity is desperate for funds, I'll think twice. I'll wonder if they have had offers of fundraising campaigns that they've knocked back, and I'll wonder if I want to support an organisation that can afford to be so picky.

For the record, the other company I represent is Your Inspiration At Home. YIAH offers a similar fundraising programme, but as I've only just joined the company, I have yet to make a fundraising approach to anyone. It's really disappointing when someone rejects your business to such an extent that they won't engage in fundraising with you.

If you'd like to work with me to raise funds for your charity, please email me on sal@sallypiracha.com.

To contribute to Legacy Australia, 
order your wraps online at https:sal.jamberrynails.com.au.