Flexible hours, extra cash drive Valley entrepreneurs

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Brenda Thiel's daughter loves it when Avon boxes arrive at their Neenah home.

Together, the independent Avon consultant and her children sort out and then deliver the orders.

"My daughter loves to help me put the orders together, stamp the books and bag them," said Thiel, 26, of Neenah, who has been an Avon consultant for a little more than a year.

"She gets excited when we receive boxes at our door and, of course, loves to look through the toy section in the catalog."

Thiel said one of the reasons she became an Avon consultant was to have flexible hours and earn extra income.

"I love the fact that I can do a home-based business instead of getting another job," said Thiel, who is also a part-time support specialist.

"I really have no option right now with a school-aged child and rising day care expenses except to do a home-based business on the side. It is nice to have the option and flexibility to be able to make money a different way because accepting another position with set hours would be impossible for our family."

Home appeal

Working from home, having flexible hours and earning extra income are just some reasons many women get involved in direct-selling businesses they can operate from home such as Avon, Pampered Chef, Creative Memories, Mary Kay and Lia Sophia Jewelry.

"Prior to selling Avon, I had tried other home-based businesses and realized it wasn't a true fit for me, so I was very cautious about investing in another home based business," said Thiel.

But she saw a need for an Avon representative in the Fox Valley.

"Because of the flexibility, I can put my family first," said Thiel.

"Otherwise, I couldn't have seen myself getting involved with another home-based business."

Getting started

Starting the home business usually starts with attending a home show, ordering from a catalogue or having a one-on-one consultation.

Quiana Betchner, 29, of Greenville, has been a Pampered Chef consultant for more than three years. She had no problems joining a friend, who signed up as a consultant and wanted friends to be on her team.

Betchner said she and her husband felt the investment, $90 at the time, was worth it. Also, the stay-at-home mother of two saw the business as an opportunity to get out of the house.

"I started out just as a way to get some adult time," she said.

But she has such a good time doing it that "it didn't feel like a job to me."

"It's a lot more fun," added Betchner.

Sue Broeren, 30, of Appleton had also been to home parties.

"I had been to Lia Sophia Jewelry parties before and often considered getting into it because I didn't want to go back to a regular job someday," said the stay-at-home mother of three children.

"I hosted a party of my own and asked the adviser a lot of questions," she said.

"It was so simple to get started and the potential income and other perks were so great I decided to go for it."

Making albums was a hobby for Christine Cowell, 28, of Neenah.

"I loved doing it so much with the Creative Memories products," she said. "They helped me get things done quickly and easily, which was exactly what I needed with my busy schedule."

Becoming a consultant was the next logical step, even though she has busy family and work schedules.

"I thought it would be fun, but never imagined fitting it in with a full-time job," said Cowell, a mother of two who works full time at Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Many women pursuing home businesses range from stay-at-home mothers to those who balance full, even part-time, careers.

"About 10 percent of the representatives in my district are stay-at-home moms, but there are probably another 20 percent that work part or full time, but their ultimate goal is to be able to quit their job and stay home," said Barb Hoffman, an Avon district sales manager in Oshkosh.

Betchner likes the idea that she may not need to work outside the home again.

"That's my goal; to make it a career," she said of being with Pampered Chef. "I can work as much or as little as I want to."

Costs and training

The start-up cost for home businesses varies with each company. But it often includes supplies, products and training. As the women grow their business, they can earn free products or other incentives, like bonus checks, cruise trips or a car allowance.

Little to no business experience is needed in these kind of home businesses, said Broeren.

"Other people in the business are there to train you and coach you in all parts of the business," she said. "It's your business, but you're not left on your own to figure it out. There is great support and motivation."

Thiel agreed, noting Avon's online training makes it easy to be a sales representative.

"The training will take you through everything from how to have good customer service, how to process orders, how to record your receipts, how to navigate through the Web site, and a lot of information about the products," she said.

"Each session you complete, you will take an assessment test to test your knowledge on the lesson. You can print out a copy of the certificate to show completion of the course. From there you are all trained to become an independent sales representative."

It is also important to keep track of things like mileage and business expenses. And taxes must be filed, although many companies offer user-friendly forms or software to help the business owners out.

The businesswomen also find support and encouragement from family, friends, fellow consultants and others involved in their company.

"The district holds monthly meetings," said Thiel. "This is a very helpful group."

Cowell said the most important support has been from her family.

"My husband is extremely supportive despite how my business complicates our schedule and lives in general," she said. "Most of my family aren't actually customers, but they think it is neat that I am doing something I enjoy."

Finding balance

Running a home business requires a lot of juggling, said Cowell. To maintain a balance, Cowell sets limits, like holding one or two workshops a month and scheduling family activities first.

"As far as balancing with my full-time job, all the work is done in the evening for this business or on the weekends; when I have the time," she said.

Thiel has learned that to maintain a regular schedule, she needs to be disciplined and organized.

"Life is going to pull you in all kinds of directions, but you need to be disciplined on how you strategize your weekly routines and what is important," she said.

While it may take some work in the beginning of the home business, the time and effort are worth it in the end, said Cowell.

"Set goals for yourself, but realize that it will take work to achieve them," she said.

"It is a business, so work is required; although it is a lot of fun."

Broeren agreed.

"It's fun, it's rewarding and it's mine," she said. "It has boosted my self-confidence. I can be here for my kids. I have an excuse to get out. It's a wonderful opportunity any way you look at it."

[via thenorthwestern.com]

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