Direct Sell - The MOMpreneur

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Cutco Sharpens The Direct Sell
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made for women.
In fact, according to the Direct Sales Association, of the 1.3
million Canadians working for more than 60 companies, an
astonishing 88 percent are women. That’s an 88 percent share
of $1.96 billion in sales which has increased by 25 percent in
the last two years.
Granted, many products sold through in-home demonstrations
and parties are primarily of interest to women, such as
cosmetics, candles, condiments and food storage or clothing.
And selling products to family and friends can be done any
time of day or night.
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suited to the female personality because we’re relational
beings, tenacious about making and keeping friendships
and helping people.
Relationships and a genuine regard for the welfare of people
is at the centre of Vector Marketing Canada’s direct selling
philosophy.
“The human heart and mind are designed to interact and
form relationships with others,” Canadian National Sales
Manager, Joe Cardillo, writes on the company website.
That mindset has resulted in surprising success for three
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brand of kitchen utensils and a wide assortment of tools and
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products, was founded in the U.S. in 1949 and launched in
Canada in 1990. The company is well-known for its college
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education. However, single mother Margaret Przybyla, a
Polish immigrant living in Edmonton, saw an ad for student
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time jobs to support her two small daughters, Przybyla was
anxious to spend more time with them and still earn a living.
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“It seemed too good to be true, but there was something
about Vector that I was drawn to. I was convinced by their
approach so I told myself I’d try it for a year and give it my
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loved it too much and I started to bring results. Now, for the
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she now earns as much as $60,000 a year.
Like all direct sellers, Vector reps begin by presenting Cutco
to their family and friends. Then they build their business by
using a recommendation system and calling on previous customers.
(This is one way that representatives can touch base
with existing customers but it is not the only way they make
appointments.) Przybyla, who is just $35,000 shy of reaching
the $600,000 sales mark, says she can sometimes be greeted
very coldly by people who insist up front they are not going
to buy anything. During many of these encounters, she says
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