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(FranchisePick.Com) This is the third of a series of guest posts on the Mary Kay cosmetics business opportunity by David Shepherd, publisher of the Balanced Mary Kay blog. Thanks to David for taking me up on the invite to guest post.
Are you a Mary Kay consultant? Ex-consultant? Customer? Ex-customer? Please share you experience and opinion with a comment at the bottom of this post.
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 1)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 2)
Mary Kay Cosmetics: Hot or Not? (Part 3) by David Shepherd
For all intents and purposes, from your initial purchase, you always have the capacity to “profit” from your investment.
When you pay your $100 for the starter kit, you get at least $200 (retail) worth of product. If you buy $3,000 worth of wholesale, the retail value of that is $6,000. As you find clients for the company (your side of the agreement) you have an ever increasing profitability.
How long it will take you to get to a place where you can replace your current income is dependant on what your current income is and how long it takes you to find customers. $3,000 a month seems like a decent monthly income.
Assuming expenses, (60/40 is recommended) if you are moving about $7500/month (retail) you should reasonably expect to be making that $3,000. Now don’t get me wrong (and I think a lot of people do misunderstand this “simple” math) $7,500 retail is A LOT of product to move. If your average customer spends $10/month ($120/year) you are going to need to find 750 customers!
I can’t really speak to what the average customer spends or how long it will take any particular consultant to find a sufficient customer base to make this happen, but suffice to say, it could be a while! This kind of math is why many choose to continue working their so called “day job” until they have established a client base. Others, which have the support of a husband that earns enough for both of them, might be able to be more aggressive. The bottom line is that, regardless of whether you are looking for small results or big results, as long as you make smart decisions for YOUR situation, you will see positive results.
Contrary to what many of the detractors would like you to believe, Mary Kay invests considerable energy into making sure that their sales force has an environment in which they can succeed.
Mary Kay.
The Mary Kay business opportunity is a unique and diverse opportunity. Make no mistake, the company (Mary Kay) has its best interests in mind and will work to protect those interests. This does not mean they are not also interested in keeping their sales force happy. Contrary to what many of the detractors would like you to believe, Mary Kay invests considerable energy into making sure that their sales force has an environment in which they can succeed. This environment, while flexible, is but one of many opportunities. It will appeal to a broad range of people. From stay at home moms who are looking for an “excuse” to get out and socialize, to wives of “very important executives” that want to prove they can build and maintain a successful venture, to women working in a corporate environment that are more than willing to devote all their “spare time” to building a business so that they can leave the ranks of the “9-5” and have something to call their own, and many others in between, this opportunity is a perfect match. While the merits of running a business this way will always be the subject of debate, (and many will suggest that they should “do things differently”) there is nothing inherently wrong with operating a company in this way and, in fact, it seems to have served them (the company) and their sales force quite well for over 40 years.
Pink Truth is what happens when people don’t get what they bargained for and team up to collectively bash what they view as the source of their pain.This belligerent group of disparagers does not even agree on what they dislike about Mary Kay.
Pink Truth.
Pink Truth is what happens when people don’t get what they bargained for and team up to collectively bash what they view as the source of their pain. This belligerent group of disparagers does not even agree on what they dislike about Mary Kay. Complaints about the products themselves (generating the question, “why did you sign up to sell something you didn’t like), issues with the compulsory dress codes, and frustrations about how long it takes to see a real profit get mixed in with irritation at mistakes made like going into debt (in some sort of sordid attempt to “buy” success) or quitting a “perfectly good job” before demonstrating an ability to make money in the endeavor.
Pink Truth has created an environment where anything that Mary Kay does is wrong and anyone that is “sympathetic” to Pink Truth’s “cause” can do no wrong. If Mary Kay does not immediately discipline a director for utilizing questionable recruiting practices, they are raked across the coals for “encouraging unethical practices” and it is suggested that they “put a tighter leash on their directors”. If, however, they investigate claims of this happening, discover a director acting this way, and terminate her contract, they are blasted across the blogosphere for “spying” and restricting someone’s independent status and “right” to run their business the way they see fit.
Some of the regular commentators on that site have simply had a bad experience and need a place to vent. Some have never been in Mary Kay at all. Some have very specific complaints and specific testimonies of how they found themselves in a bad situation that they never bargained for. Many of the critiques (the valid ones) I have already listed.
Most can be boiled down to three types of complaints:
- Genuine“I got manipulated” complaints,
- “the company would be better if…” complaints (most of these are pensive suggestions that would create a much more “retail” environment as mentioned earlier and are relatively invalid and typically demonstrate a complete lack of understanding how business works), and
- downright absurd complaints (like, “ugh, how can they make you wear a purple suit jacket”).
Are Pink Truth members “lazy losers”? Perhaps. I have not met any of them personally. Some (not all) of their accounts of why they did not succeed point to a lazy attitude towards selling Mary Kay. Some demonstrate a good understanding of how business works and make valid suggestions that (if followed) would probably make Mary Kay an even better enterprise. But one must do a lot of filtering to discover these gems.
The majority of what you will find on Pink Truth is raw emotion building on top of raw emotion. One small statistical piece of information is offered and as the vitriolic sentiments build, the “fact” is abandoned for pure speculation.
What do you think? Share a comment below.
David Shepherd is an account executive at a multicultural marketing and advertising agency in LA. His wife sells Mary Kay and he blogs about it at Balanced Mary Kay.
Read David Shepard’s series Mary Kay: Hot or NOT? (Or, as I lovingly call it, The Kaybot Manifesto)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 1 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 2 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 3 of 4)
MARY KAY: Hot or NOT? (Part 4 of 4)
If anyone would like to print a rebuttal or offer an alternative article, please email Sean at info[at]ideafarm.net
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I am a new Mary Kay Beauty Consultant and I love everything about it. I can do as much or as little with my business as I like. When I found pink truth.com I laughed and then shook my head. Our business plan is PATENTED for a reason!!
Definitely a suspect
Funny, one of the posters in this thread is named, “DirtyDiaperDiva” …
Could it be a clue??
My CSI nature tells me this event had nothing to do with MK.
Unless this is a new tactic by the Pink Truth squad… Put Mary Kay stickers on their vehicles and drive around leaving porch deposits.
Or could it be Duh herself, making a dramatic comeback?
My CSI nature tells me this event had nothing to do with MK. What’s the saying?? “Sh*t on me once…. ;)
or…. it could have been another Cosmetic company trying to make MK look bad so they would buy from them! lol
No matter if she decides to repeat the behavior perhaps it would benefit her to take her decal off the window of the car leaving less to “identify” her with.
And no Sean, it is not a new training technique that if you are “porched” or stood up, that you should leave a “deposit” on the porch.
Hope she didn’t expect any future business.
Good to see duh back!
mk4me writes: And from reading the ocd behavior with many of the poster’s on pt, I think some could use some professional help, but I think they probably needed it before they got involved with MK too…. when they were in – it was over the top love of MK and now that they are out it is over the top hate of MK.
This is not a phenomenon exclusive to Mary Kay; I see it in other disputes discussed here as well. Many commenters here who have been burned have had their eyes opened and are processing it still or are sanely fighting a perceived injustice. However, there is that small group who just can’t let it go… can’t move on… And it’s all or nothing with them. The moment they’re not your best friend they are your worst enemy and to blame for everything wrong with their lives… including the fact they don’t have one.
So it’s clear: Pink Truther’s probably weren’t hugged enough as children, and have serious self-esteem issues.
However, many Mary Kay consultants also have deep-seated psychoses. One at least shows signs of dysfunction stemming back to a trauma during potty training. Unless, of course, this is simply a new MK sales technique:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/08/visitor-defecates-fort-pierce-womans-porch/
Happy New Year Sean!! hmmm.. I know you asked Carol but you know I usually have 2 cents for you, so… I, in all my time in Mk have not figured out ahead of time who would be good and who would not be good until after they get in and give it a try.
Once in, if Mary Kay isn’t working for them, it is time to say hey, at least I tried it and it is not for me and be done with it. Charging more and more product and going into debt to try and make it look like you are successful when it isn’t working for you, is what got many in deep trouble and feeling like a failure.
In the words of Kenny Rogers’, you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to RUN.
And from reading the ocd behavior with many of the poster’s on pt, I think some could use some professional help, but I think they probably needed it before they got involved with MK too.
Let’s face it, you are out of a Company, you have gotten your Buyback check, why would you continue to spend hours finding out what color the suits are going to be for the directors the next year… digging for figures so you can have someone figure out what your exdirector is now making, whether in or out of MK, I still see an obsession with Mary Kay. The only difference is when they were in – it was over the top love of MK and now that they are out it is over the top hate of MK.
(Disclaimer: I am in no way talking about all posters on that site)
CarolMK writes: …they feel they failed. You need to get far from that and turn to happy uplifters when you are feeling hurt, mad, frustrated etc.
If she really cared she would use all those advertising dollars and payperclick she gets to get professional help and therapy for these women and the real emotions and issues!
CarolMK: Aside from your criticism of Tracy & her Pink Truth site, you seem to be saying that many women leave Mary Kay with their self esteem damaged, that they receive no help from the “uplifters” inside MK and so turn elsewhere, and who feel like failures due to their involvement with Mary Kay. Is this correct?
It seems to me that if Mary Kay was genuinely concerned with women’s welfare that they would stop marketing the opportunity as being for anyone, and claiming that anyone can succeed if they have drive and a will to succeed. Obviously, many would have liked to succeed but didn’t. Shouldn’t Mary Kay be honest about which personality types succeed with their program and not take money from those who are destined to fail?
Mary Kay is obviously not for everyone. Shouldn’t Mary Kay, not Tracy, be providing the professional help you say these women need? Or better yet, stop creating the need for therapy among vulnerable and trusting women?
David, Thank you Thank you Thank you! Your perceptions and writing is so right on.
Pink Truth’s is negitive skew on Mary Kay is so hurtful to those of us that work hard and do it right.
Pink Truth is pure raw irrational emotion. I have made the mistake of trying to reason with them. I care that they are so hurt. But they will only listen to those that are in misery with them.
It reminds me of when I worked in an office and all the “bean counter” accounting ladies hated all the personalble outside sales reps and our expense accounts. It’s also very jr high, don’t you think?
I don’t think it is a healthy place to be to turn to others that are hurt and emotional because they feel they failed. You need to get far from that and turn to happy uplifters when you are feeling hurt, mad, frustrated etc.
Because my writing skills are not the best my sincere posts have been slammed.
Thank you for explaining it so elequently (did I spell that right?)
Anyway, I’m going around to every site that has anything to so with any of Tracy’s blogs and business and letting everyone know about :
ptlies.com
It is a blog that I stumbled upon that talks about Tracy’s cyberstalking, bullying and shady credentials.
I think anyone that is going to drink her poison, do business with her, or rely on her credentials should investigate the fraud investigator.
I’ll stop when she stops using women and thier raw emotions to feed her own selfish purpoises and takes down PT! If she really cared she would use all those advertising dollars and payperclick she gets to get professional help and therapy for these women and the real emotions and issues!
David, Hello! I recently signed up to be a New Consultant last month. I am blessed to have a husband that makes enough money for me to stay home with my children. I am like many other women that have stayed home to take care of kids, you lose yourself. I have three kids under the age of 4, and 2 are still in diapers hence the name Dirtydiaperdiva. I wanted to do something to make myself feel better. I am fortunate that I don’t have to depend on Mary Kay to pay the bills, but I do plan on doing my best at it and will sell as much as I can. I did do the major inventory buy at almost $3500.00 wholesale. Yes, that was a lot, not including all the Section 2 items that aren’t included in the tally. I do love Mary Kay products and have a noticable change in my skin from using them–for the better. I have used products from Philosophy, Lancome, and other companies that offered no noticeable improvement in my skin and cost a whole lot more. I love having inventory there, if someone needs something, I have it. I did sign up to sell Mary Kay about 10 years ago, but at that time I was Active duty military and was working another full time job, I just didn’t have the time. Now I have the time and the passion to make it work. I have a Director and Recruiter that beefed up the GREAT DEBUT PARTY! Sunk more money into that for refreshments and decorations than was sold, but I will keep on keeping on. I have a wonderful supportive husband that has gotten orders from women @ $100.00 per order and has been warned that if I ever need that one extra consultant to sign up–he will be that new Independant Beauty Consultant!! Wishing everyone the best luck in the world–no matter what you try to do. Mary Kay isn’t for some people or most people for that matter, but I love the products and love meeting new people. If I never make millions doing it, that is fine because I am making new friends and meeting a lot of great people. David thanks so much for the blog site. Just be supportive of your wife–believe me we could be spending money on more expensive things (Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, etc) My husband is glad that I am spending money on something that I can sell, rather than a handbag that sits on a shelf and collects dust.
Ex-Consultant,
I’ve never posted here before, but I just have to comment on your posts.
Do you really not see the bashing that goes on on Pink Truth? When a large group makes fun of what another group wears, that is not bashing? Even using terms like “kaybots”, that isn’t bashing? I think that most of that goes on behind closed doors on the discussion boards now, but it used to be on the front page.
And above you said that the posters were not talking about David and his wife, but au contraire, if you read Pink Truth, you know that their smear campaign often lumps all of those involved in Mary Kay into one group. They even go so far as to claim that one cannot make any money if you work the business ethically, which is absolutely untrue.
No one has said that Mary Kay is perfect, but you should probably step back away from the screen and take a good long look at what goes on on Pink Truth, who benefits, and how things really work on that site. Do you ever see rebuttles to what is said? No, because they are not allowed through. Do you notice all of those ads on the site? Who makes that money? Take a guess. Do you notice that some of these women left Mary Kay years ago and they are still sitting in front of a computer talking about it? Do you notice the absolute disdain for ANYTHING Mary Kay and that even changes that they have seen the need for are twisted up when they actually happen? Do you realize that there has even been a site created for those who were banned from Pink Truth? They are not pro Mary Kay people, just anti Pink Truth people. What craziness!
ooops, getting myself into trouble! hehe
mk4me if you exercise well and trim the hips then you could be my blog bit on the side.. just don’t let David see that we are having an affair!
Hey David, that is the way I read it too, and had a little chuckle, I am sure Mr. mk4me, may be a little disturbed to find out I have a blog husband!
And with what David has said, my reason for posting in blog ville is because as I was reading the horror stories, I felt if there wasn’t alot of good information in blog ville to read and that the bad would continue to grow. Even though all this information is available on MKIntouch and in MK literature and training materials, the blogs seem to be a way many are using to gain information. As a director, I feel that I may be able to offer some valuable information that might help consultans, ex-consultants, or consultants to avoid some of the pitfalls we read about.
I certainly don’t have the time to start my own blog and do it well, so David was gracious enough to offer me a spot on his blog as one of his authors. I feel strongly about his blog because he does try to help to provide a “balanced ” view and I am enjoying meeting and conversing with others, both pro and anti mk people.
It has been a new hobby lately but before long, I will probably have to back down and return to excercising as the more I blog, the wider my hips get!
mk4me,
we seem to be posting at about the same time….
“hi”!!!
I think “ex-consultant” may think that you are my wife!
Or at least someone on the site!
Ex consultant,
Allow me to set the record straight…
1. My wife is not a director.
2. My wife is not mk4me.
3. My wife does not post on my blog. She is like many other consultants that choose not to stick their hand in this beehive of a mess that the internet has made out of their pursuit. They just sell to those that are interested, recruit those that seem to be a good match, and ignore the ones that suggest that they do otherwise.
My personality is unique in that when I see something that is inaccurate (particularly something that is accusatory and especially something that is accusatory of my wife) I feel the need to say something about it.
I may be wearing rose colored glasses but I am pretty sure in saying after seeing the prices on some of the airline tickets and knowing the crunch that many of us are feeling at the pumps, I would have been surprised if attendance at Seminar hadn’t declined some. Actually, I was surprise attendance wasn’t down more. When I look around even the local fair that is about 30 minutes from me, really had a much lower attendance than in years past.
I do believe people are using caution with the way the economy is behaving.
Hi ex,
Please be careful to not take what I have said out of context, as I also attempt to do the same for you.
In regards to personal experience, I have never suggested that people on Pink Truth are lying about their experience.
If you recall, I have in fact said that there is some really excellent content to be found there. What I maintain though is that it is difficult to find.
Funny you should ask if I have been over to PT. (I hadn’t, but on your recommendation, took a quick gander.)
The first comment, from “truth not tears”, goes:
“All that brown…looks like they are dressed for doom and gloom….”
What do you consider that?
Second comment, from “SuzyQ”, suggests:
“…And maybe 1/2 will be brown at leadership.”
Is this the truth? Or simply haphazard speculation?
Third comment, “no more pink kookaid”:
“Corpse’s ship is sinking…”
This is inferred from a photo of last year and a photo of this year? Pink Truth in its pure, unfiltered presentation of the truth knows that the smaller number of directors is NOT because corporate has decided to make it more difficult to be a director in order to reduce the number of problems with directors debuting too early? (I am not suggesting that this is or is not the reason, just asking how PT can be so certain that it is “corpse’s ship sinking” that is causing the difference.)
6th comment, Scribbler, photoshops a Visa logo into the picture with a “sponsored by” text…. obviously suggesting that Visa is so pleased with all the debt Mary Kay has “sent their way” that they have sponsored the event…. This is very funny. I get it. Really, I do…. “lol” or whatever the kids are saying these days. Really, I am laughing out loud, but the more I type, the more I feel like I sound like I am using a dry, sarcastic voice. I am not. It is funny!!
She also “quotes” ‘milli vanilli’, saying, “Girl, you know it’s true!”
My question… is this the truth that you all are so proud of?
Comment 8, “queen of section 2″:
“Looks like a Brownie meeting. Hey, maybe 1/2 “flew up”! … to Guides.”
Is this the Truth you guys offer?? or is this ‘bashing’??
Further down, “nomoremlm4me” says:
“I’m so glad the numbers are down, but I just feel so sorry for those ladies up on stage. Seriously, let’s pray that the fog is lifted before bankruptcy is filed.”
This is an example of my complaint about inferring ones experience on all.
I don’t doubt in the least that “nomoremlm4me” had an experience that was negative. I am sure that if I dug a little, I could find the pieces of her story. Without doing that, I will assume that she amassed debt and felt that being “fogged” was the reason that she managed to do so without realizing it when it was happening.
I don’t question her experience. I don’t believe she is lying.
But she is not doing any of that. She is suggesting that all those women on that stage are in debt.
Do you call that truth?
In fact, if you would be so kind as to humor me here, look through all the comments on that post. Read each one from the eyes of someone that is looking to Pink Truth as a beacon of truth. (Perhaps considering Mary Kay, perhaps in Mary Kay, but uncertain about some things) How many of the comments there are really helpful? How many are just spiteful “bashing” of a company that the commentator does not like?
I will say one thing. Almost at the bottom, Tracy says that everyone should switch to firefox. I could not agree more!!! Seriously folks, if you are not using firefox, you don’t deserve a computer.
But, on the other hand, she also agrees with “lazy gardens” who opines:
“I looked at the pictures, and there were fewer truly horrible dresses. Maybe last year’s snark-fest has had results.
But the one with the lips … OMGWTFBBQ!”
I hope that “breaking down” that one post illustrates what I am saying.
There is some truth to be found there. Some truth. There are some true experiences floating around. But they are hard to find.
For a site purporting to be the truth, to the exclusion of all other opinions and points of view, the overall presentation simply does not live up to that claim.
****
Now, to speak directly to you.
You say:
“Gas isn’t the reason the debut pic isn’t as populated as years gone by.”
I ask:
Do you know this? How?
I am not saying that you are lying.
But if you are going to tell the world that… you better plan on being challenged.
That (being challenged) is something that is not allowed to happen on Pink Truth.
Trust me.
“When I said “collectively bash”, I had in mind the definition: “To engage in harsh, accusatory, criticism.” Do you have a different definition, or are you seriously suggesting that kind of behavior is not the primary discourse of Pink Truth? Keep in mind that I (as a “non-member”) only have access to the daily posts that the “public” can see.”
We talk about our own personal experiences. So anybody affiliated with the business and in a positive frame of mind considers it “bashing” and “negative”. But it’s not. It’s what we experienced. It’s the truth.
I don’t understand why people affiliated with Mary Kay (I say affiliated because you’re married to somebody who’s a director, right?) would be so ‘offended’ by first-hand experience. We’re not saying YOU’RE doing this. We just report our experiences. Some say get over it. We say, beware, we’re getting/got over it. Now our raison d’être is to forewarn others so it doesn’t happen to them.
Dave asked: “What are the “bad business practices” that YOU have a problem with?”
Frontloading. Big time. Asking closed questions and being lied to. As for the inventory, if I was frontloaded with skin care, you know the stuff actually used in a primary pampering session, that would be different. People would walk away with what I’m putting on their face. The majority of stuff “picked out for me” was stuff never even used during a facial. Just pure b.s.
Dave said: “You seem to believe that NOT is GOOD. Period.
It is this irrational, extreme stance that I believe leads most of what would otherwise be good information offered there astray.”
Actually, no I don’t. I believe people make decisions on facts relevant to them and their personal circumstances. If they read PT and they identify with it, and they choose NOT to be involved with Mary Kay because of what they identify with being reported on PT, well it’s not “our fault”. We’re just reporting our experiences. Why should somebody disregard their intuition i.e., hot = burn, in favor of being proved wrong by jumping in to learn what they already knew was right in the first place? It’s called risk. Some possess a high-risk factor, others are more conservative. Chances are, the ones doing the research are more conservative in terms of how they invest their time and money.
As for being banned for your opinion, I can’t comment on that. I just post comments. I don’t control the site’s content. I can say, though, that there are consultants on the site, regulars, posting every day. So I don’t know where you’re coming from, what your history is. Let’s just say, I’m as bewildered about your PT experience as you are about my Mary Kay experience. :)
Dave said, “Be that as it may, what is offered on Pink Truth is hardly the truth.”
See I have a problem with your comment. I find it incredibly offensive. Why? Because you’re calling me a liar.
I can only post what I know based on my own personal experience. For you to say that I am lying about what happened to me? And you don’t even know me?
Wow. I can tell you emphatically that my experience, as reflected by others on Pink Truth happened. That’s why I chose to post on Pink Truth. To this day, I don’t know why the woman who targeted me chose to do the things she did to me. But, after having experienced her drive, I can say, she is just not balanced!
Call us birds of a feather. But you have to acknowledge that given our geographical locations (across the globe?) there’s something we’re not just one person making it up. Maybe you wish that were the truth. The truth is, women, across the globe, are experience the same slimey b.s. Just because your wife doesn’t practice the shenanigans being played in other areas doesn’t mean that she’s not aware of them. I’ve read your site. She writes about them and documents her choice not to practice “this way” and the reasons why. (All good, of course.) The fact that she CHOOSES not to practice them extends credibility to their existence.
I’m not a liar. And I can tell you something else, the women practicing these bad business practices and inflicting them onto unsuspecting women at their financial peril for simple GREED, THEY will be the cause of the down fall of Mary kay as we know it in the USA.
Have you hit PT lately? Have you seen the seminar pics? Gas isn’t the reason the debut pic isn’t as populated as years gone by.
Man the life rafts!~
I wanted to add a little to my target market comment. I think these criteria are good, but I don’t think we should be chasing people down asking them to sign an agreement. Our job is to sell Mary Kay products first. Mastering the sale of the product and profiting from that shows people around you that this works for YOU. It makes them see how you are working and making it work. This may spark an interest in them. You won’t have to ask them to join. They may approach you. THEN you can use the target market criteria to determine if Mary Kay is a good fit for them right now. My personal goals revolve around selling products and putting the products on faces.
Scam, my directors talk about a “target market” and it is similar to what MK4ME mentioned on one of the other threads. Here are some of the criteria we are advised to follow when prospecting new team members:
Love the products
On the skin care (this is after all, what they want us to promote)
Age 30-50
Own a home
Work another job
Have some college education
Married
Those are the types they want us to target, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions:
Age 18-29
Rents
No college
No job
Single
The exceptions aren’t doomed to fail because there are some who have succeeded that are the exception, however, they probably meet some of the other criteria. We should focus on people who possess at least 3 or 4 of the ideal criteria.
Personally, I don’t ask people to join my team. I find that people who are interested ask me about joining MK. This is really the ideal scenario.