| I would like to tell you a story about a | | | | track of sales for Shaklee distributors. |
| woman named Ginny Gemmel. She wanted to | | | | NONE (NOT even her SPONSOR) of the |
| earn some extra cash to pay for art | | | | successful salespeople told her NOT to |
| classes to improve her business of | | | | stockpile on products, so her vitamins |
| hand-painting clothes. Excited about | | | | filled three shelves in her basement. |
| selling products for Shaklee, the | | | | Any money she made went into next months |
| Emmaus, Pa. housewife signed on as a | | | | inventory. "Sometimes I thought this is |
| distributor. Seven months later she quit | | | | crazy, but I'm also near the 18% level. |
| in disgust. Ginny says "she and her | | | | Why am I not content selling fewer |
| husband Tim, 41, a computer salesman, | | | | products, for a 5% bonus?" She started |
| spent so much with Shaklee that they | | | | spending a lot of time on the phone, and |
| lost their $12,000 college fund for | | | | the bills ran between $100 and $150 a |
| their three children, now 6, 11 and 16. | | | | month. She would leave her kids and |
| If someone had told me in advance what | | | | husband at home, working 60 hours a |
| I'd end up doing, I never would have | | | | week. It did a number on her marriage, |
| started selling". Her experience began | | | | and her kids were ignored. She then |
| by answering an ad in her local | | | | stated, "The sales leaders started |
| newspaper. The person on the other end | | | | laying on the guilt at the Shaklee |
| of that ad, was a Shaklee distributor. | | | | meetings, making us feel we were lagging |
| Ginny started by purchasing an $18 sales | | | | in our sales volume. They said, 'We've |
| kit. However, this is where is gets | | | | got the literature. We've got the |
| ugly. | | | | products. We've got the trips. What's |
| Her sponsor said, he would "see if she | | | | wrong?'" She tried a lot of different |
| was good enough at sales" (now, I'm | | | | ways to sell for Shaklee like, but |
| thinking, what kind of sponsor would | | | | nothing seemed to work. |
| ever say that to a person in their | | | | So what's wrong with this picture? It's |
| downline). She told him she wouldn't go | | | | the SPONSORSHIP. And it's also the |
| door-to-door selling. He said that "you | | | | TRAINING. Shaklee, obviously failed |
| don't sell Shaklee, you share it". When | | | | miserably in these two key areas. Ginny |
| she went to her first Shaklee meeting, | | | | should have NEVER gone through what she |
| (you got to love those hotel meetings) | | | | did with Shaklee. Where was her support? |
| they all applauded to show support for | | | | Instead, all she got was a guilt trip. |
| her. That made her feel great. They | | | | Please be careful when signing up for |
| promised her trips and cars. So, she | | | | ANY MLM. Not just Shaklee. Ask yourself |
| decided to try for the bonus of 18% of | | | | these important questions: |
| sales of distributors below her level in | | | | *Who is my mentor/trainer? |
| the company. That required ordering a | | | | *How long have they been with the |
| total of $1,500 a month of vitamins and | | | | company? |
| skin-care products for her and 36 | | | | *Will I have to go door to door selling |
| distributors that she would sign up. She | | | | products? |
| would say to her husband, "Just give me | | | | *Can I physically even go door to door |
| $500 from your checking account to help | | | | selling products? |
| bring in business, and next year we'll | | | | *Will this company take me away from my |
| be in California on a trip with | | | | spouse/children? |
| Shaklee"! It was like an addiction, she | | | | *Will I be led on a guilt trip every |
| stated. Her husband even spent $4,000 on | | | | time I have to attend a company meeting? |
| a computer to set up a program keeping | | | | |