Work At Home Jobs Aren't All Scams!

Work At Home Jobs Aren't All Scams!

So you make that decision that you want some extra money for whatever reasons.  But where do you start?

We have all seen them online:

"Earn £1000 per month no experience necessary , Sign up and get money in 60 seconds, It only costs you £60 to join, make it make within an hour"

There are certainly plenty of scams out there, and I always would advise if they ask you for a joining fee, then, do some research.  Not all companies are a scam just because they ask for a sign up fee, some of the more reputable companies ask for a joining fee.. but you really need to look into any company that promises you the world, as chances are it will end up costing you rather than you making money.

I have lost count on the amount of "work at home" jobs I have had over the years.  I left home and bought myself a little flat when I was 19.. Not long after fell pregnant.  Unfortunately my full salary went on childcare, leaving us to live on my other half's salary, which really didn't get us far.  So, I needed to bring in some extra money and look after a baby on my own as my hubby worked away!

So I found a fantastic job (as I thought) envelope stuffing!  Sounded boring and monotonous but it would give me a little bit more money.  So, I had to send them a cheque to start up and then they would send me out the work.  So when you don't have much, £20 is a lot of money, but I sent it off.. and surprise surprise that is the last I ever seen it and no, I didn't get any work - complete scam!

So there I learnt a valuable lesson - I suppose at 19 I was very naive on the way of the world, and really wasn't aware of Scams as such that were around, I was far too trusting, but was adamant I would never get "stung" again.

So I started again  on my search which seemed impossible for a job to fit around my full time job and a baby!

I tried so many... a few were:

Body Shop - I loved and still do love Body Shop products.  Again I did have to pay upfront, but thought it was a reputable company so I paid it.  This was for my stock and business bag etc...  now I really got into this.  You done "parties" for people to come and socialise and buy Body Shop Products.  My confidence soared after I done a few of these, as I was never a public speaker.  I bought myself the Body Shop clothes, done party games, raffles etc etc... thoroughly enjoyed it.  The money wasn't great, but it paid for little extras for the family.  But, I am and always will be very ambitious.  So you couldn't expand anywhere, it was just really parties.  So I wanted something more and a bit more money.

Kleeneze - This was good when I started this (can't remember if I had to pay any joining fee) but, I have to like a product that I am selling.. and because I found many of the products unusable/useless, I just didn't have any "passion" when selling these.. so I gave it up!

Virgin Vie - This didn't take off at all.. Now I am not blaming the products or the company.  I think maybe it was a combination at this point I had also started Uni as well as my job.. so studying, family and part time job where fairly difficult to juggle.  Also, the support from this company wasn't great, and I was pretty much left to my own devices, so this was an "epic fail"!

Text Services - This was dodgy from the beginning.  You where paid pennies for answering peoples text messages and socialising etc... and when the text messages coming through started getting well rather steamy, I thought no.. not for me.. but it lasted about a month.

Avon - This I done on and off for 8 years, again around work, family and uni commitments (I studied part time uni for about 10 years!) I paid a minimal amount to get started.. bought loads of catalogues and walked the streets.  I done really well and got some great customers.  But then I tried to advertise/sell online and I was constantly blocked as you have to be careful how you advertise online with Avon.  I then discovered that my regular customers were now getting another book from an Avon rep who shouldn't have been in my area (as you get assigned certain streets to sell in).  This was happening more and more regularly and because there where so many Avon reps in the area you couldn't expand your business as everyone knew an Avon rep somewhere.  Also the support from my then Manager was a disgrace, I only heard from her if something was wrong or if I hadn't sold much that month (that used to drive me nuts too if you didn't sell enough in a catalogue your phone never stopped wanting to know why!?)  So, again that ambitious part of me thought.. there has to be something out there for me!

Oriflame - Started 2012 and I am still here.. so they/me must be doing something right.  I hadn't really heard much about them... so I bought a few of their products first and loved them.  I never made any money the first few months I started as I bought for other people as it was around Christmas, but got 20% discount for being a consultant, so wasn't all bad!

Come the January I done the usual New Years resolution thing (which I don't think I have stuck to one I have ever made) and got my finger out.  Started selling around the doors, got my customers back!  I then opened a shop on eBay which is going very well.  I also delved into the world of website's, I created one, which seemed to take me for ever, but was really happy with it.  But, I don't know enough about HTML and Google rankings etc... so this is something that I am going to pick back up and get my website out there to be seen, but need to do a little more reading first.  I also opened a Facebook page which is not far off the 3000 mark and started seriously recruiting.   

So within 4 - 6 months, I have become one of the top Oriflame sellers (will make the top 3 at some point; is my goal) recruited a fantastic team of Consultants, won a handbag, beauty case, suitcase, ipod shuffle and £100 all with Oriflame because of my Sales and Recruitment achievements.  I also went from a Consultant to Elite Consultant and then onto Group Manager.

Not bad.. going.  So the positives of Oriflame are all there to see above.. as well as:

No catalogue targets to meet

Full support

Fantastic selling/recruitment incentives (as above)

You can sell Worldwide - no street allocations etc

You can sell online

You can recruit UK and ROI

Free to join - no financial outlay/sign up cost

No sign up times - if you join and Oriflame isn't for you,  then you can leave anytime.

negatives.. I made mistakes before I got here.. I'm not bias just honest. 

Google Oriflame you will see good and bad reports.. but I really question anybody who slates Oriflame about the amount of effort they actually put in.  

Oriflame is in its 46th year... and they know how to make products.  

Want to make a successful career, earn some extra money or a part time job?  Then join us - email me oriflamebyjulie@aol.com for further information.

And remember to join find me on Facebook here

Ribena Plus Review

I don't know who was more excited when we got asked to review the new Ribena Plus range by BzzAgent, me or my children, as we all love Ribena.

The parcel arrived on a sunny day so I knew they weren't going to last long.  The parcel contained 6 Ribena cartons and 3 flavours:

1. Apple & Peach
2. Raspberry & Apple
3. Summer Fruits

There was nobody better to test these out on then my youngest son Jack.

His favourite was by far the Apple & Peach.  He Loved the combination of the Apple & Peach flavour as it had a lovely sweet taste.  He wasn't keen on the initial smell but certainly was tasty.  This one he scored a fab 8/10

The next one to try was the Summer Fruits.  Again this was very sweet, which maybe not be to everybodies tastes, but Jack loves anything sweet.  He didn't like this one as much, because it had quite a bitter/sour taste. So unfortunately he only gave this one a 5/10

Out of the three of them, the once that he liked least of all was the Raspberry & Apple.  This had a very sour taste and left a horrible after taste, he wouldn't even finish the carton, so this only got a 3/10.

I suppose it is a matter of preference, but I do have to agree with Jack, as my favourite was also the Apple & Peach and we will definitley be buying some of these in our next shopping spree.

It would be nice to see these flavours as ice lollies as they would be very refreshing on a warm summer day.

Avon Lady Won't Be Calling In Ireland

Anybody who has followed me will know that I used to be an Avon Representative.  I done this on and off for 8 years.  It had it's pro's and Con's like most organisations, but all in all it gave me some extra money each month.  I didn't have a huge customer base or team but it fit around my current job at the time.

I left Avon as you were given specific areas that you were allowed to cover, but, I wanted to expand but couldn't as there were so many Avon reps around and no more area's to grow your customer base in.

I came across to Oriflame towards the end of last year.... no area restrictions, no targets to meet every month, I could sell worldwide if I wanted and recruit in UK and Ireland.  Ideal for me and worked around my family commitments.

I remember Avon from years ago when my mam done this.. she had loads of perfume samples which I used to love playing with when I was a kid.  Everybody knew who Avon were and there were always reps in your area.

Even though Avon is a competitor of Oriflame, I was saddened to hear that Avon had pulled out of Ireland leaving thousands of consultants without a job in April.  By the sound of things no Reps were given any notice and quite a few found out through word of mouth or social networks.

Now for some, this would have been just a little bit extra of "pocket money", but for others, this was their full time income.  So as a self employed rep.. you don't get any redundancy payouts etc.. your basically out of a job and with no income.

Avon have said this is a cost cutting exercise affecting Worldwide... but others have speculated this is more to do with bad management.

I personally think it is a bit of both and I would be amazed if this doesn't have repercussions within the UK market.  Avon have made it clear that they are struggling, so I do think we will see an impact in the United Kingdom.

I live quite near the town center and have to say that I can't remember the last time that I had an Avon book through my door; I think you are talking years.  

Oriflame have been around 46 years, and there has been a lot of speculation that Oriflame will cash in on Avon's departure, and I think they will.  Oriflame has expanded massively within the past 12 months and are looking to create an additional 2000 jobs over the next 2 years.  

If you are affected by Avon's departure and would be interested in joining Oriflame or are just interested in finding out more about us, then please do get in touch by emailing oriflamebyjulie@aol.com.

Come and join us on facebook too HERE.

So what are all your thoughts about Avon, good or bad let me know?