My Questions and Answers about Thirty-One!

If you have additional questions, please contact me directly at emilypage31@gmail.com.  The OFFICIAL Thirty-One website is  www.thirtyonegifts.com.

If you are like me (and you probably are if  you are reading this post), then you don’t tend to make decisions without a lot of research, thought, and prayer. The following are some of the questions I had as I was making the decision to start my journey with Thirty-One and what I have found the answer to be for me.

Why is the company called “Thirty-One”?

I remember the very first time I saw anything having to do with Thirty-One.  I was at the Lee County Fair in Sanford, NC.  We were taking our preschool class to story time at the fair and we walked through the exhibit halls.  Someone had a Thirty-One booth there and I immediately fell in love.  The fair was only open for preschoolers so the booths were not manned and so I did not meet the consultant and could not ask questions.  I came home that night and was trying to search online and I remember using a number of different search terms to try and find the answer. The name “Thirty-One” comes from Proverbs 31 which talks about a virtuous woman.

10 It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies. 11 Her husband trusts her completely.  With her, he has everything he needs. 12 She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives. 13 She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. 14 She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away. 15 She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls. 16 She inspects a field and buys it,  With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. 17 She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. 18 She knows that what she makes is good.  Her lamp burns late into the night. 19 She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth. 20 She welcomes the poor and helps the needy…25 She is strong and respected by the people.  She looks forward to the future with joy. 26 She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind. 27 She watches over her family and never wastes her time 28 Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her, 29 saying , “There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them.”

Learning that Thirty-One was a faith-based company was a huge factor in helping me to decide to become a consultant.  I love knowing that I work for a company where the leaders prayerfully consider every decision and pray for everyone involved in their company.

What are the benefits of being a Thirty-One Consultant?

Of course, I also wanted to know what was in it for me.  At the time, I really only expected Thirty-One to provide me with enough income to allow me to purchase more Thirty-One products and other fun items.  I LOVE bags, purses, and jackets.  I don’t know what it is about jackets but if Thirty-One ever added them to their catalog, I would be in heaven!  Knowing that I would receive 25% commission on my sales right from the start, I realized that I really didn’t have to sell much to be able to have a little bit of “mad money” each month.  When I signed on my first two team members and I started receiving overrides on their sales as well, I pulled out the Career Path again and realized that this could really become more than just a hobby and a way to make a little extra money.  My “why” shifted at that point and I started thinking about how Thirty-One could help me to be at home with my kids in the afternoon.  I set a goal to be able to  be with my girls after school by the time my oldest started 6th grade.  I was able to accomplish that goal half way into her third grade year.  Being home in the afternoons with my kids has allowed me to get to know them so much better and to spend quality time with them that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.  We have seen a big improvement in my oldest child’s grades as well.

Consultants also have the opportunity to earn other incentives and trips.  We will be taking a family trip to Disney World courtesy of Thirty-One and we are all so excited and grateful for this opportunity!

I have realized that there are so many non-monetary benefits of being a consultant with Thirty-One.  I’m able to have control over my dreams and I am able to help others realize their dreams and experience financial freedom!  I have met so many wonderul women and have made many new friends who share the same passion I do for Thirty-One. If you would like to have a conversation about the Thirty-One career path and how Thirty-One can help you and your family, I would love the opportunity to talk with you in more detail!

How do I place a Thirty-One order?

If you already have a consultant and you aren’t sure of their website, you can go to the main company page www.thirtyonegifts.com and click on “Find a Consultant”.  You can also view our monthly specials and place an order on my independent consultant website  www.mythirtyone.com/emilypage

You can browse our catalogs and place your order online.  If you live in Sanford, NC and would like to save the $4 direct shipping charge, you can contact me at emilypage31@gmail.com to place an order and I will add it to a local party order.

What are the benefits of being a hostess for Thirty-One?

Before I joined Thirty-One, I hosted a party in my home.  I loved being able to get free products and half-price items. It was great because that meant I had extra items to show at my parties and I had the opportunity to experience what my future hostesses would experience.  Being a Thirty-One hostess is fun!  You get to have all your friends over and shop for purses – what could be better?  You can always find the most up to date hostess reward program on the official company page www.thirtyonegifts.com

What is a “Skirt Purse”?

I’m not sure how I first heard about the skirt purse but it was some time between first seeing products at the Fair and hosting the party in my home.  Once I heard about it, I had to have it!!  In fact, I couldn’t even wait until my party even though I knew I would be getting hostess rewards and could get it for free or half-price!  I told my husband I was taking care of my own birthday present and I ordered my first skirt purse! As soon as it came in, I put it on my desk at work and took a photo to post on facebook.  Yes, I was THAT excited. You may remember the wooden-handled purses with interchangeable covers that buttoned on (well, if you were alive in the 70s that is).  I still have my little one and I will often take it to parties with me for a bit of nostalgia! The skirt purse is a much more modern and classy version of this purse.  The top of the purse folds over to hide the top of the skirt that is attached to the purse body by multiple metal fasteners.  The skirts are very easy to replace making it a snap to change the look of your purse as often as you need to without having to transport all your “stuff” from one bag to another.  The skirt purse comes in black or brown and is made with a high quality material that allows you to carry the bag without a skirt as well.  The skirt purse comes with a free skirt of your choice.  You can then purchase additional skirts to change the look of your purse without having to purchase a whole new purse!  These are GREAT for traveling because the skirts pack flat and you can change your look to match your outfits! NEW FOR FALL 2011, the Skirt Purse now comes with a ZIPPER!!

What about fundraising?

Outside of Thirty-One, I am a program manager for a non=profit so I am always looking for ways to raise money and I like to look for things that are new and different from the same old gifts, cookie dough, candles, etc.  I love that I’ve been able to partner with organizations and groups to raise funds for multiple causes.  I’ve been able to use funds from a fundraiser we did at my program to provide staff recognition that we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.  There are so many great causes and I can’t write a check to all of them no matter how I would like to so it is awesome to be able to offer to do a fundraiser for a great cause and donate my commission!

What is the “fine print”, you know, the “hidden details” they don’t tell you until you sign up?

In some ways I am very trusting but in other ways, I am very much a skeptic.  I am the type  of person that checks snopes.com before forwarding any emails or information that I’ve received over the internet.  Thirty-One almost sounded too good to be true. Simple, easy, no complex commission structure or excessive sales requirements. In my mind, there are no hidden details..  Truly.  Thirty-One is a faith-based company and there are no surprises, no schemes, no new requirements you discover only after signing up.  I am sometimes a little too honest and will truly tell you like it is so if you have a question, please ask!  Please don’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back from realizing your dreams!  If you contact me regarding your interest in becoming a consultant, I will send you a ton of information and resources designed to help you make the most informed decision possible.

Is there a minimum I have to sell to stay a consultant?

I’m not really great at asking people for money or asking if they want to buy something so one of the questions that was very important to me was, “how much do I need to sell?” In order to remain an active consultant, you must submit a qualifying show or cumulative sales of $200 within a 3 month consecutive period.  That sounded very doable to me and I felt comfortable that it would be an easy goal to reach (and it has been!)

Do I have to recruit new consultants?

Obviously if I am not good at asking people for money or to buy something, I was a little apprehensive at first about having to recruit team members. It was a relief (at first) to know that I had no obligation to recruit new consultants.  However, I found that I was so excited about the company and the products that I wanted to tell everyone and bring everyone along on my journey. I have found that building a solid team means building a solid business for yourself!

What kind of support do consultants receive from the Home Office?

I have to admit that this wasn’t a question I personally had but it is a question I get asked a lot.  I was just so excited about joining that I didn’t think about how I would learn how to enter orders, book more parties, recruit new consultants, etc. Of course, that meant I was thrilled to discover that consultants receive an unbelievable amount of support from the Home Office.  The consultants-only web site is packed with party, business, and recruiting tools.  There are regular trainings, tips for success and more!  The Home Office also offers incentives and rewards for consultants throughout the year.

How much time does it take to be a consultant?

When my husband and I talked about me joining, time was a big factor.  I was already very busy and we wondered if I would be able to put the time into my business that I needed to in order to keep going and be successful.  I have another job, 2 kids, a husband, and church responsibilities. The amount of time you put into being a consultant is completely up to you.  You can put in as little or as much as you have time for.

Is there an extra charge for personalization?

I LOVE personalization.  I think it is partly a southern thing.  Offer me a choice of two items, one without my monogram and one with and I am always going to choose the one with the monogram!  I love that the embroidery in so reasonable. Embroidery is $7 for an initial, monogram, word(s), or name.   For hostess half-price items, the embroidery is half-off as well.  Embroidery is FREE on hostess exclusive items.

Do consultants get commission on personalization?

Early on I realized that personalization made up a good portion of my party sales.  It was therefore awesome to find out that consultants make commission on personalization, retail orders, and hostess credit overage.  Consultants do not make commission on hostess half-price items.

Are my expenses as a consultant tax-deductible?

I am all about getting tax deductions so this was a big question for me.  What I found is that certain expenses are tax-deductible but you should speak to a tax advisor or accountant for help in determining your deductions.

What is a “catalog party”?

I have people ask me about “book parties” or “catalog parties” when having a home party is not possible or appealing to them. A catalog party is a party where the hostess passes out catalogs to friends, family, and co-workers and takes the orders and payment.  The hostess decides when to end the catalog party and then passes on the orders to me and I enter them online just like a home party.   I will also set the party up online so that people can order directly online and pay by credit or debit card.  I provide emails that the customer can send out announcing the party and detailing how they can order.

I’m ready to make my dreams come true!  How do I sign up to be a  consultant?

If you are ready to sign up, please email me at emilypage31@gmail.com so that i can send you information on business supplies, career path, etc.  I also want to coach you on how to set yourself up to earn $300 of products and business supplies in your first 45 days!

I’m ready to host a party and earn FREE PRODUCTS!!  What do I need to do?

I LOVE to help hostesses get free products.  I remember how excited I was to pick out all of my free stuff when I hosted my first Thirty-One party before becoming a consultant!  Please email me at emilypage31@gmail.com. If you live within 3 hours of Sanford, NC, I can schedule a home party.  If I am unable to help you with a party on the date that works best for you, I will refer you to another consultant.  If you would like to host a catalog or online party, I will mail you all of the information and catalogs you need.  If you live farther away and would like to host a home party, I will find a consultant in your area that will be happy to help you or you can go to the company site and click on “find a consultant”.

If you have additional questions, please contact me directly at emilypage31@gmail.com.  The OFFICIAL Thirty-One website is  www.thirtyonegifts.com.

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