By Kimball Perry • kperry@enquirer.com • May 10, 2009
Pure Romance, based in Loveland, is being sued in federal court in California by a competitor in the sex toy party business, accused of telling prospective clients their competitor is going out of business.
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Brown Bag Party of Costa Mesa, Calif., filed suit last month in California federal court against Pure Romance, accusing it of libel, interference with business, false advertising and unfair competition in the suit that seeks at least $75,000 in damages.
Pure Romance and Brown Bag are national competitors for what Pure Romance calls "Naughty & Nice Gifts for Adults." Pure Romance did about $90 million in sales last year, up about 30 percent from two years before.
Both companies largely rely on individuals - usually women - hosting parties in their homes to show off sex toys, lingerie and other items they say educate customers on sexual issues. Party hosts make money from sales commissions. The products aren't sold in stores. Pure Romance notes it has tens of thousands of party-hosting representatives.
The suit alleges that at a March 14-15 Las Vegas convention for independent contractors, Pure Romance owners and representatives spread the word that Brown Bag was "going into bankruptcy," "going out of business" and was being bought by Pure Romance, none of which is true, Brown Bag's attorneys say.
Those statements were made, the suit alleges, in an attempt by Pure Romance to convince independent contractors to sell Pure Romance products and not those of their competitors. It alleges those making the comments "knew they were false" when they made them.
Calls and e-mails to Pure Romance weren't returned.
Pure Romance also is involved in a local lawsuit. It is suing women who used to host parties featuring Pure Romance products but switched to host parties featuring Brown Bag products. That suit initially was filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court but since has been transferred to federal court.
Monday, May 11, 2009
News: Competitor sues Pure Romance
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
NEWS: Sex-toy company sues ex-employees
Sex-toy company sues ex-employees
Seven women violated non-compete deal, suit says
A Loveland company is suing seven women across the Midwest in a Hamilton County court, accusing them of violating a non-compete clause in their employment contract when they started selling for a competing sex toy company.
Pure Romance Parties Inc. filed the suit last week, suing women in Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan.
The suit accuses each woman of working for a competing company - Brown Bag Party - after signing an agreement in which they would sell Pure Romance products. That agreement also prevented them from working for a competitor for a year after they left Pure Romance.
As consultants, the women set up and/or host parties where Pure Romance products were exhibited and sold, earning a commission on the sales. The women apparently changed companies because the new company paid higher sales commissions.
The issue is a serious and potentially costly one for Pure Romance.
The company is worried about competition for the sex-toy and relationship-enhancement business. It did about $90 million in sales last year, up about 30 percent from two years before. The company's Web site notes it has 80 employees and tens of thousands of consultants.
The suit singles out one woman - Cheri Patterson of Omaha, Neb. - for several of the allegations.
Patterson hung up when called Friday, but an Internet search listed Patterson as a consultant with Pure Romance with a different telephone number in Omaha.
A message left on that number noted Patterson now is a consultant for Brown Bag Party.
Patterson's MySpace page lists her as a consultant for Brown Bag Party because "They Pay 50%," an apparent reference to sales commissions.
Founded in 1993 by Patty Brisben, Pure Romance - which uses a theme "Not Your Typical Party, Not Your Typical Consultants!" - products aren't sold in stores but at parties or by consultants hired by the company.
Calls and e-mails sent Friday to Pure Romance weren't immediately returned.
The case is next in court April 30 for a Pure Romance request for a restraining order preventing the women from competing against Pure Romance or contacting its clients and customers on behalf of other companies.
The suit seeks at least $50,000 in damages.
Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090411/NEWS01/904110371
Thursday, February 12, 2009
WAHM Community
If you didn't know, the big and active message board at www.wahm.com has been sold. Well, actually the whole site has been sold to Internet Brands, an Internet media company. The whole thing is just WEIRD considering that pretty much all work at home mom sites are run by, well, WORK AT HOME MOMS!!!! IB is deleting negative posts left and right that express opinions against their practices. The board won't be the same for long! I actually predict a really big change to the entire site soon. Not too sure of how good a thing it will be. I imagine advertising rates will be through the roof that maybe .5% of wahm's can actually afford. OUCH.
I have joined a great new community with a variety of interesting, fun and helpful boards.
Here is the link! www.mommyshelpercommunity.com I am a moderator of the Adult Party Plan folder, so come on in and have a chat!!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Spice It Up is at it again!!!
Oh no!!! Yet more Spice it up legal problems and issues arise! Check out the blog from former member Christina! http://nyromanceparties.blogspot.com! I hope she gets everything straightened out. A consultant from any company in any industry shouldn't have to go through such crap! I predict a company closing in the near future! Ouch!
Friday, June 20, 2008
A Passion Parties Rep's FYP Story - REBUTTAL
I have reposted a public statement made by a Passion Parties consultant who joined For Your Pleasure, then went back to Passion Parties again. She sure has a lot to say about her time at For Your Pleasure. I would like to clear the air on a number of things said. If what she wrote wasn't being read by potential consultants deciding between companies, I probably wouldn't have an issue...but alas, I do!!
Also, watch out for my next post with a number of positive testimonials from former Passion Parties consultants who are now very happy with For Your Pleasure.
MY RESPONSES ARE IN BOLD and ITALICS and ORANGE!
--------------------------
"Thinking About Leaving PP for For Your Pleasure? Read My Story"
"Hello to whomever is reading this. My name is Kelly Messerole. I am a stay at home mom too two little boys, Devin who is 3 and Ethan we just welcomed into the world in Jan 2008. I am married to a great, but pain in my ass, Marine named Chris."
"So you are wondering why you are reading this?"
"Well, I am going to tell you about my time with Passion Parties to For Your Pleasure and back to Passion Parties! Why would someone do that you may ask. I am going to tell you! So sit back and really take in what I have to say. I do not bad mouth any company, I only state facts!"
I have sat, taken it in and though it’s not badmouthing in your eyes, it’s biased, opinionated and personal. I notice way too many misconstrued ‘facts’ to not create a rebuttal. I also see some lies. Allow me to clear the air.
"I started with Passion Parties in Sept 2005. It was my goal to hit all 3 fast tracts and make ED before my 1 year. I did it and was so very excited. I built up a team of 50 girls over my time with PP and at the time believed only PP was out there. I did know there were other companies, but they did not even hit my chart.
Well, over my two years with PP, we started to loose girls to For Your Pleasure. I lost one of my own and I started to think, what the heck is this! I started to look into it and after awhile, "thought" it was better. So, in Aug 2007, I left PP and all my girls to go to FYP."
Sounds like PP is for you! You know the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”? You obviously should have never switched!
"What could make me want to do this? The lady I signed up under stated great things would happen with FYP. That I would make more money, build teams faster, book more parties, etc. It all looked so real b/c she even put it all on paper for me to see. My first month with FYP, I did top recruiter. At that point, I only signed up 5 girls! That started to get me to think, this is so not PP. We sign up more then 5 a month!"
That’s what I love about FYP. It’s not saturated. It’s easier to reach top sales/recruits when there are less contenders. That means lots of perks. Many times in the hundred of dollars (in addition to sales bonuses) or laptops and such. FYP reps sign up more than 5 a month too. Last months newsletter showed someone signed 12. Another 9. Another 8. It varies from month to month. Don’t believe that FYP’s top recruiters for any given month sign only 5. It’s simply not true.
"So weeks started to pick up and I started to think even more. While I was doing parties, I was not getting ANYTHING like I was with PP. My sales went WAY down, parties took so much longer. FYP has 1200 products! I was with them for 10 months and STILL don't know all of them. When I would try to get women to book, they would look at my website and then say either it was not for them and or never call me back."
Why didn’t you just make a ‘party menu’ like so many other FYP reps make? That way you can pick and choose what you want to show and not even have to show the catalog! As far as the website, we CAN make our own. I know many reps (including myself) that only use the FYP site for the shopping cart. Otherwise you could’ve created your own or had any of our designer/consultants make one for you for super cheap!
"A lot of their products are not well named and they show naked women on their covers. Even their books show what the package will look like."
What is your definition of “well-named”? Is it turning a clitoral sucker into a “tulip”? Or pussy pal (omg, she said it!) , an oral sex simulator, into a “gentle stroker”? (Btw, that thing is anything BUT gentle…meow) At FYP, you get what you see. You get a toy in protective casing. Many times in a plastic mold in a cardboard box with design, information and specifications. At Passion Parties, you get your toy removed from it’s case where I question the use of gloves by warehouse workers. Then the toy is put into a clear plastic bag. I don’t see a plastic bag as being too durable. Not only that…Passion Parties removes package extras like lube and toy cleanser samples that the manufacturer has provided. Some high end toys even come with a manufacturer’s warrantee, which Passion Parties removes too.
"Over my 10 months, I was a Reg Dir. Manager. I was making 50% at my parties, but I was not getting any, so that did not matter. I had over 40 girls and was getting checks from them, but they were not getting as many parties either. Our monthly newsletters show that only a handful of consultants did over a $1000 party. I think out of all of them, we had maybe 20 or so. The top number of consultants signed each month was 5-10."
This is very hard to compare as Passion Parties has tens of thousands of reps. In comparison, FYP does well for the amount of reps we have! I’m also pretty impressed that you built a team of 40 people in 10 months!! I did about the same, maybe more. Recruiting is easy with FYP!
"So, after my 10 months with FYP, I called my rep up and told her I was not happy and I wanted to come back. I LOVE my sponsor, Ms Danalynn. I felt like the time I was gone, I had lost one of my close friends. She welcomed me back with open arms and I kid you not, 1 week with PP and I booked 7 parties!"
Like I said, you belong with Passion Parties and that’s okay. It seems as if you should have never left in the first place. Each company is not for everyone, know what I mean?
"Women were happy that I left FYP b/c they felt it was far from classy and b/c all the products were just too much. Now that I am back with PP, I am getting 1-2 parties booked A DAY! I have 4 girls that might sign up and I feel like I am ready to take back off and get my Executive Director title back! I am where my heart is telling me to be!"
That’s awesome! (see above) The same thing happened to me when I switched from Passion Parties to For Your Pleasure. Your customers may have felt your negative energy towards FYP. Maybe you even said things. You are their rep, of course they are happy! I know being from the New York metro area, my customers were like “THANK GOD” when I had more to show them after I switched.
"I wanted to put some points out there that might make FYP sound better then PP and I am going to write facts on why it really does not compare. The lady I signed up under gave me these points to try and get me to sign up with her."
Be aware your wording makes some of your statements below lies as opposed to facts.
"~FYP ships to customers: Great, so does Passion Parties!"
Right. But there is a difference. Passion Parties only ships to each individual at $9 a pop. FYP offers guests the choice to ship to the hostess for $4.95 or ship to themselves for $7.95. All backorders and defects are paid for and taken care of by FYP as well.
"~FYP ships the products in the same package to save on money: I like how PP spends the extra money to repackage for us. FYP consultants tell others that it
does not bother the customer when they get a vibe with a naked women on it. You know what, it does bother women! Who wants to see the toy they are about to use with a porn star putting it in places they are about? I am sorry, but that is my toy and let me do what I want with it and not flash back to the package."
Very few of the original packaging has a pic of a porn star putting it in places they are about. Actually, I barely understand this statement. Are they about to put it somewhere? Because there are no pictures where they actually are (penetration). Sure there are breasts and butts on some packaging…Hello!! Welcome to the Sex Toy industry! LOL I don’t think customers take their boxes and put them on display either, they simply go in the garbage. And like I said before, my customers appreciate the protective packaging with the extras included (samples and manufacturer’s warrantee) rather than a little plastic baggie.
"~FYP offers a website: So does PP. PP websites are so much nicer then FYPs as well."
Sure, PP’s visuals are a little more advanced, but PP’s site is more expensive! $24.95 per month? FYP is $14.95 per month. Ah, but with FYP you can design your own website. You can literally have and totally own your own personal website aside from FYP’s. With PP, this is forbidden, even a team site! And having your own website can make a huge difference in many reps. Have I mentioned you can also sell on eBay? A HUGE no-no with PP.
"~FYP runs credit cards for consultant: PP offers that as well. FYP does the same thing in holding the left over money till bonus checks come out. So they really don't have a heads up on us in anyway with this. If you don't want your money to be held, get a merchant account and get your money right away. FYP does not let you do that! You have to pay $10 every month even if you don't use them."
Ouch! A lie and a misconception! This one hurts because PP’s credit card system is so expensive!! 3.X%, right? With FYP you do pay $10 per month for unlimited transactions! Running $1000 (from sales, taxes and shipping fees) in credit cards will cost you $30 with PP. Have a really big month? $2000 will be at least $60 out of your pocket straight to PP! Ouch Ouch Ouch!
Merchant account fees are not much less. You lose either way: pay by PP or pay by merchant acct. $10 per month flat is an awesome deal. Here is the LIE in this statement though. “FYP does the same thing in holding the left over money till bonus checks come out”. Please Note: this is a LIE!! You CAN use your ‘left over’ funds towards your next party, supplies, products, etc. So, please don’t say FYP holds the money till bonus checks. This is not true. Also the $10 per month (whether you run credit cards or not) is what keeps a rep active. No sales quotas! Just $10 per month.
"~FYP pays you up to 50% on parties: You know, companies that are offering this are not doing well with their business. PP pays you up too 40% and they do that b/c they do not want to put their business in the hole. Also, 50% is nice if you were getting lots of parties. You do not get any where as many as you do with PP and if you do, your sales are no where as close to what PP were. (Now I will state every state is different, I am only stating off what I found my team to do and what my "sponsor at the time" said her team of 100 was doing) Also, to get to 50%, you have to recruit like crazy! (1 other girl does not get you to the top like they say it does)"
“Companies that are offering 50% on parties are not doing well.” Ouch, another lie. And how do you know they are not doing well? I still can’t see how at the beginning of this whole thing you say that you are “stating the facts” then go on to say something like THIS. You don’t necessarily have to recruit like crazy to get the 50%. A few good reps under you could bring you there. One girl will not give you 50% buying discount. Not sure where you got this info from.
"~FYP pays more levels deep in your downline: Over all, this works out just about the same as PP. While FYP goes 2 levels deeper, it does not put you that far over what PP has to offer. They might have us beat in this part, but my checks were no bigger with FYP then they were with PP. PP were much larger at times b/c we were getting parties!"
Let’s consider the top positions in both companies.
Executive Director with Car and Home Bonus: 5% + 5% + 5% = 15 + $400 + $1000
Platinum Presidential Director: 10% + 5% + 4% + 3% + 2% + $1700
Can you see the difference?
With $36,000 in team sales (and with FYP team sales are infinite levels including your own!) I will make at least a $500 management bonus, which is more than the passion parties car bonus. With $40,000 in team sales I make $750 management bonus on top of my team commissions! Yeah!
"~FYP says you can move up with only 1 team member: Now this is very misleading. You can move up, but you will not get anywhere close to the top with 1 team member. You have to recruit just like you do with PP."
Again, who says you can go to the top with 1 team member? That’s odd since the top level requires multiple Directors. And I think your words are misleading. FYP doesn’t say this. Show me on FYP’s site or in the manual or who at home office told you this. FYP does not say this. I can’t speak for other reps however.
"~FYP gives everyone leads: YA RIGHT! They don't have enough leads come in to give! I was with them for 10 months and got 1 lead and that lead was 200 miles away! My sponsor told me I would get them when I hit a level, I hit that level and passed it and never seen anything. At least with PP you know you are going to get leads when you hit the level. (Not saying you should depend on leads. They are nice when you get them, but word of month will bring in more parties then leads)"
“YA RIGHT?” Sounding hostile here, rather than “just stating the facts”. This really isn’t such an important factor. The point is that FYP gives out party leads according to zip code and locality. FYP doesn’t have the media coverage and advertising that Passion Parties pays for. FYP prefers to let the reps make more money. Personally, I enjoy making more money than counting on home office to advertise and hire PR Firms. I take some of that money, use it towards my own form of advertising and get multiple leads per day.
"~FYP has kit specials: You know, this did get a lot of women to join b/c FYP would offer a really great sign up special. BUT, they say you have to do a $1000 within 60 days! For someone who is new to the company, this can be hard. I had a girl on my team who still owes money for her kit b/c she was only $4 short of the $1000. So now she owes FYP $250!"
Why would she not place a small order to make her $1000? Did you advise her to do so? That's really unfortunate! FYP has this qualification in place to avoid duds, kitnappers and those joining just for the discount. This pushes you to strive from the beginning. After qualifying, there are no sales quotas.
"~FYP, as stated above, asks you to have 4 parties book, they want the name/phone number of that host and they give you 60 days to get in $1000. PP NEVER asks for you to give them your host info nor do they expect you to do a $1000. NOW, doing a $1000 is AWESOME! BUT, not everyone comes into this business wanting to do it full time. PP gives every women/man the chance to do what they want with their business."
The $1000 in 60 days is the push. Should someone not be able to do this, they CAN get an extension. $1000 in 90 days shouldn’t be all that hard, right? After that there are no sales quotas. FYP is not the only company that has starting requirements such as this.
"~FYP offers 1200 products for their customers: Like I said before, I was with them for 10 months and I still don't know 1/2 of the book. PLUS, my parties took forever and my sales were low b/c women would find something that was like what I showed, but 1/2 the cost. Also, I ordered all kinds of their products, and a lot of them were not what I would pay for."
The kits come with a business manual and a product manual. The product manual is very informative and explains a lot about our product line. Having 1200 products allows reps to create a ‘party menu’ with what they want to show. MANY reps use the party menu system. And it works wonders!
"With my months with FYP, I got to talk to a few ladies and their number 1 goal is to sign up reps with other companies. FYP thinks their company is on top and they have reps who sit and only sign up girls with PP. Why they do this, I have no idea. I can say it is not fair business and it is kinda trashy. Also, if they were so on top, why do they need consultants from other companies? Why not sign up from parties?"
For Your Pleasure has a huge transfer-in rate. And not just with Passion Parties, though PP takes the cake. So why not take advantage of that. Remember how frustrated I was at PP, I wish I had been exposed to FYP earlier! Whoever the one would be to expose me, could've recruited me!
So if one of these ladies that you speak of had a rep lead at a party, they wouldn't sign them, because they only sign PP reps? I highly doubt anyone twiddles thumbs waiting for a PP rep to join their team.
BTW, You are actually the first I've heard of that transfered out to Passion Parties, aside from another conservative woman.
"To me, it is showing that these consultants can not sign up women outside of the business. They have to come after those in the business and try to make their business look better. Don't be fooled! I am not a pro at everything, but my business I am and I know for a fact that FYP does not stand in Passion Parties level."
You know for a FACT that FYP does not stand in Passion Parties level? Sorry, but that’s not a fact, but an opinion. To ME, Passion Parties doesn’t stand to FYP. I was with PP for 2 years before switching in October 2006. I can’t deny my drastically increased income.
"Women showed it by booking after I left, by wanted info on my business after I left, and by my past sales!"
That’s YOU and YOUR customers. We all aren’t you and don’t have your customers. You project attraction towards that market in YOUR area. Everyone’s way of business, areas and lifestyle is different!
"I could keep going on and on about FYP/PP. But I am going to stop here. Everyone needs to listen to their heart and do what they feel is right."
If you look at the title of everything you wrote, it sounds like persuasion: “If you’re thinking of leaving PP for FYP – READ THIS!!” So you are telling everyone to listen their heart, yet you state lies, opinions as facts and misconceptions about your experience and knowledge of FYP.
"I love what I do and I strive to keep women feeling good about themselves. With FYP, I did not feel as if I was doing that. I felt that I was promoting something I did not believe in. If you have any questions, please feel fee to write me and or call. I don't care if you are or are not on my team. I am not going to talk you into staying, I am only going to talk to you as a business partner."
You’re already talked people into staying by this statement. That’s the point right? I just created this rebuttal because your fellow passion consultants are using your statements as a tool for recruiting. Which I don’t believe is fair because it’s opinionated and personal. One big opinionated testimonial, which should not be the basis of someone’s decision to join a company.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
NEWS: Judges toss Pottsville business’ lawsuits (Spice it Up)
OUCH!!!!!! It is my understanding that a company, no matter what, can not prevent someone from making a living. It's a "right to work". Maybe it depends on your state. But I am almost positive that PA is one of them!!
Way to go Jen Hasseler!!
-------------------------------------------
Judges toss Pottsville business’ lawsuits
BY PETER E. BORTNER
STAFF WRITER
pbortner@republicanherald.com
04/12/2008
Schuylkill County judges dismissed on Tuesday lawsuits a Pottsville adult party business filed against two of its out-of-state distributors.
In separate but similarly worded opinions, Judges John E. Domalakes and Charles M. Miller rejected lawsuits filed by Spice It Up Parties Inc. against Stacey Carter, Illinois, and Jennifer Hasseler, Minnesota.
Spice It Up Parties did not draft its agreement with distributors such as Carter and Hasseler with sufficient specificity for it to be enforced as a contract against them, Domalakes and Miller each wrote.
Each judge rejected Spice It Up Parties’ claims for breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations and breach of duty of loyalty.
“Mutual consideration is (necessary) for a contract to exist,” and the agreement is not a contract because there is no evidence that either Carter or Hasseler received anything under the agreement, according to each opinion.
The corporation filed the lawsuits on Aug. 14, alleging the women violated their agreement by agreeing to become distributors for one of its competitors, For Your Pleasure Inc. It demanded as much as $50,000 in damages from each woman.
However, each judge ruled the agreement is not a contract because of the lack of consideration to the women. Since the agreement is not a contract between the corporation and the women, no lawsuits can be based on it, the judges ruled.
Furthermore, since the corporation did not allege the existence of any trade secrets or confidential relationship, neither woman can be held liable for the breach of a duty of loyalty, according to the opinions.
©The REPUBLICAN & Herald 2008
Monday, December 10, 2007
On a Mission!!!! - I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky. I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher!!!
Gosh...the russsshhhhh!!! One of those days where you get a hit (a strong hit) of energy, ambition and go-gettism. Ducky posted on the FYP board today about the uplifting power of music. So I pull out my old 80's mix CD (made it in 2000, haven't listened since 2001). Then I hear it!! It's been sooo long.
" Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire"
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! Who knew it would play yet again on song #12?? heehe Another dose, please!! Ducky also mentioned the GoGos in her post. Sure enough "Our Lips are Sealed" was on the mix CD too. *giggles* Now that one reminded me of all the gossip that goes on in this industry. Most specifically from a few bad reps with an old company I was with, Passion Parties. The bashing and slander of a better thing...FOR ME. :)
So here we go...
Our Lips are Sealed
Can you hear them
They talk about us
Telling lies
Well that's no surprise
Can you see them
See right through them
They have no shield
No secrets to reveal
It doesn't matter what they say
In the jealous games people play
Our lips are sealed
Careless talk
Through paper walls
We can't stop them
Only laugh at them
Spreading rumors
So far from true
Dragged up from the underworld
Just like some precious pearl
It doesn't matter what they say
In the jealous games people play
Our lips are sealed
Pay no mind to what they say
It doesn't matter anyway
Our lips are sealed
There's a weapon
We must use
In our defense
Silence
When you look at them
Look right through them
That's when they'll disappear
That's when you'll be feared
Hush, my darling
Don't you cry
Quiet, angel
Forget their lies
St Elmo's Fire - MY MISSION SONG!! (St Elmo's Fire has been substituted with "Presidential Title"...where I want to be!!)
Growing up, you don't see the writing on the wall
Passing by, moving straight ahead, you knew it all
But maybe sometime if you feel the pain
You'll find you're all alone, everything has changed
Play the game, you know you can't quit until it's won
Soldier on, only you can do what must be done
You know in some way you're a lot like me
You're just a prisoner and you're tryin' to break free
Chorus:
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future's lyin', [Presidential Title]
wu........
Burning up, don't know just how far that I can go (just how far I go)
Soon be home, only just a few miles down the road
I can make it, I know I can
You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man
(chorus)
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher
Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future's lyin', [Presidential Title]
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the wildest sea
I can feel [Presidential Title] burnin' in me, burnin' in me
Just once in his life
A man has his time
And my time is now
I'm coming alive
I can hear the music playin', I can see the banners fly
Feel like you're back again, and hope ridin' high
Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future's lyin', [Presidential Title]
(chorus)
I can see a new horizon underneath the blazing sky
I'll be where the eagle's flyin' higher and higher
Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future's lyin', [Presidential Title]
I can climb the highest mountain, cross the wildest sea
I can feel [Presidential Title] burnin' in me
Burnin', burnin' in me, I can feel it burnin'
Oooh, burnin' inside of me... (to fade)
Oooh, "Naughty Girls Need Love Too" by Samantha Fox just came on...gotta run. ;)
VIDEO FOR THE ROAD!!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hygiene and Durability VS Confidentiality
Some romance home party plans require the reps to bag and ship their own party orders. Many reps say they love the "confidentiality" of this method. In other words, they don't trust their company to have the shipping info of their guests, right? Or do they believe that the customer really cares that much about a romance home party plan company having their name? To make it worse, these companies also repackage their toys for the "image" or the "classy" factor, if you will. Well, to put it bluntly, the toys were tampered with. A company will take a toy out of it's protective packaging (plastic casing, cardboard box) and workers in a warehouse transfer the items by hand (are they using gloves?) to a clear plastic bag type packaging. Why deprive the toy of it's armor? It's womb? Its manufacturer's warranty? (Yes, most toys over $30 retail have a direct manufacturer's warranty) That's the thing I love about For Your
* The item arrives at the warehouse from the manufacturer or wholesale distributor from where the company orders their product line.
* Workers in the warehouse remove the toy from the package and usually remove any fillers, including manufacturer's warranties and lube or toy cleanser samples. Again, are they using gloves? They then put the item in their own packaging, usually a bag with company logo. The toy is then stocked in the warehouse.
* When the rep places an order, she may be ordering for a party or to refill her inventory. So she places her order and usually pays a percentage for shipping, rather than a flat, because the orders are usually too large to charge a flat rate. (They set their own shipping fees for customers, which should hopefully cover the cost to ship from the company to them, from them to the customer and then any back orders or defectives)
* When she receives the items, she is trained to check that the toy is working properly. So, she now removes the toy from the company's bag WITHOUT GLOVES (ewww), puts batteries in, checks it, then puts the toy back and reseals the bag.
* Now, the toy will usually either be shipped (once again) to the customer or she will add it to her inventory, where it will be carried through a bunch of
* The customer finally gets the toy after a bunch of shipments manufacturer to company to consultant to customer.
That's a lot of lugging around for a brand new item. Is it worth decreasing the hygiene and durability of the toy to maintain the so-called "confidentiality" of the customer or to upkeep a conservative image? No, I trust my company to USE (not "have") my customer's information to ship packages. And by the way, at For Your 
I'm sorry to be so sarcastic, I just am so passionate about working in a Work Smarter, Not Harder environment. Having every customer I ever had databased and exportable in my back office is smarter. Keeping the toys in their protective original packaging with manufacturer's warranty is smarter. Entering a party order, seeing the package shipped the next day and alerting the hostess of the UPS Tracking status is SMARTER! Keeping products, aside from my kit, out of my house for my kid's sake is SMARTER! Speaking of kids, I'd rather spend time reading or playing with my kids rather than packing and shipping sex toys, wouldn't you?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Consultants who Suck (Pun definitely not intended)
It's unbelievable how many requests I get from potential hostesses for a "fun" and "alive" consultant. It's amazing how many talk about the boring consultant who did their last party. No games, no jokes, just BLAH. Many times they say she was an older woman. Now, to me that might mean in the senior citizen category. I know, I know...sex never gets old. But a boring, non-interactive, "educational" presentation is a BIG no-no in this biz. Make it fun and FUNNY no matter who you are. These things CAN be learned!I recently had a hostess out of California tell me that there was one consultant who didn't even have her toys out of the package! Guests had to feel or just look at the toy through it's packaging. Come on now! Common sense. It's a SEX TOY PARTY! These women want to touch the toys, play with the buttons, feel the material, pose for pictures with them! Makes NO sense to me! And as for speaking...if you're going to do a toy presentation, you have to spare a few jokes here and there. A little raunchiness never hurt nobody! ;)
Thoughts?
