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May 15, 2004
Quixtar and the sexes
By QBlog in
Did you know that according to the DSA "72 percent of direct sales consultants in the United States are women. Fifty-four percent are between the ages of 35 and 54, and 75 percent are married and have some college education."
In-Forum.com reports on the growth of Direct Selling (free registration) in the United States. According to the article, Direct Selling (or Multi-Level Marketing or Network Marketing) is a huge industry employing "13 million salespeople who sold $28 billion worth of products in 2002." It names successful businesses like Mary Kay, Tupperware and Pampered Chef to demonstrate how this growth has been achieved.
One thing I've always maintained is that Amway (and Quixtar) was able to work a bit of "magic" within the MLM industry by convincing men to sell soap, vitamins and cleaning products. Frankly, there's nothing exactly "macho" about selling such items and yet Amway (and Quixtar) is male-dominated (with the help of their loving spouses). And this is in the midst of an industry that is almost three-fourths female! It's as if Amway (and Quixtar) is the single co-ed (yet male controlled) dorm in the middle of an enormous all-female campus. Hoo-ah!
And I believe it's those men that are responsible for Quixtar's (and Amway) leadership role in the world of MLM businesses. Imagine Quixtar being run by women. Imagine the plan only being shown by women at "house parties." Imagine that the bonus for the Big PIN level is a pink Lincoln Navigator instead of a trip to Peter Island. Would Quixtar be where it is today if all those fired-up men were merely the husbands of Quixtar IBOs? I don't know but it's fun to think about.
If I ever start an MLM business (which won't happen) it'll be called The Man's MLM Business. We'll only sell things like beer, barbecue grills, big screen televisions, motorcycles, thick steaks, shotguns, cigars and stereo systems. Leave the soap, shampoo and vitamins for the ladies. Belch!
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PS: Who says Amway doesn't operate in the United States? Not In-Forum.com.The company (Amway), headquartered in Michigan, currently claims over 500,000 representatives in the United States who sold more than $5.5 billion worth of products worldwide in 2000, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Why no mention of Quixtar? That's sloppy In-Forum.com.
Comments
Oh, I want to be your first downline in the Man's MLM business. Can my number be #00002? Beer, barbecue grills, big screen televisions, motorcycles, thick steaks, shotguns, cigars and stereo systems sell themselves. Imagine nirvana if you could get all that delivered to your house! Delivered by bikini chicks, no doubt.
Cha-Ching!$!$!$!!
"But they're not really selling them, are they?"
Nailed it, Porkchop!
Those sexist pigs tell each other to tell their wives to buy it for the house. The wives know how much more they are spending but do it anyway. The husbands in a household of the sort sought after by a Quixtar system didn't buy the groceries in the first and have no idea how much more is being drained out of the family budget on over-priced Quixtar house brand crap.
And then there's the "motivation" to help "the man" recruits more couples to "duplicate" the pattern . . .
"Frankly, there's nothing exactly "macho" about selling such items and yet Amway (and Quixtar) is male-dominated (with the help of their loving spouses). And this is in the midst of an industry that is almost three-fourths female! It's as if Amway (and Quixtar) is the single co-ed (yet male controlled) dorm in the middle of an enormous all-female campus."
Of course you are only talking about North America. In many parts of the world my impressions are that it is developed mostly by the women but decisions made by male "leaders."
Some countries are 50/50 like Australia and New Zealand. Jus my impressions ... not facts.
Count me in for your mlm QBlog. Do you think we can do pizzas as well?
I'm secure enough in my man hood to sell vitamins, personal care and skin care...in fact it's a great way to to get to know a lot of pretty ladies!..;o)
You're right on lawdawg. My ex never had a family before we married, but lived on his own. It was ludicrous what he thought was reasonable to buy of the crappy protein bars, the overpriced crappy Q-cereal. I had him send back a damn case of spaghetti sauce that we'd never use before expiration and I think spaghetti. He had no clue how expensive that crap compared to items at the grocery.
"One thing I've always maintained is that Amway (and Quixtar) was able to work a bit of "magic" within the MLM industry by convincing men to sell soap, vitamins and cleaning products. "
But they're not really selling them, are they? Back to the pretzel post, I never see the stuff outside of Am/Quix houses. What is 'building the business' anyway: getting customers or getting more people signed up? How much training involves actual selling and marketing (not traditional marketing...but you can still do it) of products vs. how to approach others and pitch the plan?
I have Mary Kay, Tupperware and Pampered Chef stuff in my house. Talk to one of those folks and they will try to sell you a product. I have no Am/Quix stuff in my house...because as far as I can tell, no one is selling it.
Lumping Am/Quix IBOs into the Direct Sales Consultants is not entirely correct, because contrary to 'legal' posturing, Am/Quix doesn't really do that. That's why you have more guys in it: different animal.
Posted by: Porkchopjim | May 15, 2004 10:56 PM