August 5, 2008
Earn Extra Income with Silpada Designs
Silpada Designs is a company that distributes sterling silver jewelry through network marketing. It was founded by Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh, and is based in Lenexa, KS.
Bonnie and Teresa met as school room mothers. The two had a lot in common and quickly became close friends. Soon, they were working together to find ways to earn income from home. They tried several different home business, but didn’t truly begin to love their work until they started Silpada Designs, because in addition to families and the need to earn additional income, they also shared a passion for jewelry.
Silpada arose from small beginnings: $25 saved back from a grocery fund, a line of jewelry Bonnie and Teresa designed and made themselves, and informal parties at friends’ houses. However, the shows were a hit. The Silpada Designs business opportuntiy began with hostesses and customers asking how they could get involved. They told Teresa and Bonnie, “It looks like you’re having so much fun!’
Silpada Designs began with $25 saved back from a grocery fund. Bonnie and Teresa made the jewelry themselves and sold it at informal parties they called, “A Fun Ladies’ Night Out Playing Dress-up with Jewelry”. The Silpada Designs direct sales opportunity was born out of customers and hostesses coming to them, saying, “How can we get involved? You two look like you’re having so much fun!”
If a Representative makes that $750 average, she can earn $450/wk simply by holding just two average Home Shows. Home Shows generally take only three to four hours of work. So for a really ambitious Representative working 16-20 hours and holding five shows a week, the annual income would by $54,000.
Based on that $750 average, a Representative can earn $450 a week by holding just two average Home Shows, with only six to eight hours of work involved. For a really ambitious Representative holding five shows and working 16-20 hours a week, the annual income would be $54,000!
As is the appeal with most MLM companies, the Silpada Designs business opportunity affords Representatives the option to customize their earning and workload to their specific desires, goals, and time schedule. Representatives can advance in the company as fast as they choose, by sponsoring new Representatives and guiding them toward success. A particular benefit of Silpada Designs is that, while rapidly growing, it is still a relatively young company, so the market is still open for new Representatives.
There are many opportunities for Representatives to earn free jewelry and prizes, attend motivational conferences in exciting cities, and even win tropical vacations. The vacations, called “Silpada SOAR” trips are held annually. Representatives may bring a guest with them for free. For new Representatives, there is the Fast Start Jewelry Rewards Program, which allows them to earn $3,000 worth of jewelry in their first hundred days.
Throughout the year, Representatives who meet certain sales and recruitment goals can qualify for free jewelry and prizes, special conferences in cities across the nation, and annual incentive trips. The trips, called “Silpada SOAR” trips, are set in tropical locations all over the world and Representatives get to bring a guest along for free. The Fast Start Jewelry Rewards Program allows new Representatives to earn $3,000 worth of jewelry in their first 100 days. There are also monthly incentives for established Representatives to earn more free jewelry.
Hostesses can receive up to 30% of the total Home Show sales, and extra bonuses if the Representative obtains two bookings from the party.
One shortcoming of the Silpada Designs business opportunity is that traditional recruitment tactics are still part of the training. The company encourages traditional mlm methods, such as pitching to relatives, neighbors and so forth. Many network marketers have found those types of methods to lead quickly to burn-out and discouragement, not to mention that their relatives, neighbors and bank tellers now avoid them!
The problem with the Silpada Designs business model is that it can be rather limiting. The company still clings to the traditional methods of multi-level-marketing (call your sister, your neighbor, recruit your bank teller). Many network marketers have discovered that those types of resources are quickly exhausted, and their business ends up at a stalemate.
Internet marketing is the new wave in network marketing, generating thousands of leads who pursue the representative, already sold on the product or business opportunity being offered. Nevertheless, Silpada Designs holds to the following policy:
NOTICE TO ALL ACTIVE INDEPENDENT SILPADA DESIGNS REPRESENTATIVES
According to the Silpada Designs Corporate Web Policy active Independent Silpada Designs Representatives are prohibited from listing on a business directory or other Web site using the company’s trademarked terms, including, but not limited to, “SILPADA” and “SILPADA DESIGNS”. As such, all active Independent Silpada Designs Representatives may not list on this Web site. Any such listing will be considered a violation of the Silpada Designs Corporate Web Policy and will be subject to all remedial actions.
The cost to become certified as a Silpada Designs independent Representative is $199. The cost covers learning materials needed to get started, including tools to boost recruiting skills. Representatives must purchase their own jewelry kits so that Home Show guests can touch, feel and try on jewelry before making a purchase.
Representatives receive a 50% discount on all Silpada Designs products.
Representatives receive a 50% discount on all belts jewelry and watches. The Silpada Designs opportunity might not be for everyone, particularly those desiring to utilize technology in their marketing. However, for jewelry aficionados, it could be a really fun way to earn extra income simply by wearing, sharing and talking about the things they love.
Filed under MLM by Cathy Yeatts

