Self-confidence: Woman leaves corporate job to become independent sales consultant

[Originally published in the News-Sentinel May 14, 2008]

By S.T. Boyer

nsfeatures@news-sentinel.com

Fort Wayne resident Sara Fritz is living her version of the American dream.

After becoming a part-time direct-sales consultant for Silpada jewelry last year, Fritz decided she could make enough money to quit her full-time job in the mortgage industry and work at her own business.

With companies closing or downsizing, personal workloads increasing and long-term job security less common, more people could be facing a decision about whether to go into business for themselves.

Fritz credits her family as her primary inspiration for working for herself. With young children at home, she needed the freedom to leave work for doctor appointments, after-school activities or when her kids got sick.

Fritz recalled one time when her daughter was sick, and both she and the father had important, inflexible work schedules. That was part of the appeal of being a direct-sales consultant.

“I wanted to be able to go at any time,” Fritz said. “I don't want my kids to grow up without a mom.”

The intense competition in the mortgage industry was also a burden. “There are always deadlines and numbers,” Fritz said.

She became disheartened because she was working long hours and had little to show for her efforts. Often she would work with a client through almost the entire process, only to lose him or her and the commission just before the closing. After building the broker/client relationship, she said it was difficult not to take the rejection personally.

“If I spent this time networking myself, I could build my own business instead of building someone else's business,” she said.

According to Fritz, Silpada offers training and a network of other independent consultants. For Internet shoppers, the Silpada Web site ( www.silpada.com) [www.silpada.com] will refer inquiries to a consultant in the shopper's local area.

Fritz has joined with other working moms at meetup. com ( www.meetup.com) [www.meetup.com], a social-networking Web site where members organize and plan networking events and activities nearly every month. The Fort Wayne group was started in 2005.

One reason people often cite for staying with an employer is the loss of health insurance. Fritz said she contacted an insurance agent and found a policy that was not much more expensive than the premiums she was paying through her previous job.

“I think people put restrictions on themselves that keep them from finding these great alternatives,” Fritz said. “It's just a fear of the unknown.”

And there are alternatives. Several Web sites offer resources and links for direct-sales consultants, including www.partyswap.com [www.partyswap.com] and www.directsalesmoms. [www.directsalesmoms.com].

One feature of direct sales companies like Silpada is that they are exclusive lines not sold in retail stores. Fritz likes this idea, because she would feel trapped by the overhead and management of a store, instead of working directly with her clients.

The Silpada line is sold through catalogs, and consultants hold parties where clients can come and see the products. Fritz also works with other area consultants to reach out to customers in large public events, such as the recent Tapestry: A Day for Women and the Fort Wayne Home Show.

Since the jewelry is an exclusive line, there is little competition. Fritz feels this takes the stress out of the process, so she doesn't feel the need to put lots of pressure on people to buy.

Her sales have gone well, even with recent fluctuations in the economy. Fritz said she had planned on the income being irregular, so she has made seasonal adjustments to her budget.

“Owning your own business really is the American dream,” she said.

She has not ruled out the possibility of returning someday to the corporate world. But she also joked she probably would need about six weeks of vacation each year to have the same freedom she has now.

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Learn more

You can learn more about Sara Fritz's business at http://mysilpada.com/.

Resources for starting a business

These organizations can help you develop a plan to start a business.

♦U.S. Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov. The SBA's Indiana office is in Indianapolis, 1-317-226-7272, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.

♦Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, 3201 Stellhorn Road: 407-6442 or www.niic.net.

♦Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), 110 W. Berry St., Suite LL-101: 422-2601, 9 a.m.-noon Tuesdays-Fridays and 5-8 p.m. Mondays or www.score-fortwayne.org.

♦Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza: Resources available in the Business, Science & Technology department.

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Upcoming workshops
The Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, 4312 Hobson Road, Suite B, will offer these workshops:


How to Start a Business


♦First and third Wednesday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m.

♦Second and fourth Wednesday of the month, noon-1:30 p.m.

Free but registration required; call 481-0500.


Business Planning


♦Third Monday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m.

Cost: $15. Registration required; call 481-0500.