Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 8, 1993 TAG: 9304080361
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LYNN A. COYLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TOYS A GOOD MATCH FOR MOM
When Susan Wagner saw a Discovery Toy display at a maternity fair, she thought selling the toys would be a good way to be a stay-at-home mom and earn extra money. But she had a hard time finding a representative and getting into the business.A friend later invited her to a Discovery Toy party at her home. "I signed up that day," Wagner said. "As soon as I saw the toys, I was hooked."
She chose Discovery because of the educational value for her son, Robbie, now 2. With her teaching background, she also figured she could give other mothers tips on how to use the toys.
Wagner said she discarded the idea of joining other multilevel marketing companies, even though she liked the products and had been the host of parties for them. She couldn't see herself pushing something that she considers a luxury.
"Everybody should have toys for their children," she said. "They're a necessity."
So now she's a full-time mom and part-time educational consultant. Wagner said it cost her next to nothing to start the business. After getting off to a "rocket start," as Discovery calls it, in her first three months of selling and recruiting, her $50 deposit for the startup kit was refunded. All she had to pay was tax and shipping.
The kit, which includes 18 toys and normally costs $99 plus tax and shipping, puts you in business, earning 22 percent on everything you sell.
On average, Wagner spends about three hours, once a week, giving a demonstration party. She typically grosses $200 and nets $50 from each.
"I have had some demonstrations that are much better than the $200," pulling in as much as $750, Wagner said. It depends on how much work the hostess wants to do to get people there.
"If you get the people there, the toys sell themselves," she said. "They are just such good quality."
She has also sold to schools, physical therapists and day-care centers. The income potential is unlimited, Wagner said, citing Emily Krisko, a Northern Virginia manager who reportedly has 10,000 people under her and earns a quarter of a million dollars a year.
"Being a full-time mother, I haven't even begun to explore the possibilities of this business," Wagner said. But she seems ambivalent about where she wants to go with it.
She'd love to build up her business but hasn't had much luck recruiting. On the other hand, recruiting and managing bring added responsibilities she's not sure she wants to assume. The $50 a week she earns now helps with the groceries but doesn't keep her away from her son too much, she said.
Wagner has earned most of the toys in the catalog free though company incentives. This year's incentive trip to Singapore would be wonderful, but $16,000 in sales seems out of reach.
Wait a minute - "I did sell $11,000 last year," she recalled. Maybe it's not so far out of reach after all.
Wagner said she has no plans to leave the business, even if she returns to teaching and wants to stick with it just for the toy discounts.
"If I can make the kind of money Emily Krisko makes, I probably won't go back to teaching," she said.
Susan Wagner can be reached at 977-6126.