Question for demos who make their own minimums...

[cnsteele]

I've been an SU! demo for two years now and I've recently gone hobby. It was a combination of wanting to and having to (3 kids and husband's work hours getting longer). My business was successful and I never bought any of my stuff - I always earned it for free. Now that I'm hobby, I'm wondering what the heck do you spend $300 a quarter on that you actually use?

So, tell me! I'm curious what you hobby demos buy when you are your only customer! Oh, and do you really use what you buy or do you buy it just to meet your minimums?

[photocropper]

I use what I buy eventually! I do join swaps that helps "make" me stamp and use my stash. I do have a couple friends that order from time to time and that helps with minimums too. I still have plenty on my wish lists and have not run out of things to buy yet!

[emersonsmom]

As a hobby demo, I offer my friends free shipping and no tax (which is about 20%). I find that they help me make my minimum and I still get the benefits of seeing the catalog early and all the great specials.

[mrs_hawkins]

Cardstock and accessories!! With the occasional stamp set thrown in. I'm a scrapbooker and card maker, so I use a lot of cardstock.

[koopdedoo]

Cardstock, envelopes, ribbon, sticky strip...I've been making my own minimums for almost 5 years now (selling cards/stationery/announcements on the side). In the beginning, LOTS of rubber! Now, an occasional stamp set, mostly consumables.

Kathy

[Choc0holic]

I purchase a lot of accessories and am working on the craft ink right now...and of course, stamp sets. Sounds like since you've been a business demo that you probably have all the basics. I do find that I use what I buy, even if it does take some time to get around to it. I am busy with my kids (all still at home other than one in Preschool) too and don't have as much time as I'd like to. Do your former customers have a new demo to order from or would they still be interested in ordering from you?

[nabush]

Dumb question...sorry to hijack...but as a hobby demo, do you not have to file income taxes like a business? That was my husband's biggest concern when I was a CM consultant, and I had to take a loss 2 years in a row because at the time, they didn't have anything for hobbyists. Does anyone know?

[alkinftm]

Ditto on offering the discount to my friends. I know it's an unpopular thing among business demos. I do not go after anyone's customers. I do however use it as an incentive to get people who don't have a current demo to order from me. I've only had 1 person who had a big enough order to qualify for the hostess benefits, and of course I had no issue with her getting them. Other than that, I've always gotten that perk so that's a plus in addition to the discount!

If you used to be a business demo, wouldn't you be able to offer your discount to some previous friends/customers to keep the orders coming in? I like it because it's an incentive to them and I stay active without too much effort. I obviously buy the items since I signed up, but I'm not having to come up with the minimum on my own...

[mm9772]

I eventually had to quit SU! because I was spending so much on minimums on stuff I didn't need. Although I will eventually use up all the cardstock and inks and such, I have a TON of sets that will most likely never see ink. I'll probably try and sell them someday (maybe on ebay when they're long discontinued and therefore "rare"), but until then they're just taking up space.

I have to admit though that I'm still buying some things through a demo friend of mine. It's an addiction - lol!

[dkessler73]

I was thinking after 4 or 5 quarters it might get difficult to find 300.00 worth of stuff to want from the catalog. I still get pretty good resale on my retired stuff, so I'm just recycling the money back in.