Promotional Products: Great Business for Great Salespeople

Your Name 

What is your side business? 

Actually, my side business WAS selling promotional advertising. I was serving full-time in the Louisiana Army National Guard, working towards a full 20-year military retirement.

I sent off for a start-up kit to sell ink pens, coffee mugs, calendars, book matches (this was back in '84), cap, t-shirts, and other products that carry an organization's name and logo.

I started by cold-calling likely prospects and began building bit by bit.

This was a business that I could learn as I earned, expanding my knowledge and income over time, and finance my business out of the commissions I earned.

Why did you choose this particular business? 

Due to the low pay for enlisted members, my family was eligible to receive food stamps. Rather than take that option, I looked for a job or opportunity with flexible scheduling so it wouldn't interfere with my military duties.

My plan was to serve another 10 years in uniform and expand my side business to full-time, once I had my retirement.

But, plans changed and I quit the service cold turkey, with no retirement at all. Fortunately, I had some income coming in from my side business and decided to make it my full-time career.

Knowing what average salespeople earn in my market, it was the best choice I could have made.

And nearly 26 years later, the part-time start-up and switching to full-time turned out to be a great decision. My business allowed my wife to choose to be a full-time mother and now full-time Nana for our family.

I enjoy business-to-business sales, which I learned from selling newspaper advertising in my university's newspaper while I was a student. The opportunity to develop a base of customers that yields excellent repeat sales opportunities appeals to me. I love having the lifetime value of a customer work for me.

I also enjoy the opportunity to leverage my business knowledge by sponsoring others who are looking for a genuine home-based business that can generate serious income. I've never been afraid of sales, and love the challenge of helping my clients improve the business and solve various problems they may have.

Advice 

• The ability to start a side business on a part-time basis, can be a life saver to any employee who suddenly finds themselves facing a business closing, downsizing, merger, or other circumstance that puts them in the unemployment world. This is especially true in the current economy, and doubly so for the 50+ crowd who face even more hurdles to finding a situation that will allow them to earn sufficient income to replace their former salary.
• Look for an opportunity that doesn't require employees, inventory, or an inflexible schedule.
• Avoid positions with a limited territory or income cap.

Mitchell York, Entrepreneurs Guide, says: