| Comment Number: | 522418-03388 |
| Received: | 6/19/2006 3:41:24 PM |
| Organization: | PARTYLITE GIFTS, INC. |
| Commenter: | JOHNNA SEIBERT |
| State: | FL |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Dear Federal Trade Commission Members: I am writing to ask that you reconsider some of the requirements you are proposing to regulate the Direct Sales industry. I am a Partylite Consultant who has been proud to be involved in this business for 6 years. I began my Partylite business to put food on our table. My husband had lost his job and was trying to get started in another industry...a very uncertain situation for both of us having 2 small children (1 pre-school & 1 grade school) With no family around, we did not want our children being raised in a daycare situation. I cried many nights knowing I had to find a job to put food on the table. As I was checking out daycares, I was invited to a Partylite home show. I had never heard of PartyLite, but needed a night out to forget my problems. I listened to the Consultant talk about the business opportunity which would allow me to start a business for FREE, work a couple nights a week (so my husband could watch the kids) and begin earning income right away...I couldn't afford NOT to give it a try!! If I had waited 7 days to think about it, I would have doubted myself, the whole enthusiasm would have wore off and I would not have tried Partylite. THANK GOD, I was able to start my business immediately. It was the BEST thing for me and my kids. Partylite was everything it claimed to be and more! I've just received my 3rd promotion, and my kids have had a stay at home mom who runs her own home-based business working around her family's activities. We have a newer home, can take nicer vacations and are able to pay our bills on time. I can't imagine where we would be now had I not started Partylite right away! One of the most important things with this business is enthusiasm...waiting 7 days will diminish that enthusiasm. A Hostess who just had a great show, and several friends want to do parties, won't be able to close her show that day if she wants to turn that show into her starter show for her business, it will delay her friends and family from getting their products from 2 weeks to almost 4 weeks...that can be a deterent right there, because no one wants to hold up her guests from getting their products. Joining a direct selling business is a big leap and takes courage...many people don't believe in themselves that they can do it, but that extra bit of enthusiasm helps motivate some to do something they will truly be glad they did. The proposals you are suggesting would make my business much more difficult and negatively impact my income. Specifically, in terms of the References requirement, I would never feel comfortable providing the personal contact information of other people in Partylite, nor would I want my own personal information given out freely. With my own business calls along with my personal life, I can't have my phone line going crazy with Reference calls from people I don't even know. Then they have my information to do whatever they want with it...NOT GOOD! That is why we have Unit and Regional meetings. It is a place to come check out the opportunity and hear from others, and the people are free to walk around and talk to anyone. Some people have been in it a long time, others are just starting, so they can get a great idea of what it is all about. I feel good about sharing Partylite's very real business opportunity with others, and want to continue to easily introduce Partylite to more people who could benefit as I HAVE!! The regulations you are proposing would hinder me from doing so--and would hinder others in starting their business in the time frame they choose. Please know that I'm thankful that we have the FTC working to protect average consumers like me, but in this case, you will be working against me, negatively impacting my income, the future of a business I'm passionate about, and my family's future. Please reconsider the regulations you are proposing!!! Respectfully Yours, Johnna Seibert, District Leader & Independent Partylite Consultant Boynton Beach, Florida