This question relates directly to the fact that in school we are not taught a lot about how business works. I’ve talked about this challenge before and will probably do so again, however, today let’s find out how YOU get the best buy.

It doesn’t matter if we are looking for computers, cars, books, natural health products, gas or flowers, the standard manufacturing distribution network looks like the chart below:

A Manufacturer produces a product.

The product makes its way to a Warehouse to be packaged and shipped.

A Distributor receives the product re-packages and in many cases re-labels the product for shipment to local distribution points where it may be re-distributed once more for shipment to various merchants.

The Retail Store stocks, promotes and sells the product.

YOU buy from the retail store.

CHART (click on this article at my Website for chart)

The Internet and introduction of online marketing has thrown a few new wrinkles into the process, however, it has not really changed the distribution network all that much.

The major cost of most products that we buy is advertising and promotion Advertising and promotion is done along the entire distribution chain and usually ends up being 50% or more of the price you pay. Online buying hasn’t changed that, we just advertise and promote differently.

Why do you think Facebook, which started out as a profile page for college students, is valued at more than $20 BILLION? Advertising! There are advertisers that pay millions to Facebook for the opportunity to sell YOU something. And there are also small advertisers that pay a few hundred or thousand to Facebook for the same opportunity. It all adds up.

Why do I bring this online selling into the discussion? Because, I want you to know that the Internet and online buying has not changed the distribution network. The Computer becomes the retail store. Your first reaction is going to be that’s not true. I’m getting my “stuff” through an affiliate of the manufacturer. Stop, think, breathe. Look at the chart and just change the names to fit the online marketing model.

However, that does not address the question. The answer to the question is that YOU get the best buy when you buy directly from the manufacturer. Network Marketing and Direct Selling companies like XanGo and Avon allow you to do just that. Rather than pay all that money for advertising and promotions, which are often ineffective, they pay the money directly to their “distributors” who use word of mouth advertising to their friends, family and associates to spread the word about their products

The network marketing distribution network looks like this (follow the green arrow):

Chart (click on this article at my Website for chart)

So how do you get the best buy? You become an independent distributor, for products you use and buy directly from the company. You’re now buying direct from the manufacturer. That’s good, however, you’re still paying the wholesale price. Remember the example above where I told you that normally 50% or more of the retail price of a product is due to advertising and promotion expenses. Now you are buying direct, how do you get all or a part of what would have gone for advertising and promotion?

When you belong to a Direct Selling company, like Avon, you can sell products and earn income based on the difference between the wholesale and retail price of a given product. When you belong to a Network Marketing company, like XanGo, earnings are based not only on your sales, that is the difference between the wholesale and retail price of a given product, but on the sales of those people who you have invited to be a part of your business team spreading the word about the products that you all buy and use. Your team can often be associated with you through many levels of friends, their friends and other business associates.

All of this is so logical it makes you wonder why we weren’t taught about it in school. It is just common sense, you like and use the products or you wouldn’t be buying them, you’re just looking for the best buy. The company that makes the products wants you to buy direct because it is so much more efficient and productive. And the company will pay you, rather than an advertising company, to have you encourage your friends, family and associates to use the same products you use. The only question you will be asking is which company has the products you will share, is the easiest to work with and will pay you the most money.

In my opinion that’s how you get the best buy. If you are looking for home business ideas make it a home business and work from home, with all the personal and professional benefits that provides. For a natural networker like me, buying in this manner and living the life that it can provide, is what living is all about. Contact me if you would like me to expand on or clarify any of this material.

Which is the best buy when it comes to home DVD abs workouts? Aerobic, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates – there are so many workout DVDs on the market that finding the best buy takes a little planning.

A few things need to be considered when determining the best home DVD abs workout to buy. You could find the cheapest DVD and be thrilled you saved money. Yet, if the workout doesn’t work it isn’t cost effective and isn’t the best buy. That cheap DVD might not have an instructor that knows how to teach you the correct technique to the workout that maximizes your results. The style might not interest you, which makes you lose interest. You also might not get the motivation you need to continue with the program. It just depends on you and the program.

The same is true for the more expensive programs. These might be advertised as working in 60 to 90 days and all it takes is doing their program. Nevertheless, it is not the best buy if it doesn’t work for you. Perhaps it is too intense and you don’t have the stamina yet to perform the program. It won’t help if you aren’t able to use it.

Do your research to learn about the variety of home DVD abs workouts. You’ll want to compare program elements as well as price. There might be store discounts or website discounts that help you save on the program you want. Just be sure you trust the store, but especially a website. You’d hate to save money, but get your home DVD abs workout only to find it is an illegal copy or not really the program you purchased. Consider if you need more equipment as well because it might not be the best buy if you are buying a lot of extra things.

I went to Best Buy today to get a few CDs and walked out with a new subscription to Sports Illustrated. Immediately confused, I asked myself how’d that happen? As I went through the steps that brought me to that point in time, I realized I was sold on the subscription before I ever had a chance to even think about saying no. Wow! What if I had this power? My home business would be booming to say the least. So, let me go through exactly what happened and then I’ll pull a few key points out for you.

I browsed the CD section of Best Buy for about 30 minutes and then after making my final music selections I headed to the checkout counter. I was greeted by a friendly checkout clerk who rung up my three CDs to a total cost of $43. As she was ringing me up she said “How would you like a free Subscription to Sports Illustrated or Entertainment Magazine?” Before I could answer she continued by telling me that she had already taken advantage of the offer herself and had received eight free issues of Entertainment Magazine. She continued by telling me exactly how I could unsubscribe at anytime and still get eight free issues of whichever magazine I choose. Then, even before she finished speaking, an adjacent check out clerk chimed in and said how great of a deal he thought it was and how much he enjoyed his free subscription.

Then the magic happened! No sooner did I turn my head back to the first sales clerk than did she ask me which subscription I wanted. Without thinking, I said Sports Illustrated. She replied, “that’s what the guys always choose”. She rung me up and I was out the door before I had a chance to think about what had just happened.

How great is that?

She probably made a commission and I never even saw it coming.

Ok… So, what made this whole process work so well?

First: The Element of surprise…

I had no idea what hit me.

Second: A free trial offer…

She offered me something that was very low risk to me. I didn’t really want a subscription to Sports Illustrated, but hey it was FREE so why not?

Third: Smooth transition into her testimonial…

Once she said that the subscription was something that she personally took advantage of herself I my let guard down. From that point on, I wasn’t being sold on something I didn’t want, but instead I was just getting a friendly recommendation.

Fourth: Smooth transition into how easy it was to back out at anytime…

At this point, not only was I just getting a friendly recommendation, but she told me how easy it would be to back out of the deal at any time. Not only that, but I was given explicit directions as to how to end my subscription. Hey, if I didn’t want the subscription I now felt even less pressure because I knew exactly how to end it.

Fifth: Additional Testimonials…

Bang… Before I had a chance to think about whether or not I want a free subscription to Sports Illustrated bad enough to go through the future hassle of canceling it I’m hit with another testimonial about how great of an offer this deal really is from ANOTHER person that’s taken advantage of it. So, now I start to feel a little like I’m the one left out. Everyone else is doing it… why not me?

Sixth: The Close!

I loved the close! It was so sneaky. She never asked me whether or not I wanted a subscription, she just asked if I wanted Sports Illustrated or Entertainment Magazine. I NEVER had the option to think about whether or not I wanted the subscription or not. She simply ASSUMED the sale and at that point just asked me what subscription I wanted. She never gave me a chance to tell her NO!

Now that I’ve given you six simple steps that you must follow to get the sale every time it’s just a matter of you figuring out how to use this in your own home business. So, stop and read this again if you have to. Just let it soak in. It’s an extremely powerful process if mastered. Personally, I left that Best Buy not knowing what happened to me. It was like I was brainwashed!