| Comment Number: | 522418-01878 |
| Received: | 6/12/2006 5:11:33 PM |
| Organization: | PartyLite Gifts, Inc. |
| Commenter: | Melissa Creggar |
| State: | FL |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
My name is Melissa and I have been an independent consultant with PartyLite for 5 1/2 years. I started this business six months pregnant with my third child, with absolutely no cash investment so that I could stay home with my three small children. Without PartyLite I would not be able to afford to work outside of the home due to the cost of daycare for 3 children. In addition, we, as parents feel that because of PartyLite are able to own, operate and manage our own business in the comfort of our own home in addition to putting our family first by being there when they need us most. I have been a PartyLite leader after being with the company for 11 months. Having a four-year degree in Business Management has not given me the leadership qualities and experiences that I have now obtained by being a PartyLite leader. I have built my own central unit here in Daytona Beach as well as another unit in Holly Hill and one in Jacksonville. This brings me to the concern that I have with the references that the FTC is hoping to incorporate into the DSA. If this takes place, this will put a negative "light" on our business. Although we appreciate the idea of allowing only the legitimate companies to succeed, this will put a strain on our new consultants from getting started right away if they have to obtain references as well as have a waiting period. With my own personal story of starting at 6 months pregnant, I was able to earn between $500-$800 in my first 2 weeks of business. This allowed me to purchase the necessary things that I needed for my newborn as well as provide the income needed for my other two children during my recovery. If consultants must wait, in addition to obtain references before starting their own business, they will lose their excitement and feel defeated before they even begin. We, as their leaders provide as much help and necessary training possible to help our newest consultants succeed, and still face obstacles that we require as a company like their first 6 shows, and enough sales to obtain their starter kit for free, why add more, undo pressure to an already excited new business person? In conclusion, I would like to thank the FTC for the support that we as business men and women have received. We also appreciate the concern with facing businesses in the direct selling industry that are not legitimate and "scam" the American public, but we can assure you that PartyLite Gifts is not one of them. We would appreciate further research into other ways that the FTC can regulate businesses without damaging the ones set in place by PartyLite that have already proven to work.