.jpg)
Midwest Momentum
Stories from the Midwest Start-Up community.
Midwest Momentum
Alison Gatchell - Mastering Entrepreneurship and Sales with Amway's Empowering Business Model
Unlock the entrepreneurial spirit within you as Alison Gatchell, an independent business owner with Amway, joins us to share the ins and outs of thriving in the world of sales and business ownership. Get ready to be inspired by Alison's journey from embracing Amway's unique business model—a blend of independence and franchising support—to mastering the fine art of relationship building in sales.
No prior skills? No problem. Alison and I dissect the practical nitty-gritty of running a day-to-day business, from invoicing to taxes, while also looking at the bigger picture of personal development.
Time to hustle America, roll up our sleeves and make dreams happen. Midwest momentum brings you stories of CEOs, startups, product development and founders doing whatever it takes to make their big idea happen. Midwest momentum is supported by big kitty labs and produced by G and our media, michelle Gatchel.
Speaker 2:All right, welcome to Midwest momentum everybody. Today I have a great guest and, I have to say, a family member. My niece, alison Gatchel, is joining us today to talk about her business. She's an independent business owner for Amway. Alison, thank you so much for joining me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, thanks, michelle, hey, michelle.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you know Franchises. How is working for Amway and selling their product like a franchise? I?
Speaker 3:Would say it's similar to a franchise. Amway does Duplicate through business owners, so everyone who has, everyone who owns an Amway business, is an independent business owner, and Amway also employs several thousand people throughout the United States and Globally, and so they have different teams of scientists, they have development teams, customer service teams and then they have the Amway business owners, and so the business owners are we're the ones that deal in the direct sales to customers.
Speaker 2:Okay, so what made you want to get into sales?
Speaker 3:I Wouldn't say that I was ever a salesperson and so I I guess I would. I would never have seen myself in sales. But really, with direct sales, you're just making recommendations based upon Gaps that you see or areas that you could fill in people's lives, ways to add value, whether it's nutrition, beauty, skincare those are some of the lines that we carry, but it's really just making recommendations, like you would for a favorite restaurant or a good movie, and just trying to add value where you can.
Speaker 2:And so it's face-to-face.
Speaker 3:You said yes, yep, most everything is face-to-face. Sometimes you can go over over product lines with people over the internet because zoom is great, but, um, typically we like to do face-to-face and we have a very relational Approach to sales.
Speaker 2:Okay, and so in your background, college, other jobs what helped you kind of get ready to have that kind of relational business?
Speaker 3:I Did work for a dog breeder for a time, so I was in the sales team, so I was selling puppies which were really easy to sell. That did give me the skills as far as how to reach out to people, what to say to keep things professional, and then also just, I guess, how to Close sales or how to make people feel comfortable in what you're doing and Give them, I guess, the best experience that they can.
Speaker 2:And you know, you said something that I think is important how to close a sale, because I I think there's a lot of people, and Myself included, that's a tough thing to do. Did you find it hard to learn how to close a?
Speaker 3:sale. I would say it's a learning experience Because everyone's different. Some people want more of the, the details, they want to know all the facts about the products, some people just want to know you're excited about your own products, and some people want to know what the products can do for others who have kind of their same, their same issues or their same concerns with certain things. And so it's really just finding, based upon the relationship you have with that person, finding what they, what they need and how they best like to Be in contact with you and how they best like to Kind of learn about the products, and Sometimes that's giving them samples, or sometimes that's just sharing information or a PowerPoint or something that they can look at with the products.
Speaker 2:So when you started with an way, is it a big Money startup, if you will?
Speaker 3:No, it's actually very small, very low investment. And something new that they have done is, for first year, ibos independent business owners they've actually waived the first year cost of that, just to get people started outright and to make sure that people are profitable right off the bat and just, yeah, to get people started in customer sales, because that's really the foundation of everything. If you don't sell and, I guess, gain value, add value to the company in that way, then you're not going to make any profit. And so they really want to get people, especially new people, started off right so they can make a profit pretty quickly. But it's very low investment.
Speaker 3:And do they give you training? Yes, so Amway itself has training on their platform. They have videos and that goes over how to sell products in just a respectful, professional way and then that goes over in very in a lot of in depth and detail about each of the products so that you can have some knowledge going into any of your sales. So they have training that way. And then a lot of teams or leaders and Amway also have training which is more mindset, leadership training, leadership development and kind of more of the mindset and that type. I guess that side of things.
Speaker 2:And so in your training, what are some things that you learned, that you had, that you didn't know before?
Speaker 3:I would say the main thing would be how to how to build relationships with people that you may not know super well, how to network and talk to others, whether that be clients or maybe future partners in business. And besides the networking side of things, how do you stay organized on a month to month basis? And then different leadership aspects. We read a lot of books and listen to a lot of podcasts for leadership training and I would say that has helped me not just in the entrepreneurial sense, but also in my nine to five career path and then in a lot of other ways also.
Speaker 2:So you do this on top of your regular nine to five career path.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so it is on top of the regular nine to five drop that I do. So it's meant to be built alongside the nine to five for the first two to five years. Just because getting started outright it doesn't, you don't make a good deal of profit really fast, but it is something that you can start to be profitable and build off of that pretty quickly.
Speaker 2:Gotcha, and so is it like a Tupperware thing, or you do parties, or how do people find you?
Speaker 3:Um, no, we don't really do parties or promote our. We don't really promote anything on Facebook or social media or do any parties, but it's mainly through referrals, through people we know that may have a gap that needs filled, that may have something, something that's lacking in their nutrition or in their skincare routine or whatever lines that we carry. We have different, you know, home products, laundry, so it's it's things that people use every day and so really it's just by referral family and friends and then people that we meet also on a day to day basis.
Speaker 2:And is it as long as you're buying their product and reselling it? You could go on forever doing this or do they have certain goals you have to meet in a certain time period?
Speaker 3:They don't have any goals necessarily that you are required to meet. So it's it's kind of you. You can work as hard as you want and, based on the effort that you put in, is what you get out of it. Yes, we're not actually working for Amway. We're working with Amway and we're using Amway as a partnership and Since it's used as a partnership, we can do as little or as the most we want to do. I guess.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's kind of based on people schedule and what they want to accomplish.
Speaker 2:So it sounds like it could fit into a lot of schedules, which is really nice.
Speaker 3:Yep, definitely. It could be built on your own time, outside of what you do full-time, and.
Speaker 2:So what kind of skills would you tell somebody that you would need just to get started?
Speaker 3:So I would say you don't really need to have any skills because the the skills you're going to be taught along the way and you have a, you have such a great support system around you that You're going to be taught all the leadership leadership skills that you need, all the the networking skills that you need, and then also you're going to be taught about the products and you do have people that are kind of in your corner to help meet with customers at first or Help you. Help you get started off right so that you aren't kind of thrown to the wolves as soon as you get started in business.
Speaker 2:I Bet you that helps, though, to have people around you Giving you that mentorship, if you will.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I love the mentorship. That's actually my favorite part of it because I feel like even outside of business or any profit, I've grown so much as a Person and in just like leadership skills, how I relate to people and how I, how I talk to people, how I view people, the value that I see in people. I feel like that's increased since I've been a business owner and just around the group of people that I'm around and I would say that's probably my favorite part of being in the business.
Speaker 2:Now the bad part, I think, or the the hard part. You know, how do you keep track of invoices and money and all that stuff Is there. Do they have a program for you? Did you have to pick a program to do that?
Speaker 3:That's actually all complimentary with Emily. Starting to partnership with Emily. They are the ones that take care of all the customer service. Everything is online purchasing, so you can choose to Purchase items and then hand deliver them to your customer, or the customer can go online and pick out the items themselves and Get it sent right to their home address.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, nice, and you know we're right around the corner from tax season. You know how are you handling, as a independent business owner, the taxes.
Speaker 3:I have a tax guy.
Speaker 2:Everybody should have a tax guy.
Speaker 3:Exactly makes it so much easier. Yeah, but there's different write-offs that you can do as a business owner. So the miles you drive here for your business, certain meals if they fall within the range of You're out building your business or business conversations meals can be write-offs. And then research materials. So, certain, certain books or resources, those can also be write-offs. So that's helpful when doing taxes.
Speaker 2:And that's a lot to learn. Do they help you out with that kind of stuff too? Or your tax guy does?
Speaker 3:That side of things is kind of my tax guy, although I do gain advice from other business owners. But I would say it's kind of like any 1099 where you can do certain right offs. It's self employment. So I was familiar a little bit with 1099s before I started my own business, but it's definitely helpful to have a designated tax person.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure, and people don't wait till the last minute because those guys get busy. Yeah, we're going to take a little break here and when we come back we're going to talk to Alice and more about the independent business.
Speaker 4:Hey, america, you're looking to do something new and cool. Well, I'll tell you how you do it. It's called storytelling. That's right In Columbus, ohio and all over the Midwest, we're celebrating storytelling. Everybody's out there trying new things, believing in the new dream and believing in tomorrow. And here at Get your Rock, we're right in the middle of it. Every day, we work close with other people and entrepreneurs to tell their story and get it online. Maybe you've got a story. We'll let us know and we'll get it out there for you. Or maybe you have a question about what stories you should be telling or the things that you could be doing. Well, come on down to Get your Rock and we'll help you out. We'll talk about podcasts and radio and video and memberships and loyalty things and all kinds of ways for you to actually act upon the story capability that you have in your company and your own voice. You've done the hard work already. I'll let us help you tell your story. So come on down to Get your Rock today and we'll get you started.
Speaker 2:Visit us at GetYourRockcom, fill out our form and we'll get back with you. Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of podcasts? Get your Rock Media brings you a lineup of captivating shows that will keep you engaged and informed. Let's explore what they have to offer. First off, there's Ohio Psy. Join hosts Cynthia Bent-Finley and Michelle Gatchel on her journey through the realms of science and innovation. This podcast takes you behind the scenes of universities and businesses, uncovering the groundbreaking research and developments shaping our future From fuel cells, revolutionizing transportation, to the promise of cultured meat, addressing food insecurities. Ohio Psy explores it all.
Speaker 2:Don't miss out on the latest in scientific advancements and AI evolution. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries and revolutionizing the way we live and work. In AI evolution, dan Rockwell and Michelle Gatchel dive into the world of AI with insights from experts on how entities are harnessing this technology To accelerate product ideas and more. From chat, gpt to cutting edge AI applications, this podcast provides a comprehensive overview of the AI landscape. All these captivating podcasts are available for streaming on your favorite podcast platforms. Whether you're a science buff or an AI aficionado, gatchel Rock Media has something for everyone. Tune in, listen and expand your horizons with Gatchel Rock Media.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to Midwest Momentum, where you hear the new ideas, innovations and investments happening in the Midwest. We even spot unicorns from time to time, all proving the Midwest is a great place to live and join the momentum of our startup community and now our host, michelle Gatchel.
Speaker 2:What skills or what's next like, what things do you want to learn or where do you want to take these skills that you're learning in the future?
Speaker 3:I would say for me, just ever, ever increasing on networking, because I've heard that your net worth is just a, is just a, I guess, an addition or a combination of all the people that you know. That's not to say that your values determined by how many people you know, but as far as having a good network around you and good connections, you can go a lot farther than you could without connections. I would say I was previously a very unconnected person, didn't really want to meet new people, didn't want to put myself out there at all, but just like learning, learning more skills and development with, with leadership, how to win friends and influence people. I could list off a lot of books that I've read just helping me in that area.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a really sore spot that I had. That I feel like I've gained a lot of training and guidance in public speaking to.
Speaker 2:I know you spoke at an event that we did and you were saying how much this has helped you with the public part of it, right?
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, I used to be terrified of people and public speaking or even in a small group setting if there was too many people. But just, I guess, through reading books, listening to people who have gone before me and succeeded before me and people who being around, people who believe in you and who have a common purpose, really helps push you forward and getting out of your comfort zone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a big one getting out of your comfort zone, but you grow every time you do.
Speaker 3:That's very true.
Speaker 2:And the good news, people, if you're listening, you know I think a big part of your story is you sought out learning in the areas that you didn't know so that you could overcome them. And so if somebody's out there thinking there is no way I could do public speaking, I'm never going to have a job doing that, no, you don't have to have that thought, because you can learn those skills.
Speaker 3:Yep, you can learn pretty much any skill with the right resources and the right people around you and just a little bit of effort.
Speaker 2:I'd say a lot of effort on some things. But yeah, very true. And so I guess my question to you would be too what advice do you have for people you know, if they're not like? There's probably people out there listening right now going. I could never do sales, but it would be fun to be able to interact that way. What advice do you have?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I don't know if I'm yet qualified to really give advice, but I would say the number one thing would be to seek people that are already in life where you want to be, whether that's a financial goal that you see or a spiritual goal, a mental goal, or the line, the career line that you see, that you really are dreaming of going after. I would say find the person, find someone that you can trust that's already in that field, already has the success that you're looking for, and really just pursue them and pursue their knowledge and pursue their character, to find people of good character that you can trust. Then it becomes kind of easy from there. You're really just duplicating what they've already done.
Speaker 2:How many years have you been doing, Emily?
Speaker 3:A little over two years, yeah, so not too long, not too long.
Speaker 2:But in those two years, would you say, like every month, you grow and grow.
Speaker 3:I guess that would depend on what areas you're specifically talking about. But being an entrepreneur is definitely a roller coaster which that's also a good book, the entrepreneurial roller coaster. But I would say it does go up and down and you just have to kind of take that in stride but working towards it it's more of a long term plan.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Are there areas that you feel yourself? I mean, you mentioned a couple books here, but areas that you want to read up more or learn more. That would help you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I guess I would have to think about that. Maybe more financial literacy, probably along the same lines of books that I have been reading. So I do read John Maxwell or books like Thinking Grow Rich. That's a really good one. Robert Kiyosaki does a lot of financial literacy and so books like that really help in the areas that I work in corporately and then also as a business owner.
Speaker 2:Nice. And let's talk a little bit about social media. I know you mentioned that you don't do social media for Amway, but I know you have used social media for other businesses that you've helped out. What are the benefits of using social media?
Speaker 3:Social media is a great tool to gain exposure. I work in two of my different part-time positions. I actually work with social media in some capacity, so just gaining exposure and then also helps with building rapport and trust. Because if people can see what's on your profile and see who you are as a company, then I think that is very helpful in building some trust. On top of that, if they see a product they really like or something along those lines, it might get them to visit your site. But I think it's both the trust aspect and then also just exposure to the products and whatever else your content is about.
Speaker 2:Social media you can buy ads, but a lot of it is more about the creation of your community, right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I would say the community. It's really important to respond to comments, respond to people in your messages and just interact with people. Build relationships with people, because that draws more people into your site if they see that you're interacting. And I think that also is another way to gain trust in the social media realm of things, because you can't necessarily see someone's face and so people are a little bit more skeptical these days of others and of businesses, and so any way that you can build relationships and just have that relational aspect and building trust and rapport, I think is a really beneficial thing.
Speaker 2:Nice, yeah, trust is huge. Any other books? We should tell people that you've read that you really liked. I love giving book suggestions from others.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think it's called and this is just off the top of my head, so I might get the titles wrong but how to have Confidence and Power in Talking to People is another good book. And then I could list off some more spiritual books that I've been reading recently, but I don't know if that's everyone's cup of tea, so let me think of a few others Daily habits or atomic habits.
Speaker 2:Atomic habits.
Speaker 3:That one's a really, really good one, and most of you have probably seen that on the bookshelf at a bookstore.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Or another. Yeah, because that's a really popular book.
Speaker 2:You mentioned podcasts. Do you listen to specific business podcasts?
Speaker 3:The podcasts I listen to are more actually within the AMWI business and just leaders who've done well and succeeded in AMWI, so those aren't really available to the public and those are mainly the podcasts that I listen to, so I don't have specific suggestions there.
Speaker 2:So how can people find you if they're interested in AMWI?
Speaker 3:Through. I do have personal social media on Instagram and Facebook, and that's probably the best way I would say.
Speaker 2:Okay, and is it Alice and Gatchel? Yes, they should search for you.
Speaker 3:For both. It's just Alice and Gatchel. Yeah, one or two L's and Alice and Two L's, two L's and Alice and two L's and Gatchel.
Speaker 2:There you go. Yep, well, alice, I want to thank you for taking the time and telling us all about all the really cool things that you're working on in your business with AMWI, because I love the fact that AMWI is setting people up for success and it's also not money heavy to get started, because a lot of businesses are really money heavy and it stops people from getting started and this sounds like it's something that people can do a low cost entrance and get going and feel success right away. Yes, yep, that's correct, perfect, all right. Well, thanks a lot.
Speaker 3:All right, yeah, thanks for having me on Nice to talk to you.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Midwest Momentum.
Speaker 2:Midwest Momentum was brought to you by Delmar Communications. Coming up in the Midwest Momentum we're going to take a look at some of the programs offered in the city. You know people think about grants from the federal level and the state level but there are a lot of things that cities and townships and counties offer to help businesses get started.
Speaker 4:We're going to take a look at some of those opportunities Delmar County, ohio and the West. Don't forget hey, america, you're looking to do something new and cool. Well, I'll tell you how you do it. It's called storytelling. That's right in Columbus, ohio and all over the Midwest we're celebrating storytelling. Everybody's out there trying new things, believing in the new dream and believing in tomorrow.
Speaker 4:And here at Get your Rock, we're right in the middle of it Every day. We work close with other people and entrepreneurs to tell their story and get it online. Maybe you've got a story. We'll let us know. We'll get it out there for you. Or maybe you have a question about what stories you should be telling or the things that you could be doing. Well, come on down to Get your Rock and we'll help you out. We'll talk about podcasts and radio and video and memberships and loyalty things and all kinds of ways for you to actually act upon the story capability that you have in your company and your own voice. You've done the hard work already. I'll let us help you tell your story. So come on down to Get your Rock today and we'll get you started.
Speaker 2:Visit us at Gatsherrockcom. Fill out our form and we'll get back with you.