Why would someone (who likes beef jerky) NOT buy beef jerky from a network marketing company?

Question

I'm preparing to change careers. I'm currently working in the Construction Industry... fabricating pool cages (screen enclosures), but I'll soon be working full-time in the Direct Sales Industry.

I've affiliated myself with a company that produces Premium Quality Meat Snacks. I plan on specializing in selling beef jerky to Retail Consumers. My goal is to earn over $50,000 per year by enrolling people into the company's auto-ship program. But, before I get started, I would really like to know what "objections" I'm likely to encounter. Please tell me every reason you can think of as to why someone would NOT be willing to spend $12 a month buying beef jerky from a network marketing company/through an auto-ship program. Keep in mind... I will be focusing on promoting to people who say YES to the question: "Do you like beef jerky?" I will NOT be trying to get people to do network marketing. I simply want to earn money by acquiring Auto-ship Customers for the company that produces jerky.

Answer 1

(Just a note: Some guy in England recently asked about some type of beef jerky that apparently isn't easy to find in the U.K., so if you'll be offering some kind that's hard to find in another country you may want to look into that.)

For me: I can't say I'd say "yes" to being asked if I eat beef jerky. I don't. I can't imagine anyone eating it.

Pretend, though, I would eat it.

I wouldn't spend a fixed amount every month because I probably wouldn't want a shipment of food/snack (whatever beef jerky is) on a regular basis. I have a local grocery store that sells things at very good prices. I have several local convenience stores that actually have beef jerky displays. I have a family member who has a food dehydrator and occasionally makes his own beef jerky.

I could know that I use x amount of whatever snacks in a month, but I still wouldn't want to commit to having snacks sent automatically.

There is something about snacks that sometimes involves the meager "fun" of going out to the corner store, getting a (in this case) beef jerky and a drink of some kind, and kind of enjoying that little run to the corner store as a little "treat". It isn't the same to have a carton of snacks in your house and just go get one out of a box every day.

When it comes to snacks, even if I know I'll use 30 snacks a month and maybe even 40 snacks in a month, I just don't want to be "confined" to a number and an amount. If I want to run out and buy six beef jerky packages that's what I'll do. Maybe I'll skip it for two weeks. There's just something "confining" about agreeing to pay an amount and have x amount shipped automatically.

For me, snacks are more a "Hey - I think I'll bring home a couple of muffins for my family" or "Hey - I think I'll get myself a candy bar with my grocery order" and not "Hey - I think I need to keep a load of snacks around in case there's a hurricane."

The $12 a month wouldn't be the issue for me. The "mentality" of having a load of snacks delivered every month is what I don't have when it comes to snacks.

Good luck with your business endeavor, though.

Answer 2

I love jerky, from various animals. I eat multiple pounds per week.

My reason to not buy beef jerky from a network marketing company would be that my consumption of beef jerky varies from month to month. For example, after deer hunting season I won't buy any beer jerky because I'll have plenty of venison jerky. Once spring comes and I start fishing more, that amount of beef jerky I buy would increase. Even if you could offer me the beef jerky at a discounted price I still don't see why I would sign up. It's so much more convenient to pick up a few bags at a gas station as I need it than to have to wait for one day out of the month to receive an amount that may be too little and may be too much. The only way I would consider signing up for the service would be if you can offer me something that I can't get a gas station such as exotic meats or an incentivized reward system where I can earn free jerky by buying it. I hope I helped and good luck on your business venture.

Answer 3

Sounds like too much work for me for just $50,000 a year.
However, you asked a question--I think buying beef jerky is a spontaneous purchase. You see it, you are hungry for it, you buy it. I don't know of anyone that thinks they "need" XXX amount of beef jerky per month and would also be willing to have a credit card attached to such a plan.
Possibly people would do it as a gift for their parents--like buying dear old dad a years worth of beef jerky for a Christmas present. But how many "dear OLD dads" have the teeth left for beef jerky??
Personally, I would keep your day job for awhile and try this venture on the side.

Answer 4

Couple questions to think about:

1) How much beef jerky are you getting for your $12? Does this include shipping? Unless you are sending them 1/2 to 1 pound of product, I doubt there will be strong interest.

2) Is there plenty of variety? Thin, thick, spicy, chewy, tender,dry, moist, etc. Jerky eaters are all different and it may be difficult to secure business long term.....people just like to try different jerkies and mix it up quite often...kinda like cigars or fine wine.

3) What is the quality level of the products you will be representing? If it is the same as what you can buy in your local convenient store, if so, you may be wasting your time. People searching for jerky online are looking for more than just average products.

4) What protection do you have on territory or region? Usually with this type of marketing, you are competing directly with every other direct marketer as well in the company. Sounds like an uphill battle right from the start...

5) And how will you be marketing yourself? Through a website? Be prepared for little to no traffic unless you put together a strong website and SEO program. Plan to spend $400 on up a month for this, $299 a year to yahoo to be in their directory and more if you want in their pay per click program.

6) Jerky in general is considered an impulse buy. People don't go to the store specifically to buy jerky. They see it in the stores in premium shelf locations (often right at the cash register or on the counter) and they buy. Getting someone to commit to buy jerky every month may present it's own challenges.

7) Certainly a "jerky of the month" gift package (like beef of the month) might have some value; Mom's buying these for their college kids away at school, etc...

8) Why not consider aligning yourself with someone who provides only premium products from USA manufactures, is not already saturated in the marketplace, and look to get involved in doing local trade shows, high traffic venues/fairs, attempting to draw repeat customers to your website and capture word of mouth business in this manner. At the same time, look to set up a small route to local bars and convenient store (50-150 stores) where you can generate some steady cash and help to finance the next phases of your business.


Sorry for the rambling, some off subject. I hope my thoughts helped.

Feel free to email me directly at [e-mail] to continue any of these thoughts/discussions.

Best regards,

Toxic

Answer 5

Im not sure their are enough people in the world that COMMITTED do Beef Jerky. Beef Jerky is a very seasonal/privately themed product. You've got the hunter, and campers, and wildnernees people that might by them, but thats usually only to set into the event...to insure commit to 12/month for that sort of things you'd need to find people who need that for 12 dollars a month...
Maybe you could try pitching your idea at travel groups - you could look them up and pitch it...or perhaps hunting groups or members of the NRA...strike a deal of some sort...or do "tracking". You could find someone who eats beef jerky on the regular and ask him why and who influenced him then trace it.

Answer 6

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. I would not want beef jerky at $12.00 a month because it would be boring to know that I had made a commitment to eating so much beef jerky. It's the boredom and predictability factor.

Oh, and I am a vegetarian.

Answer 7

Has this company really convinced you that you can make $50,000/year selling Premium Quality Meat Snacks? It would take around 350 people to sell $50,000 worth of beef jerky, and you only get a small percentage of what they pay. I don't mean to rain on you parade, but it is impossible for a beef jerky salesman to make that kind of money. My brother was in a cult business like this, and it controlled his life for a couple of years. He finally realized that it wasn't worth it. I would advise you to keep your real job.

Answer 8

i love beef jerky i have tried deer jerky my dad makes it every year and yes i would like some of your beef jerky <3

Answer 9

Fresh fruit, maybe. But BEEF JERKY??? Most folks only eat it once in a while, not enough to warrant an auto-ship membership...

Answer 10

6 lbs. beef jerky for $41 shipped . . FatWallet thread
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/670237/