“But I’m terrible at selling anything!”

You don’t need to be a salesperson to become associated with the All Natural County Store. Join our Wholesale Shopping Club instead.

Those early Watkins salespeople really knew how to set up a display of products.

When I was a boy, I was a terrible salesperson. I remember attempting to sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door in order to make some spending money. What a failure that was. All during my professional career, I had full-time positions that provided a nice steady income, and didn’t require any selling whatsoever.

The last time I had a 9-to-5 job, I taught real estate and property management at a private school in Orange County. But when the real estate crash happened, so did the number of students needing professionals to help them prepare for the California Real Estate Exam. Therefore, my position was eliminated.

Then along came Alan Lukes, who was looking for a partner to help him develop a business associated with an established, 140-year-old company called Watkins. Yes, it involved selling, but Alan promised he would handle the training of a sales force, while my expertise as a writer, editor and marketing specialist would be put to good use.

That was five years ago. Today we have some 50 consultants who sell Watkins products through our business name, the All Natural Country Store. That takes us back to your declaration – “I can’t sell a darn thing!”

But we’re sure you like to save money. For the low membership fee of $40, you can join our store’s Wholesale Shopping Club, and receive 25% off the retail price on more than 250 Watkins products. In fact, think of the membership as costing you just $20, since we give you a $20 gift certificate just for joining the club, which you can use for the products of your choosing. What a deal is that?!

Still skeptical? Call the All Natural Country Store and ask for a catalog. We’ll mail it off to you with a brochure that provides further details about our Wholesale Shopping Club. You can also place a request for a catalog by emailing us at WatkinsProducts@charter.net.

Are you looking for a Watkins Consultant in your area?

As the All Natural Country Store’s team of sales representatives grows, so does the chance that we have a Watkins Consultant living near you.

It’s becoming more frequent that our 888-881-7372 phone line rings, and we are asked if we might have a Watkins representative living near the caller’s home town. We can quickly scan our database of consultants (yes, the store has gone high tech), and let the person know if we have a representative living near them.

In fact, we even have another website that provides such a list. To find out if one of our 50 consultants lives in your area, simply click on the following link:

http://consultants.AllNaturalCountryStore.com.

We do point out to callers that most of our consultants do not maintain a large inventory of products in their home. Even if they might have the items you need, they would probably have to charge you a service fee to drive the products to your front door. We also remind callers we take orders over the phone six days a week (even God rested on the seventh day when making the world).  The managers of the All Natural Country Store have been running their Watkins business for some five years. It has grown into a full-time operation. Daily, we are on the phone, taking orders from people across the United States and Canada. Since all Watkins products are produced and distributed out of Winona, Minn., it takes just as long for an order to reach you if you buy through a local representative, or place your order through us.

If you check our list of consultants through the above link and don’t find a consultant near you, just call our toll-free 888-881-7272 number, and we’ll be glad to place your order the same day. Since we also place orders on a daily basis, we have gotten to know the Watkins customer service representatives on a first name basis. We can easily give them a call to get a status report about your order.

Just as J.R. Watkins provided personal service to all of his customers back in 1868, we try to offer that same level of customer care to everyone, no matter what state or province you live.

Don’t Call Them Resolutions. Call them goals!

So many New Year’s resolutions are quickly forgotten by the end of January. This year, resolve that won’t happen to you.

                                                            

You were so intent to start 2014 becoming a better person. No more junk food. Early to bed, early to rise. That gym bag would come out of the back of your closet. And the one that seems to be on many of those New Year’s Resolution lists – establishing a home-based business.

There are many excuses people have in not getting around to that one. We’ve heard them all. But this year should be different. The economy is improving. People are beginning to have greater confidence. Companies are actually beginning to hire again. 

If you are gainfully employed, more power to you. That’s not to say those steady raises you enjoyed in the past will start up again. No telling when that benefits program will be re-established -- all the more reason to look into additional opportunities in the New Year. About five years ago, when the economy was deep in a recession, my business partner and I heard those words. “The company is down-sizing.” We had no choice but to look for other ways to earn an income.

I grew up on the West coast, so I had no knowledge of a company by the name of Watkins. Alan – my partner – grew up with an assortment of Watkins products in his home, from gourmet foods and spices, to body care and home care. At that time, the majority of Watkins sales were made through door-to-door salesman.  But in 2009, there was a growing movement toward online sales. So Alan did an Internet search for Watkins, and quickly learned that the company still offered a business opportunity for individuals like us interested in finding a national organization intent on expanding its sales force.

Alan was assigned a manager based in Florida, who has established her own home-based business several years earlier. Tracey was quick to tell us that Watkins was ranked as one of the nation’s top-ranked home-based business opportunities by Entrepreneur Magazine.  Tracey had a number of consultants under her, whom she had helped through the process of becoming associated with Watkins.

Fast-forward five years; today, we are managers ourselves with a team of some 50 Watkins consultants under us. Our team continues to compile more than $2,000 every month, solidifying our managerial status with the company. It took time to build our team. But it all started with a minimal investment of only $39.95.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. If we had quit in the first six months because sales weren't rolling in, we never would have realized the success that we have achieved in Watkins. Who knew that only $39.95 would begin such a satisfying business based on providing customers with the finest in all-natural products!

Now it’s your turn. Just we made contact with Tracey, we hope that you will give us a call at 888-881-7372 to get the ball rolling. That’s all it takes to make that first step to establishing your own home-based business. What satisfaction you will realize when you can finally check off that goal for 2014. Make it a great year starting today.

So Much to be Thankful For

During the holiday season, it’s time to reflect on the good things that have enriched our lives.

This morning, on Dec 21, we attended a local gathering to mark the winter solstice. It was a time to stop the hectic pace that always seems to envelop the holiday season, to marvel at the amazing order of the world around us, and how we all fit into something much greater than ourselves.

As was pointed out by a native American Indian who helped facilitated the event, there’s so much beauty in nature we take for granted. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in Southern California. Big Bear is located in a pine forest with towering trees all around us. There is a manmade lake reflecting a perfect blue sky free of the pollution that hovers over the big cities down the mountain. But even here, we get caught up in the push and pull of daily pressures, trying to improve our “quality of life.” That phrase has taken on a meaning of amassing material things that will make our lives more successful. But material success does not guarantee happiness. Happiness comes from doing what you love to do, and helping enrich other people’s life in the process.

What does all this have to do with a Watkins home business? Quite a bit. We are fortunate to be associated with a company that is cognizant of protecting the environment while at the same time producing an array of all natural products for consumers. Very few Watkins managers will become millionaires through their home business.  But there is a feeling of satisfaction one receives knowing you are promoting an all-natural life style to customers.

We’re also in the business of helping others establish their own Watkins businesses. As we like to say, “Our best product is our business opportunity.” We help other men and women be the best that they can be. Watkins has become known as a company that has been producing quality products for some 145 years. Many times, we encounter individuals at our public events, who remember the Watkins man coming by the house on a regular basis to sell their parents and grandparents an array of all natural foods, body care, apothecary and home cleaning products. In some cases, those individuals are in need of additional income for their households, and we can offer them the opportunity of taking that first step to becoming a Watkins salesperson for only $39.95.  For those who don’t see themselves as a salesperson, we point out that the $39.95 also gives them 25% off all the Watkins products they buy. So we are showing them they can switch to an all-natural way of living for about the same cost they spend on the products they currently buy on a daily basis.

This time of year, we can look back and realize we are doing what we love to do, and enjoy helping enrich other people’s lives at the same time. If you think you might be interested in becoming part of this process, call us at 888-881-7372, and then visit us at the All Natural Country Store online at www.AllNaturalCountryStore.com to see the vast array of all natural products that we carry. You just might find that 2014 could become the year that you achieve one of your life’s ambitions – establishing your own home business. 

You can’t keep a good man down

Bill Porter, well-known disabled Watkins consultant, was an inspiration to many out to build their own Watkins businesses.

Because he touched so many lives and was a great friend to Watkins, Chief Executive Officer Mark Jacobs informed the organization that long-time Watkins Consultant Bill Porter passed away December 4. He was 81 years old.

Jacobs, who had the honor of meeting Porter during his Watkins career, called him “a man of great character.” His amazing perseverance in the face of a challenging physical disability inspired countless Watkins consultants throughout the United States and Canada. They too became successful by following in Porter’s footsteps.

The award-winning movie Door to Door about Porter's struggles brought his story to the public, and moved people all over the world. Well-known actor William Macy played Porter in the movie. His mother, who never doubted her son’s capabilities, was played by Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren. Porter’s caregiver was played by Kyra Sedgwick, lead actress in the TNT crime drama The Closer.  The film is available through Netflix.

Because of his disability, many questioned if Porter could become successful in building his own Watkins business at a time when the majority of company sales came from “pounding the pavement” and ringing many doorbells. Porter proved the naysayers wrong by not only succeeding, but by being selected as Salesman of the Year at an annual Watkins awards banquet.

“I am honored to have known Bill,” said Jacobs. “He will be missed by many.”

Scents of the Season

These hand soaps were created just for the holidays.  Get all three scents before they run out of stock. 

When Watkins releases a new product with the disclaimer “Limited Supplies Available,” they mean it. Topping the list of new products this holiday season are the Holiday Hand Soaps. Brighten your holiday season with the nostalgic fragrances of White Pine, Spiced Gum Drop and Sugar Cookies in Watkins Hand Soaps. These fragrances from winters past are presented in handsome glass bottles with an elegant label design sure to inspire the holiday spirit in every home.

Knowing that you will want to give these to the loved ones on your list, Watkins is offering a special price when you purchase a case containing four of the same fragrance. You receive four 16 fl oz hand soaps for $26.97—that's a savings of $8.99! These will display beautifully on your counter-tops, make the perfect host gift, teacher's gift, and everyone else on your gift-giving list.

These limited edition Holiday Hand Soaps will go fast, so be sure and order yours today! This special offer applies to the purchase of four bottles of the same fragrance. In other words, no mix or match. So buy one case of each scent. Certainly you have 12 friends on your list, who would be delighted with this gift.

To order these gifts today, go to www.AllNaturalCountryStore. Click on “Shop With Us,’’ then “Home Care” and then “Bath.” There you will find the product listed.

The Hostess With the Mostest

You can usually spot them in your circle of friends. They are the type of individual, who attracts people without even making an effort to do so.

It was a few weeks ago that a good friend of ours hosted her first Watkins party. It was a tremendous success. She went well beyond what is expected in a hostess. We only ask a hostess to open her home to friends, and then email them invitations to attend. Making follow-up calls the day before the event is also helpful to assure a good attendance.

Carol explains a little bit about her interest in Watkins.

Carol has many interests, and each one seems to have a club or organization that attracts individuals, who have the same interest. Carol lost her husband a few years ago, and after the grieving subsided, she decided that life is not about mourning the past, but rather looking forward to the road ahead of you. As Sarah Ban Breathnach phrased it so eloquently, “When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that is present, we experience heaven on earth.”

With such a philosophy of life, it’s no wonder that Carol has built up a large circle of close friends, the type who support you in every endeavor you attempt to do. We became acquainted with Carol when she stopped by our Watkins booth that we stage every Tuesday throughout the spring and summer. Carol tasted a few of our food samples, and quickly became a regular customer. Carol is active in her church here in Big Bear.  One of her regular volunteer projects is collecting donations for the annual church auction. When the annual event rolled around a few years ago, Carol asked us if we would like to donate a basket of Watkins products. We did so to support Carol. Because of her love of Watkins products, Carol kept bidding up the price of the basket. She finally put in a bid that no one could touch.

Because of our support of her church, Carol asked us one day how she could return the favor. Eventually, we hit upon the idea of hosting a Watkins party. She jumped at the idea, knowing that she wanted to spread the word about Watkins to a number of her friends. Not only did she invite them to her home, she printed out professional-looking name tags, and brought in additional tables and chairs for guests when 95% of the people she invited accepted her invitation. It was her decision to even serve up an impressive brunch. We were in attendance to offer up samples of some of our food products, and explain the benefits of the body care, home care and apothecary lines Watkins produces.

When it came time to write up the orders, nearly everyone of the guests decided to buy several of the products. We were overwhelmed by the result. Some $1,000 in products was ordered by 27 of the 31 in attendance. Carol was surprised as well, but gave us the credit for our presentation. We knew better. Hostesses receive 30% of all sales of $500 or more achieved at a Watkins event. Yet that wasn’t the reason Carol put so much effort into her party. That’s just the type of lady she is, and we love her for it.

Consultant Kim Briones and Watkins Manager Alan Lukes
show off Watkins products display at Carol's party.

If you live within a 50-mile radius of Big Bear, CA, and are interested in hosting a Watkins party of your own, call us at 888-881-7273 to learn more about it. We can help you every step along the way. It certainly doesn’t have to be as elaborate as the event Carol staged. If you live outside the 50-mile radius, consider hosting a catalog party to earn free Watkins products. Call us for more details.