Lanelle,

I know one guy who has been selling SMC for a number of years. It isn't his only business, and probably isn't even his primary income source, but he is working it. I believe you can start by ordering through him with a $25 sign-up, versus the full cost of going direct with SMC.

You'll find Pete posting over on friendsinbusiness.com, and you can contact him by looking for his links in his postings there.

For my money, SMC is going to make money off everyone who signs up, regardless of where the individuals profit or not.

I received an unsolicited mailing from them a number of years ago, and was less than impresses with their suggested methods of distribution. Some of their suggestions included:

- setting up on the side of the road, particularly near busy intersections, displaying a selection of products that you have inventory of for immediate purchases.

- similar except that you pay for a booth or open space to sell at flea markets.

- order a quantity of catalogs and send them out to a mailing lists. Mail order is a tough business, so unless you have a list of existing clients, expect only a few responses for every hundred you send to non-targeted addresses.

- take the same catalogs, visiting local businesses, leaving the catalog behind to be passed around to the office staff. Once you have a few locations that this works, make regular visits, dropping off the seasonal catalogs for Christmas, spring, Mother's Day, whatever. Of course you'll be competing with ABC's direct mail catalog that is already targeting the offices.

- do the business wholesale. Take the catalog around to businesses who'd like to offer any of the SMC products, but you don't want to bother with getting a dealership.

If you saw the infomercial on latenight TV or cable, I just hope you read the fine print on the screen. The successful case histories provided are not representative of the average dealer. Your results may vary - or words to that effect.

Anyway you look at it, if you have a population base of customers in your targeted market, you'll likely have competition for the same of similar products.

Years ago, SMC created a division they called BASCO, Inc. to get into the imprinted market of promotional advertising. Their support for their dealers was marginal compared to how much my distributor does for me offering a wider range of products. They gave up on BASCO several years ago. My BASSCO, Inc name pre-dated SMC's subsidiary.

My corporate name is Bevers' Advertising Specialty Sales Company, Inc., which shortens to BASSCO, Inc.

SMC will sell you a variety of catalogs for year-round, seasonal, and specific categories. They will also sell you a website. No guarantees on profits for you with either.

If you are serious about SMC, I'd suggest you go with a Mentor, possibly Pete, who can show you the ropes. It will lower your cost, reducing your risk, and let you find out if it will be worth your time. If it is, you can always go direct once you have your business working.

Best wishes for whatever business you pursue.

Dennis