Do you need inventory to sell Mary Kay?

Do you really need inventory to sell Mary Kay? Inventory is exactly what it sounds like. An amount of stock on hand available for immediate delivery to the end-user. If you’ve ever worked any kind of retail job, you likely understand how inventory works in that setting. But what does that look like with your Mary Kay business? Do you need inventory to sell Mary Kay?

No. Absolutely you don’t. You can place orders when you have orders to fill, or you can direct ship to customers. You can absolutely run a Mary Kay business without stock on your shelves. But there are some advantages to having stock on hand.

1. Your customers get their products immediately. And for health and beauty products, this is a big deal. If I walked into my local drugstore because I needed mascara, and they told me it would be here in a week, I would smile, get in my car and drive to the next store. If I need mascara (cleanser, foundation etc.) I need it NOW. I don’t want to wait.
2. Customers buy more when they can take their product home that day. We are impulsive creatures. That’s why stores put candy bars by the check out lines. We see it and want it.
3. You save money on shipping. By placing orders to replenish your inventory once or twice a month, you save money on shipping. That savings can be passed on to your customers fostering great customer relationships. For example, it costs me between $8-12 to ship most orders anywhere in Canada. Whether it’s one lipstick, or a box of 20 Miracle Sets. I charge $1 shipping for my customers, anywhere in Canada. Because I carry inventory, and the bulk of my customers are local, I can easily afford to do this. If I had to charge actual shipping costs to my customers, my totals would be much lower. No one wants to pay $8 shipping on a $21 mascara.
4. You save time. By having inventory on hand when I do my parties, I can deliver about 90% of their ordered product before I leave the hostesses house. I don’t have to run all over town doing deliveries after. This was a GAME CHANGER for me when I was in directorship qualifications. Also, because I no longer spend 1-2 hours doing deliveries after parties, my hourly “wage” has gone up. Same amount of commission, less hours worked.

Inventory is a personal decision. It’s an investment in your business. Only you can decide whether you want to invest, and how much. Your director can help you understand what an appropriate inventory level is for your personal goals. We can also help you choose what inventory you’ll need, so you’re not ordering 82 peacock blue eye shadows (I have never even sold one. EVER).

Want more tips and tricks for your direct sales biz? I have a whole board on Pinterest! Have questions I didn’t cover here about inventory? Let me know!