Stylish Direct Sales Bring Fashion, Careers Home
Etcetera puts fashion - and career opportunities - at women's fingertips
By LISA PETTY
Updated 1:23 PM CST, Fri, Oct 9, 2009
We're all too familiar with the at-home sales party cliché: A bland, 50's-style affair where polite chit-chat is punctuated by the periodic "burp" of self-sealing food storage containers. Yawn.
Party or not, there's just nothing sexy about last night's leftovers.
But a body-skimming cocktail dress, on the other hand, in black and pink leopard print with flirty cap sleeves? That’s another story altogether. Where can we RSVP?
Women across the Metroplex are getting excited about Etcetera, an innovative direct sales concept that puts high quality fashion at their fingertips, minus the hassle of crowded, chaotic malls.
Debbie Teague, a spirited former stay-at-home mom, has been selling Etcetera for seven years. Every couple of months, she transforms the dining room of her picture-perfect Frisco home into an upscale boutique, complete with display racks and a full-length mirror. Hardwood floors and a baby grand piano make for a warm, inviting atmosphere for her fashionable clients.
“Etcetera is really known for detail,” Teague explains, skimming her hand across the jeweled accents of a gauzy asymmetrical blouse from the line’s Holiday 2009 collection. Designer touches are what keep her 90-plus customers coming back time and time again. That, and the convenience of shopping by appointment with a consultant who knows your style, size and preferences.
Teague keeps detailed records of her clients’ purchases, and each Etcetera seasonal line is designed to coordinate with existing pieces. Classic, with a trendy edge, the exclusive collections reflect the company’s designers’ experience with such top names as Burberry, Ellen Tracy and Christian Dior.
In short, Etcetera gives busy women a high-end shopping experience in the comfort of a private home. But what does Teague get out of the deal?
Well, she and others like her can make five to six figures a year.
New York-based Etcetera has reps in over 680 cities nationwide, coming “from every imaginable professional and volunteer background.” Through a detailed screening process, would-be sellers are selected based on specific criteria such as an existing potential client base. Many live in upscale suburbs like Frisco, and draw upon their personal networks in the community to build their clientele.
Sellers are also quite stylish themselves. Etcetera boasts, “Our consultants know fashion: the looks, the trends, the runway buzz, and how to put an outfit together.” Teague, for example, spoke knowledgeably about current trends like plaid, crochet and exposed zippers, highlighting examples of each in her home boutique.
And what’s the price tag for all this personalized service? Well, Etcetera pieces will cost you a pretty penny, yet each is designed to be wearable for years to come. Blouses average $140-150, and pants run $160-190. Dresses fall into the $200-plus range.
A purchase is an investment, and your consultant will deliver your order personally to your home, wrapped with care and ready for a starring role in your wardrobe.
To view the current collections or learn more about becoming an Etcetera consultant, visit etcetera.com.
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: Oct 9, 2009 11:49 AM CST
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