I am considering becoming a consultant for CAbi Clothing Line.  It is
business similar to Mary Kay or Avon, but it is selling women's
clothing thru at-home parties.  The website is cabionline.com.  I want
to know what other companies have the same business model (consultants
selling women's clothing thru at-home
parties).  In other words, who are CAbi's closest competitors, who
offer a clothing line with similar price points (avg. $75 per piece)? 
I understand that there is another clothing line that sells at about
the same price point and one that sells at a higher price point 
(avg 125/piece of clothing).  There may be more.  Who are they? 
Please help me find out who they are and the websites where I can get
info on becoming a consultant.  I would like to have at least 2-3
websites for companies that offer a similar clothing line.  Thank you.

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 07 Mar 2006 12:04 PST

Hello cicco-ga,

You said you know of two companies that might be comparable. "I
understand that there is another clothing line that sells at about the
same price point and one that sells at a higher price point ..."
Please tell us their names so we don't have to duplicate your work. My
preliminary research shows that there aren't 2-3 more women's clothing
lines selling through MLM/network marketing. Are you only interested
in women's clothing? Thanks.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by cicco-ga on 07 Mar 2006 13:43 PST

In response to the clarification request from czh:

I don't have the names of the companies.  When I met with the lady who
is currently a CAbi consultant, she mentioned that 6 CAbi consultants
were fired in the last month because they had signed up with this
other company (no name given) to sell their clothing line along side
the CAbi line.  This is against CAbi policy/contract and that is why
they were let go.  She mentioned that this info was disseminated in
the weekly Friday email from CAbi Corporate that goes out to all
consultants.  It sounded like this other company was fairly new to the
market - probably 1 year or less. I want to find out what who this
other company is, so that I can make an educated decision between the
two of who is the better company to work for.  In my meeting with this
CAbi consultant she also mentioned that besides this company, there is
also another company that offers a slightly higher end clothing line
direct selling into homes as well.  She was very discreet about the
names of both companies, probably because she wants me to sign up
under her as a consultant.  She would be my "upline" and make a
percentage of my sales, so you can see the conflict of interest in her
mentioning the names of these other companies.  Yes, I am only
interested in companies that sell women's clothing lines.  I hope this
additional info helps.  I appreciate your help in answering my
question.

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 07 Mar 2006 14:04 PST

Could this be one you heard about?

Weekenders USA
http://www.weekendersusa.com/index.php
http://www.weekendersusa.com/s06/opportunities/opportunities.php


Looking forward to your clarification.

Rainbow~

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 07 Mar 2006 14:34 PST

Here are a few more that sell sleepwear and casual wear:

Essential Bodywear
http://www.essentialbodywear.com/

Jockey Person to Person
http://www.jockeypersontoperson.com/


Looking forward to hearing your views,

Best regards,
Rainbow

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 07 Mar 2006 14:51 PST

Here's another:

The Carlisle Collection
http://www.jobsandmoms.com/Carlisle.htm

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 08 Mar 2006 00:02 PST

Hi cicco,

Here's one more:

Shade Clothing
http://www.shadeclothing.com/

Looking forward to your clarification.

Best regards,
Rainbow

---

Clarification of Question by cicco-ga on 08 Mar 2006 00:30 PST

Rainbow,

I am having trouble figuring out if my clarification is posting, so
this may be a duplicate.

I don't think we have hit on the line that is similar to CAbi.  It is
not Jockey or Essential Bodywear, because I am sure it is a true
clothing line and not undergarments.  Weekender is an older company
that doesn't compete with CAbi in trendy style.  I think the company
we are searching for is about 1 year old, 2 years at the most.

Carlisle Collection does seem to be the higher end competition that I
was looking for.

Let's keep looking for this other company that competes closely with CAbi.

Thanks a bunch!

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 08 Mar 2006 03:16 PST

Could this be it?

Doncaster
http://www.doncaster.com/home/index.asp

Meanwhile I'll keep looking.

Rainbow~

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 08 Mar 2006 05:15 PST

Hi cicco!
Could it be one of the following companies?
Thanks, 
Bobbie7



Juliana 
http://www.julianaonline.com/new/home.php

Worth
http://www.worthny.com/

French Rags
http://www.frenchrags.com/

---

Clarification of Question by cicco-ga on 08 Mar 2006 22:06 PST

Thanks for all the information!  These have all been very helpful, but
DonCaster, Juliana, French Rags and Worth all seem to be high-end
lines.  I thought there was a line out there that competed with CAbi
with similar price points.  I'm continuing to search on my end.

Thanks,
Amy

I tried selling clothing at home/party/by appointment.  Clothing is
hard to sell when you just have a variety of sizes. What kind a sucess
do you want with selling clothing.  How much time do you have?  Who
are your potential clients.  I Moved away from clothing and now work
for a Jones of NY and their new line selling jewerly and Handbags.  I
would be more than happy to share facts with you about why I
transitioned to this from clothing.

Ewishes,

Thanks for your insight.  Were you selling one of the clothing lines
we mentioned above?  I would love to know your thoughts on the pros
and cons.  How much more successful are you now with jewelry and
handbags vs. clothing.

Thanks for your help,
cicco

I would be very interested to know the details of becoming a
consultant and how sales are made.  I rather suspect that consultants
have to buy the collection they want to show (and next season's when
it comes out) and take orders.  If this is so, and there is an
"upline", it begins to sound like pyramid selling.

Some of the other stores are more forthright with information.

I notice that there are very many consultants with websites that link
to cabionline  - and wonder if this is a free service.

Myoarin  (just a suspicious man)

There are two companies you could consider that are NOT pyramid type
companies and do NOT require you to purchase the inventory in order to
sell.

Casuals ETCETERA www.etcetera.com is a fabulous company with a very
large line ofmoderately priced womens casual chic designer clothing. 
The average price point is $150.  Consultants are independent business
and it is an appointment based concept where consultants have four
trunk shows each year of about a week in length featuring each of four
collections.  You are not required to buy the sample set, you are not
asked to recruit or set up consultants beneath you.  ETCETERA is a
sister company to Carlisle and under a corporate unbrella that has
supported this concept for 25 year.  An awesome company.

the other one in that price range is a collection by Worth that is
similar price point but and similar concept for sales but the quality
(in my opinion) isn't quite as good.  Check them both out and you
decide.

I like hte fact that you sell 4 times a year and are not constantly
trying to get people to have party for you. I have been in this
business 3 years and LOVE it!  It's so easy when you love the line. 
You do have to be good at networking and have a large circle of women
to contact and develop clients through.  If you only have 20 women on
your list, you will not make it.  ETCETERA offers superior training
and will really work with you to determine if you can have a viable
agency. They want a win-win relationship and do not just sign up
anyone.... Good luck!

Maybe try www.kokoon.net. Everyone goes crazy for these clothes! They
have the best selection, most fashionable, hip styles and good prices.
They take very few new reps...they are definitely a 'best kept
secret'. I don't think they really compete with Cabi...much more hip
styles. Good luck!

There is no other direct sales company like CAbi.  I suggest you go
back to the CAbi consultant and direct your questions and concerns to
her.

I wonder if cicco signed up for CAbi.  I did for the fall season. I
will not continue for the spring. As others have mentioned, it would
be better to just have to do a week per season rather that 16 to 17
weeks per season for trunk shows.

You need to have a lot of clothes-buying friends who like having
parties--at least 17 of them on whom you can rely each season to do a
party.

I found I don't like setting up shop in other people's homes--even
though they're getting 50% off some clothes, it still feels like an
intrusion.
I'm exhausted afterwards--coming to the home, setting up, chatting and
being "ON", waiting for the guests, doing the show, being in more than
one place at the same time helping the guests with selection, taking
the orders, dealing with returns and exchanges, dealing with the data
entry online, avoiding errors, etc.  Not to mention, your sales
terrain will change each season as the pyramid grows. And they don't
tell you when someone new is coming into your area or how many are
already there. On top of that, they want you to sell the idea of
selling CAbi!! At your clothing parties!

This business is for a true Extrovert, who doesn't mind going up to
strangers to sell them on the line, or someone who has a terrific
network, as mentioned. This was not me.

Plus, as mentioned there is a large investment necessary. I will not
see all of mine back as I've stopped too soon to recover it. They say
it takes 3 seasons to hit one's stride. My husband is too paranoid
about money to wait that long, so he was an added stress.

If I had know all this, really "gotten it" beforehand, I don't think I
would have invested. The part that I like the least is the pyramid
scheme. Your sales turf will change every season and you may not know
who your competition is, as they won't tell you directly.

My upline people have done well, especially the ones who came on board
early in this business, like 4 years ago. They were able to set down
roots when there was less competition AND they make money off their
downline. I think timing was the thing in terms of CAbi, or starting
in an area where there aren't many CAbi people at all. How you find
that out is a big mystery, however.