From hoping to learning: my honest start in direct sales and the unfiltered lessons
Direktvertrieb
Direct sales – that sounds like freedom, travel, fun and money (in German). The idea: bringing products directly to the customer – no middlemen. For many people, this is the start of what seems like a whole new world.
I got into it through LR Kosmetik. And honestly: looking back, the idea of me – a guy from the workshop – wanting to sell cosmetics is… absurd. 💄🔧 But my mate had a vision: success stories, money, lifestyle, business-class flights. I was fired up.
💼 And just like that – the LR suitcase was bought.
For me it wasn’t just a product – it was the ticket to a new life. “Once I have the suitcase, people will come.”
But… they didn’t come. And life didn’t change either.
What I quickly learned: No sales, no money. That means: talking, presenting, following up, convincing. Over and over again. Direct sales takes time – a lot of time – and a high tolerance for frustration.
And the deeper I got into it, the more I noticed: the “big earners” were selling fewer products – they were recruiting people. Getting others to work for you was the real lever. Sounds clever, but it’s a completely different game than I had expected.
✅ Does the model work for some people? Absolutely.
People who enjoy selling, who are extroverted, who stick with it consistently – they can succeed. But it was clear to me: That’s not who I am.
I was driven by the desire for more – but not by the product. And that was my mistake.
Today I know: success doesn’t come from shiny suitcases, but from clarity, honesty and perseverance.
💬 Your experiences?
Were you ever involved in direct sales? Did you go through similar things, or something completely different? 👉 Write it in the comments – I’m curious!
💡 An honest calculation
I did a rough calculation:
- 💰 Goal: 1,500 € net per month
- 🧴 Per product sold: 20 € selling price, of which 40 % commission = 8 € gross
- 📉 After tax (~30 %): approx. 5.60 € net per item
- 📦 That means: around 270 sales per month to reach 1,500 €
👉 That’s almost 10 items – every single day. And that with skincare products you can’t just sell out of thin air.
At the latest by that point it was clear to me: This is no relaxed side job – this is pure sales.
What many people underestimate: even if you have good products – you need to make solid sales figures to actually make a living from it.