Business Opportunities

Passion for fashion

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Captain Tortue has grown to become the most successful direct sales fashion company in europe

Captain Tortue is a unique French fashion company that sells beautifully designed women and children’s clothes direct to customers in the comfort of their homes. Created by Lillian and Philippe Jacquelinet in Aix en Provence in 2003, this family-owned company has grown to become the most successful direct sales fashion company in Europe. The three collections of women and children’s clothes are refreshingly different from the high street. Stylish with unique designer detail, they are sold by trained fashion consultants - women of all ages who love fashion, socialising and working from home.

PERSONAL TOUCH

For mums with young children it’s the perfect opportunity to fit in earning extra money with family commitments. Inviting mums round for a coffee or showing the collection at a friend’s house in the evening is the personal and social way Captain Tortue helps customers find the right outfits for themselves and their children. Customers rave about the fun and fabulous shopping experience.

“Giving personal attention and helping women create their own style with pieces they wear again and again means that we enjoy a very special relationship with our customers,” says Alice Wood, sales and business development manager for Captain Tortue in London. “The company is now looking for more consultants in all areas in and around London.”

Alice does all the consultant training locally, adding: “There is so much support from the company, including sales literature, samples and everything you need from day one. Training is free and a great perk is getting a fabulous wardrobe of clothes for you and your children at half price - as well as the monthly commission. The initial investment is low and refundable. It’s possible to earn a full or part-time income - whichever suits you.”

There are three brands: Captain Tortue children’s clothes (age 6 months to 14 years); Miss Captain (size 6 to 20); and Lady Captain (size 10 to 24). The company is currently looking for women to sell its new spring/summer 2011 collection. No previous sales or fashion experience is necessary - just a passion for fashion and a desire to help women, and their children, look their best.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

Working with Captain Tortue has enabled Valerie Totman to fulfil her dream of working part-time so she can have a better work/life balance and be around for her children when they come home from school. She explains: “Now in my sixth season, I started with the kiddies collection and was going to stick with that, but once I saw the ladies collection I was hooked and had to have them. After just a year I had built up a fantastic contact list and became a manager with a team of five girls, which quickly grew to 10 girls within a matter of months.

“The concept is simple. Be honest, passionate about the clothes and willing to share your experience with others and the rest will follow, along with all the perks such as great commission, incentives and a bulging wardrobe of up-to-date, fully coordinated collections. What more could a girl ask for?”

TOP TIPS

Mimi Marchant, managing director of Captain Tortue, offers this advice to anyone wanting to start their own direct sales business:

• Love your product. Don’t choose a company just on what it pays in commissions.

• Be sure others want to buy what you sell.

• You have to enjoy chatting and meeting new people to get off the ground and keep your business growing.

• Build relationships and make decisions on the basis you will know people a long time into the future.

• Don’t give up too quickly and allow yourself to make mistakes, but make sure you learn from them.

• Ask for help and follow the training plan - it always works.

• Everyone is different, so adapt your approach to each customer or distributor.

• Recruit each person because you get a buzz out of sharing something good, not just for financial reward.

• If your dream is to have a big income, accept the time and hard work it takes to achieve this goal.

• If you genuinely love to see other people succeed, direct sales is the perfect business to get into.