Trailblazers

Network Marketing
Weekenders, The Netherlands

Penny Graham

Winner of the English DSA business award 2000 for excellence, Weekenders was launched in Canada in 1984 and offers both classic and fashion collections and all garments are affordable, easy to wash and wear.

Penny Graham has been an expatriate for 22 years, and began her business four years ago.

'My three children are grown up now, and I saw this as a way of meeting people,' she explains. 'My main motivation is to have fun. I don't expect people to buy unless they like what they see. In fact, I find it embarrassing if people buy too much. I'd much rather they bought a couple of items and then came back another time for more.'

Penny believes that to make a success of such a business you have to sell yourself as well as knowing and believing in your product.

'When you do a presentation, you go into a room perhaps only knowing the hostess. There are between four and six potential clients watching you. It is important to win them over quickly.'

Penny likes to model every piece of clothing in the collection for her clients, often with hilarious results as the sizes of the demonstration kit vary. She is also very innovative with her accessories and her presentation is lively, which is undoubtedly a factor in Penny's success. She also, clearly, loves the clothes herself.

Opportunities exist for consultants in various countries for Weekenders operates in Ireland, The Netherlands, USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Penny can be contacted at cgraham@euronet.nl or by telephone - + 31 15 2135346.