07:17 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 4, 2004

By SAINT BRYAN / Evening Magazine

Need a little cash?

More and more people are finding they can make good money by throwing a party. They're jumping on a billion-dollar bandwagon – and you can, too.

Angie West gets paid to be the life of the party.

She gains more than laughs and friends, she pockets more than $1,000.

She is just one of the nation's 4 million sales people working in the $10-billion-per-year party planning industry.

Evening Magazine Do your friends feel used? Not if you're up front with them when they get invited.

Taking their cues from Tupperware, a new generation of companies are using home parties to reach consumers, with the most effective form of advertising ever devised – word of mouth.

According to home business expert Daren Falter, the sky is the limit and there are millionaires out there in the home party plan.

But there's a downside. There are also plenty of people who've lost money – sometimes to scam artists or pyramid schemes.

Nineteen of every 20 party plan businesses fail in the first 5 years.

Angie says she needed a job that allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom. So from her office in the garage, she prepares for her parties. The home decorating company pays 30 to 40 percent commission to its sales force.

Just through the family kitchen, you'll find Cheryl Sparkuhl's scrapping studio.

"I love helping people put their memories into albums so their families can cherish them," she said.

With walls full of merchandise and a reminder that credit cards are accepted, Cheryl is always ready to sell.

Cheryl says her Creative Memories business is earning enough to pay for both her sons' college tuition.

Sandy Falter's party has a tropical theme to help sell a nutritional drink called XanGo!

XanGo! Claims to have earned $40 million in its first year, but many more companies run into trouble, sometimes failing to pay their commissions, and sometimes outright failing.

Experts say with the right company, how much you make will reflect your level of commitment.

 
Best companies in direct sales
Selected by D.C. Falter for growth rate, growth potential, popularity and stability
Amazon Herb 1990s Nutrition, Herbs
Creative Memories 1987 Scrapbook Supplies
Discovery Toys 1978 Educational Toys
FreeLife 1995 Nutrition (Soy/Mindel) Personal Care
Home&Garden Party 1996 Interior Decoration
Infinity2 1994 Sports Nutrition
Isagenix 2001 Nutrition, Weight Loss, Skin
Longevity 1994 Nutrition, Personal Care
Mannatech 1992 Nutrition (Manapol, Ambertose)
Mary Kay 1963 Cosmetics, Personal Care
Melaleuca 1985 Eco-Friendly House
Morinda 1996 Tahitian Noni
New Vision 1995 Nutrition
Nikken 1975 Health Magnets, Nutrition,Misc.
NuSkin/Pharmnx 1984 Skin Care, Nutrition
Oxyfresh 1983 Nutrition, Dental Hygene
Pampered Chef 1980 Kitchenware, Cookware
TomBoy Tools 2000 Home Improvement/Tools for Women
Usana 1992 Nutrition, Personal Care
Xango 2002 Nutrition (Mangosteen)