It sounds unbelievable, but it is absolutely true.

First, I'd like to congratulate you for looking at this section! Second, I have personally been a "secret or mystery shopper" for many, many years. Getting paid to shop can be fun and profitable. Plus, I almost always really enjoy my assignments. So, I write this guide and give you the resources you need to succeed - all from my heart.

You won't make a six-figure income as a "secret shopper," but you can get a whole lot of goods and services for free, reduce many of your everyday expenses, have fun and EARN EXTRA MONEY! Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, busy executive or a college student, this is an excellent way to set your own schedule and work when you feel like it.

Secret shoppers not only enjoy a fun way to make extra money but also provide valuable customer service information to businesses. You can get paid to shop in stores, eat in restaurants, go to the movies, do grocery shopping and more!

This website section is your complete resource for launching and building your mystery-shopping career, whether you are male or female, whatever your age and wherever you live.

New technology isn't driving the growth. Home-based agents typically work from their personal computers and use a residential phone connection to dial into their employer's network.

As many U.S. companies prepare to export jobs overseas, other companies are working to keep them at home - literally - as a substitute for call centers. According to a recent study by consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton, not only is such "home-sourcing" cheaper than traditional outsourcing, but home agents are 25 percent more productive than employees who handle calls in-house.

The age of the virtual agent, or home-based agent, is upon us. By some accounts, there are approximately 100,000 virtual contact-center agents in the United States, a number that represents a growing global trend.

In a recent report, 4 percent of the call centers surveyed in Britain cited that they are using virtual agents, with an additional 42 percent reporting they expect to implement home-based agents in the near future.

Office Depot already employs 1,400 home based sales and service agents through WillowCSN, and if you make a reservation with Jet Blue, you'll speak with one of the company's 971 U.S.-based reservation agents who work from home. Jet Blue reports just a 3.5 percent annual turnover rate among these workers.

Companies look for highly qualified, motivated individuals who are interested in:
- Working from home

- Being their own boss

- Flexibility; Setting their own schedule

- Balancing business and family

- Starting your own business

Agents choose their own hours and who they work for. Some firms that offer these agent opportunities include:


Alpine Access, Inc.
1536 Cole Boulevard, Suite 350
Golden, Colorado 80401
303-279-0585 Phone
http://www.alpineaccess.com

ARO Outsourcing
3100 Broadway, Suite 100
Kansas City, MO 64111
800-722-8827, ext 2010
http://www.callcenteroptions.com

Craigslist
Many opportunities both traditional and work-at-home. Look for on-line teachers, designers, sales and related. http://www.craigslist.com/

Intellicare
500 Southborough Drive
South Portland, ME 04106
800-524-1484
http://www.intellicare.com/

LiveOps
LiveOps, Inc
3340 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
650-614-0750 or 800-411-4700
http://www.liveops.com/become_agent.html

Staffcentrix

Web site that bring you the newest opportunities and resources in the growing trend toward Virtual Work At Home. http://www.msvas.com/

West at Home
West Corporation
11808 Miracle Hills Drive
Omaha, NE 68154
800-762-3800
http://www.workathomeagent.com

Willow CSN Incorporated
3450 Lakeside Drive, Suite 620
Miramar, Florida 33027
CyberAgentTM Inquiries:
305-874-2000
866-771-0041
http://www.willowcsn.com/

As an Independent Contractor who works from home you have 100% flexibility because it’s your own business:

- Work from your home
- Be self-employed
- Your own boss
- Set your own hours
- Work around your schedule
- Hours vary by project
- Flexibility to create your schedule daily
- No commute/no drive to work
- Wear what you want
- No dress code or dry cleaning bills

Here are some common low-cost techniques:

A.  Selling to Friends

The quickest way to begin selling is to start making things.  Look inside of any number of national crafting or hobby magazines for ideas.  When friends and relatives see the beautiful products you make, they’ll be the first to want them.  The more you make, the more you will sell.

B.  Sell Your Crafts Door to Door

This kind of business can work with a variety of craft and hobby items for the home like florals, placemats, cross stitch and needlepoint pillows, throw pillows and quilts.  Once the customer knows you, the door is open to selling them additional pieces, possibly even other personal items like handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets.  The only cost of making door-to-door sales is your time and effort.

When selling door to door, make up a set of samples of every thing you produce.  Type up an order form and price list, photocopy it and then go out and take orders.  Such a business is a perfect staring place for a part or full time income.

C. Make Good Money With Home Parties

The "party plan" method of selling has made millions for many companies, including Avon, Tupperware, and Amway.  Once you get the ball rolling, you can do quite well.  What you will want to do is get 5-10 people and show or explain your items. 

After the presentation, give your guests the opportunity to ask questions and to examine your items.  You can achieve a closing rate of 50-100%!  This method is very successful for the following reasons:

- It gives people a reason to get together with friends.
- It's a fun way to sell your service, which is less imposing than direct selling.
- It establishes your business within your local market.
- Your customers are qualified and more likely to buy than strangers.

One of the best seasons for a home show is the month before Christmas, as this is the hottest selling period of the year.  Other great seasons are back-to-school, Easter, July 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving and May - the wedding season. 

Usually, a home party is convenient between seven and ten in the evening.  Invite as many people as your host is comfortable with.  Send out personal invitation cards announcing the event.  Local newspapers might even list your party in their calendar of events.

Offer refreshments, and create an informal party atmosphere.  At some point, give a brief talk or demonstration about your art or craft. The more you know and can talk about what you do the more value the people will be about your products. 

D.  Cut Down On Your Selling Expenses By Joining A Craft/Hobby Cooperative or Craft Mall

If you like working with others, consider joining a cooperative gallery or craft mall.  These “stores” will display your items with other artists and craft persons.  Cooperatives require little investment from you and provide an excellent way to test your products and display ideas.  You can locate them in your yellow pages directory.  Be sure to review our section on Craft Malls for greater detail.  Call or visit one to find out how they interview new artists.

E.  Enjoy Quick Success At Art & Craft Shows

The American public seems obsessed with shopping.  People love to shop.  Some of them even like to buy but what they enjoy most is the lively activity “looking around” at a marketplace.  When you wander around a craft fair today, you can sense the excitement from artisans selling their unique and exotic hand made wares and from customers hunting treasures and heirlooms at a bargain.

A craft or hobby show is a good staring point for anyone selling their work.  Beyond the dates of the show, there are no further commitments.  When a show is over, it’s over.  You can do one or two shows and walk away with a minimum of expense of time money.  Or you can do shows every month, all over the country, and take up the craft fair life style by making shows the mainstay of your business.

F.  Growth In Religion

Though we don’t often think of them this way, churches, schools and synagogues provide selling opportunities for many different craft items. For instance you will find a market for stained glass windows, woven banners, seats, pictures, candles, urns, wall hangings and more.

G.  Sell Craft Products To Local and National Business As Premiums

The premium and incentive business amounts to over 25 billion dollars in sales annually.  Products are purchased by business for gifts, sweepstakes prizes, publicity and promotions, salesperson incentives, employee performance incentives, referral incentives and more.  Items used as premiums are often purchased in large quantities, but often-local businesses such as banks and retail stores look for incentives from local artisans.  They usually will not need thousands of units.

H.  Sell To Specialty Retail Outlets

Retail craft and hobby stores aren’t the only possible outlets for your creations.  Depending on the kind of craft or hobby, its size, price, fragility, and construction, products can be marketed through a number of alternative retail outlets.  For instance:
· Gourmet stores stock food and gift baskets
· Church and synagogue gift shops
· Airport and hotel gift shops attract travelers in transit.
· Museum and hospital gift shops as well
· Gift stores at marinas in coastal areas.
· Beauty shops today often display jewelry items or let their customers know they have them for sale.
· Campgrounds at national parks and tourist areas often sell craft gifts from local artisans.
· Christmas shops offer a wide variety of products including crafted wreaths and ornaments.
· Fashion Boutiques that carry high-end garments are likely to be interested in hand-woven or one of a kind pieces.
· Cooking stores are additional outlets for potholders, wood cooking boards and other kitchen craft items.
· Kid’s stores open up a range of great opportunities.
· Florist shops offer potential for pressed flower gift boxes and related crafts.
 
I.  Let The Shoppers In On Your Secrets

Who better to ask for a purchase than from people shopping?!  One very popular technique involves placing a black and white picture of a few of your items or just descriptions on automobile windshields in parking lots.  This can be done at a busy mall, at a church bazaar, near an art fair or wherever you see cars!

J.  The Take on Take-One Postering Can Be Great

There are 3600 accredited colleges and universities throughout the country.  The typical grocery store has about 25,000 people pass through their doors weekly.  Chances are very good that there are at least a dozen grocery stores, colleges and universities, trade schools, and technical schools within driving distance of your community. 

All you need to do is design a flyer of your products.  Place your flyer or “take-one cards” on bulletin boards at the stores and schools in your area.

If there are not enough grocery stores and schools in your area for you to distribute your materials, you may place your materials at local establishments such as Laundromats and convenience stores.  Most establishments allow bulletin board space for advertising materials. 

We get asked this question a lot:  Will my product sell?  Only time and testing will tell for sure.  But, as you venture upon your journey, consider this before you begin making any item for profit:

Does your product fill one or more of a person’s desires of needs? 

These include:
- freedom from fear
- health
- emotional comfort
- more money
- being popular
- convenience
- entertainment
- someone to love
- more time
- personal fulfillment
- physical comfort
- attractiveness
- prestige
...and so on.

The more needs listed above your product fills, the greater your chance of success.  There are no magic rules for success.  Just a few guidelines that we will share with you.  Many people do term their hobby into a business.  From crafts to trains to gardening.  You can do it!