Just recently, I was asked by a potential new Utility Warehouse Distributor to help them make an objective decision. They were researching the business opportunity market and had arrived at two potential opportunities - Tiscali and The Utility Warehouse. What an interesting situation, being asked to offer an opinion on the two business opportunities. So in case my findings are helpful to anyone else, as follows was my response...

Ok, lets discuss the two businesses...although, ultimately, you will need to be the judge. I know a fair bit about both, so I'll do my best to give you a 'balance sheet' or something similar.

Tiscali Network

Is a household brand and is extensively advertised in the UK. Offers broadband, land line telephone and a TV package (in certain areas). There have been suggested questions regarding the quality of their customer service. Training is mostly via Conference Calls, although there are now a limited numbers of training meetings.

Free to join, with a £20 annual admin fee to pay on each 12 month anniversary.
Customer Gathering Bonus of £10 per service. A flat rate of 0.75% on all customers monthly billing (personal & team). Their matrix structure is a little difficult to understand & has some limitations. Significantly, Tiscali Distributors are not paid to infinity & matrix structure is a little rigid (3x7 matrix). Customer orders are mostly placed online. Their website is effective. The back-office is good. Commission is paid weekly direct to bank & you receive an electronic statement.

To my knowledge, Tiscali does not offer a car plan, holiday incentives or share options. There are some enhanced earnings available by building a team. The Company can testify to the success of UK Distributors & I personally know one of their top guys who earns a six figure income from his Tiscali business.

Utility Warehouse

Whilst not yet a household name, is supported by some very positive press and does have in excess of 200,000 customers. Channel partners include: T-mobile & nPower. Service offering: Landline telephone, mobile phone packages, gas, electricity, broadband, non geographic numbers & white goods (both business & residential). Award winning Customer Services - acknowledged by Which Consumer Magazine & The Daily Mail.

A deposit of £199.75 to join (refunded when you gather 12 customers in first 90 days) or by requesting a refund inside 90 days. Training is mostly professional training via The Company's College of Excellence, with 30+ venues around the UK.
Training is also offered by a number of online resources and my gut-feel is that Upline Support is far stronger with UW than with Tiscali.

You receive a tangible Starter Kit with UW - including stationary, order forms, training manual, training DVD's etc. Websites (3 of) are included, along with a very good back-office (The Extranet). You get paid a customer gathering bonus (“CGB”) of £10 when a new customer takes a mobile phone or SIM card, £5 if they take the Home Phone service, £2.50 each for gas & electricity, up to £20 for broadband and £5 if they use an 0800 number. A typical new customer will generate CGB of £20 - £40. Residual income paid at 2.4% - 6.3% on your personal customers & 0.8% on your group customers.

Uniquely, The Utility Warehouse offers an infinity compensation plan - meaning, no matter how many levels there are in your business, it is possible to get paid 0.8% to infinity (This is highly significant). Customers can sign up online or via a form. Commission is paid monthly direct to bank, with a very good / fully itemised commission statement sent electronically.

The Utility Warehouse offers two car plans - Porsche Boxters & BMW Mini Ones.
The Utility Warehouse offers holiday incentives.
The Utility Warehouse offers share options.

There are numerous other potential bonus payments - Promotional, Team & Leadership
The Company can testify to a lot of Distributor success with the top guys earning significant six figure incomes and new Marketing Directors coming through the ranks as quickly as three years or less

Taking note of your comments regarding what it takes, my experience of Telecom plus is a little different to Amway. With Amway, I was Mr White Board Man, out showing the plan in all weathers and all that rubbish...paying the price & pounding the steering wheel. I have never done that with Telecom plus. I have been consistent over 3-4 years and probably never more than 15 hours per week. We have just taken a whole four months off - zero activity and the income continues upwards. There are of course folk who go all out for it and that's fine. For us, we have five kids, two other businesses and quite busy lives. We wanted something with a little more flexibility and none of the hype that you so often get with these things. There is security in the customer base and not just in the size of the team. For instance, there are folk who have gathered over 1000 personal customers - that's a very nice income, with security based on 1000 accounts.

In summary, success in any MLM takes a lot of hard work. Not for the feint hearted or lazy...you already know that and understand that they all work on a 3 years plus plan. I would say that Telecom plus takes at least 36 months (on average) to get somewhere decent. Because there is a lot more money on the table with UW, my personal opinion is that with Tiscali, you would have to work a great deal harder & longer to get to the same place. There is not as much fruit on the trees. I have no problem with Tiscali - it's a good opportunity, but in my humble opinion, it's more of a hybrid affiliate scheme than a business opportunity.

I sincerely hope that my ramblings are helpful. Don't hesitate to pick my brains further, only too happy to help and should you wish to 'bite the bullet' and join The Utility Warehouse, we would of course be delighted to help you to get started.

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 6/09/2007 01:45:00 AM

The Company's last National Conference, Express Day - September 2006 at the Telford International Centre was a pivotal day both for the Company and for the many 1000's of Distributors who attended...all leaving the day with no doubt as to the direction of Telecom plus. Major service enhancements were announced, distributor commissions exceeding £10m were revealed, along with analysis predicting sales exceeding £500m within 10 years.

However, if the day could have been distilled in to a mere 20 minutes, then it was Marketing Director - Stephan Longworth who really hit the mark, capturing all that this great business stands for in the hearts of those whose futures hinge on their success as Distributors with Telecom plus. This frank, honest and passionate presentation is essential viewing for all existing, new and would-be Telecom plus / Utility Warehouse Distributors.

Watch it now!

Beef Stroganoff...One Excuse is as good as another - Stephan Longworth, Express Day 2006

Labels: distributor-opinion, seminar-news, testimonials

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 5/27/2007 01:05:00 AM

Well, what can we say? A fantastic trip on the Silver Whisper came and went all too quickly, but for 190 Distributors and their partners, it was 4 days and 3 nights of absolute 6-star luxury, as the Utility Warehouse took over the ship at Monaco, cruised to Genoa and then to Rome, popped in to see the Pope, before sailing back for a wander around Nice.

There was a bit of work done too! Apart from all the idea swapping and hints and tips shared, Clive Leach took over the loud-speaker system on the Liverpool to Nice flight, and did an impromptu Career Opportunity Presentation for those that weren't yet in the business! This was followed by those with video iPods showing the 'What's It All About?' DVD to the passengers who were not yet Distributors!

The mix was just right - a fabulous selection of new Distributors, some of whom had only been in the business just a few short months, partied, socialised and drank with Distributors of all levels including our very top Trainers and Leaders, as well as Head Office Directors and staff.

It was certainly true to say that this cruise ship and it's staff didn't know what had hit it (not an iceberg luckily!) as all the company's movers and shakers, moved and shook the Mediteranean Sea for over 72 fun-filled hours. It really was the place to be seen, and the question on the lips of everyone present was 'When's the next one?!!'.

Here are just a few extracts from emails that have been received from those who were on this fabulous holiday aboard Silver Sea's cruise liner, the Silver Whisper.

"WOW - I couldn't have ever dreamt that I'd have had such an amazing time at the expense of a company that I do a bit of part-time work for! Thank you, thank you!"

"To Charles and the Directors - thank you so much for a fantastic holiday. I am so motivated after mixing with so many lovely and positive people."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you - I came away with tips galore and ways to push my business forwards. It was great that the top leaders were there too, so I could steal their knowledge from them! I made sure I got a picture with Clive & Di, Steve, Robin, Wes and Stef so that when negative people tell me that the business isn't for real and all these people are actors, I can show them! What a great bunch on-board, all relaxing together, sharing ideas and having fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Some folk question this business, doubting that it could ever work for them. To be honest we did and very nearly turned the opportunity down. What a mistake that would have been! We are just back from this all expenses paid luxury six star cruise of life-time...wonderful in every respect. This is our second free holiday with Telecom plus in three years (the first was to Las Vegas), we drive one of the Company's very nice BMW Mini One's, we have 1000's of share options and a residual income that already knocks spots off the pensions that would have resulted from 40 odd years of work...and all that from just a few years of part-time effort. This business works!"

Labels: distributor-news, distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 5/25/2007 11:43:00 AM

"We all have two choices as we live, we can make a living or we can design a life. There are many who spend their lives making a living. They go off to work each day with no vision for what their lives could become and before they know it, their lives are over. Some are so fearful that the dreams they do have will forever go unfulfilled because they never have the courage to take a risk that would enable them to reach their goals and live their dreams." Jim Rohn

If you are reading this, let these words encourage and inspire you to be the one to 'design a life'. Dare to soar and to expect more of yourself during 2007 & beyond, than ever before.

What's interesting at this time of year is that most of us will spend more hours in planning Christmas, than in planning our lives. We have an expectation for a Christmas each year on December 25th, such that there is never any question that this will not happen. Everything is planned with meticulous detail and positive expectancy. There is no question, it's in the diary, it's happening and failure is not on the agenda. Likewise, how many of us give similar or greater priority to next years summer holiday, those two precious weeks where we can actually do what we want for a change...date in the diary, tickets booked, spending money in the budget along with a sense of excitement and expectation that lives within us each and every day until we are safely at this years destination.

Within these habits lies the doorway to a life by design versus a settled for existence and within the essence of expectation, lies the key to the realisation of our dreams. So, dare to expect more of yourself, to live the life that you have designed and soar to heights that you had never previously dreamed possible.

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 12/14/2006 12:26:00 AM

Looking around the various online forums, there is a lot of rubbish written about Telecom plus (The Utility Warehouse) - it's business opportunity, services and the Company. It's sometimes a little like reading an online tennis match, with one objection after another being batted back and forth over an invisible net, very often with a complete sceptic on one side and a relatively new Utility Warehouse distributor on the other.

I admire greatly anyone with the presence of mind and foresight to consider and act upon an opportunity to financially better themselves and/or the fortunes of their family. We do afterall live in uncertain financial times: pension crisis, retirement ages going up, job security a thing of the past and personal debt levels going through the roof. Those who simply bury their heads in the sand, under the misguided notion that all will be ok, are in for a rude awakening. Most of us are on a very certain collision course for financial disaster and it's time to wake up to the fact that all will not simply be put right by some divine act of the government. Action is needed.

Three years of part-time (but committed) effort with the Utility Warehouse business has yielded 1000's of share options, a very nice BMW Mini One via the Company's car reward scheme, two all expenses paid luxury holiday's and most importantly...a life-changing, 'walk away', significant and growing residual income. After such a relatively short period of time, it's great to know that each month will bring a pay rise and that we now have the security of a permanent residual income (pension) that already exceeds most full career pension's.

If you want to know more about the Utility Warehouse, we welcome your call on 0800 458 0623 or please explore the various links on this web site. Don't be fooled by the sceptics and those who insist that it's all pie in the sky. Time is and will prove them wrong. Get the facts for yourself and be wary of whose advice you allow to impact on your financial future!

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 11/30/2006 04:48:00 PM

Are you on a collision course for financial disaster?

Britain’s personal debt mountain has grown larger than the annual output of the economy for the first time in recorded history.

Families owe £1,158 billion on credit cards, loans, overdrafts and mortgages, up 10% on last year, and the economy generated £1,127 billion, up 1.8% - £31 billion less than the national debt and personal debt is growing faster than the economy.

Most people in the UK are on a collision course for financial disaster and just because they have made the minimum payments this month, think that everything is going to be alright. It's said that 95% of us have insufficient investments in place to fund our retirement, that time in life when we plan to do all those things that until that day, we had been putting off!

From recent copies of the Daily Mail, spiralling debt is pushing an ever-growing number of families to breaking point, there are signs of ‘growing distress’ among consumers as they struggle to cope with debt totalling over £1.1trillion, said the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The statistics show:

- Individuals declaring themselves insolvent have risen 95%
- Bankruptcies are up by nearly a third
- Home possession orders have jumped 66% and repossessions 47%
- The average personal debt of visitors to advice charities has topped £30,000.

How long to you plan on living? When will your financial circumstances actually allow you to retire? The difference here is the amount of time that you will need to fund in your retirement. Most of us have our heads burried in the sand and perhaps, do not want to consider the truth.

The Utility Warehouse business offers an effective financial solution, that can with hard work and over a two - seven year time period, create a significant 'walk away' residual income...or pension. 100's can already testify to this and 1000's more are already earning signicant residual incomes.

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 11/30/2006 04:35:00 PM

Have you ever wanted to be in the right place at the right time? Well you are! Marketing Director and Distributor Management Board Member Wes Linden looks back on his 7 years in the business and explains why there has never been a better time to be involved with Telecom plus.

“There are people that joined this business 7 years ago with me. Some of them today, are very glad they did. Others joined 1, 3 or 5 years ago, and also, are reaping the rewards of their efforts now. There are many others who joined, and did a bit, or did nothing, and then moaned, whinged, and said they weren’t going to work until everything was perfect in the Telecom plus garden! As a baby business, there were the occasional teething problems. A lot of people quit or just stopped working. Sadly for many of them, they’ll look back now and think “if only I’d stuck with it”, and have now possibly missed their chance of ever achieving any freedom in their lives.

If you’d have told me 5 or 6 years ago, or Trevor and Karen, Clive and Di, Robin or Steve, that in 5 years time, we would have a company that offers free calls 24/7 anywhere in the UK, and can save customers money on their line rental without the need for a £23.50 smart box; plus we’d have 2 of the most compelling mobile phone deals the UK has ever seen with great choice free handsets (we only used to have one - that cost £99.99 plus £35 connection plus £15 for voicemail!!!!); plus we’d offer the UKís cheapest domestic gas and electricity; plus we’d offer unlimited, unrestricted broadband access cheaper than pretty much every other provider; with over 99% of the marketplace still available; plus an imminent Business Club which will offer great savings to businesses.plus we’d have generic company training at over 20 venues throughout the UK, with an Opportunity Presentation or two (or three, four or five!) taking place nearly every night of the week... plus we’d have a company that consistently gets great publicity articles in the major broadsheets and shares magazines (NUMBER 1 in Europe!!!) to give us the credibility we desired, at a time when most of the population are worrying about what they can do to prevent them having to retire at 75 we’d have bitten your hands off, and even your toes and possibly your entire feet!!!!

If you’d said that a penalty for the fast and exponential growth, was the occasional blip, and the odd period when the company has to pedal faster to keep up with the demand, we’d have accepted that too.

Why should we accept this? Well, because it means that you are “in” now, at the beginning. Let me make that clearer .YOU are in at the beginning. With over 99% of the UK marketplace still to aim for as customers, and the 7 million baby boomers now coming up to retirement realising that relaxing through their golden years is no longer an option, and the younger generation realising they need to do something different than the traditional 9 to 5, 45 year career plan in order to get ahead (not to mention being able to buy their own place!), this is such a good time to be “in” the business.

Occasionally, people say to me - “I wish I had joined when you joined”! I always tell them that if they work their business consistently and persistently for the next 2, 3, 4, 5 years, then people will be saying exactly the same thing to them!! That, and the obvious financial benefits in both residual income and share options, will be your reward for seeing it through - for riding the waves with this fantastic company. For accepting the occasional challenge, in the same way that when you make a mistake on a customer form, the company accept your mistakes! For being a pioneer and helping this company grow to the 1 million customer mark over the next few years and become a billion pound company.

I remember many people who have fallen overboard since I joined. Some of them told me they were going to “become rich” and that they were going to be “massive players”. I often wonder how they are getting on now, and how they feel when they hear of our success in the daily national newspapers. I wonder whether they think that the reason they had for “putting their tools down” and folding their arms 4 or 5 years ago, because they couldn’t cope with the company growing, and the occasional teething problem that went with it, was in hindsight a bad move? Do they still feel quite so strongly about the invoice being a day late; their customer call being made to wait on the line for too long; their milkman telling them it’s a pyramid; or the £23.50 square smart box we used to have, not being programmed correctly for their Aunt Milly!?! It’s in moments of decision that your destiny is shaped....

I wonder how those who turned down a stake in The Body Shop, ebay, Betfair or Orange in their early days feel? I wonder how people feel when they see their lottery numbers come up, and then remember they forgot to buy a ticket that week? I wonder how Tottenham Hotspur feel about the fact they didn’t take the Russian multi-billionaire Roman Abramovich seriously, when he wanted to take over the club, seeing their neighbours Chelsea set to win every trophy there is? The world is full of nearly-men and missed opportunities”.

Back to today - what a great time it is to be involved. We know that early in your business, you’ll have teething problems yourself. You’re not sure how to handle certain queries, you worry about what to say, you’re disappointed someone has said no, you are upset that one of your customers received their modem a bit late, your guest didn’t turn up to the COP etc. etc. It happens to us all. In fact it happens to everyone, and still happens to me and the other Leaders today. The people who you see winning the prizes, and getting the promotions, have normally had more people say “no” to them than anyone else! They’re not lucky... it’s a simple equation - as the golfer Arnold Palmer said when a journalist commented to him that he’d had a lucky shot in a golf tournament: “It’s a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get”. But we’re here to support you, as are the COE Trainers at your local centre, and your local COP hosts. So talk to us!

If you are suffering from a challenge with anything in your Utility Warehouse business, don’t bottle it up - if you need help speak to your upline, or your upline Marketing Director - we are here to help. Do you know who your upline Marketing Director is? They have a vested interest in your success and will be happy to hear from you. They have a wealth of experience that you can benefit from too. If you have not yet made contact then call Executive Services and ask to be put in touch with your upline MD. They’ll pass on your details to him/her and they’ll contact you pretty swiftly.

2006 is going to be a great year for us, but as the saying goes “you gotta be in it to win it”! The trade-off is that occasionally we need to work together and help the company through these periods of massive growth, whilst helping them to grow “more massive” (great English huh? That is why I dropped out of university!). Make sure in 2010 they’ll be saying “I wish I joined when you did”!!!

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 6/15/2006 01:54:00 AM

Cindy and I joined Telecom plus in its launch year - 1997 and raced through the levels of SE, ED and 50 Plus Club within the first eight months. However, other business interests meant that although my team continued to work and developed extremely strong businesses, I didn't take the active role I should have taken. I was earning a residual income but I wasn't growing my business from the top. Then one day, the Diana half of Clive and Diana phoned and asked, “Dennis, do you know what you haven't earned in the past 18 months.”

I was stunned. No, I hadn't any idea…and it was such a lot of money! That single question, gave me the shot in the arm I needed! I had gone back to working long hours for someone else's benefit and causing health problems for both Cindy and I! Within a month of that reality check, I was back…with a focus and a different approach!

In the early days, focusing on quantity rather than quality, we had found that many of those who signed-up didn't stay. But now, I don't try to convince people to join as Executives. I gently sow seeds with a 'do you know anybody who would like…to change their lifestyle…to earn some serious money etc.' Sometimes I get leads but often I find that the person I am talking to will open up - and I have learnt to listen! What's their lifestyle, what are their goals, what motivates them? Are their expectations realistic, are they achievable? Most importantly, do I think they are the right fit? It's a two-way thing, are we right for them, are they right for us?

I use my own example: starting as a 15 year old school drop-out, through my phase running a successful businessf or some years, then almost hitting rock bottom and bankruptcy - to where I am today, having recently achieved one of my own very personal goals. It's a brand new Mercedes SL; much bigger and much shinier than the DinkyToy version I first admired as a 12 year old and had my eye on ever since! This one is sitting on my drive, not on my shelf!

The key to our business growth now is to cherry pick. We gather those with determination and with a goal. We work closely with our team to develop them and we find we’re motivated by seeing them succeed and achieve their goals, after all, their success pays off for us too. As Executives, we are sponsors. Do you know what that means? It's defined as someone who assumes responsibility for some other person…and that's exactly how we see our role. So we're currently concentrating on getting the team to gather four customers a month with a goal of seeing 10 of themtaking the fabulous Silver Whisper cruise - then it's SMD status for us by Spring 2007!

Labels: distributor-opinion, testimonials

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 6/15/2006 01:46:00 AM

As MD of my own property renovation business I was responsible for 48 staff and all the associated issues and after 33 years felt that there must be something more to life than working between 70 and 100 hours per week.

As a self employed business owner I had been asked to take a look at various business opportunities over the years and tried 4 different networking opportunities, 2 of which gave up before I did! I was rather sceptical when I first encountered The Utility Warehouse, after all, why should this be any different from the rest? The concept of networking is no different in this business, you still have to make and work your list, talk to people, be consistent and persistent but that's where the similarity ends. The services we provide are true consumables; we provide them all on one convenient bill and what a choice we offer!

I was hesitant, and I wasn't sure I believed it when I was told that I would receive all the help that I needed from my upline, right the way up to Clive & Diana. But these were not empty promises! From the moment I started my new business in January 2005, my sponsor Robin has been a tireless source of strength. Without him, I would not have hit my first target, which was to achieve the position of Senior Executive within 60 days.

My life has changed…I now work about 20 hours a week and have a true residual income. Even if I continue at just half my monthly growth rate, in just 4 years I will surpass the earnings it had taken me 33 years to achieve! I still set targets and aim for them - at the moment, I am watching my progress each month as there is no way I am going to miss the boat! I am definitely going to be on the Silver Whisper cruise! Apart from that, my future goal is to become a Marketing Director by Express Day 2006. Those are my own targets for the next year but now I would like to pass on what I have learnt and help some really great people in our team get to their Senior Executive positions and beyond.

Labels: distributor-opinion, testimonials

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 6/15/2006 01:41:00 AM

Isn't it crazy...in our jobs or day to day lives, we seldom stop to question the price. A boss or circumstances dictate what time we get up, what time we start work, what time we finish, when we take lunch, how much we get paid and as a result of this, the same boss and circumstances can just as easily dictate where we shop, where we holiday, what we drive, where we live, how much we can afford to give and what we can afford to do with our spare time.

Please don't read me wrong, I'm not personally knocking what anyone chooses to do with their time, but the fact is that most folk in this Country (if they were being honest), would agree. If we arn't willing to set our own agenda, someone else will.

For me personally, the light came on when I first heard about the Utility Warehouse business. A Plc backed opportunity with a track record, essential services, proven success and a very low cost of entry.

Further Utility Warehouse information

Labels: distributor-opinion

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 5/01/2006 09:57:00 AM

Less than 18 months ago, the decision was made to build the Telecom plus business with a serious commitment...not to mess around as was done before...but to really give this thing our best shot. At this time I was little more that a Qualified Executive.

Anyway...circumstances change, as do priorities and this business works very well if you get serious, committed and action orientated. Express Day last year was a day that I shall never forget...a day when the penny finally dropped and an understanding gained for the first time as to what this business can really deliver.

When you are surrounded by living proof that the Telecom plus business works, there are no meaningful excuses and only two logical courses of action - you can either go for your goals or stay where you are. By the end of Express Day last year, the gauntlet was laid and a commitment made to achieving five things in the following 12 months...to reach Group Director, to Qualify for Share Options, to cross stage as Number One Recruiter, to take us on the Company Holiday and to park one of those nice Mini One cars on the drive.

When the dust settles and people tell us that these things are not possible, that this type of business never works...we have another choice, to agree and prove them right or disagree and prove them wrong. Personally, I choose not to be bullied around by other people's misplaced opinions and to chart my own course for success.

Sunday October 2nd 2005 was another unforgettable experience and quantifiable proof that this business works not just for other people, but also for you and I as well. Goals backed with belief...backed with action are powerful and it can be no coincidence that each of the five goals from the previous year have been reached. Share options are in the bag, the Mini One is on the drive, Group Director status confirmed, Number One Recruiter achieved and in six weeks time, Sara and I fly first class for an all expenses luxury seven-day holiday to Las Vegas. Where we are going: The Wynn Hotel, Grand Canyon trip, Horse Riding, The Rolling Stones.

These words are not in any way meant to sound boastful, merely to testify to the fact the Telecom plus business works and to say that if I can, then you can. It takes a decision. It takes commitment. It takes a little backbone and determination. It takes a willingness to learn and goal-set. It takes action. But in actual fact, the price of success in Telecom plus is far less than the price of mediocrity on the usual treadmill of life. But...that's just my opinion.

What is more exciting than any of the above is where you choose to go from here, what decisions you make, what goals you set, your personal story of success as the next 12 months unfold and the celebrations that you plan for Express Day 2006.

Utility Warehouse business - further information

Labels: distributor-opinion, testimonials

posted by Jeremy Tromans at 10/07/2005 10:14:00 AM