The “Me too” movement is in full swing.
Human trafficking is receiving the attention it needs.
As empowering as these movements are, they don’t do much to protect women as they walk to their cars after dark or jog in the park on a quiet day.
That’s what Damsel in Defense is all about: empowering women to protect themselves in their everyday lives.
Damsel in Defense is a network marketing company that offers self-defense products and training, particularly for women.
And it’s about time!
From Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lara Croft to Beyonce, women have been running the world for a while…only now, they’re armed.
FAQ
1. What does Damsel in Defense sell? They offer pepper sprays, stun guns, and other personal and protective devices, packaged attractively in pink and other feminine colors.
2. What are Damsel in Defense’s most popular products? The stun guns are particularly popular. They use high voltage and low amperage to deliver an electrical charge to the point of contact on an attacker. And if it’s taken from you, all stun guns feature a disable pin to prevent them from being used against you. (One of the stun guns looks like a camera!) Tactical pens are working pens with ink refills. But don’t be fooled. They also have a flashlight and a jagged edge to get DNA from an attacker. In the home, the Step Off Portable Entry Alarm is a winner. If someone tried to open your door or window, they’ll set off a 120-decibel alarm to wake you and scare the intruder away.
3. How much does it cost to join Damsel in Defense? You can start your business for $99. That gives you a huge collection of self-defense tools and training materials, plus business tools to get your business off the ground. You can also buy a booster pack for $65.
4. Is Damsel in Defense a scam? No, Damsel in Defense is a real business selling real self-defense products. They have been called out by Truth in Advertising for overblowing the income potential of joining, but some of those instances have already been fixed. [1]
5. What is Damsel in Defense’s BBB rating? A+
6. How long has Damsel in Defense been in business? Since 2011
7. What is Damsel in Defense’s revenue? As of 2015, they sold $19.5 million in products. No numbers have been released since then.
8. How many Damsel in Defense distributors are there? 10,000
9. What lawsuits have been filed? We didn’t find any lawsuits listed online.
10. Comparable companies: LegalShield, Perfectly Posh
Women’s self-defense is more popular now than ever and that’s exactly what Damsel in Defense is all about.
But is it a good opportunity to make some side money or start a passive income stream?
It’s not a terrible opportunity, but there are certainly better, more sustainable options out there.
Click here for my #1 recommendation
Either way, here’s the full review on Damsel in Defense.
Overview
Damsel in Defense, an MLM that sells self-defense products to women, was founded in 2011 by Mindy Lin and Bethany Hughes. Lin and Hughes are two powerhouse women who combine creativity and marketing skills (Lin) with business knowledge and planning abilities (Hughes).
In 2014 they paired up with Bob Hipple, their long-time consultant, and made him the CEO of Damsel in Distress. He’s got decades of experience in MLM as a big-time seller, professional speaker, executive, and business consultant.
By 2015, the company already had 10,000 consultants and had sold more than $19.5 million in products. If they know how to play the MLM game, with a product like this, I can only see those numbers skyrocketing in years to come.
Nearly 2 million women are assaulted in the United States every single year. [2] According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 women report having been raped in their lifetime. Damsel in Defense’s goal is to “help women avoid becoming a statistic,” and the demand is there.
But does it really empower women, or does it just empower a few bank accounts?
How much does Damsel in Defense cost?
The starter kit at Damsel in Defense costs $99. You can also buy a bonus pack for $65.
To stay active and thus qualify for all commissions, you need to hit $150 PV over a rolling 3-month period.
Products
Damsel in Defense is built on self-defense products for women, but they also sell security-related products. Here are some examples of popular products…
The Daphne Concealed Carry Purse
This is a purse designed to conceal the weapons you’re carrying.
Stun Guns
These come in various designs that look like phones and cameras. They aren’t, however, legal in all states, so this can be limiting to some distributors.
Pepper Sprays
These come in a variety of colors and designs and are widely known to be one of the most effective self-defense tools.
Door Alarm
This is a doorstop looking alarm device that has a movement sensor. If someone opens your door while you are home, it will sound a 120-decibel alarm to notify you and scare off the intruder.
They also sell a digital protection plan for $29.95/month for individuals and $59.95/month for families, which is pretty steep. They claim it can protect your family from everything from expensive computer repairs to credit card and identity theft.
I want to be behind these products, but the way the company and some of their distributors market them, it feels more like they’re trying to scare women than empower them. One ad shows a family that experiences $273,247.42 in credit card theft, their teenage daughter being targeted by an online sexual predator, their teenage boy being cyberbullied, and their child son having his identity stolen leading to a false criminal record…all in one year.
This family apparently had the worst 2016 of all of us. It’s is a pretty ridiculous example of, presumably, what can happen if you don’t buy their digital protection plan, and it looks a lot like fearmongering.
Compensation Plan
This company runs on in-home parties, and you all know how a feel about those (see: Scentsy, Pampered Chef, or Paparazzi Accessories).
Hostesses get $90-$200 in product credit depending on the total party sales, plus 4-6 half-off items.
Baseline commission on personal sales is 25%. Once you hit $1,000 annual PV, your personal sales commission bumps up to 30%.
Once you become a Junior Mentor (sell $150 PV per month and have at least 1 recruit), you start qualifying for team commissions. At first, you only get 4% commission on your 1st Level. Each rank advancement gets you commission on a new level, down to your 4th level. Director level distributors get 4% on their Level 1, 3% on their Level 2, 2% on their Level 3, 1% on their Level 4, and an extra 2% team bonus.
Of course, reaching (and maintaining) these higher ranks is a lot harder than it looks.
Recap
It’s really not a bad idea for an MLM. In fact, I’m surprised more people haven’t thought of it.
But their products are a little limited and not super unique.
And while it’s definitely possible to make money, the truth is, most distributors just don’t have the sales background, training, social network, and persistence (to bother their friends over and over again until they have none) to do much more than make back what they invested, if they’re lucky.
Look, I’ve been involved with network marketing for over ten years so I know what to look for when you consider a new opportunity.
After reviewing 200+ business opportunities and systems out there, here is the one I would recommend:
