In March 1996 I ordered a demonstrator Starter kit – it was a wild hair idea and I have never regretted the decision. I wanted to build a business that would allow me to have the income I enjoyed as an RN but the flexibility of a stay at home mom. My children were 5 and 6, my husband traveled as part of his job, we were new to the area we live in and I was working full time night shift.
While I joined in March I don’t really consider it my anniversary because it took me almost 4 weeks to get started. In 1996 there were two kit to pick from (mine was almost $500 not the $99 today) BUT you didn’t get to pick what was in them. Instead once the kit arrived you could do an exchange for what you wanted thereby delaying how long it took you to really get going.
My first event was a business fair that cost me over $100 to be a part of but my first hostess was a lead from that business fair and the rest is history. Did I mention I was an RN which means I didn’t have a business background. As part of my first year I did lots of reading and research on direct sales and multi-level marketing. I found a leader in the industry who had written a book and used her book as a “cook book” to build my business by.
In the first years I strictly did home parties – didn’t even think about classes and surely didn’t think about clubs and of course there was no online business. To make it work with our family’s life I would do 3 events on a Saturday around 10, 2 and 5 – I scheduled my hostesses based on “geographical” location to each other. And then would do other parties on evenings my husband was home and I was off.
Because of the flexibility of direct sales I am blessed that we were able to build this business alongside what was happening in our life. I learned early on to allow my kids to have a say in what they needed me at and to understand what it meant if I missed one of their 5 games. They learned goal setting, they learned about choices, they learned effort, have traveled the world and graduated debt free from college thanks to their grades, part time jobs and direct sales. They listened to so many of my training tapes (yes cassette tapes, then CD’s .. ) that the training rubbed off on them. One of my favorite stories is the interviewer for People to People telling me that when they asked my son Greg why he wanted to do People to People as a 6th grader his response was “to get out of his comfort zone”. Having a home based business I learned was more than the income and flexibility it was what your children learned being a part of it – a benefit that has immeasurable value.
Early on I learned that one of my absolute favorite parts of the business along with a discount on great product was sharing what I loved by sponsoring others. I love love love love love being an upline and helping others discover what’s possible and the cool thing is that so many things are possible – I love that Stampin’ Up! allows demonstrators to simply join to enjoy the discount as happy shoppers nothing more, I love that a demonstrator can do as much or as little as their priorities and lifestyle allows – there is no one way to be a demonstrator and it’s that pure variety that makes it so much fun for me. The many ways to connect to Stampin’ UP! means that it is more inviting and more accessible to more people and that has allowed me to meet so many amazing people. Some of my team of RemARKable Stampers have been with me since 1996, some have come and gone, and some have gone and come back.
Over the years so many things have changed – our stamps are now exclusive, our technology, our career plan a few times, the company is now international and more. But some things haven’t changed – the opportunity and great paper crafting products.
For those on my mailing list watch for a special anniversary sale and thank you. I couldn’t be an upline without customers. It all starts with you and I am saying thank you in a fun way this year.
I recently found these pictures and decided they were perfect for my Project Life gratitude album because I can’t even imagine what my life would have been like the last 19 years if I hadn’t take the chance. I had nothing to lose – even if it hadn’t worked out I would have great stamps and products left to craft with. Today the “chance” costs only $99 and you get to pick $125 in product for that with FREE shipping. There are no obligations just opportunities and if it doesn’t work guess what – you tried something, got a great deal on great products and learned something.
I welcome anyone to experience even a small bit of what I love by joining my team of RemARKable Stampers today.
