I was going to post a registration form for my chocoholics class today, but I really felt I needed to post today about the starter kit special instead. I’ve talked to a number of people lately who’ve been laid off, or had their overtime money cut, or are having to furlough to help balance state budgets, or just really want to give their kids that extra little thing like piano lessons…the list goes on and on. I include myself in this list. I decided last month to take my hobby into a business. I’ve been a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for 5 years (almost 6), but it’s been for a discount on my hobby supplies (still a fabulous reason to become a demonstrator). I have now decided to take advantage of the business opportunity, and I’d like to share more specifics of how it IS a GREAT business opportunity with you today. I think I won’t sleep unless I offer this information and this chance to everyone out there who might benefit from it.
First of all, it IS a business opportunity! You are your own boss with flexible hours, etc…but it has a lot of potential for money making as well. I realized recently how lucrative this can be. Think about it…as a demonstrator you keep 20-40 of your sales, and get downline overrides. I could never own a stamping/scrapbook/crafting style store and get that kind of money back! The overhead would be way too high! Also, most marketing is done for me, flyers are done for me, a ton of idea resources, etc…are available to me. These are things that would normally take a lot out of my time and pocketbook, decreasing my family time and profit margin. Because there’s so much less overhead and so many less middle men to deal with, the amount of money I have to keep track of is smaller, making bookkeeping (something I’m not great at) easily manageable. So in reality, I can make far more money than by owning a store with similar products, spending far less time on the business part of it, and spending more time on the part I like, stamping and showing others how to stamp.
If this is a hobby of yours, or you need a job and think you could try this, now is the greatest time to do it! The mini starter kit is only $85 and has everything you need to get started. In addition, I am going to add a bonus of a “color bundle” of your choice for anyone who signs up with me between today (August 16th, 2009) and when this promotion ends on August 31st. That means you can pick another color ink pad, cardstock, and ribbon to go with your starter kit supplies.
You also get me as a resource. You don’t have to live close to me to get my help. This is the type of business where I can coach you (if you want that) through e-mail or phone calls, your choice. I also have a downline only, password protect blog that you would have access to.
This may be an answer to prayer for you. The direct sales companies like Stampin’ Up! are actually growing in this economy. That’s right, growing. (Here’s an article from USA Today if you’re interested). And having been with Stampin’ Up! as both a hobby demonstrator and a business demonstrator, I can tell you that it is a professional and successful company. I don’t use the word professional lightly. It’s a word of high praise to me. J
And what about those of you who are just hobbyists? That makes this starter kit even more appealing. Did you know that if you place your first order as a demonstrator in the first 45 days you get 30% off that order? Your regular instant income is 20% after that. The quarterly minimums are $300. (That’s $300 of product for only $240 after your demonstrator discount). Plus the color bundle I’m offering. And your first full quarter is the one that counts. That means you have until December 31st to get $300 in orders in, broken up any way you want it. That’s the only requirement to stay active. That’s five months from now!
What happens if you decide it’s not going to work for you? You keep all the stuff from your kit, and you drop. You simply stop placing orders. That’s all. No one is going to be hassling you about getting stuff done, no one is going to report you to some weird collections thing or credit agency. You’ve paid for your kit and that’s all you need to do. You get the month of January as a grace period to make up a shortfall, and if you don’t, you go back to being a customer of February 1st. That’s all. The system drops you without you having to call anyone and explain anything. That’s not so scary is it? Having been with Stampin’ Up! for so long, and not being a big direct sales person in general, I think many of you are way to psyched out like I used to be, afraid you’re making a giant commitment that will have dire consequences. No! You’re accepting an opportunity to greatly enrich your life, with minimal investment! There are no repercussions. At the very least you walk away with more than $85 in stamping and scrapbooking supplies!
Now that I’ve covered the WHY of this post, here’s the what and how. Here are the basics in a nutshell:
Starter Kit Questions and Answers!
When I decided to become a Stampin’Up demonstrator, I was just FULL of questions. Maybe you are, too. Here are some of the questions I asked as I considered my options:
Q: What are the benefits if I join Stampin’Up?
A: The benefits are many and vary from one demonstrator to the next. Some of the tangible benefits include:
* You’ll get 30% off your first order of $150 or more placed within 45 days of signing up
* You'll get 20% off all future orders of Stampin’Up products. You can earn additional income (called a Volume Rebate) when your monthly sales are $400 or more. Your 20 % income (called instant income) combined with your volume rebate can reach up to 40% of your personal sales!
* You have the opportunity to pre-order select new and exciting SU products and accessories at least a month in advance of your customers!
* Stampin’Up! Sends out a monthly magazine to all of its demonstrators called Stampin’Success. You will also have access to thousands of samples and ideas on the Stampin’Up! Demonstrator website. You will never have to worry about trying to come up with something all by yourself. Stampin’Up! makes it very easy for demonstrators who don’t have time to focus on originality! I also have group meetings where ideas are shared.
* New friends and fun times attending Stampin’Up events like convention, regionals, and demonstrator meetings at my home each quarter. I can’t imagine my life without the friends I have made since becoming a demonstrator. It wasn’t part of what I was looking for when I signed up, but I’m blessed and changed by that benefit. And convention has been one of the most exciting events of my life!
Q: Do I have to hold workshops?
A: There is no obligation to hold workshops or to even sell Stampin’Up! just because you’ve purchased a Starter Kit. It’s yours to enjoy any way you wish. Many demonstrators in Stampin’Up are hobbyists and enjoy selling to a few friends and getting their own products at cost.
Q: Are there “minimums?”
A: If you decide you want to remain an active demonstrator, a minimum of $300 in retail products sales per quarter is required. (Only $240 our cost!) If you sign up in July, August, or September, you have until the end of December to make the minimum sales which allow you to keep receiving demonstrator benefits.
In addition to those questions, you might be considering the different types of demonstrators and trying to decide where you might fit in. Maybe you will see yourself in one of these scenarios!
I Just Want the Kit: This is a great option for new stampers who want lots of stamping supplies at a wonderful discount. You don’t have to feel guilty if you never do another thing with it – you know a bargain when you see one!! LOL!
Discount Purchaser: This is for the person who likes to get all of their supplies at cost. They may occasionally sell to interested friends and family. This is where I saw myself fitting in when I joined Stampin’Up!
Hobbyists: This person loves to share what she knows about stamping with others, but doesn’t necessarily go out of her way to do it. As long as she can fit Stampin’Up! into her life conveniently, she might work a lot some months and little or not at all other months.
Career Demonstrator: These are demonstrators who view Stampin’Up! as a viable business opportunity with long-term career potential. She works her business consistently, pursues management opportunities and strives to move up the career ladder. This is where I fit in right now. You are free to change what type of demonstrator you want to be at any time. These descriptions are ways you define yourself, not ways Stampin’ Up! defines you. You get the same benefits and resources.
So you see, Stampin’Up! has a lot of different options available to you as a demonstrator. Do you want more information? You can contact me by e-mail (stampified@sbcglobal.net). Or, if you have been thinking about this for awhile and you are ready to get started now, you can do that via my Stampin’ Up! website. There’s a “start your own business” tab in the upper right corner. Click on that, then “join now” in the left sidebar. You’ll need the password (astamps).
So that’s it for today. I know, long winded. But I really felt the need, an insistent urging, to put this opportunity out there for you.
