My First Year as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

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To start with let me say, signing up to be a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator has changed my life in ways I could only dream of. But before I go into all that let me tell how it all started.

In the beginning

I have been a paper crafter for over 20 years and I was in the market for rubber stamps when I spied an advertisement for used stamped at a home just up the street from where I live. When I arrived at the home I was bedazzled by all the wonderful paper crafting supplies and the sheer number of stamp sets this lady owned. Her name is Francine Wilson and she sells Stampin’ Up! rubber stamps. As we talked she informed me she held a card making class in her home once a month and I was welcome to come. I said yes I would love to.

The next week when I arrived I was introduced to three other ladies and we spent the evening getting to know each other while making our cards. It was one of the best times I’d had and I made three (four counting Francine) new friends. I couldn’t wait for the next month’s class.

After a few months I started thinking how I would love to have card making classes in my home. I love to entertain and teaching comes naturally to me. So I decided to sign up and be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator myself.  I was Francine’s first downline and our friendship has developed into something wonderful.

The adventure begins

I ordered my kit and immediately started learning everything I could from the company demonstrator website. I scheduled my first home party with a friend that sells Pampered Chef. It was a great success. The sales from that class met my qualifying order for my quarter and I was flying on cloud nine. Continued sales from those customers and my own purchases led to my first advancement in the company and I was recognized at my first convention.

Training in marketing and selling

All this was good but I hadn’t started my home classes like I had envisioned when I first signed up. So I dug in my heals and planned and prepared for my first monthly class. It was good.  I had 3 people come. However, no one came to next 2 classes and only 1 came to the one after those.  My sales and customer base were not increasing even though I was writing 3 blog posts a week, active on my Facebook business page and selling at craft fairs and vendor events.  I needed help. Selling and Marketing classes seemed like a good idea. I spent quite a bit of money for this education but I still wasn’t seeing the results I wanted.

Things were looking dismal until

I prayed. I asked God that if this card making business was really something I should be pursuing then I needed some kind of sign. I want to tell you what happened next is why I say this business has changed my life in ways I could only dream of. Not 5 minutes after that prayer I got a text from a lady I met at a vendor event and she said she was coming to my card class and bringing 2 friends! That class ended up having 8 people attend and amazing sales! Two people I had talked to earlier in the year about signing up to be a demonstrator signed up that week.  At the next month’s class I had 6 people attend and my third demonstrator sign up. God had given me a sign!

In conclusion

The first year of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator has taught me quite a few things that really have changed my life. First it’s my faith.  I have been a Christian since I was 11 years old. I’ve always been told God will answer my prayers and provide for my needs if I would just believe. Ever since that earlier prayer I have continually asked God to help me with this business. Just the other day I asked him to help me learn what to say in order to get better sales. An ad for a free webinar titled The Magic Words to Selling showed up in my Facebook news feed!

Besides a stronger faith I have discovered this business is all about relationships. The friends I am making are priceless treasures money could never replace.

Last but certainly not least, I’ve learned to not give up. I won’t lie. It has been hard work learning the ins and outs of owning a small home based business but it has been worth it. It has given me more confidence in myself. Who would have thought a year ago I would know how to create and run my own blog, how to keep financial records and to organize my papers and supplies.

There is still so much to learn and I am looking forward to this next year’s journey.

LINKY PARTIES:

Wine’d Down Wednesday

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and everyone of you for your friendship and giving me the opportunity to by your Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.