Home Office Just Sent Me an E-Mail

[gingertannery]

I have to agree with KimoMakano... the rules are still strict -and look at how many offenders we see regularly.. Other DS companies have gone more retail.. tupperware in the malls and it has hurt the normal tupperware sales person. Ask one if you don't believe me.. I have asked. I applaud HO for sticking to their guns and keeping the integrity of our company so that we can continue to make money demonstrating meals in the home.... we still have a measure of exclusiveness.... we are not a dime a dozen (neither are our products). This creates an element of rarety that keeps customers coming back.. (remember the beanie baby shortage scam?? - great marketing strategy) I still get "OMG!!! I have been looking for a PC person.." from people regularly.. thank you PC for that!! Instead of.. "Geeze.. why would I buy from you when I can just go on-line and order off of FB"....think long term ladies and gents...thank goodness PC is!!!!

 

[KimoMakano]

In case none of you have ever read the book about The Pampered Chef I would highly recommend it. It gave me a perspective that I didn't have before. I had always viewed the business primarily as selling products.

After reading the book I realized that the primary focus of The Pampered Chef was to provide education, encouragement, and support (through products and recipes) to homemakers in the kitchen.

Should be a must reading for all consultants.

(sorry, but cannot recall the exact name right now but am thinking it is simpley "The Pampered Chef: the story of Doris Christopher", or something like that)

 

[ChefBeckyD]

In case none of you have ever read the book about The Pampered Chef I would highly recommend it. It gave me a perspective that I didn't have before. I had always viewed the business primarily as selling products.

After reading the book I realized that the primary focus of The Pampered Chef was to provide education, encouragement, and support (through products and recipes) to homemakers in the kitchen.

Should be a must reading for all consultants.

(sorry, but cannot recall the exact name right now but am thinking it is simpley "The Pampered Chef: the story of Doris Christopher", or something like that)

It's The Pampered Chef - The Story Of One Of America's Most Beloved Companies.

And I agree. I loved my job, and I loved the company before reading the book - but reading it gave me an entirely new perspective on the work that I do, and the company I represent.

 

[Jules711]

I agree with both sides. I think it's crazy that I can't mention what I do online for fear of getting in "trouble". On the other hand it really disgusts me when people put random things online trying to get orders. It seems cheap somehow. I'm all for advertising and working with what you have, but think it should be done in a more controlled venue. If it's your facebook friends, fine. If it's everyone in the world or through ebay, whatever, no. I think you can have very good relationships with customers you only communicate with over email. I have an awesome host that I will never meet and have only spoken to a couple of times. We met through ebay when I purchased some baby clothes and in our emails, I mentioned PC and the rest is history. I do a lot of unconventional stuff (meaning not just the typical home show, but definitely allowed). However, my business is busier than ever and I have more and more people asking for home shows. Probably partially b/c I don't push that aspect of my business (meaning I don't act like it's the only option). I don't really need to. I wouldn't want to be an online only business. I can tell b/c while I enjoy getting random online orders from people I don't know, I want to be able to contact them and see if there is anything else they need from me. So...we should be able to mention stuff online, especially in our home towns and places that people we would actually SEE would see it, but WOW you can see where it can go so very wrong by looking at all of the blatant violations out there.

 

[Veevahchef]

I don't think we should be able to sell online other than our personal websites, or pst our PWS all over the internet, BUT.... I really do not think it is right that we cannot say what we do for a living on facebook! This is only people we invite to see our profiles, and I only invite people I know or who I am related to. I do admit that a couple of years ago, before I knew it was a no no, I used facebook to tell all of my distant family relatives and cousins who I hardly see (I have 37 first cousins) about my business, as of course they all want to know what I am up to. I still use facebook to get in touch with some of those cousins when i want them to book a show. What should I do... write "I am wondering if you would like me to come and do this thing for you that i am not allowed to mention online, but hopefully you will know what i mean"?? seems wierd that it is THAT touchy. I can't believe people get in trouble for saying that they are Pampered Chef consultants and using facebook to keep friends and family informed of what is going on in their business.

I hate telling other people especially people from other DS companies that we are not allowed to even mention that we are PC consultants online other than personal e-mails and specific sites. They always say something like "Oh wow, I can't believe it! Don't they want you to be able to grow your business?"
And then of course if it is another DS consultant they usually go on and on about how their company "Would never hold us back that way".
And I honestly cannot come up with a great excuse.

Speaking of that....what do you guys say in this situation that doesn't sound like a lame excuse? LOL

 

[raebates]

I hear this sometimes. First, the point about not mentioning PC by name is to keep your FB profile (or whatever) from coming up in a search of "Pampered Chef." The way search engines work, if a specific word is used in a public place, it's liable to be targeted by a search.As for what I say, it's something like this:I know it may sound like they're "holding me back." What they're really doing is protect my business by protecting the brand. PC has a reputation to uphold. This is just one of the ways they're doing it."

 

[etteluap70PC]

While I personally would appreciate a rules change I can also appreciate why then don't.

One of the founding principles of The Pampered Chef was to educate and assist the home cook by providing simple recipes, quality products, and show them how they work. It has always been about "hands on" and integrity.

I can only imagine that once the "door was opened" to allow online advertising and selling it wouldn't be long before "cooking shows" began to decline. And of course there would become "mini-wholesalers" setting up online stores and incorporating discounts into the prices to encourage business. All of these things would be detrimental to the average home-based consultant.

I am afraid that if and when the changes come the face of The Pampered Chef will change and never be the same again.

Soooo, while I personally would like to be able to post my business online and sell online, I understand and agree to abide by the rules that I signed up under.

Well Put!!! I agree completely!

 

[MORFIA]

If they hear from enough of us maybe they will consider updating the policy.

fyi--they are working on it--Heard from my sales rep--

 

[esavvymom]

I wish they could find that happy-middle ground....something that allowed me to say who I was for a local level- for example, a local Chamber of Commerce (Many have online listings of their members), or the local paper that might have it's print version, but also it's online version.

 

[Veevahchef]

I hear this sometimes.

First, the point about not mentioning PC by name is to keep your FB profile (or whatever) from coming up in a search of "Pampered Chef." The way search engines work, if a specific word is used in a public place, it's liable to be targeted by a search.

As for what I say, it's something like this:

I know it may sound like they're "holding me back." What they're really doing is protect my business by protecting the brand. PC has a reputation to uphold. This is just one of the ways they're doing it."

That is very nice, but i get so .... so... mad... so does that mean I shouldn't lunge across and strangle them?? LOL... I really need to stop doing that!
Just not that eloquent I guess...:blushing:

 

[baychef]

It is all a very fine line. I too see both sides of it. For anyone that subscribes to Belinda Ellsworth's Success Express, her audio is about social networking. Has some good points and for those of you who are the last of the baby boomers...I feel like someone has not only moved my cheese...but my OLD cheese at that!!!

Julie Ann Jones with Outward Image is also doing something on social networking.

I think they have been able to work with the You Tube situation and possibly, they may think about having a PC facebook (and other networking sites) where it is more of a generic site.

Glad I am not the one deciding...heck, I have a hard enough time picking out something as insignificant as paint colors!!!