Why Was Nancy's Contract with Pampered Chef Not Renewed?

[Pampered Laura]

Okay. I just spoke to Nancy @ Nancy's Artworks.

The choice was NOT hers. She just found out a couple weeks ago that PC was not renewing her contract. She can not make/sell anything with the PC logo on it after end of August. She will be packing everything up and putting it on sale between now and then. She said she's already packing up and selling office supplies and her desks... and plans to go back to her basement like she began to pursue other stuff. Just not with PC.

I told her that I didnt like the new design that The Pampered Chef asked her to use beginning a while back (the sandstone line) and she agreed.
She said she didnt like it from the start, and even asked PC at that time, "Are you trying to get rid of me?" and the Home Office specifically told her, "No". Now, this. She sounded like she felt misled and like a rug got pulled out from under her... and I don't blame her.

I have called the Home Office and emailed:
Consultants Corner
>Managing Your Business
>Home Office Emails
>Licensed Merchandise Vendors
>Nancy's Artworks:

I told Nancy that a lot of us would be emailing & calling the Home Office. She said it won't make a difference, that the Pampered Chef was "very cut and dry" with her about this move. We talked for about 15 minutes.. she sounds so sad and angry and heartbroken.
UGH I'm so upset about this... I really hope they reconsider.

 

[KellyRedHead]

Hi Laura-

I just read my email from HO on this change. I don't know what to say!!

I am so upset right now. I will admit I haven't ordered to much from Nancy's in the past (haven't had the cash to invest) but now I have the cash flow coming in more and wanted to order a bunch or postcards stickers etc!!! I don't care for Merrill's prices or the newer look.

I will also send HO in hopes the read them and change their minds!!!!!


Kelly

 

[dannyzmom]

I, too, just spoke to Nancy and sent an email to HO. Nancy sounds so sad. I am disgusted with the commercialization of PC as of late.

 

[jenniferknapp]

I, too, just spoke to Nancy and sent an email to HO. Nancy sounds so sad. I am disgusted with the commercialization of PC as of late.

I have a feeling that it is exactly what this is about....commercialization. I know that her website isn't the most professional...but this is, I think, her life.

 

[Pampered Laura]

and it has been for over 13 years. Sickening.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Here's mine:

So you've unloaded Nancy. The Pampered Chef has done some pretty dumb things over the years, especially lately, but this has got to be about the dumbest thing you've done yet.It's obvious - Doris steps down and the new management has to put their (her?) stamp on things:New logo and tagline.The old printer gets dumped for Merrill. VIP gets dumped for Merrill. Now Nancy gets dumped for Merrill. Merrill is not popular with consultants but apparently, that doesn't matter. Merrill is now the ONLY provider for everything, with no competition against a vendor that is already perceived as being too expensive. This company operated just fine for 25 years - much of it a result of Nansy's efforts - and you've lost sight of the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."You're getting too slick for your consultants and, more importantly, for your client base. Since nothing is sacred, are we next? The consultants go away so TPC can be sold in malls? Nothing would suprise me anymore.

 

[sailortena]

What a horrible way to end a 13-year relationship. Have you ever noticed that her site is not linked from Consultant's Corner? I never would have known that her site existed except for coming here and talking to other consultants.I am really mad they are putting a dedicated, small-business woman out of business. That's one thing I thought PC stood for, was our individual businesses. I don't know what the arrangement with Merril will be. I have some things through them, but I have never been impressed, especially with their customer service and reports on how they treat people at conference.

 

[hoosierchef]

I can't wait to see how JACKED UP Merrill's prices will be either!!

 

[Pampered Laura]

Nancy's site has always been in text on Consultant's Corner, but no... never a logo/link like VIP and Merrill. Unfair. I do NOT like this.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Don't buy anything from them.Anything.Do not visit their booth at conference, either.You can buy business card and stationery stock at Office Cheapo and the like, and just create your own.Who needs 'em?

 

[mommyhugz1978]

You know something this is jsut not right at all......

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Don't buy anything from them.

Anything.

Do not visit their booth at conference, either.

You can buy business card and stationery stock at Office Cheapo and the like, and just create your own.

Who needs 'em?

And we have great people right on this site who have created apparel for us - at much better prices.....

 

[Pampered Laura]

Email from Nancy I just got....

Dear Laura,

It has been a pleasure to serve as a vendor the past 13 years. Thank you for your friendship and support. I’ve so enjoyed meeting with many consultants at conferences. I’ll miss swapping successes in your business. My plans are tentative as I think of my life after PC. I have promised myself a daily walk around the neighborhood pond to feed the ducks. I’ll need more than a month to stuff my desk back into my home basement after 13 years. My basement seems to have shrunk! Maybe I’ll get back to writing more children’s books and drawing cartoon family portraits.

Thank you again for your friendship. Indeed, I have been changed for the good.

God bless you,
Nancy

P.S. Your orders are still very welcome!

 

[AJPratt]

I, too, just spoke to Nancy and sent an email to HO. Nancy sounds so sad. I am disgusted with the commercialization of PC as of late.

Yes... Its a shame because Nancy's is a company like this once was: built by one woman. I still think this is a great company, but I took some heat a little while back for making the comment, "You can tell Doris isn't in charge any more." about another issue. Please know, that I'm not trying to upset anyone by bringing it up. And, I'm not saying Doris was perfect or was always right, but you could at least respect her decisions because it was her business, that she built from the ground, up. I just think when a company is run by someone other than the person who built it, its rarely better. Case in point: How many times do you hear how some people built a business and then their kids took it over and ran it into the ground? I'm not saying that that's what will happen here, but I can say that there have been lots of changes but not any huge improvements since Doris left.

 

[jrstephens]

Here's the email I just sentI have never ordered from Nancy but like what I have seen of hers. I normally do my own stuff. BUT I cannot stand by to see people treated this way and for one company to have a "monopoly" on our merchandise.

"I am writing this in regard to your no longer allowing Nancy's Artworks to be a licensed dealer.

I personally cannot afford Merrill's prices on their products already. I think it is unhealthy for a company to take away competition and variety of products that a consultant can order. I am in the PC business to make money, not to have to spend all of my commission promoting my business because PC decided to give all merchandising rights to one company. I like to have choices in the things that I can purchase to promote my business.

I do not agree with breaking a relationship with a vendor that has been with a company for many years unless the consultants are not satisfied with what they are getting. The feedback I am receiving from other consultants in NO WAY is against Nancy. Everyone I have talked to is outraged with the change!

I hope that you will take in the view of the consultant's and allow Nancy to continue as a vendor. If not, I hope that you put into Merrill's contract the right to have some control over their prices so that we consultant can afford their items if we are forced to have no other option to choose. Of course, we can choose the option of not ordering from them at all if we are not happy with them.

I have been with PC a little over a year and love the way consultants' opinion are heard and how PC treats their consultants. I hope that you will take our opinion to heart in that matter as well."

 

[jrstephens]

Yes... Its a shame because Nancy's is a company like this once was: built by one woman. I still think this is a great company, but I took some heat a little while back for making the comment, "You can tell Doris isn't in charge any more." about another issue. Please know, that I'm not trying to upset anyone by bringing it up. And, I'm not saying Doris was perfect or was always right, but you could at least respect her decisions because it was her business, that she built from the ground, up. I just think when a company is run by someone other than the person who built it, its rarely better. Case in point: How many times do you hear how some people built a business and then their kids took it over and ran it into the ground? I'm not saying that that's what will happen here, but I can say that there have been lots of changes but not any huge improvements since Doris left.

Amen!! Change is not always better. That's like when a product has "new and improved" labeled on it - it is usually new and worse!

 

[hoosierchef]

I think you are going to see more and more consultant breaking the contract with PC in that they'll create and have their own stuff printed up with local vendors using the PC logo.

PC is going to be their own demise. This pretty much makes me wish I hadn't resigned or registered to go to conference.

 

[janetupnorth]

I think you are going to see more and more consultant breaking the contract with PC in that they'll create and have their own stuff printed up with local vendors using the PC logo.

PC is going to be their own demise. This pretty much makes me wish I hadn't resigned or registered to go to conference.

Too funny - didn't realize you meant re - signed or "signed again" and thought you resigned...as in quit...

 

[Pampered Laura]

Oh! I thought that too. Ah, that makes much more sense. You're "pre-seasoned" like me

 

[Pampered Laura]

Might I suggest we flood Nancy with emails telling her we love her and that we don't agree with this... She will answer your email, I bet. She's super cool like that

[email protected]

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Yes... Its a shame because Nancy's is a company like this once was: built by one woman. I still think this is a great company, but I took some heat a little while back for making the comment, "You can tell Doris isn't in charge any more." about another issue. Please know, that I'm not trying to upset anyone by bringing it up. And, I'm not saying Doris was perfect or was always right, but you could at least respect her decisions because it was her business, that she built from the ground, up. I just think when a company is run by someone other than the person who built it, its rarely better. Case in point: How many times do you hear how some people built a business and then their kids took it over and ran it into the ground? I'm not saying that that's what will happen here, but I can say that there have been lots of changes but not any huge improvements since Doris left.

Anne, I'm seriously reconsidering attending conference. For one reason, I'm in need of a medical procedure that was supposed to have been performed in March but the providers screwed it up - and July is my next window of opportunity. Secondly, I'm physically ill at what has happened today and my faith in TPC as a supportive vendor has been deeply shaken.

They yanked the old printer for Merrill.

They yanked VIP for Merrill.

They yanked Nancy for exclusivity by Merrill.

Anyone see a trend here? We didn't really like VIP very much but we all seem to like Merrill even less. The other fact people are missing is that VIP was a company Jay started.

Out with the old...

I wonder if we're next? Will TPC now be in the mall next to Williams-Sonoma? Nothing will suprirse me about this company anymore.

 

[pckelly]

I am emailing home office right now! I have never ordered from Merrill and have only ordered from nancy's!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pcchris]

Here's my 2 cents...maybe we should boycott Merrill - at least for a little while...I understand that we all need to purchase business building materials, but perhaps we should all stock up on nancy's stuff now, and bypass Merrill for a while. I do not care for their stuff or their prices. Wouldn't that be SOMETHING for everyone to not visit their booth at conference? Just a thought...not a good one, but 2 cents ain't worth much anymore! ha.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Office Cheapo has everything I need, except for the logo...and I can live without that.

 

[pamperedtraci]

Office Cheapo has everything I need, except for the logo...and I can live without that.

You can get the logo off CC!

 

[AJPratt]

Anne, I'm seriously reconsidering attending conference.

Ooohhh, I'll put a prayer request thread up for you!

I'm sorry that you have to have this procedure done. I don't think you were in my Wave for conference, so I won't miss you as far as not seeing you at conference... although maybe you could change waves and be in my wave!

And, I knew that VIP was Jay's company, and he stepped down right about when Doris did. And PC putting all of their eggs in one basket is not a good idea.

I can't remember the last thing I even ordered from Merrill.

 

[pckelly]

I can live without the logo too!! I am going to boycott Merrill!! I am gonna stock up with Nancy when she starts her sales!!

 

[hoosierchef]

I just received an order I placed with Merrill a couple weeks ago. I wish I hadn't.

 

[KimmyDarling]

I just did the only thing I think can truly help Nancy-- I placed an order.

 

[pamperedalf]

Kim, that's awesome. Let's flood Nancy w/ orders to show how much you care!!! Today's payday!!!