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I, too, have been comtemplating on becoming a demo next year. But I'm afraid that I'm not gonna be able to devote ample time to host workshops or stamp camps to meet my minimums. I work full time in a high stressful environment then I also had my lovely daughter in August. Can you say life-changing???
In any case, I truly love stamping. It's my creative outlet. It's my "me" time. And I'm so into it that I wanna become a demo to share what I've learned from this site to others (and support my habit). :lol:
But how do you find time to do this? I know there are moms who have their hands ALOT fuller than mine. Just need some tips to get the best of both worlds.
I work full time and bring work home with me too. I have a dd away at college and a ds in high school. I too am a hobbey demo and find that it is a wonderful diversion from the stresses of life. It has very easy for me to meet the minimum and not just with my purchases. If you have 2 workshops a quarter, your minimum is met. I have been a demo for 1 year now. My only frustration is that we are building a house now and living in a tiny cottage. I have no space to do stamp camps or even have a few stampers over to stamp. When our house is done, I will have my own stamping room with plenty of room for stamp camps. We have been in the cottage for 4 months now and hope to be in by the end of February. It has not hindered my ability to make my minimum. Good luck. Feel good about any decision you make.
While the financial incentive is nice, I'm not a very good salesperson. Just wanna make cards and share them with others. I would love to get my stamps and supplies at a discount, but I don't think I can spend $100 a month on my own to meet the minimum.
I was in your same situation just about 2 years ago trying to decide whether to become a demo after just returning to work from maternity leave...I chose not to at the time. It was too big of an adjustment and due to excessive sleep deprivation, there was no way I could have done it looking back.
Now...2 years later, I'm ready to take the leap and will do so in January. It's finally the right time and I needed Jackson to be a little older as well. It was a tough decision, but I'm really glad I waited and knew the time would come.
I hope that helps a bit!
__________________ Tracey
Proud working mama to the little dude...Jackson!
I work full time, high stress enviorment, but it is always M-F summers and Holidays off. I am mostly a hobby demo but I do enough with a few regular customers to meet minimums, I help with that too :oops:
I am going to be putting a stamp club together for about 6 people to meet once a month and do a project, I supply the materials and commit to order @ least $25.00 per month. I put as much time into my SU! as I can. I have 3 kids @ home, 12, 9 and 7 and 2 away from home right now 19, 16.
My stampin' is my 'me' time, I have to have my 'me' time or I would go insane.
I do workshops also but not that many, I have 1 comming up in January, and already have 3 people wanting to do the once a month thing.
Good Luck with whatever you decide, it's always ok to wait if you have second thoughts about jumping right in.
I am a full time working woman with a son in high school. You might want to consider becoming a demo if you think your co workers would be your customers. My customer base includes the majority of my co workers. So it is easy to meet my minimum. I am mainly a hobbyist demo but do have stamp camps. I agree though that sleep is important and that your little one is only little once. I am wanting to expand into more of a business this coming year. If you can get orders at work then you don't have to worry so much about the time involvement if that makes sense. Good luck with whichever path you chose. Trust your gut on this one.
You can still meet your quotas without holding a ton of stamp camps and parties. I think that the biggest deciding factor should be if you want to use this as a needed income or you want to get discounts, share stamping, and get free product.
I signed up when I had a fulltime teaching job and a part-time weekend job. I signed up b/c my upline made it worth my while. I never went in with any intention to make money b/c I could not devote all that time to what it would take to make 20% profit worth my while. So....I sell to support my habit. I hold 1 openhouse a quarter (that is a total of 4 a year). I pass along bounses to my customers (such as free shipping, incentive stamps, free catalogs, etc.) and I keep the hostess benefits to get goodies. I also place a monthly order and contact my customers via email, phone, etc. about specials that Stampin' Up is running.
I think it is a necessity that you have your outlet. If stamping is your stress relief go for it! Mom's need their hobbies for their sanity and the well being of the family!!! :lol:
Remember, you can run your business how you want. If that means running it just to support your habit, you are able to pass along discounts, bonuses, etc. to your customers and spend less time having parties, recruiting, etc. If you are running it to make a profit, you will spend more time doing it. It is all in how you decide you want to do it. I hope that helps you and you are able to make the best decision for you and your family. January and Feb. are the BEST times to sign up....you get so much more!
Babies definitely change your life! I gave birth to my first child in June. I also went back to work last week. I have been thinking about becoming a demo and have the paperwork ready to fill out. I'm mostly signing up as a hobby demo just to support my habit and the discount. My friends and I get together once a month to make cards and other stamping projects, so I know they will help me with my minimums. Good luck to you and congratulations! Enjoy that baby!
Ladies, thanks so much for the advice. You mamas are awesome!! I will take them to heart to make a sound decision. I already have my DH's support in whatever I do, which is very important.
My DD is my life and I cherish every moment I have with her. I can't wait for the day when she and I can do projects together!
I work part time outside of the house and I have a 3 yo DD (plus, there are weeks where I will work a minimum of 40 hours). I signed up planning to be a hobby demo when my DD was 1.5 yo. For the first year or so, I was cruising by doing 1-2 workshops a month, which was fine by me. Since convention (July) things have gotten a bit busier. Even though there are times where I feel overwhelmed - 2 weeknight parties in one week where I had to work FT - I don't think I can give up this business! I so enjoy sharing this fun craft/hobby/lifestyle with others. This is really a great way to "get away" from the stresses of work and home. My DH is very supportive, and has commented on the positive influence this has made with me. I have found some really great friends who have changed my life through stamping! Really!
Just try to be sure to set boundaries for yourself. Don't overbook yourself unless you're looking to make this a real business. I think 1-2 stamp camps, workshops, or clubs a month would be such a benefit to your sanity.
Just another thing, it's very possible that our lives will be changing in the next 2 years in that my DH is looking to attend Law School in Fall 2006. There may be a need for me to go to work FT or get a 2nd job at home. When I think about this possible future, I don't see myself letting SU go even with an added job. Of coure, I'd rather be able to grow my business up enough to where it will be enough to help us get by while he's in school.
I will have been a demo for a year in January. I, too, am a fulltime working mom with 2 great kids--5 1/2 and 3 1/2. My business is very small. I have a basic core group of customers and I like it that way. I'm not in this to make lots of $$$ or to make enough to quit my fulltime job. I support my habit (stamping...that is) and I've met some great women in the process. You can make your business what you want--big, little, etc... My up-line only does demos during the day since she goes to bed early--and usually at her home. You set the rules!
I would say go for it--you need to make sure that you have Mommy time or you'll burn out (been there, done that, have the medication to prove it--just kidding!) If you really want it and you have the support of your DH, January is the best time to make that leap!! Good luck in whatever your decision is!
I just wanted to add a little to this conversation, I too, work full time, have a three year old daugter, and a husband who travels for work so I only see him on weekends and not every weekend. I'm also a part time grad student. My husband actually talked me into becoming a demo so that I would have an excuse to escape all of this and do something I enjoy, otherwise I think he figured I would go ballistic or something. I'm lucky that I can afford to make the minimums myself, but usually I've had orders that helped supplement. I've never had a workshop though I am trying to get some booked now to gain interest (especially with sale-a-bration coming up).
Full-time working mama demos
