If you are just joining our Blog from yesterday’s segment on the 700 Club, I am doing a small business focus this month to help mom’s who’d like to earn money from home.  If this topic doesn’t interest you, hop over to the archives from February where we did a whole month on saving money on groceries. 

If cosmetics aren’t your thing, cooking supplies might interest you more.  Here’s Maggie to tell you about why she loves her Pampered Chef business:  Note:  It’s interesting when you look at the birth of most of the Direct Sales Companies–most were started by a woman with a dream from her living room.

My name is Maggie Miniard and I’ve been with The Pampered Chef for four years.  I absolutely love being a consultant because what I do is not just about the products we sell, but the service and information we provide.  I love being able to  help busy moms and dads spend less time in the kitchen and more time together as well as give them the tips and tools they need to prepare healthy, nutritious meals that make the cooking experience fun.  Being a consultant also provides me with the opportunity to control my schedule, spend more time with my family and earn an extra income!  I have been asked if my business has been suffering since the economy has been so bad, and the honest answer is- “No” I actually had my best year ever last year.  I have found that not only have my sales increased, but sales for the Pampered Chef overall have increased because more people are eating at home instead of eating out.  And they want to know how to do it fast, easy and healthy.  Everyone loves to eat- so this business appeals to everyone!

One of the greatest features is our Consultant Kit.  The Pampered Chef offers two start up kits-The full sized kit costs $155 and contains about $570 worth of kitchen products, all the paperwork for your first six shows, training materials, hostess gifts, an apron, the bag to carry it all in and the software you need to submit your shows online.   This alone is worth the investment, but we give our hosts an opportunity to use $20 or $40 of their free product value to offset the cost of the kit.  The very least a hostess would pay for the full sized kit would be $115!  The mini-kit costs only $80 and contains approximately $200 worth of products, all the paperwork you would need for your first 4 shows, training materials, the apron, hostess gifts, and the software to submit your shows online.  For the month of March only- any consultant who signs up by the 31^st of March and qualifies in their first 30 days will receive half the cost of their kit back! 

As you can see, just from the kit price itself that The Pampered Chef is very generous to its consultants and hosts, and that generosity begins on day one!  They provide incentives for new consultants to strive for when they qualify in their first 30 days.  What does it take to qualify? –Simply submit $1,250 in product sales.   Many consultants (me included) achieve this in their first three shows.  The earning potential is limitless, but just to give an idea of what an average consultant can make look at this example.  A consultant who does just two average shows (an average show is approximately $450 in sales) each week can earn $850 each month.  Where else can you work just two days (or four hours) a week and earn that?

The training provided for new consultants is wonderful.  First off is the training DVD contained in the kit and the paperwork that helps a new consultant step by step get their business off to a good start.  There are online and tele-classes available 24-hours a day on The Pampered Chef website, along with a full library of videos that demonstrate how to prepare a variety of recipes, or show you how to use different products.  Team meetings take place once a month for more training and recognition.  And of course the consultant who signed you would take the lead in helping you get started.   Since there are no territories, a consultant can recruit anyone in the United States to join their team.  Assistance is provided that helps to connect new consultants that live apart from their recruiters with directors in their area.  Once a year, the home office prepares and schedules national conference and regional training meetings that any consultant can attend and receive further instruction from top sellers and motivation from leaders on how to be a success or how to take their business to the next level.  In fact, it is possible to promote to director in your first 90 days and they show you how!  I hear this over and over- “You are in business for yourself, but not by yourself” In the Pampered Chef community there is an abundance of help and resources available to ensure a new consultant’s success.

Another advantage is that there is no inventory to maintain.  In fact the only product a consultant is ever required to purchase is the kit itself.  Twice a year consultants are given the opportunity to earn the next season’s new products for FREE and each month special items are offered as incentives to the consultants as well.  This could be anything from special aprons, to clothing items or bags that help the consultant to advertise or enhance her business. 

The Pampered Chef home show format is one of the most fun I’ve been involved with, and its super easy- any one can do it!  The show itself can take anywhere from one to two hours.  The hostess buys all the ingredients needed to make the selected recipe for her show.  The consultant then demonstrates how to prepare the recipe, or has the guests prepare it under her watchful eye. Letting the guests try the tools out for themselves is a great way to “try before you buy.” My hosts and guests have so much fun and everyone chimes in with their own kitchen tips.  One of the things I love best about the cooking show is meeting someone who says they don’t cook or don’t like to cook, and at the end of the show they discover that not only can they cook, but that they enjoyed it too-they just needed the right tools! 

I hope this information has piqued your curiosity enough to take a closer look, and honestly I haven’t even scratched the surface on all the benefits and incentives consultants receive.  I would be thrilled to discuss this business opportunity with you further.  If you would like to browse the online catalog, place an order for products or schedule your own fun cooking or online catalog show-you can simply go to my website!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Maggie Miniard
Consultant #513399
Team Leader with The Pampered Chef
757-498-4229
aminiard@cox.net
www.pamperedchef.biz/maggieskitchen2