Stampin Up! Demonstrator question

I have a question for all of you SU demonstrators out there. I am seriously considering becoming a demonstrator (this is my third time considering it and I think the timing is finally right for me), but my demonstrator is out of town and I have a few questions to help me think it over before I meet with her on Monday.

1/ what is the minimum amount you have to make per month to remain an active demonstrator? What happens if you don't make that one month? Or do they do it by quarters? If you become inactive for not making the minimum, how difficult is it to get back into it?

2/ would I have to change my personal blog so that it only contains SU stuff? The blogs of SU demonstrators that I go to are very SU focussed, whereas my blog is kind of just a record of my crafty adventures including products from lots of different companies. I would imagine I'd take down the links I have to my favorite online scrappy shops, but other than that, could I just leave it as it is? Would it make a difference if I didn't advertise it as part of my SU business?

3/ I have a small crafty business making fabric flowers that are used as fashion accessories but can also be used in scrapbooking and card making (although this is not how we've marketed them at this point). Is this a conflict of interest or can I keep on making and selling these?

4/ when I do workshops and classes as a SU demonstrator, do I have to use all SU tools? I know I would be using their stamps, paper, ink, and embellishments, but could I use my cuttlebug, my non SU scissors, paper trimmer, etc? I would want to use as many SU tools as possible but at the beginning I won't have as many SU branded tools.

Do you have any other tips, advice, or ideas of things I should be considering? I work part time and have 2 kids (6&4) and my husband is a stay at home dad so I have a lot of support at home. I am not looking to make much money, but maybe just enough to support my crafting. I am considering doing this more for fun than for money, so if there are parts that are stressful or not fun (I'm sure there are a few), I'd like to hear about it so I know what I'm getting myself into.

Thanks so much for your help, I love having a place where I can tap into so much experience and expertise!

I am curious as well!!!! Anyone??!!!!!

These are great Questions,,,I hope someone will be able to give you some answers.

I'm not a demonstrator, but the two demonstrators I've used have both used non-SU items in their classes. They've mostly used SU stuff, but it wasn't everything.

I can't answer specifics in regards to SU (but I'll put a shout out to a friend who is a demonstrator so she peeks in and hopefully helps you out), but I can share some of what I learned from 7 years of being a consultant with CM... some of it is similar...


Do you have any other tips, advice, or ideas of things I should be considering? I work part time and have 2 kids (6&4) and my husband is a stay at home dad so I have a lot of support at home. I am not looking to make much money, but maybe just enough to support my crafting. I am considering doing this more for fun than for money, so if there are parts that are stressful or not fun (I'm sure there are a few), I'd like to hear about it so I know what I'm getting myself into.

Balancing home time and business time can be stressful. I made it clear early on to my daughter and husband that I need to spend x amount of time doing various things for my business. Most of the times, they respect that, but every once in awhile, they forget the rules (ie, when it's crop night, after they let my customers into the building, they need to leave us alone except to say good night or announce an arrival/departure) or throw off my concentration or don't do their share of the chores so I'm running around trying to keep my books while doing the laundry. Get your kids involved in your business in some way they can be helpful so that they think they're contributing to something greater, but they also learn to respect your business time. My daughter's primary role is greeter. (As I write this, our security door buzzer rang and she is going to the foyer to let tonight's crop customers into the building). She takes her role so seriously that she gets sad if customers cancel on me. By making her a part of my business, she's also learning about different life choice possibilities as well as gaining the knowledge that Mom isn't just playing with paper and glue, but that my scrapbooking business is what helps pay our bills.

Make a date with yourself to get things done, too. One of my biggest failings is that I put off doing the mundane minutia (paperwork for tax purposes, etc) until I have days worth of work instead of keeping it in check with 15 -30 minutes of work every week.

Break everything down into manageable goals/steps for you. $500 in sales in 30 days seems like an unattainable goal to some people. Say Stamp Sets are $25 each. In order to make your goal, you need to sell 20 stamp sets. Saying "I need to sell 20 stamp sets this month" still results in $500 in sales, but it's not as overwhelming to think about.

Get used to the word no and learn that it's not personal. It can be very discouraging when you're trying to make a goal and all you hear is no. What I'm learning is that if I'm patient, eventually a good chunk of those nos become yeses.

Good luck.

Thank you so much, this is very helpful. Lots to think about, but I'm leaning towards it.

hi, im a memory-work consultn.. and this compnay doesnt give you quotas to go buy.. so i would check that out before you sign up. I went MW becaues they over all kinds of products like basic grey, three bugs in arug.. and the like. so jsut saying

Thanks for bringing memory works to my attention, it looks like a great opportunity and I like that there's no quota, as well as the fact that you're not "locked in" to one company's product. According to their website, they are not available in Canada, so not an option for me.

I really love SU products, so from all my options, I think SU is probably the best fit for me. But if MW ever comes to Canada, that would be something for me to consider!

Another question I'd ask...

Are you locked into a location?

I'm thinking something akin to "turf wars" among Avon consultants, vs Mary Kay consultants (sorry, it's my only experience with this sort of thing) can have customers pretty much anywhere.

Greetings! I am new here & a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and I just stumbled upon your questions. I have been a demo over 13 years, hopefully I can answer your questions.

Before I start, someone asked if there are territories, and there are not. The only thing is you can only sell within your own country.

Also, Stampin' Up! has a sign-up special for July, so now is the time to get in for less money if you're interested.

Now for your questions:

1. The minimum sales is $300 per quarter. If you are short for the quarter you have one additional month to bring it up to $300 plus an additional $100. If you don't make it you then become inactive. If for some reason you wanted to sign up again after becoming inactive you are welcome to do that, but of course it's easier to just get your sales in. Just think of it as $100 a month average.

2. You are not required to use only Stampin' Up! stuff on your blog/website, but many of us focus only on SU! because that's what we sell (and buy! So no, you wouldn't have to change it unless you have links to companies that compete with SU!, they frown on that.

3. You are welcome to make & sell your craft products. In fact, why not get your supplies at a discount?

4. I never take competing products to my shows. It doesn't mean I don't own them, but I only take what I can show and sell.

Many people sell SU! as a hobby and have a lot of fun with it, and it's a great way to meet lots of new friends and just get out of the house for a bit, but if you want to make money you need to be consistent. I certainly offer lots of training to my team members interested in making it a business, whether local or long distance (I'm in the U.S.). Stampin' Up! also has tons of help for you both online and in their monthly newsletter, etc.

One thing to point out is that your purchases will become a tax deduction, so be sure to keep good records. Things like internet, gas to shows, etc. become a tax deduction, also.

If you have other specific questions I'd be happy to answer them, just let me know.

I have only been a demonstrator since November. So this is what I know from having just recently gone over the demonstrator manual and what not.
1/ what is the minimum amount you have to make per month to remain an active demonstrator?... If you become inactive for not making the minimum, how difficult is it to get back into it?
Like was said before, it is $300 per quarter. If for example you sell $200 worth of products for the quarter of January through March, you will be put in pending status for the month of April. You then have to sell $200 worth of product during that month of April to remain an active demonstrator. The first $100 would be to make up from the quarter but the second $100 would go towards your new quarter requirements. I hope that makes sense.
You have six months after you are dropped to sign back up under the original person you signed up under.
I can't find any information whether or not you'd have to repurchase the starter kit if you decide to restart after the six months.

2/ would I have to change my personal blog so that it only contains SU stuff?
You do not have to show just SU stuff in your personal blog. It does however make sense that most SU bloggers only use SU items because they are using the creations to promote stamp sets, inks, embellishments, etc... However, I have seen on quite a few SU blogs that I follow bloggers using non-SU items. Showing on your blog and showing them in a workshop are two completely different topics though.
3/ I have a small crafty business making fabric flowers... Is this a conflict of interest or can I keep on making and selling these?
This is something that is a definite gray area. Since Stampin' Up! does sell it's own fabric lines, it would seem to me to be a conflict of interest. Your best bet is that if you are wondering, it probably is.
According to the contract you sign when you become a demonstrator, you aren't even allowed to work at a craft store such as Michael's since they sell competing products.
4/ when I do workshops and classes as a SU demonstrator, do I have to use all SU tools?
According to the contract you sign, you are only allowed to do workshops and classes with Stampin' Up! tools. This includes your trimmers, your scissors, your adhesive, etc... If you don't own a Stampin' Up! trimmer, what is suggested is that you pre-cut all of your items before hand so 'customers' don't see your non-SU product. SU makes it very clear in the contract you sign.

I hope this helps. I love being a demonstrator. It's a great choice especially if you do a lot of paper crafts and cards. In my opinion and my opinion only, I have noticed that CTMH is more geared towards actual scrapbooking while SU is more geared towards cards and paper crafts.