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new Stampin Up demo - question re: non SU product use
Hi there - just signed up a few days ago to be a Stampin Up demo for the $99 starter kit. I plan to be a hobby demo - I am unable to do craft shows or parties (but am open to possibly doing a class at my home once in awhile). What I'd like to do is have a blog with some projects, and a link to that online store through Stampin' Up that would be linked to me.
Anyway, my question is, when showing projects - am I not allowed to use any other company products besides Stampin' Up? (For example, a paper or marker), or am I just not supposed to promote/link to/mention the other company? I was confused with some of the forum posts I've been reading. If, say, I wanted to show off a stamp set, and make some card using the set but happen to use a non SU marker or patterned paper - would that be acceptable as long as I'm not listing where those supplies are from? (thereby not promoting the competing company?)
I ask this because I really only have SU stamps, not papers or markers or ink (yet, anyway). I have SO much other products, I'd hate to have to spend tons of money stocking up on papers and such when really, I'm only trying to show off a stamp set for a few orders to help me with my minimums (so I don't have to cover it all myself).
Thanks in advance for the help!
Edited to add: This is specifically regarding blog posts of projects. I'd fully expect if I held a class, to use solely SU products at the class.
I think SU sets you up with a website...not positive though. I had a friend who was a demo for a short time and she had her own blog before signing up with SU. What she did was she would put projects on her personal blog and then when she used a SU product, she would put a link to her SU website where people could then buy from her. Like saying "I used (insert link to: Poppy Parade paper pack)...and some ribbon that I got at Joann's" I don't know if that was against the rules but it's what she did. Probably not much help; just sharing what this particular hobby demo did.
__________________ "For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack" ~Rudyard Kipling my gallery
Last edited by CraftyMel2; 05-04-2012 at 02:57 PM..
Reason: I put a symbol in and it erased my words
and you don't have to GO BACK and change earlier posts.....
but you would need to remove sidebar links to other stmping/scrapbooking sites that sell merch.
You can use whatever you want on your blog/website but like Leigh said, you just can't point people to websites where they can buy competing product you used but if you are trying to sell the SU version, its in your best interest to be generic in what you publish.
Welcome to the SU family! Hope you love all the resources you get as a demo. And speaking of resources, there is actually a SU demo only forum here on SC you should totally check out. It is a great source of information, chatter, and help for demo specific questions.
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Yes, you totally CAN say what brand you used. You just can't promote it so you can't:
1. Go on and on about how aweseom products XYZ is
2. Have a link to anywhere with a shopping cart to buy XYZ product
It just makes good business sense to not promote products you don't sell...hobby or not.
And as far as a website SU doesn't just give you one but you can sign up for one. Spend some time on the demo website and reading the manual. It has a lot of good info.
And join the demo forums like Jennifer suggested. Just click the join a group button on the left of the screen and follow the instructions. Hope to see you over there! It's a very helpful place and is really the place for business questions like this!
You can use whatever you want on your blog/website but like Leigh said, you just can't point people to websites where they can buy competing product you used but if you are trying to sell the SU version, its in your best interest to be generic in what you publish.
Welcome to the SU family! Hope you love all the resources you get as a demo. And speaking of resources, there is actually a SU demo only forum here on SC you should totally check out. It is a great source of information, chatter, and help for demo specific questions.
Yes, you totally CAN say what brand you used. You just can't promote it so you can't:
1. Go on and on about how aweseom products XYZ is
2. Have a link to anywhere with a shopping cart to buy XYZ product
It just makes good business sense to not promote products you don't sell...hobby or not.
And as far as a website SU doesn't just give you one but you can sign up for one. Spend some time on the demo website and reading the manual. It has a lot of good info.
And join the demo forums like Jennifer suggested. Just click the join a group button on the left of the screen and follow the instructions. Hope to see you over there! It's a very helpful place and is really the place for business questions like this!
Welcome and have fun!
Thank you for the instructions! Totally helpful
Also, I am just going to have my own blog (I use Blogger for my main blog - just gonna create one to keep the Stampin' Up projects separate but I'll link to the projects from my main blog). I also think I'll sign up for the Stampin' Up site (the one where it's essentially the Stampin' Up store but your demo name is attached) for $13/month. I don't expect to be able to host parties, but thought I'd give the blogging with a link to "my" store a shot!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mswhittaker23
Thank you for the instructions! Totally helpful
Also, I am just going to have my own blog (I use Blogger for my main blog - just gonna create one to keep the Stampin' Up projects separate but I'll link to the projects from my main blog). I also think I'll sign up for the Stampin' Up site (the one where it's essentially the Stampin' Up store but your demo name is attached) for $13/month. I don't expect to be able to host parties, but thought I'd give the blogging with a link to "my" store a shot!
That's what I do! I don't care for the SU blog....
I'm considering the Demonstrator thing but can't seem to make up my mind. My question sort-of relates to the one asked to start this thread so I'm tacking it on, hope that's okay.
I was wondering more specifically about posting cards in my gallery on SCS. Is it still okay to post cards to my gallery that are made using other companies stamps/products once you become a Demo? If so, can I name those companies in the write-up that I put with it or do I need to use more generic terms? I don't have a blog and don't intend to start one so that won't be an issue for me. Simply considering becoming a Demonstrator to try to save a little on my habit. ;) But I'm trying to understand all of the rules before I make a final decision.
I'm considering the Demonstrator thing but can't seem to make up my mind. My question sort-of relates to the one asked to start this thread so I'm tacking it on, hope that's okay.
I was wondering more specifically about posting cards in my gallery on SCS. Is it still okay to post cards to my gallery that are made using other companies stamps/products once you become a Demo? If so, can I name those companies in the write-up that I put with it or do I need to use more generic terms? I don't have a blog and don't intend to start one so that won't be an issue for me. Simply considering becoming a Demonstrator to try to save a little on my habit. ;) But I'm trying to understand all of the rules before I make a final decision.
Thanks so much!!
You totally can!! Use whatever you want for your personal crafting. You just can't link to other companies' stores. It's really not restrictive at all. After you've been a demo for a while you might decide to stop showing off other companies' stuff just as a personal business decision, but it's totally up to you.
The only demos who've gotten in trouble for stuff like this have been those who linked directly to stores selling the other merchandise. Totally makes sense that SU would not want their demos sending people straight to another company, eh? You can talk about it, but don't grab them by the hand and lead them to the store, so to speak.
__________________ Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek, Gold EliteSong of My Heart Stampers14-time incentive trip earner
Also, I am just going to have my own blog (I use Blogger for my main blog - just gonna create one to keep the Stampin' Up projects separate but I'll link to the projects from my main blog). I also think I'll sign up for the Stampin' Up site (the one where it's essentially the Stampin' Up store but your demo name is attached) for $13/month. I don't expect to be able to host parties, but thought I'd give the blogging with a link to "my" store a shot!
Welcome! See you on the demo side! : )
I have my own blog, too (on Typepad). One great thing is you can set it up to feed into the pre-made blog on your Stampin' Up demo website, too, so that it is there if anyone goes looking for it. But if you don't want to mess with setting up or paying for your own blog, the pre-made one that comes with the demo website is perfect.
__________________ Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek, Gold EliteSong of My Heart Stampers14-time incentive trip earner
You totally can!! Use whatever you want for your personal crafting. You just can't link to other companies' stores. It's really not restrictive at all. After you've been a demo for a while you might decide to stop showing off other companies' stuff just as a personal business decision, but it's totally up to you.
The only demos who've gotten in trouble for stuff like this have been those who linked directly to stores selling the other merchandise. Totally makes sense that SU would not want their demos sending people straight to another company, eh? You can talk about it, but don't grab them by the hand and lead them to the store, so to speak.
Cool! Thanks for the info. I keep rolling the idea around in my head and I'm almost ready to take the plunge...still trying to figure out whether it makes $$ sense for me to do it or not. I know I'll pretty much be my only customer.
Cool! Thanks for the info. I keep rolling the idea around in my head and I'm almost ready to take the plunge...still trying to figure out whether it makes $$ sense for me to do it or not. I know I'll pretty much be my only customer.
Well, if you have a wishlist that is $100 or more, I'd say go for it now that they've come out with the new starter kit. You can pick ANY $125 worth of product for $99 and get free shipping. Then you get at least 20% off your orders until you stop making your minimums, and then you just go back to being listed as a customer instead of a demo. So, if you were going to spend the money anyway, might as well get a discount, right? And who knows, maybe you will have a friend or two who want some stuff too and will buy from you making it easier for you to keep your demoship and the discount longer.
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Yeah, there's no penalty for dropping or anything. And you get to keep all your stuff (some companies make you send stuff back if you drop). If you are spending $280 every quarter it just makes sense to sign up...that's why I did. And if you have even a few friends who will order from you then you won't have to buy as much (of course you'll totally want to, lol).
And lots of people just sign up for the discount....and end up doing pretty well! Right Lyssa?;-)
Thanks for the comments. I'm really leaning toward doing it, I've got a huge wish list with the new catalog (and I've only seen the PDF version so I'm sure the list will get even bigger when I see the real thing!). And my sister-in-law has told me that she "needs" a few things too so I think I'll have the quarterly minimums covered for awhile.
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I signed up about a year and a half ago and intended to be a hobby demo. I thought if I only last one quarter, so be it. Each quarter I ended up with some outside sales from friends. All of a sudden another demo said she'd do classes with me. I invite my friends and she invites her friends. Any sales from my friends go to me and vice-versa. Things have just kept falling into place and I've kept afloat. If the day comes that changes then I gladly go back to being just a good customer!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Yeah, there's no penalty for dropping or anything. And you get to keep all your stuff (some companies make you send stuff back if you drop). If you are spending $280 every quarter it just makes sense to sign up...that's why I did. And if you have even a few friends who will order from you then you won't have to buy as much (of course you'll totally want to, lol).
And lots of people just sign up for the discount....and end up doing pretty well! Right Lyssa?;-)
Ummm... yeah!!! LOL! I actually didn't even want the discount--just wanted the kit! I thought I'd be happy with just what came in the kit, can you imagine?? LOL!
I just had my seven year anniversary. You can see from my signature that it very quickly took off into something I never imagined in my whole life!!! I'm so glad I didn't miss that!
__________________ Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek, Gold EliteSong of My Heart Stampers14-time incentive trip earner
Love hearing your stories. Hope it goes as well for me, I think I'm finally ready...planning to get my order ready for the starter kit and submit it in the next day or two. Thanks!!
Love hearing your stories. Hope it goes as well for me, I think I'm finally ready...planning to get my order ready for the starter kit and submit it in the next day or two. Thanks!!
Yay! Very exciting for you! PS - I learned that if you are getting any ink pads as part of your starter kit, you can select the new style instead of the old style of pads. So, just an fyi! Have lots of fun with it and we'll see you more on the demo side!
Yay! Very exciting for you! PS - I learned that if you are getting any ink pads as part of your starter kit, you can select the new style instead of the old style of pads. So, just an fyi! Have lots of fun with it and we'll see you more on the demo side!
Great! Glad to hear that I can get the new ones, I'll be buying the new In Colors for sure, not sure that I'm ready to replace all of my old ink pads just yet...better see how the Demonstrator thing goes for awhile before committing to that. ;)
Have they become more relaxed on their enforcement or changed their policies since that time? This seems to be a bit more rigid than some of you have indicated.
Have they become more relaxed on their enforcement or changed their policies since that time? This seems to be a bit more rigid than some of you have indicated.
I wonder about this too. They have retired quite a few basic tools like the paper crimper, Crop-A-Dile, circle cutter and Dotto adhesive. What are demos supposed to use now at workshops that is still in the line and will work as well? Or are they not supposed to make anything that would require those tools?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cartermrc
I wonder about this too. They have retired quite a few basic tools like the paper crimper, Crop-A-Dile, circle cutter and Dotto adhesive. What are demos supposed to use now at workshops that is still in the line and will work as well? Or are they not supposed to make anything that would require those tools?
If SU doesn't sell something comparable then we are allowed to use it. So, a crop-a-dile can still be used (or any of the other things you mentioned...just using this as an example). Customers just aren't able to but it. And even if we still did offer it....I had one I had before I was a demo and I could still use it. I just let customers know I already had mine and theirs would be a different color. SU does NOT expect anyone to replace tools they may have already had...
Have they become more relaxed on their enforcement or changed their policies since that time? This seems to be a bit more rigid than some of you have indicated.
She apparently actively promoted products that are not SU on her VIDEOs, which is a no-no. And when asked to stop, she chose not to, and stepped away from SU.
However, as stated earlier, you can use whatever you wish for your personal enjoyment. Even on your blog, as long as you don't point people where to go and be generic. I often just state "non-SU" on my blogposts.
During workshops, I definitely try to use everything by SU. Afterall, that's what I'm trying to sell. No sense in showing things that SU doesn't sell. Doesn't benefit me any.
Thanks again for all of the information! I just signed up yesterday, now I'm trying to navigate through all of the stuff on the SU website and I need to go check out the Demo Forum here too! Can't wait for all of my new goodies to arrive. Chat with you all soon!
Thanks again for all of the information! I just signed up yesterday, now I'm trying to navigate through all of the stuff on the SU website and I need to go check out the Demo Forum here too! Can't wait for all of my new goodies to arrive. Chat with you all soon!
Woo-hoo! Congratulations!!!!!! See you on the demo forum!
new Stampin Up demo - question re: non SU product use
