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Hi everyone! I am totally new to this sight and fairly new to Stampin Up, but not Stamps! I have been a stamp addict since the 80's and just recently have become hooked on Stampin Up. I am seriously thinking of signing up as a demo, but I have a question for all of you. Do you offer discounts to your family members and best friends? I would feel funny collecting a profit from my sisters for example. I'm just curious what others do in this situation. I am thinking of just joining as a hobby demo for now and sell just to some close friends and neighbors just to make quota and get my discount. Thanks!
A lot of the hobby demos give their discounts to family members. I always did when I ordered stuff from my little sister. I didn't feel right using my sister's money to pad my pocket when I make a lot more than she does with my regular job. But I sold products to friends at the full price - except my friend who does CM since she gives me her discount.
If you love Stampin' Up!'s products, you should sign up. Be your own best customer! The quarterly minimums are only $240 after your 20% discount. That's not too hard to do all by yourself I did it for 2 years! And 1 show a month or a stampers club will get you that minimum amount if you can't afford it that month.
Signing up was one of the best stamping decisions I've made. Call your demo and ask for a starter kit packet!
I signed up in January to be a hobby demo. Right now my two customers are me and my future sister in law. I could probably swing the $300 every quarter by myself but it is nice to have her help me with that so I give her the discount. Plus I feel bad since we live 2 1/2 hours away she doesn't get to see me demo or show her as much as I would like.
I give my mom, sister-in-law and sister-in-law's best friend my discount. They are my best customers by far. Even though I don't make money off them directly from their sales, it still adds up for quarterly minimums, great rewards, monthly specials, volume rebate checks, etc. It's definitely worth it to me. Plus, they order more knowing that they are getting 20% off.
I think that if you are joining to be a hobby demo that it would really help if you gave them your discount. I personally don't give my best friend or anyone else a discount. But, I don't charge them much for workshops and other things though. Plus I give lots of extras. If I gave them my discount I couldn't afford to make all the samples and supplies that they get to use. I do have customers that only come to a workshop and use my stuff. They don't buy, they like the fact that they can stamp and not have to make the investment. They don't stamp as much. I wouldn't be able to offer them my services if I did it any other way.
But I think it is great if that's what you want to do. We all run our businesses differently. That's the beauty of SU. You get to tailor it to suit your needs.
I hope you sign up. It's so worth it.
__________________ Angie
Mother of three wonderful children (Brayton-17 months, Brianna- 5 & Kyle-eight) and one grown man (my DH).
The starter kit is only $199+tax. The retail value of everything included is $355. You can add the Stampin' Memories Add-on for $50 (a $93 value). Plus everyone who signs up by the end of March will receive Sincere Salutations, a 2005-2006 set that you can see in the March Forward promotion flyer. It's a pretty awesome deal.
I don't give anyone a discount, and my mom and one of my sisters are very good customers. The only time I gave my sister a discount is when she was making 150 wedding invitations for her son, and she used all SU products!
__________________ ~Milli
"I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now." Edna; The Incredibles
From a business stand point you might try something like this... Offer them their first order with you at a discount of say 10 percent... that way they can try out some stuff and see if you can get them into it. You will not lose really if they do become customers because they will always like that they were able to start with a discount...then do a once a quarter appreciation order where you will give them something with their orders... like if they order 50 dollars worth... buy them an ink pad. Or if they do 75 dollars do a pack of asst'd paper... and of course, when they are loving SU! you will be able to buy them all wonderful gifts at a discounted rate!!! I do TONS of specials that boost my business as well as keep my customers happy so that I keep my customers...there is something to be said for taking care of someone with out giving it all away! And I have a new recruit who signed up to just do it for the discount...I told her this, if you are ever short for your quota in a quarter, throw a home workshop together with a few stamping friends and offer them all something free...people all love free stuff! I truly believe that it works.. I have a VERY GOOD customer who I have always taken care of and she has now introduced me to her sister and her mother...both of whom are wonderful customers as well... ok I could go on and on!! Sorry!! If you have more questions feel free to ask away! We are all a pretty helpful bunch for the most part! LOL
And a quick word, if you sign up in March you will still receive your free Sincere Salutations Set...that is another thing to consider!!! It is a wonderful set!
I couldn't imagine NOT giving my Mom a discount. We started stamping together plus, hello - she's my MOM! I probably wouldn't give discounts to cousins and more distant relatives but if my sister in law wanted to stamp I would give it to her for sure. For me personally it just doesn't feel right making money off your immediate family! That's just me though - and I have a really small family so maybe someone with a larger family would be in more of a quandry than me!
Good luck with your decision - my best advice is to go with your gut instincts - they're always right!
Here is what I do. I charge my mother and my sister the price that is listed in the catty. For example if a stamp set is $19.95 that is what they pay (no S&H and no tax). It works out easier for me to do it that way ~ than to take the price minus the discount then add the shipping then add the tax. My tax rate is 6.75% and when you figure in 10% for the shipping they are getting a 16.75% discount. The remaining 3.25% helps with my purchases or will cover the cost of my mini's, supplies, etc. I would definately not feel right making a profit off my immediate family ~ regardless of my business position (ie - hobby or business demo).
I couldn't imagine NOT giving my Mom a discount. We started stamping together plus, hello - she's my MOM! I probably wouldn't give discounts to cousins and more distant relatives but if my sister in law wanted to stamp I would give it to her for sure. For me personally it just doesn't feel right making money off your immediate family! That's just me though - and I have a really small family so maybe someone with a larger family would be in more of a quandry than me!
Good luck with your decision - my best advice is to go with your gut instincts - they're always right!
LOL
I usually end up buying my moms stuff!!! LOL I was pretty much talking about the friends and future customers! LOL
I don't give a discount because like someone else said then I couldn't afford to make all the cool samples I make and do the cool projects. I do give my really good friends (who happen to be really good customers) some extra benefits. They often come over and stamp or scrapbook with me and then use my stuff for free. I also do specials for anyone such as giving free extras.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT. I GUESS I JUST NEEDED TO HEAR IT FROM OTHER PEOPLE. MY GUT INSTINCT WAS TO GIVE THE DISCOUNT TO MY SISTERS AND SISTER-IN-LAW AND TO CHARGE FRIENDS THE REGULAR PRICES. I LIKE THE IDEA OF THEM PAYING WHATEVER THE PRICE IS OF THE SET AND NOT S&h AND TAX. I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING THINGS FOR FREE WHEN SPENDING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.........I PLANNED ON DOING THAT ALL ALONG BECAUSE EVERYONE LIKE'S TO GET SOMETHING FOR FREE! AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INPUT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING THIS COMPANY AND GETTING SUCH GREAT SUPPORT FROM ALL OF YOU! THANK YOU.
I give my 4-H kids 10% discount if ordering for 4-H related projects. I give away a free ink pad if they spend $50 and a pack of paper if they spend $100 (their choice of color) They seem to enjoy that little bit of FREE stuff they get and makes them spend the $50 to get it... seems to work for me.
Another hobby demo here....my very best friend gets a discount all the time....she and I are heavy duty stampers (on many levels)....we both hemmed and hawwed about who would be the demo....I'm the leap of faith person and she is the analytical person (she can probably spell that right too) so needless to say ...I became the demo....We do Stamp club at church and periodically have a fund raiser for our woman's group. I've had about 4 workshops since last January...I have a lot of individual sales,to a small group of folks, that I group together as workshops and I keep the cool extra stuff...I'm certainly not rolling in dough....but I'm having fun....and appreciate being able to do what I want to do ....when I want to do it!! And I get to stamp stress free...and cheaper....I think offering free stuff for your formal workshops is a great idea....better than a discount....but certain people get a discount and other's get free tax/shipping. which makes the math easier!!! because there is no math!!!! MOst important in all things....do what you love and enjoy life!!! And try not to panic at tax time..... :shock:
I totally appreciate all of the pros & cons to discounts for friends & family. As a new demonstrator, I was wonderring the same thing. I think that I will do the flat rate of charging what the catalog price is minus shipping/handling/tax, etc. Less confusion and they will see that I'm not out to get them (or their money)
I give my mom free shipping (essentially a 10% discount) and since she has had workshops and classes for me, she has also gotten plenty of free stuff, free catalogs, etc. I figure the 10% I make from her pays for credit card processing (she prefers to pay that way), catalogs, and all of the other stuff I give her. I have also given her a few of my retired sets and wheels when I am running out of space.
There is no one else that I give my 20% discount to, but I offer plenty of specials throughout the year to my regular customers and anyone else who looks at my website. I have a large extended family and close friends, so it would be hard to figure out where to draw the line. But then again I have hopes of making a profit some day...if I can ever keep my OWN spending in check!
discounts to family?
