Stampin’ Up carries a range of crafting products, including their signature rubber stamps, digital crafting products, card-making kits, die-cutting supplies, and more. Stampin’ Up uses an independent direct sales force of demonstrators that sell largely using the home-party method.
Stampin Up is a privately held corporation. It does not disclose its sales figures. Their website claims that Stampin Up is a “multi-million dollar” company.
Currently Stampin’ Up has more than 40,000 demonstrators in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Australia, Germany, France, New Zealand, and Canada according to the company’s website.
Stampin’ Up was founded in 1988 by 2 sisters, LaVonne Crosby and Shelli Gardner, who wanted to make money while working from home. According to Dun & Bradstreet, it employed 560 people at its headquarters in Riverton, Utah in 2009.
Stampin’ Up Vision, Mission, and Goals
Stampin Up’s mission statement is called a “statement of the heart.” It is:
“To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference.”
Stampin’ Up Company Management
The company is led by Shelli Gardner, Co-founder and CEO.
Dale Fillmore serves as President. Scott Nielsen is the Chief Financial Officer ,and Julie Gandy is Human Resource Vice President.
Stampin’ Up Products and Services
Stampin’ Up’s products include their exclusive decorative rubber stamp line (sold in coordinating sets) as well as home décor, craft project, greeting card, and scrapbooking accessories.
Stampin’ Up Compensation Plan
Stampin’ Up products are sold through a direct sales force of demonstrators. It is $199 for the starter kit. Demonstrators receive 20% off all Stampin’ Up products for their own use and those they sell to customers. If they order $150 or more within the first 45 days, Stampin ‘Up demonstrators receive an extra 10% on that order.
Once demonstrators reach a $400 monthly sales level, they receive a volume rebate. Volume rebates start at 5% and increase to 20% at a sales level of $5K a month.
Demonstrators can also earn downline overrides – commissions on the sales of representatives whom they recruit. These overrides range from 3% to 6% of group sales, depending on the level of sales reached and the title the demonstrator has achieved. Demonstrators must maintain a personal monthly sales volume of $300 or more to be eligible to receive downline overrides.
Stampin’ Up also provides other incentives through its awards and recognition program. These include product and cash bonuses, incentive trips, as well as other awards.
Stampin ‘Up Public Record
As a privately held company, Stampin’ Up does not disclose its financials. The only reference to the company’s sales is on Stampin’ Up’s website, where it claims to be a “multi-million dollar” enterprise.
The Better Business Bureau rated Stampin’ Up as a A+. In the last 36 months there have been 3 complaints: 1 regarding advertising issues; 1 regarding delivery issues; and 1 regarding sales-practice issues.
Of the 3 complaints, 3 were resolved.
There was no apparent evidence of any pending lawsuits as of June 2010.
MLM Files Notes
There is evidence that the recession affected Stampin’ Up’s sales. In 2008, the company announced imminent layoffs. To combat this decline, the company launched new products aimed at the growing Hispanic market.
Stampin’ Up faces competition from craft stores in addition to the challenge of shrinking household discretionary dollars.
Because of the nature of the products, it is difficult for representatives to sell products online unless customers are already familiar with those products. Many have to be “demonstrated.”Thus, by its very nature, Stampin’ Up relies heavily on in-home demonstrations as its main sales vehicle. This means that demonstrators face the same challenges that a traditional MLM company faces: lack of continual, fresh, new leads.
