Please read if you've been a Pampered Chef consultant!

[OverplanninJess]

I just graduated w/my BS in December and have been looking for a job since then to no avail. I have been toying with the idea of becoming a Pampered Chef consultant as a way to have some sort of income (and to get some kitchen stuff of my own for when I move out to go to grad school in September). My cousin sells it and absolutely loves it, but I just wanted to get some more opinions. Do you find it difficult to book enough shows to stay active? Also, what would you think the minimum amount of time a month needs to be invested into Pampered Chef related things (I'm wondering about this for when I'm in grad school and will be busy, busy, busy-right now I'm lousy with extra time!) Any and all feedback is appreciated-thanks!

 

[Lillybelly]

I've been selling since 2004. The nice thing is that you can work as much or as little as you would like too. I haven't found it that difficult to book shows or to stay active. In 2005 I became pregnant with twins and during my entire pregnancy and having newborn twins I never was even close to going inactive. You do need to be willing to get on the phone and ask for bookings. After you get your first few shows under you, you'll usually get at least 1-2 bookings from each show you do. Case in point, I did a show today with 5 guests + host and still got 2 bookings.

The amount of time you spend per month depends on how many shows you want to do a month. The more shows you do the more money you make. I usually spend 15 min. to 1 hour a day Monday - Friday working in my office doing paperwork & making phone calls. Then it takes about 3 hours (setup, demo, collect orders, talk to host, clean-up) for each show.

I'm not in Grad school but I do have 4 kids 6 & under and I understand not having a lot of free time. Pampered Chef was designed to fit into many lifestyles (school, another job, kids, etc) and you can be successful, if you are willing to put in a little bit of work.

Let me know if you have other questions, I'm happy to help if I can. Good luck!

 

[problemchild718]

I toyed with the idea of becoming a Pampered Chef Consult (I used to sell Longaberger Baskets) so I committed to submitting parties each month for 3 months to see if I could do it. I got a great response the first month but it tapered off the 2nd and 3rd-I decided it would take more time and work to build a client base. Maybe in your area, the customer base would be greater. People just didn't seem to want to spend money on "extras" around here. Good luck with school!

 

[problemchild718]

I toyed with the idea of becoming a Pampered Chef Consult (I used to sell Longaberger Baskets) so I committed to submitting parties each month for 3 months to see if I could do it. I got a great response the first month but it tapered off the 2nd and 3rd-I decided it would take more time and work to build a client base. Maybe in your area, the customer base would be greater. People just didn't seem to want to spend money on "extras" around here. Good luck with school!

 

[AnninIowa]

I think with any at-home party business, you really have to be bold and not afraid to ask EVERYONE to book a party. I did the Body Shop at Home for awhile, but never made much because I had a horrible time booking parties. I even had trouble getting my friends and family to book parties, and then they would have trouble getting people to come. Granted, The Body Shop is pretty unknown in my area, so that didn't help.

You have to be willing to put your trust in strangers, basically - having a party for someone you don't know at their house, hoping they get enough people to attend or don't just book the party for the free gift and then cancel. Plus you have to haul all the stuff around, and I believe Pampered Chef people usually prepare food; and that comes out of your own pocket. Add in gas and time, and you really have to do quite a bit of volume to make any real money.

Not saying that you CAN'T be successful, but the people in these companies who do really well are those who recruit people under them. That is when you start to earn a commission on what THEY sell. I know a girl who does At Home America, and she has over 20 people under her. Not only does she make good money, but she earns the vacation every year (one was a Disney cruise, another Mexico). Of course every consultant will tell you how fabulous it is because they want to get you signed up under them...then hope you sign up people under you...and their commissions add up. In my time with The Body Shop, that was where the pressure was - recruit, recruit, recruit! I hated it, hence why I quit.

Hope I didn't discourage you; everyone is different, and I think if you love the products and know a lot of people, you should give it a shot! Just know it isn't always an easy way to earn money.

 

[Schachteles]

I agree with Ann...you have to be VERY bold and have to be able to work into EVERY single conversation that you have with anyone and everyone about you being a consultant. So the kid at the grocery store who rings you out, you need to tell him about it! I am a bold person but I don't like putting people in that position.

Myself I have sold Creative Memories, Pampered Chef and Mary Kay. NONE of them have "worked" for me. You have to remember, you are not to "steal" customers away from their current consultant, so if your friend already buys from someone, "technically" you can't sell to them.

Really the only way that you will make $$ is to have a good line of people under you. At one point I was selling $5000-$6000 a MONTH in CM with no recruits under me...and I was told by some of the top people that I would just burn out and not be able to continue at that pace and they were right...

Something that I found the hardest was that MOST people already know someone who sells it, so they aren't looking to buy it. The market is "flooded" with all of those consultants, or at least where I live it is. People can always find SOMEONE that will sell it to them at cost, which is what I have found, so why the heck sign up or they know that they can shop on eBay and pay less then retail.

Don't get me wrong it can work for some, but not for most. Before you sign up you need to sit down and figure out who you can sell to. And get a commitment from friends to host parties.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[andychris14]

I sold Pampered Chef for 3 years. There were times that I was busy and then slow. It is definitely what you make of it. If you are a hustler and go getting, you will succeed. I am on the shy side and did get shows but you do have to be pretty pushy. I am embarassed to keep hounding people for a party. That being said, you can make ok money and will get many items for free or 1/2 price.I did not like that many people are rude. Some times it is hard to find a parking spot for your car and have to lug the crates filled with all of the stones, etc which are very heavy pretty far. Some people do not have a drive way, etc. When I started venturing out of my neighborhood, it was also a little scarey. Not all locations are the greatest. I remember many husbands barely opening the door for you let alone ask if they could help. I would of said no but the gesture would of been nice. That also being said, I have a bad back now. I can not swear that it is because of all of the carrying but I do have a suspicion that it did not help.
Good luck in whatever you do.

 

[TaraPA]

Have you considered selling something consumable (sp)? Meaning, rather than "products" that people buy once & use or give as a gift, a product that is used up, then people have to buy it again? I've been successful in a direct selling business of consumable products (not, not skin care or make-up). I don't want to mention it here because I know all the flamers out there that will say I'm trying to push my business & I'm not....anyway....think about your product. If people like it, they will need more once it's gone & come back to you, right? I make more some months in re-orders of products vs. show sales. I have NEVER been pushed to recruit. Beware, some direct sales companies out there are super pushy about building your team & recruiting. Yes, once I had a few girls under me (they came to me, I never went after them) I started making money off of them, but that was never my priority with the business. I just wanted something to get me out of the house & make some extra money, on my terms. Just a thought, and of course, just my opinion.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Most direct sales companies are over saturated in my area, so you will have to really put yourself out there to build a client base, if it's the same way where you live. I did direct sales for another company years ago & just didn't enjoy it, and the products were expensive. I ended up not being motivated, or successful. The products I sell now I LOVE, and they sell themselves. So keep that in mind as well when choosing a direct sales company. You have to love what you sell and be confident that they are priced accordingly. Most of all have fun & make some money!

 

[strasfamily]

I used to sell Pampered Chef. I think they have one of the best commission structures and I like that I didn't have to carry inventory. The first couple of months were very busy and then it tapered down, but only because I am shy and didn't realy "work" the business. But I did get my kitchen stocked with some great products!

 

[disneynan]

I sold PC for about 8 months in 2003. It was great for the first few months when I was getting bookings from friends and family. It became more difficult to get bookings after that. Also, the consultant incentives were great in the first few months, but after you are done with your new consultant phase, you will no longer get all the free stuff. I found that most of my profits were going back into the business for supplies! You will have to pay for all of the paperwork required and the company will change the paperwork several times a year so you will need to keep purchasing the updates.

I also had a problem with a customer's check not clearing which caused my party submission to not clear with the bank. The company charged a fine although I had not had any problems before and I made no profit for the party. That was when I quit, I had no use for a company that would do that without even contacting their employee. I did not know there was a problem until the bank contacted me two days later. Of course, I had to pay bank fees as well because PC kept trying to submit with the bank, but never had the courtesy to contact me!

I did get some great stuff during my first three months and I don't regret doing it. The best thing that came of my working for PC was getting the confidence to leave a job I hated after 18 years for a job that I now love and make more money than before. I figured if I could run a party in front of a bunch of strangers, then I could sell myself in a job interview!

I say give it a try. You should make back your initial investment during the first three month with $$$, but will definately get it back in products at least. Good luck!

 

[nictodisney]

I was an active consultant for 8 years and now on again,off again for another 2. Pampered Chef fits into all life styles. Find someone to sign under and go to a couple of meeting before you sign if you think it will help. Meetings give you encouragement, new ideas, new recipes, demo ideas, and teach you how to handle your business. There are many ways to work the business, find what works for you.

A few things to note:
You as the consultnat do not provide the ingredients to make the food at the shows. The host does (i usually brought any PC seasoning called for)

You can control what recipes are prepared. I made a list of what I could make and had them pick a savory and a dessert. Host can always add to the menu herself if she wants. Usualyy one recipe was finshed before guests arrived or have the guests help prepare it.

Pampered Chef products bought on ebay have no warrenty! When a guest buys from you, they will have at least a 1 year warrenty many longer (up to lifetime). I've watched so many people spend more on ebay than at a show. PC does have a outlet to purchase those older products others are going to ebay to get.

These are products people will use everyday in their home - not luxury items.
If a guy needs a tool for a job, they buy it (ex. specialty tool to remove oil filter - used once every 6 months). Why do we feel guilty buying a tool we can use daily that saves us time each meal!

Company policy is to have all the guest make their checks out to the host and have her write you one check. People are less likely to write a bad check to a friend. Don't mail the show in until you give the check a few days to go through. If there is a problem, who ever wrote the check, should be charged the fee. (Many times I did have guest make the checks out to me instead, just depended on group)

There are always more freebies even after first three months: all new products, mid season products, consultant only products, Help Whip Cancer products and more can be earned free. There are also trips (even Disney) that you can earn.

I was never a very busy consultant but still earned the lowest levels of wards for free. Even being inactive half the time, I still get in there and earn some freebys or become active long enough to get the new products for half price.

This can fit anyones lifestyle. Don't be afraid to ask people to help you get started, the worst that can happen is they say no - move on to someone else - it's not personal.

You consultant that signs you can help you get started - if they don't work, email PC and they'll find you someone who will.

 

[MsLeFever]

But I stunk as a consultant! I loved getting all the stuff - and I ended up doing the minimum number of parties and getting out. I just wasn't assertive enough at booking parties or getting new recruits.

If you are more outgoing maybe it can work for you! The products are top rate.

 

[bellebuzzandpooh]

I was also a PC consultant for about 5 years and I really enjoyed it but wasn't very good at it. ;-)

My show average sales was always very high, but I had a hard time getting people to book parties. I ended up doing the best when I just hosted my own party about once every 3 months and invited tons of people.

Of all the direct sales companies, I like their philosophy and business structure best.

 

[feedindy]

I didn't seem to have much trouble booking shows when I sold Pampered Chef. Even in a down economy, people have to eat! PC helps teach people to do it well on a budget, rather than eating fast food.

I typically spent 5 hours per show-from paperwork & hostess coaching to setup and cleanup. I made an average of $100-150 per show so I basically made $20 per hour. There were times I could only put in the time for a couple shows a month and times when I would do a couple per week.

I worked the business for about 4 years, until my family's lifestyle no longer wanted me away for nights & weekends. A little hard to book afternoon shows in the middle of the week (although I did do several office lunch shows) so I had to let it go.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I highly recommend it if you want to drive away all your friends and family members.

Personally, I'm SO tired of endless invitations to "parties" where I'm roped/guilted into buying some overpriced widget/spatula/scrapbook item just so I don't make the friend feel bad.

Been there, done that, bought the spatula.

 

[strasfamily]

I don't necessarily think it will drive away all your friends and family members. Those that don't want to attend the parties won't.

Good luck if you decide to go for it!

 

[mary413]

I too am considering the Pampered Chef business opportunity. At this time I am lookng for wor but unable to find work. My husband and I are thinking about making this a tag team adventure. We both enjoy cooking anf like to try new recipes and gadgets. Our son is almost 13 and loves to cook as well. There are many ideas we have for promoting the products and also party ideas. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[mrsklamc]

I am hi jacking (sorry) in hopes that a current or former consultant here will take pity on me. I have two mix n scrapers that are the same size but I don't know which size they are. I would like to get the other two (my MIL asked for a pampered chef wish list for my bday) but I don't know which ones they are. Do you have one that you are willing to measure the length in inches so I can figure it out? TYVM.

 

[AnninIowa]

I think anyone wanting to get into the home-party business should look for newer ones as there aren't as many consultants. I know Scentsy and Thirty-One Gifts are becoming popular. That being said, I currently have 5 friends who sell Scentsy!

 

[mrsklamc]

I think anyone wanting to get into the home-party business should look for newer ones as there aren't as many consultants. I know Scentsy and Thirty-One Gifts are becoming popular. That being said, I currently have 5 friends who sell Scentsy!

Yeah I had that thought about miche for about 5 seconds before I remembered I don't want to be in sales.