What now?

You may or may not be aware that I was a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for just over 6 years.   I signed up in October 2003 when Nicholas was just 6 months old.   As with any business, I had good times and bad.  I certainly struggled from time to time.  But I also prospered much of the time.

As 2009 was coming to an end, I decided to let my business go.  In order to stay a demo you need to have $300 in sales per quarter.   I didn't have anyone knocking down my door to order and I certainly didn't need anything.   And I didn't want to try to solicit orders from anyone (which I probably would have had success with if my customers knew I needed to qualify).  So I chose not to qualify myself (by buying from myself).

It was getting harder to get out to do workshops and classes with Doug's shift work.  I always needed to work around his schedule or find a sitter, which isn't easy (or cheap!) when you've got 3 kids that need watched.  The days he was off, I wanted to spend them with him rather than running out to do a show.   Family was is more important!

As of January 31, 2010, I was no longer a demonstrator.  (SU gives you an additional month to get your sales in - or else it would have been official as of 12/31/09).

I was at peace with my decision.  It had been a great 6+ years.  I met a lot of great people that I probably would not have met otherwise.   And I learned a lot about stamping and scrapbooking.   Two things I will probably always continue to do.

But the funny thing is once the decision was made to let it go, I got several phone calls and emails from customers wishing to place an order.  I almost ... almost ... decided to keep going.  To accept their orders to keep my now-faltering business going.  But I had already decided.  So I referred them elsewhere ... to a few friends/associates who are still demonstrators.

It was hard at first.  I wondered if this was God's way of telling me I should hang in there.  Did I mess up?  Did I make the wrong decision?  If so, why was I at peace with the whole thing back when I made the choice?

Two days ago a customer that I hadn't heard from in about 2 years called me and wanted to place an order.   She said she was trying to find me on the SU website but was unable.  So I explained the situation and once again, I referred her elsewhere.  She understood and was grateful for the referral.

A friend/customer of mine spoke to me in church on Sunday.  She said, "I'm so sorry you are not going to be a demonstator anymore!"  To which I replied, "Don't be.  I'm not."  :)

The past week or so, I've been clearing out some things ... mainly stamp sets ... that I have been holding on to for one reason or another.   Thinking that some day I will use them.  Ha!  Who am I kidding?

FlyLady would call this decluttering. 

It feels so good!   I've got sooooooo much stuff ... so many stamp sets ... it is just amazing!  I could never use them all even if I stamped every day (which I don't!)!

I created another blog (yeah, I know!) so I could list my items for sale without messing up this blog.  It is only temporary until I unload some things, then I will close it.

So if you know someone who is a stamper or a scrapbooker, send them to my other blog.   There are many stamp sets listed now and I'm sure there will be more coming as I clean out some more stuff.

Many people are asking me what I'm going to do now.  To which I reply ... nothing.   Preferably nothing.

I don't want to sell anything ... Mary Kay, Arbonne, Creative Memories, Tastefully Simple, etc.   Not that I don't love (or at least like) products from each of those great companies.  I do.

I just want to relax for a while.   Spend time with my family.   Learn more about photography and my camera.  Read.  Scrapbook.  Organize.  Whatever.

And then?  Well, we'll see.

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