Comments on: Stampin’ Up! restricts Demonstrators’ online activities [Updated] http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/ Where scrapbooking means business. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:47:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Amanda Sherman http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-5014 Amanda Sherman Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:32:46 +0000 http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/?p=4568#comment-5014 While I myself could not sign on to the agreement, I think SU has every right to do this. Tons of companies have anti-competition agreements that their employees have to sign. Lots of companies that have their products in retail stores also make you sign contracts that you won't sell other similar products by other companies. Yes, it might seem self-centered, but that's how strong reputations are build. I can't fault SU for doing this, infact I'm suprised they haven't done it sooner. While I myself could not sign on to the agreement, I think SU has every right to do this. Tons of companies have anti-competition agreements that their employees have to sign. Lots of companies that have their products in retail stores also make you sign contracts that you won’t sell other similar products by other companies. Yes, it might seem self-centered, but that’s how strong reputations are build. I can’t fault SU for doing this, infact I’m suprised they haven’t done it sooner.

]]> By: Daisy http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4929 Daisy Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:02:16 +0000 http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/?p=4568#comment-4929 Thank you for the information. I love SU products but I have no intention of being exclusive and enjoy when my demonstrator is creative with other products. No one company can do everything (or do everything best). I look forward to continuing discussion of this issue. The demonstrator makes a choice to work for SU and that's fine. Thank you for the information. I love SU products but I have no intention of being exclusive and enjoy when my demonstrator is creative with other products. No one company can do everything (or do everything best). I look forward to continuing discussion of this issue. The demonstrator makes a choice to work for SU and that’s fine.

]]> By: Kelly Acheson http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4818 Kelly Acheson Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:27:56 +0000 http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/?p=4568#comment-4818 I just happened upon this article and WOW....lots of anger and bashing. I always try to look at changes from both perspectives. I was one of the many demonstrators that was happy to see this change. As a full-time Stampin' Up! demonstrator - I always thought it was bad business to be designing for another rubber stamp company. Why on earth would you be posting cards on your blog/website that promoted a company that you didn't get any commission from...if you are a SU demo? For those that aren't demos - hey, good for you! The Nike example states a point...and a good one. It has nothing to do with Nike or Michael Jordan...come on. If you dropped it down to something much smaller, it's easier to relate to. For example, we have a lot of used stamp sales that are put on by non-demos in my area. I choose not to advertise these to my customers....why...because that's like shooting myself in the foot. It doesn't make good business sense for me to do that. Or lets say I run a small bakery and there is a HUGE bakery across town that has very unique cakes....I wouldn't advertise that bakery as having a better variety of cakes than mine, would I? I also wouldn't like my head cake maker, that I've invested training, classes and product in, to go design cakes for them. It's all the same principle. First - as of this writing - I just talked to my Service Account Manager and the info in the initial article has not been updated. We, as demos, are allowed to link to Splitcoaststampers.com. In fact, it's encouraged! And a VERY valuable tool for me in my business. Secondly - SU invests alot in their demos...in the way of training and publications. Why on earth would they allow an SU demo to use the talent that they have gained from all of this to promote another company that they are in direct competition with? I'm not saying that SU is teaching these crafters everything they know...but you get my drift here. Third - there was a comment above about the Build-A-Bear partnership....YES - SU is looking to make money on this - it is a new product offering. They are a "for-profit" company. That's what they do. Fourth - there was another comment above about the fact that SU keeps offering new products - "so demos have to keep investing more money." It is their job to stay on top of the industry with trends...if they didn't offer new products - people would get bored. You have to offer new products to compete. I LOVE my job as an SU demo! I LOVE my company. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion....but I think sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Another example - SU had 2 big catalogs last year...they made a decision to return to one catalog per year. There are two sides to this.....Most everyone that I had talked to, was very happy about it. I was one of the FEW that was not. From a business stand point - returning to one catalog was bad for me....1) it took away the excitement for my customers of two new catalogs a year; 2) it took away a retirement list in one of the slowest business months (Dec) for me; 3) it took away a catalog kickoff event in Jan for me and my customers. On the other hand...it was difficult for me to keep up with everything in two catalogs - I was not as knowledgable with the products; I had to be careful and not order too many catalogs and be stuck with the leftovers, once they retired - so it did make me stay on my toes. It's all very simple to me - you are either an SU demo, promoting your own business or you're not. If you are an SU demo, you have a big draw to the public and SU is not interested in having you do FREE advertising for it's competition...that's just really bad business practice. I'm glad they took a stand to eliminate this. Just my two cents worth. I just happened upon this article and WOW….lots of anger and bashing. I always try to look at changes from both perspectives. I was one of the many demonstrators that was happy to see this change. As a full-time Stampin’ Up! demonstrator – I always thought it was bad business to be designing for another rubber stamp company. Why on earth would you be posting cards on your blog/website that promoted a company that you didn’t get any commission from…if you are a SU demo? For those that aren’t demos – hey, good for you! The Nike example states a point…and a good one. It has nothing to do with Nike or Michael Jordan…come on. If you dropped it down to something much smaller, it’s easier to relate to. For example, we have a lot of used stamp sales that are put on by non-demos in my area. I choose not to advertise these to my customers….why…because that’s like shooting myself in the foot. It doesn’t make good business sense for me to do that. Or lets say I run a small bakery and there is a HUGE bakery across town that has very unique cakes….I wouldn’t advertise that bakery as having a better variety of cakes than mine, would I? I also wouldn’t like my head cake maker, that I’ve invested training, classes and product in, to go design cakes for them. It’s all the same principle.

First – as of this writing – I just talked to my Service Account Manager and the info in the initial article has not been updated. We, as demos, are allowed to link to Splitcoaststampers.com. In fact, it’s encouraged! And a VERY valuable tool for me in my business.

Secondly – SU invests alot in their demos…in the way of training and publications. Why on earth would they allow an SU demo to use the talent that they have gained from all of this to promote another company that they are in direct competition with? I’m not saying that SU is teaching these crafters everything they know…but you get my drift here.

Third – there was a comment above about the Build-A-Bear partnership….YES – SU is looking to make money on this – it is a new product offering. They are a “for-profit” company. That’s what they do.

Fourth – there was another comment above about the fact that SU keeps offering new products – “so demos have to keep investing more money.” It is their job to stay on top of the industry with trends…if they didn’t offer new products – people would get bored. You have to offer new products to compete.

I LOVE my job as an SU demo! I LOVE my company. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion….but I think sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Another example – SU had 2 big catalogs last year…they made a decision to return to one catalog per year. There are two sides to this…..Most everyone that I had talked to, was very happy about it. I was one of the FEW that was not. From a business stand point – returning to one catalog was bad for me….1) it took away the excitement for my customers of two new catalogs a year; 2) it took away a retirement list in one of the slowest business months (Dec) for me; 3) it took away a catalog kickoff event in Jan for me and my customers. On the other hand…it was difficult for me to keep up with everything in two catalogs – I was not as knowledgable with the products; I had to be careful and not order too many catalogs and be stuck with the leftovers, once they retired – so it did make me stay on my toes.

It’s all very simple to me – you are either an SU demo, promoting your own business or you’re not. If you are an SU demo, you have a big draw to the public and SU is not interested in having you do FREE advertising for it’s competition…that’s just really bad business practice. I’m glad they took a stand to eliminate this. Just my two cents worth.

]]> By: Millicent Owen http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4360 Millicent Owen Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:23:00 +0000 http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/?p=4568#comment-4360 I think it stinks to high heaven!! Hugs, Millie.. I think it stinks to high heaven!!
Hugs, Millie..

]]> By: Kathleen Innes http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2009/09/02/stampin-up-restricts-demonstrators-online-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4342 Kathleen Innes Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:27:52 +0000 http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/?p=4568#comment-4342 With respect, this is simply not the case. As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I can indeed say that I use a competitor's product. I heard this from Shelli Gardner's own lips on a Webinar two days ago. While the company would prefer that we did not specify other brands, we can do so. What we cannot do is put a link to the site where you can buy a competitior's product. Seems reasonable to me. There are a lot of comments made on this subject which do NOT reflect the truth of the revised agreement and it distresses me that so much is being said by people who have not read the revised agreement. I'll be glad to answer questions with the facts if you wish to email me privately. :-) Sign me -- proud to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! Cheers, Kathleen www.stampjourney.com maccreative@me.com With respect, this is simply not the case.

As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I can indeed say that I use a competitor’s product. I heard this from Shelli Gardner’s own lips on a Webinar two days ago. While the company would prefer that we did not specify other brands, we can do so.

What we cannot do is put a link to the site where you can buy a competitior’s product. Seems reasonable to me.

There are a lot of comments made on this subject which do NOT reflect the truth of the revised agreement and it distresses me that so much is being said by people who have not read the revised agreement.

I’ll be glad to answer questions with the facts if you wish to email me privately. :-)

Sign me — proud to be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!

Cheers,
Kathleen
http://www.stampjourney.com
maccreative@me.com

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