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In this column you will meet ladies who generate income from
the comfort of their own homes.
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Do you earn extra money through a home-based business or activity? If so,
tell us about it, and
your story may appear in future editions of this column.
Work-at-Home Success Story
Tastefully Simple
An interview with Cyndi Walter
PF: Are you considered an employee of Tastefully Simple, or do you own your own business and function as a consultant / contractor for them?
Cyndi: We are considered independent consultants.
PF: How long have you been in business?
Cyndi: Four years.
PF: What prompted you to begin working from home?
Cyndi: Being a busy mom with four small children, I wanted to have extra money to do things with my kids, money for house projects and just extra fluff money. It has turned into great full-time income now though.
PF: Why did you choose Tastefully Simple?
Cyndi: Because the products were consumable. I had done several other home based businesses and this one was so much different and I absolutely loved the products and the time it saved me in the kitchen. And the corporate staff takes such great care of us…we get cards and gifts and recognition beyond my wildest dreams.
PF: What are the advantages of being affiliated with an established company such as Tastefully Simple?
Cyndi: The discount on products, the unlimited income potential, the friendships, the incentives and the travel.
PF: How many hours per week do you normally spend on the business?
Cyndi: Around 30 hours.
PF: Does Tastefully Simple require a certain amount of hours, sales, or shows/demonstrations?
Cyndi: Their requirements are very minimal. I have several consultants on my team that only do this for the discount. Many work this business part-time and others do this full-time. I am now at the highest level in leadership so I manage both my personal business and my team.
PF: What do you like most about selling Tastefully Simple products?
Cyndi: I love how easy it is to make FABULOUS meals in minutes with our products.
PF: What fears, if any, did you need to conquer before starting your business?
Cyndi: I had done direct sales before so I really didn’t have any fears. I have a lot of team members who had the fear of speaking in front of others but we use script cards at our parties so I always tell people, “If you can read, enjoy food and have a little enthusiasm, YOU CAN DO THIS BUSINESS.”
PF: Do you provide your customers with recipes to be used with your products? If so, what are several of your and your customers' favorites?
Cyndi: Our customers get a free recipe card with each product they buy. I would have to say my customers and hostesses favorite products are the Bountiful Beer Bread, Season Salt and Absolutely Almond Pound Cake. All of our products are delicious and it is so hard to pick a favorite but those are my best sellers.
PF: Can the Tastefully Simple products be easily adapted for meals that are prepared ahead of time and frozen, such as in once-a-month cooking?
Cyndi: Yes, someone actually just created a freezer meal party with recipes and grocery lists etc. I am excited to try this out because I am a BIG freezer cooker. I love to feed my family nutritiously and prepare wonderful meals that are easy to fix.
PF: What has been the most challenging thing about having your own business?
Cyndi: Probably that when you work from your home and have your priorities in balance it can be easy to procrastinate your work. But I try to remember this is a real business and although my family comes first, I still have to plan time to work. The neat thing is that I work when I want to and around my family’s schedules.
PF: What, if anything, has surprised you?
Cyndi: How quickly my business took off. I was just promoted for the 5th time to the top level of Tastefully Simple and I did it in four years. I have earned all kinds of rewards including money, diamonds, trips to Orlando; Puerto Rico; Banff, Canada; Paradise Island, Bahamas; Los Cabos, Mexico; and Las Vegas…all within four years. I have been asked to speak and train at our National Conference and even just filmed a new party video that will go out to all new consultants. I never expected all of this!
PF: Have you seen God's hand in this business endeavor?
Cyndi: Most definitely. God is always my focus and I pray over my business daily. I am so thankful he has given me a business where I can use the gifts and talents he has blessed me with to help others in their businesses. Watching others grow personally and professionally is such a wonderful thing.
PF: What advice do you have for other women who are considering starting a home-based business?
Cyndi: Just do it! Pick a business that you have a passion for and a product that isn’t hard to sell. Having a product that is consumable is great because when people run out they want more. My prior business, once people had enough, they stopped ordering from me. This is the PERFECT business for women who want to have it all. They can put their family and of course God first and still achieve great success. There really is nothing to lose in giving it a try.
PF: Do you have anything else to share about owning your own business?
Cyndi: If you enjoy helping others this is a great business also. I have seen my team members gain self confidence, get out of debt, grow stronger in their faith, their relationships get better…it is truly unbelievable what this business can do for a person.
Cyndi: We are considered independent consultants.PF: How long have you been in business?
Cyndi: Four years.
PF: What prompted you to begin working from home?
Cyndi: Being a busy mom with four small children, I wanted to have extra money to do things with my kids, money for house projects and just extra fluff money. It has turned into great full-time income now though.
PF: Why did you choose Tastefully Simple?
Cyndi: Because the products were consumable. I had done several other home based businesses and this one was so much different and I absolutely loved the products and the time it saved me in the kitchen. And the corporate staff takes such great care of us…we get cards and gifts and recognition beyond my wildest dreams.
PF: What are the advantages of being affiliated with an established company such as Tastefully Simple?
Cyndi: The discount on products, the unlimited income potential, the friendships, the incentives and the travel.
PF: How many hours per week do you normally spend on the business?
Cyndi: Around 30 hours.
PF: Does Tastefully Simple require a certain amount of hours, sales, or shows/demonstrations?
Cyndi: Their requirements are very minimal. I have several consultants on my team that only do this for the discount. Many work this business part-time and others do this full-time. I am now at the highest level in leadership so I manage both my personal business and my team.
PF: What do you like most about selling Tastefully Simple products?
Cyndi: I love how easy it is to make FABULOUS meals in minutes with our products.
PF: What fears, if any, did you need to conquer before starting your business?
Cyndi: I had done direct sales before so I really didn’t have any fears. I have a lot of team members who had the fear of speaking in front of others but we use script cards at our parties so I always tell people, “If you can read, enjoy food and have a little enthusiasm, YOU CAN DO THIS BUSINESS.”
PF: Do you provide your customers with recipes to be used with your products? If so, what are several of your and your customers' favorites?
Cyndi: Our customers get a free recipe card with each product they buy. I would have to say my customers and hostesses favorite products are the Bountiful Beer Bread, Season Salt and Absolutely Almond Pound Cake. All of our products are delicious and it is so hard to pick a favorite but those are my best sellers.
PF: Can the Tastefully Simple products be easily adapted for meals that are prepared ahead of time and frozen, such as in once-a-month cooking?
Cyndi: Yes, someone actually just created a freezer meal party with recipes and grocery lists etc. I am excited to try this out because I am a BIG freezer cooker. I love to feed my family nutritiously and prepare wonderful meals that are easy to fix.
PF: What has been the most challenging thing about having your own business?
Cyndi: Probably that when you work from your home and have your priorities in balance it can be easy to procrastinate your work. But I try to remember this is a real business and although my family comes first, I still have to plan time to work. The neat thing is that I work when I want to and around my family’s schedules.
PF: What, if anything, has surprised you?
Cyndi: How quickly my business took off. I was just promoted for the 5th time to the top level of Tastefully Simple and I did it in four years. I have earned all kinds of rewards including money, diamonds, trips to Orlando; Puerto Rico; Banff, Canada; Paradise Island, Bahamas; Los Cabos, Mexico; and Las Vegas…all within four years. I have been asked to speak and train at our National Conference and even just filmed a new party video that will go out to all new consultants. I never expected all of this!
PF: Have you seen God's hand in this business endeavor?
Cyndi: Most definitely. God is always my focus and I pray over my business daily. I am so thankful he has given me a business where I can use the gifts and talents he has blessed me with to help others in their businesses. Watching others grow personally and professionally is such a wonderful thing.
PF: What advice do you have for other women who are considering starting a home-based business?
Cyndi: Just do it! Pick a business that you have a passion for and a product that isn’t hard to sell. Having a product that is consumable is great because when people run out they want more. My prior business, once people had enough, they stopped ordering from me. This is the PERFECT business for women who want to have it all. They can put their family and of course God first and still achieve great success. There really is nothing to lose in giving it a try.
PF: Do you have anything else to share about owning your own business?
Cyndi: If you enjoy helping others this is a great business also. I have seen my team members gain self confidence, get out of debt, grow stronger in their faith, their relationships get better…it is truly unbelievable what this business can do for a person.
For more information about Cyndi's home-based business, visit her website: www.TastefullySimple.com/web/cwalter.
Share Your Story
Do you earn extra money through a home-based business or activity? If
so, please tell us about it, and
your story may appear in future editions of this column.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Post.