Bella Vista Business Association Directory

12 | 2021 Bella Vista Business Association Directory By Rhonda Baber-Crone A s a company, Pampered Chef celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020. Deb West started her franchise back in May 2018 while in California, then moved it and her family to Bella Vista in October 2018. Deb has been a Director for Pampered Chef for three years now. Back in 1980, the Pampered Chef business was started by Doris Christopher, a home economics teacher who wanted to stay home with her two girls, but also wanted a business to help provide income for her family. She also wanted to focus on creating healthy family meals and having everyone come together around the dinner table. Deb had attended Pampered Chef parties and bought the products for the past 30 years. Aer she retired, she realized she wanted to get out and talk to folks. Aer attending a virtual party hosted by a friend on Facebook, she decided that being a host would be a fun thing to do in retirement. "I love the products and the company, so I knew helping others get Pampered Chef products would be a great fit!" e mission at Pampered Chef is "Enriching Lives, One Meal and One Memory at a time." Deb's mission is to "help others get the tools and techniques to make great meals as well as leading and training those who want to start their own Pampered Chef business and/or become better cooks!" Deb's business has grown quickly; she currently has 16 consultants on her team. Each team member or consultant is an independent contractor. "Together we are a team that helps, supports, encourages and lis each other up! As the leader of our team, I try to provide training and mentoring to help make each consultant's business what they would like it to be," she says, "Some folks want to pay off a specific debt or vacation and some want to be able to quit their full-time jobs and have their Pampered Chef business help support the family budget." As most businesses, Deb's has been somewhat affected by COVID-19. Since March 2020, the vast majority of their business has been done virtually, such as virtual block parties on Facebook. Deb says, "ese block parties are very popular as they increase interaction in the parties with all of the guests able to interact which makes it more fun for everyone!" She spends a couple hours a day posting to those parties. "I post a LIVE on my Facebook business page showing a new recipe, technique or featured product. And then I spend an hour or so in the evening posting on the parties as well," Deb says. As far as challenges go, it's just about getting the word out, so she spends time making new contacts daily. "I work to make new contacts every day. With not being out and about in the public much the last year, that means most of my contacts are from the parties I'm holding and from those who are seeing my Facebook business page. I'm hopeful that those who read this article will reach out and get in touch if they would like to see the latest products from Pampered Chef, or if they would like to hold a party!" she says. "Meeting new people and making new contacts while being socially distant has been difficult, but not impossible," she says on running her business during the pandemic. Deb believes the idea of success is different for everyone. "I want to be able to help those on my team meet the goals that they have set and I am a huge believer [that] when one of us shines, it helps all of us shine!" she says. And in addition to helping her team, the income is helpful, of course. "I want to continue to be able to pay for our son's college with cash so that he has no student loans when he is out of school. I earned my first Incentive Trip with Pampered Chef in 2020 (which is scheduled for August 2021) and I am working this year to earn a trip to Puerto Rico in 2022!" she says excitedly. For Deb, the best part about Pampered Chef is helping folks out. "Helping guests and team members is definitely the most rewarding part of my business. I love helping people get products in their kitchen that help them make memories at their kitchen table! 'Enriching lives, One meal and One Memory at a time' is more than just a motto – it is really how I feel about the services I provide," she says. Being a member of the BVBA is highly important for a business like Deb's. "Prior to March of 2020, I participated in the Annual Business Fair and bi-monthly membership meetings and member socials – so having those networking opportunities was a great way to meet folks in and around Bella Vista," she says, and "I met many of the business owners, as well as residents, which was wonderful for my business. Aer March, 2020 those meetings stopped until a ZOOM alternative was discovered. I miss getting together with folks face to face, but am hopeful that we will all be able to congregate, safely, soon!" Deb says she would recommend joining the association to any small business. "We need to continue to get the word out about our local business and support each other in order to make sure we all not only survive, but thrive through this difficult time!" Deb West Independent Pampered Chef Director Debwest64@outlook.com www.pamperedchef.biz/debwest Pampered Chef: enriching lives, one meal and one memory at a time

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