Stampin’ Up Review – Legit Company or Big Scam? Find Out Here…

Welcome to my Stampin’ Up Review!

So, are you ready?…

Ready to make that move into investing online with new and up coming businesses bursting out onto the MLM scene?

When it comes to making a choice as to which online business to join, finding the best one can be overwhelming…

You want to make your money make money, but you aren’t sure where to start, am I right?

Well, you’re in the right place to get yourself one step closer to making the right decision for you!

In my review, I will go over the company history, the products and the compensation plan offered by Stampin’ Up.

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

Stampin’ Up Review – The Company

stampin up review

This company was created by two sisters, Shelli Gardner and LaVonne Crosby, in 1998.

Stampin’ Up comes to us from Utah, a state located in the USA, and the company conducts its business under the fun MLM niche of arts and crafts.

This is how their story was expressed to us:

When sisters Shelli Gardner and LaVonne Crosby were young, their family moved from California to Kanab, UT, on the Arizona border.

Both sisters eventually married, and their husbands, who knew each other, decided they should all move to Las Vegas
and operate a custom home building business in the booming real estate market.

Both sisters had children and led busy lives as homemakers, while earning a little extra cash as independent contractors for Tupperware and other multi-level marketing companies.

When they were introduced to rubber stamping, they immediately became intrigued with the craft, since neither
of them felt artistic enough to draw freehand, and using stamps with ink was creative and fun.

They discovered stamping was popular with women, mainly housewives, who like to design their own greeting cards, tags and gift wrap, decorate walls and lampshades, and keep family scrapbooks.

In 1988, with no experience in operating a company, the sisters invested their family’s nest egg to launch Stampin’ Up!

Their business plan was fairly simple:

They studied the business models of Tupperware, Discovery Toys, and Mary Kay, and developed their own approach for a direct sales company that reflected their own methods and techniques.

There are “tens of thousands” of affiliates throughout countries like Canada, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands and USA, as they currently say.

In 1998, LaVonne Crosby stepped down as operating CEO and departed from the company.

That is when Shelli Gardner was chosen to be the next CEO and she held this position until 2016.

There was an announcement made from Shelli Gardner earlier in 2015 where she announced that she was stepping down to follow ‘a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint.’

Following this announcement, in March of 2016, the daughter of Shelli Gardner, Sarah Douglass, was then selected to be the new CEO of the company

Gardner ‘continues her involvement with the company, playing a vital role as Board Chair,’ which is stated on the company’s website.

Stampin’ Up Reviews – The Products

stampin up products

In 1992, the company finally stopped using third-party stamps and started making their own.

Their line up of products offered are a wide range up rubber & photopolymer stamps, and also some accessories if needed, such as:

Accents and embellishments
Adhesives
Big Shot (die-cutting machine)
Coloring tools
Ink
“Memories and more” (albums and card presentation accessories)
Paper
Hole punches and
Stamping related tools

The wide variety of items the company offers is too vast to list here and now, but on the company website, you can find the full online catalog that’s readily available (or pay up $5 for a printed copy, no PDF substitute).

There are kits and bundles that are offered by the company on special items.

The company’s “Paper Pumpkin” stamping kit subscription is also offered for $19.95 monthly (discounted 6 & 12-month subscriptions are available).

The Stampin’ Up Compensation Plan

Affiliates who want to participate in the company compensation plan are required to sign up with a membership fee, and also buy the catalog book.

Based on the sales volume production, the company will pay out retail commissions.

The residual commissions are paid down to level 3 of sponsorship, where more performance bonuses are presented.

Stampin’ Up Affiliate Ranks

In the company compensation plan there are 8 ranks for the affiliates.

Here are the ranks and the criteria needed per rank:

Bronze – Sign up as a Stampin’ Up affiliate
Bronze Elite – Generate at least 1800 GV over a rolling 12 month period
Silver – Generate at least 3600 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least one affiliate
Silver Elite – Generate at least 7200 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least five affiliates (one must be Silver or higher)
Gold – Generate at least 10,800 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least ten affiliates (one must be Silver Elite or higher)
Gold Elite – Generate at least 14,400 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least fifteen affiliates (two must be Silver Elite or higher)
Platinum – Generate at least 18,000 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least twenty affiliates (four must be Silver Elite or higher)
Platinum Elite – Maintain at least 10,800 GV over a rolling 12 month period and sponsor at least thirty affiliates (six must be Silver Elite or higher)

GV: means “Group Volume” and it is the sales volume achieved by an affiliate’s orders, which include their personal and retail customers orders, and also the retail orders made by their downline team

Retail Commissions

The company will divide retail commission rates among those affiliates ranked at Bronze and Bronze Elite or higher.

Bronze affiliates will earn:

A 20% retail commission rate if they generate up to 599.99 GV a month
A 24% retail commission rate if they generate 600 to 899.99 GV a month
A 25% retail commission rate if they generate 900 to 1199.99 GV a month
A 27% retail commission rate if they generate up to 1200 to 1499.99 GV a month
A 29% retail commission rate if they generate up to 1500 to 2499.99 GV a month
A 31% retail commission rate if they generate up to 2500 to 3499.99 GV a month
A 33% retail commission rate if they generate up to 3500 or more GV a month

Bronze Elite and higher affiliates will earn:

A 25% retail commission rate if they generate up to 599.99 GV a month
A 29% retail commission rate if they generate 600 to 899.99 GV a month
A 30% retail commission rate if they generate 900 to 1199.99 GV a month
A 32% retail commission rate if they generate up to 1200 to 1499.99 GV a month
A 34% retail commission rate if they generate up to 1500 to 2499.99 GV a month
A 36% retail commission rate if they generate up to 2500 to 3499.99 GV a month
A 38% retail commission rate if they generate up to 3500 or more GV a month

Residual Commissions

The company will pay residual commissions down to level 3 of sponsorship (unilevel):

Residual commission rates are calculated from monthly sales and downline sales volume achieved monthly, as such:

Generate 300 GV and 300 CSV a month and sponsor at least one affiliate = 3% on level 1 (personally sponsored affiliates)
Generate 600 GV and 1500 CSV a month and sponsor at least three affiliates = 5% on level 1, 2.5% on level 2 and 1% on level 3
Generate 900 GV and 2500 CSV a month and sponsor at least six affiliates = 5.5% on level 1, 3% on level 2 and 1.5% on level 3
Generate 1200 GV and 5000 CSV a month and sponsor at least twelve affiliates = 6% on level 1, 3.5% on level 2 and 2% on level 3
Maintain 1200 GV and generate 10,000 CSV a month and sponsor at least eighteen affiliates = 6.5% on level 1, 4% on level 2 and 2.5% on level 3
Generate 1500 GV and 15,000 CSV a month and sponsor at least eighteen affiliates = 6.5% on level 1, 5% on level 2 and 3% on level 3
Maintain 1500 GV and generate 20,000 CSV a month and sponsor at least thirty-two affiliates = 6.5% on level 1, 5.5% on level 2 and 3.5% on level 3

CSV is the sales volume accumulated through an affiliate and their personally sponsored affiliates, used for residual commission rate calculation.

Bonus Sales Volume

If an affiliate achieves specific requirements, the company will reward affiliates with bonus commissionable sales volume:

Generate 100,000 GV (recurring) – 1000 GV bonus
Generate 1,000,000 GV (recurring) – 10,000 GV bonus
Generate 10,000 GV in a quarter – 500 GV bonus
Each 5000 GV generated over 10,000 GV in a quarter – 250 GV bonus
Sponsor five affiliates within a year – 700 GV bonus
Each additional sponsored affiliate over five within the same year – 300 GV bonus
Have eight personally sponsored affiliates advance in rank within a year (Bronze Elite and higher) – 1600 GV bonus
Each additional rank advancement beyond the initial eight within the same year – 200 GV bonus
“Silver Elite boost” – 300 GV bonus

An affiliate who is considered to be a “qualified sponsor” will have accumulated at lease 900 GV, since joining the business opportunity.

I think there is another bonus offered called the “Silver Elite boost,” saved for those whom qualify at Silver Elite rank, but what this bonus is not defined.

Party Rewards

Home parties are seen by the company as a way an affiliate can promote company products.

Home party sales achieved at party events will allow discounts on company product purchases for affiliates:

$150 in home party sales = 10% reward
$300 in home party sales = 12% reward
$450 in home party sales = 14% reward
$600 or more in home party sales = 16% reward

Being a host for a party that achieved $150 in sales will also allow the affiliate to earn a 50% discount on one purchased item.

Rank Achievement Bonus

The company rewards qualified affiliates with a one-time Rank Achievement Bonus, at the rank of Bronze Elite or higher:

Bronze Elite – “Bronze Elite Bonus”
Silver – Silver necklace or money clip
Silver Elite – “CenterStage”
Gold – Gold necklace or pen
Gold Elite – “Gold elite bonus”
Platinum – Platinum necklace or watch
Platinum Elite – “Wall of Fame”

This is the information on the bonuses that is presented exactly word for word coming from the company’s compensation plan, as vague as they are, no further details were offered.

Flex Points

Flex Points are mentioned in the company compensation plan, but they are undefined, so whatever they are I would not be able to tell you much, due to the lack of information available.

A document separated by the title “compensation plan overview” says:

Flex points can be redeemed for a variety of items such as Stampin’ Up! product credits, catalogs, and the incentive trip.

The following is required for affiliates to earn rewards with Flex Points:

Generate up to 9,999 GV in a year = 1 point per 1 GV generated
Generate 10,000 or more GV in a year = 5 points per 1 GV generated
Receive 5000 points per qualified personally sponsored affiliate
5000 points for advancing in rank
An additional 1500 points for qualifying as a Bronze Elite
An additional 4000 points for qualifying as a Silver or Silver Elite
An additional 7500 points for qualifying as a Gold or Gold Elite
An additional 10,000 points for qualifying as a Platinum or Platinum Elite
7500 points when a personally sponsored affiliate qualifies as a Bronze Elite or Silver
10,000 points when a personally sponsored affiliate qualifies as a Silver Elite or higher
Generate 900 GV within three months of signing up as a Stampin’ Up affiliate and receive 5000 points
Generate 1800 GV within six months of signing up as a Stampin’ Up affiliate and receive 10,000 points
1 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 2000 points
5 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 5000 points
10 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 7500 points
15 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 10,000 points
20 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 12,500 points
25 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 15,000 points
30 year Stampin’ Up affiliate anniversary = 17,500 points

The Flex Points can be redeemed up to a year plus one month within the time period they were earned.

The company compensation plan overview document mentioned earlier in my review offers an example of a Flex Point year, which ran from October to September in the year that followed.

The example of the Flex Points here point out that the points will expire coming from October to the following September.

Cost To Join Stampin’ Up

The cost to join Stampin’ Up as an affiliate would be a $99 membership, but this will include a $125 value of company products (at retail value).

Also, new affiliates will need “a copy of Stampin’ Up!’s current catalog(s)” at the price point of only $5.

Verdict on Stampin’ Up

I can tell you that this company does seem a 100% legit…

They have a good product to sell with the help of affiliates, so if this is a company with the products you like and are interested in, then enjoy yourself while you make profits.

The company has a specific product within a specific niche, with a targeted demographic of mostly Caucasian women, older women, ladies with children, and married women.

If this is your thing and you don’t like spending money on things you could make (like buying an expensive card and feeling that buyer’s remorse kicking in) this company would be a good fit for you…

This company is giving scrapbooking products a good old college try and that’s vital, because there are a lot of competitors ready to ship your order right away to you, all you’d have to do is find them and place your order.

Stampin’ Up is doing all the right things to stay in business by creating a culture around their product and keeping it fresh by constantly updating their catalog.

The company’s compensation plan keeps it real with 3 Levels in their unilevel teams, and does not get out of hand to unbelievable offers.

They’ve split up specific bonuses (linked to rank) and residual commissions (related to GV production), which is definitely something different.

Seems like you’d have to love throwing parties, because it’s a big side of the business, and that’s fine, but you need inventory to throw these parties and that can be expensive to start.

This company is very good at sharing the wealth with those affiliates whom are already successful, but if you’re just starting up, it may seem like a mountain you are not ready to climb, but keep your head up because success doesn’t happen overnight.

I hope you enjoyed my Stampin’ Up review and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below…