I've decided to cancel my Lucky Envelope Promotion. It seems that I have unwittingly offended people by running this promotion. I have had a couple of emails from other Demonstrators, and from the customers of other Demonstrators telling me of their unhappiness. It was never my intention for anyone other than my own customers to participate, and I only advertised it through my blog and to my newsletter subscribers.
I made the decision to effectively give away my Commission (and then some) in prizes this month in order to try and earn the trip, and it was not my intention to take away from the sales of any other Demonstrator.
Two years ago when I ran this Promotion, it generated lots of positive feelings and I was left feeling uplifted by the generosity of so many people (and I like to think that maybe they enjoyed helping me too). This time, it seems to have stirred up only negative feelings, and no trip is worth spending the month feeling the way that I do at the moment.
Thanks everyone for your support and understanding.
Now, back to your regular programming :o)
I'm sorry you've been made to feel this way Marelle. I'm sure your customers will get right behind you regardless, and get you to the trip you so deserve! Your creativity and drive obviously makes some people bitter and twisted, but that is THEIR problem. Hold your head high, sending a {hug}
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read this. You inspire me and many others and truly deserve the trip. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your countdown last time and was looking forward to following on again. Good luck and I hope you earn it regardless :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame. You weren't forcing people to buy or requesting other demo's customers come to you. It is your blog, you should be able to do what you want. I think you should keep doing your lucky envelopes and not give in to other's pettiness.
ReplyDeletei reckon your envelopes were brilliant it was a great idea..your work is so inspiring you are so clever..cheers heidi who cares what people think..
ReplyDeleteYou definitely shouldn't pay any attention to such "small" minded people. Don't you know they are so jealous of you! People are naturally drawn to you because of you are so sweet and so nice and genuinely care. Sadly, those nasty "little" people have no hope.
ReplyDeleteRosanne
I'm sorry that you feel that way. I read that & though "what a great idea". Not that I am anywhere near going on incentive trip but I filed it in my brain as a thing to do in the future.
ReplyDeleteI hope all your customers help you out & that you get on that trip!
So sorry to read this, Marelle - I was popping by to see the count for today. I was so excited for you last time watching the countdown. I hope you earn the trip, it will be a great experience and I love reading your IT posts :)
ReplyDeletesee, this is one of the main reasons I gave up on Stampin' Up! There is a lot of pettiness. I loved your idea of the envelopes, and I've seen others do it when they need to...
ReplyDeleteMarelle, I'm sorry to hear how bad you are feeling - there's no way your intention was to take sales from others. And anyone that thinks that doesn't know the real YOU. I have been enjoying watching the countdown too - so I'm sorry to see it stop.
ReplyDeleteThe best response is always the higher road (or should I say the creative one) - so I will look forward to your always inspiring blog to squash the negativity of others.
So sorry to here that people are so jealous rude and down right horrible against such a wonderful lady like you. I always have a look at your blog and love your creations. I have a few friends who know you personally and you sound delightful!!!! I loved looking at your last countdown and was very pleased you went on the trip. I disappointed you werent going to make it this time and overjoyed when you decided on the envelopes again. I am a hobby SU demo and I say "GO FOR IT!!!!" Forget what those horrible people say or think you deserve this trip! I know that you are above this nasty people. Be assured there are many of us that are behind you..... Take care!! Michelle S
ReplyDeleteI think you should keep it going. I thought the idea was great last time and very ingenious of you ( I was a demo then). You shouldn't give up because of other demonstrators who are envious because they didn't think of the idea themselves. I hope your regular customers and maybe some new ones, get right behind you. All the best on achieving the incentive trip as you deserve to get there! I was looking forward to watching you count down! We should celebrate other people's success rather than tear them down. I'm glad I'm away from all that pettiness!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that you have had such negative feedback to what I thought was a brilliant and creative idea to achieving a goal. Don't let the pettiness of others get you down, those of us who know you know your intentions were genuine so I feel confident that your customers will rally behind you and help you to achieve your goal anyway :)
ReplyDeleteRobyn P
Hi Marelle, Not sure what to say, except how sad that you've been made to feel that way.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs,
Beth
I am so happy that there are so many positive comments to your very sad post, Marelle. How disappointing and embarrassing to hear about such pettiness from grown women!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I need to say anything more about what a decent and inspirational person you are. Everyone has summed it up so well in previous posts.
Even though I wasn't going to spend to win a lucky envelope, I was looking forward to seeing who did ... as well as hoping the best for everyone .... someone was going to win a Big Shot!!! and you were going to have chance at having a once in a lifetime holiday in lovely Broome.
I've told you how beautiful Broome is. Seeing how Stampin' Up always makes things even more beautiful than they are, I was all 'fingers and toes crossed' for you getting a well-deserved bonus.
I hope all those negative people read these fabulous posts people have written and feel even more jealous of you, being supported by your friends and readers of your blog.
Jo S, Stanmore
It's so sad to see that some people behave like rivals and jealously eye each other. Don't let them take you down. I thought Stampin Up was about enjoying what you do and helping others to be creative - and that is what you do! If customer's from other demos prefer to spend their money with you, then maybe the other demos should reflect on what they can do better.
ReplyDeleteAll the best from Germany, Ursina
Life's too short for their pettiness, Marelle but it's such a shame for you! Lucky Envelopes is a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteHi Marelle, don't let others get to you. You work hard and deserve to set yourself goals. I think you should continue and not worry about the insecurities of others. Hope to meet you in May at the conference.
ReplyDeletewow i say go for it. I think it is a great idea. Some people are pathetic and because they can't put in the work and get the sales they have to drags others down with them.
ReplyDeleteDont let them win.
....and another thought. Target and Kmart and countless other stores sell the same/similar items. Some will run a sale, an ad campaign, tv or radio, offer 2 for 1......and depending on what fits the needs of the customer that's where the customer has the choice. So while we all sell the same stuff we do it differently. If a demonstrator has good relationships with her/his customers they will continue to stick with that person.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better by now. I have been reading your blog for a few years and your creativity is obvious. Try not to think too much about the petty people but their comments do hurt.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching the countdown last time and was looking forward to it this time. Stay positive and try to forget this negative experience.
Marelle, I am sorry you have been made to feel like you need to pull your Lucky Envelope competition. Given the inspiration you are to other demos and paper crafters in the blog-o-sphere it is a shame that people would view your ingenuity as a threat. I wish you all the best for the incentive trip, I pray your loyal customers buy up big and get the most from the mini and SAB and propel you over the line to qualify for the trip.
ReplyDeleteYour credibility and integrity are fully intact with me. Go boldly forward with you head held high, you deserve it xox
lots of love & hugs
Adele
xox
Oh Marelle, I'm so sad to hear people have made you feel this way. Your special was an awesome one and I loved it last time you ran it, was looking forward to cheering you on to success and keeping my fingers crossed you achieved incentive trip.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame people don't take the statement of the heart to heart! You are an inspiration and a role model of what a demonstrator should be, I wish you all the best in making incentive trip. Don't let the negativity get you down it's not your fault you are awesome:) Steph X
I am an su demonstrator and I do not understand why you were made to feel that there is something wrong with your promotion!!!! Sometimes the pettiness of others drives me to distraction and I wonder why people act like that! You are so talented and share your creativity with everyone so if anyone wants to help you out as a thank you, there should be no problem with that! I hope this creates a groundswell of good will and people will support you even without the promotion. Gee whiz if I lived in AU I would order something just to help out after this sad turn of events
ReplyDeleteI'm an SU demo and I say you should be proud of your wonderful envelope scheme - I watched it last time and was excited for you to be so close to your goal - I say it's a great use of ideas and your blog and the followers of your blog who enjoy your wonderful ideas that you share with all of us. Keep going and enjoy reaching your goal!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Hold your head up Marelle, you have nothing to apologise for. I applaud your creativity and ingenuity for thinking of such a fun way to reach your goal and treat your customers along the way. It was great fun last time checking each day to see who had won the big shot. You are such a lovely lady and I hope you make the trip anyway!
ReplyDeleteHold your head up Marelle, you have nothing to apologise for. I applaud your creativity and ingenuity for thinking of such a fun way to reach your goal and treat your customers along the way. It was great fun last time checking each day to see who had won the big shot. You are such a lovely lady and I hope you make the trip anyway!
ReplyDeleteHi Marelle
ReplyDeleteI too thought your idea was fantastic. I hope your customers continue to order from you and that you make Incentive Trip anyway. Good luck. I enjoy your blog and the inspiration it provides.
Anna
Marelle - I was saddened to read your post and that you have cancelled your fantastic Lucky Envelopes. I too enjoyed the last time you ran this and got excited for you as you got down to the last envelopes. You were not forcing anyone to buy from you or change their demo - this was for your customers. I am a hobby demo and wish I was living in OZ so that I could purchase from you so that you could make the trip to Broome. I hope that your customers can support you so that you can go. Keep up your great blog which inspires and encourages so many worldwide.
ReplyDelete+1 on how inspirational you are. Clearly you have more entrepreneurial spirit and ability than most. I wish you all the best on achieving your dreams and goals. As an SU demonstrator I think its great when you set a huge stretch goal like this and work hard to achieve it. Unfortunately there are many out there who don't applaud innovation and entrepreneurship because they lack the ability in themselves. I prefer to applaud it and associate with people who have it as it's infectious and rubs off. Those naysayers will always naysay so don't give them one more moment of your time, thought or energy! You rock!
ReplyDeleteMarelle you are such an amazing person & it saddens me that you have been made to feel this way. Actually I feel angry that other people feel unhappy about you running the promotion. I thought everyone is entitled to their own choice & if they want to participate then they can.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful Demonstrator xoxo
it's ashame that their's people out there that don't like it when others suceed. You shouldn't let them get the better of you and stop what you know works. This was just something you wanted to try, as you knew it worked in a postive way and why not. Like others have said they have the problem not you.
ReplyDeletePlease don't give up. Don't let others dictate what you can or can't do.
It upsets me that you have received negative feedback that has caused you to cancel your promotion. This is the second time that someone I know has been left feeling terrible from negative comments. I always thought that this community was so supportive and nourishing. I am so sorry, Marelle. I thought it was a fabulous idea and I really think you should continue it! I was looking forward to seeing how you were doing with it all.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad for you Marelle - you are an example of a positive, ethical and hardworking Demo and if others were upset by your promotion then it is a reflection on them, not you. Don't let the jealous small minds out there get you down!
ReplyDeleteOh Marelle,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry people have mis-construed your work ethic for a lack there of. I live in the US or I would place an order just because. I sure hope you will qualify for your tip anyway. Do shake off the negative vibes and carry on!
Apologies in advance for my bluntness, but that's just crap :-(
ReplyDeleteIf only those responsible for firing off snarky emails to you were to first take a similar amount of time to get to know the kind of person that you are, they would find that any of your actions could never be based in malice or trying to get ahead at all cost - as evidenced by the very fact that you've stopped your very clever envelope scheme.
I hope you get the trip anyway, envelopes or no envelopes - you deserve it as a fabulous example of the upstanding and inspirational type that all demonstrators should aspire to be. I've always wanted to be you when I grow up ;-)
S x
You have no reason to apologise for anything! You came up with an original, ingenious idea that works - you're not forcing anyone to buy from you! It's such a shame that the bitterness of others has ruined this great idea - and has invaded what should be a supportive, creative community.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that you've been made to feel so bad Marelle. Some people feel the need to bring others down to make themselves feel better. They are small minded and you don't deserve their bad vibes. Hope you're feeling better by now. I thought the lucky envelopes were a great idea and I hope you still get to go on the incentive trip. Few people deserve to go as much as you do. Sending hugs your way. xxx.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear this Marelle. Some people are just so sensative and pettiness. Don't worry about you have done no wrong just keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYou are great and even though i am far away now you still give me inspiration keep up the good work
Chary
so sorry to hear this...it seems that the one negative thing I personally have seen as an SU demonstrator (myself) is to always be fearful of 'other demonstrators' who are so bent on getting others in trouble or making others feel bad. I have been in direct sales for years - and have only seen this 'targeting' with SU Demonstrators - shame on them! Good luck - and don't lose hope...never give up! PS. I do not blame SU for this - they are the best company with co-founder Shelli leading by example to "do good" - so that as well puzzles me that there are so many selfish demonstrators out there...but it does hurt us all in the end.
ReplyDeleteSigned Brenda B in South Dakota
Pfft is all I can say! Let petty people do their own thing.. you do yours! That's why I stick around and just keep doing what Im doing.. because I made a decision early on to not let one person (or several people) spoil it for me. And for the most part SU demonstrators are the bestest kindest people I have ever met... pettiness is just a ridiculous thing that distracts us from what we should be doing. Just keep being you Marelle and run your business the way you want to. Love you xx And love SU :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Marelle, dear friend. I have already sent you this message in an email but today wanted to add my thoughts here too. You are one of the nicest and most caring people I have ever met in this whole wide world. No way would you ever set out to harm anyone. I certainly never saw anything wrong. Hold your head up high and go forward with your lovely husband and children and put it all behind you. Your happiness and your family's are the most important things in your life. And friends next of course and we are all in there with you. Cos we love you! I know I do! xxxxoooo
ReplyDeletemarelle.....I've said it before and no doubt will say it again....people say the most stupid, ill thought about things.......I know you'll get the trip, you bloody deserve it!! I support you and always will.....come on Marelle's customers, there are a heap of great product in the current mini you really can't live without!!
ReplyDeleteSharon xxxx
What a shame that people have to be so petty as to actual complain to you about your promotion. For starters, it's none of their business. I am a demonstrator and I certainly have no issue with it.
ReplyDeletePlease don't let the few outway the number of nice comments you have here. I will keep my fingers crossed that you earn the trip.
I am so sorry that people have been negative about your initiative. I am not a customer, I have my own dealer that I am helping get rich hehe, but I was not offended at all. Good luck with the trip
ReplyDeleteAs a demo myself, I simply applauded your ingenuity - just as I did last year. I enjoyed the countdown, too - and last year I was as joyful as you when you earned it. While I can't support you with an order (we aren't even on the same continent!) I CAN support you in prayer and with an encouraging comment. Stamping, like anything in life, with have people both negative and positive. I'm very pleased to say the the positive quite outweighs the negative. Don't let the few drag you down.
ReplyDeleteHugs from cold North Idaho USA,
Elin K.
I hope you get to go on the trip and keep your envelopes going - it is your blog after all - if other Demo's customers are coming to your personal blog, maybe that demo should be looking at their own instead of your's.
ReplyDeleteI hate technology for the fact that these people can anonymously print things without putting names to them - so brave when they are not in front of you. And if they were, they would say that they never meant it to mean that way.
Hold you head high, your customers will get you there, and keep up your great blog.
Angie xx
Marelle, I hope by reading all the wonderful messages of support you will realise how special you are to so many people. I was checking in to see how you were going and am getting my order ready. You support and help so many of us, it is great to be able to do something to support you. I hope you reach your goal and more importantly realise how you help and inspire so many of us with your incredible talent. Big hug to you...Carolin Wilkinson
ReplyDeleteSorry to have read what is going on and how you are feeling.I think the envelopes were a good idea,not only were we getting what we had purchase but also had the chance to win a big shot as well as helping you get your holiday you have worked so hard for. No one is being forced to buy from you it is our choice.Hope you get there.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have read what is going on and how you are feeling.I think the envelopes were a good idea,not only were we getting what we had purchase but also had the chance to win a big shot as well as helping you get your holiday you have worked so hard for. No one is being forced to buy from you it is our choice.Hope you get there.
ReplyDeleteHi Marelle, I'm a SU demo and I thought your promo was excellent and very creative of you. I kept on checking to see who was the lucky winner. I can't believe the pettiness and negativity of the other demos. I wish you well on your journey towards the incentive trip. I'm sure you'll make it!
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you get it anyway Marelle. You work so hard and are so inspiring (as well as a lovely person!). It's not like you are trying to get the whole trip with running promotions all year long, it's just that last min dash to the finish line. Some people just have too much time on their hands and then wonder why they never get anywhere!
ReplyDeleteYour envelopes are a great idea Marelle! I enjoyed your countdown last time - good on you for working so hard for the trip. All the best with getting to Broome!
ReplyDeleteMarelle- I am late to this (as always) but I was so thrilled when you said that you were running your lucky envelope promotion again. I love your drive and creativity, and you inspire so many selflessly.
ReplyDeleteIt's a BIG goal and hard work throughout the year to even get this close. Others who need to be nasty, jealous and spiteful about this... well they will never understand it will they? Some wait for life to happen to them, and others (like you) grab life by the hands and make everything of it.
You are an inspiration Marelle, and I truly hope you make the trip. And you know what, a couple of my customers ordered last time you had this - and I had no problem whatsoever with this... we don't 'own' customers, and this is such a great personal promotion to meet an enormous goal.
Cheerin' you on in the final few days, love ya
Trace xxx