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Celebrating Home® FOUNDERS SHARE THEIR
SUCCESS
More than 28,000 Independent Designers Are Paid to Party!
MARSHALL, Texas – Penny and Steve Carlile have been a team almost their
whole lives,
first as high school and college sweethearts, then returning to their
hometown of Marshall,
Texas, to raise their two sons. Steve became a partner in his family’s
oil and gas business.
After the business was sold, Penny and Steve both believed that along
with financial
blessings comes the obligation to share by helping others.
They decided to create a business that would employ people in Marshall
and
provide an outlet for their creativity and business savvy. First, they
bought a pottery
company, since local artisans already had a reputation for quality
craftsmanship that drew
customers to East Texas. Next, they developed retail stores that sold
pottery and home
decorations. Soon, they wondered how they could share their dream with
more people in
more places.
Steve found the answer in a Wall Street Journal article about a
family-owned direct
sales business based in a small Midwest town. “We already had a
successful product line.
I could see that selling in homes instead of in retail stores would
allow people to set their
own hours, without the overhead costs of retail space, inventory and
employees. That
would mean more flexibility and more income potential – a perfect
solution to help
families everywhere.”
Steve’s wife, Penny, chimes in. “We saw this concept could expand our
business in
the very best way, by providing an opportunity to others who in turn
could become
successful from their own home base.” Together, Steve and Penny talked
to people who
had sold for direct sales companies, asking what worked and what should
change. They
began to create a model for a people-oriented business that would
provide individuals with
the best possible products, tools and training along with a generous
commission structure
that would rival any other.
They chose the name Celebrating Home to bring a picture to mind – an
informal gathering in a home or garden with wonderful decorations,
artwork and greenery.
And since the very first party in May, 1996, that’s just what guests see
when a hostess
opens her home to friends to learn about the company, purchase products,
and plan future
parties. Independent Designers create attractive displays, share ideas
to add warmth and
interest to any home, and they get paid to party! No lecture, no flip
chart. Just a chance to
learn, laugh, and enjoy shopping from the items displayed or hundreds
more featured in the
catalog.
Celebrating Home offers high-quality products to enliven any home,
including
stoneware pottery, candles and fragrance lamps, framed art, florals,
bakeware and
accessories for both home and garden. Because of their retail
experience, Steve and Penny
have an eye for what consumers will buy, and they know how important it
is to maintain
high quality standards with reasonable prices.
When visitors arrive at company headquarters in East Texas, they can’t
help but
notice a large warehouse that dominates the property. Inside, an
automated order picking
system and almost 300 employees fill more than 7,000 orders every day.
Home & Garden
Party made a substantial investment in the system after a best-selling
holiday season in
1998 resulted in backorders, unshipped products, and substantial losses.
“We certainly did
not intend to create the situation, which really resulted from too much
growth, too fast,”
Penny admits. “But we vowed that it would never happen again!” Providing
the best
possible customer service along with value and convenience is front and
center among the
company’s goals. Steve adds, “We see no reason why we can’t provide the
best in
everything. The best people, the best products, and the best pay for our
independent
Designers.”
The company has recruited a number of top-level executives to enjoy the
smalltown
atmosphere of Marshall while building a powerhouse business. Penny and
Steve are
particularly grateful that both of their sons have chosen to move back
to Marshall with their
families to work at Celebrating Home. Steve says, “We started this
business to help
families, and we feel so blessed that our own family has found a reason
to live and work
together in Marshall.”
Penny is President of Celebrating Home, with Steve holding the titles
of CEO
and Chairman. Together, these lifetime partners want to give the same
sense of shared
independence to others. According to Penny, “We consider it an honor and
privilege to
serve our Designers, and we want to see their personal and professional
dreams become a
reality just as ours have.”
Celebrating Home offers a unique combination of decorating products,
training,
compensation and marketing support to more than 28,000 independent
Designers across the
United States. Celebrating Home is a proud member of the Direct
Selling Association,
upholding the highest standards for the industry with a culture of
integrity, caring and
superior service.
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