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HOME & GARDEN PARTY® 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 Home & Garden Party 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.
Home & Garden Party 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 Home & Garden Party. 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 Home & Garden Party, 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.”
Home & Garden Party offers a unique combination of decorating products,
training,
compensation and marketing support to more than 28,000 independent Designers
across the
United States. Home & Garden Party 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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