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**Trademark of Tastefully Simple, Inc.
Tastefully Simple, Inc.
Copyright Jeffrey Babener www.mlmlegal.com
Editor's Note:
Welcome to MLMLegal.Com Company Profiles at www.mlmlegal.com. Here you will find brief summaries of pertinent information about hundreds of MLM, Direct Selling, Direct Sales, Network Marketing and Party Plan Companies. As a general matter, the summary information is derived from Company published information, generally posted at Company websites, public information releases or posts at industry trade sites .*
Founding Story
Tastefully Simple was founded in 1995 in Alexandria, Minnesota by Jill Blashack and Joani Nielson. Tastefully Simple started out in a small shed in Minnesota.
Jill was born and raised in Minnesota and grew up working on her family's farm. She briefly attended the University of Minnesota-Morris and shortly (www.mlmlegal.com) transferred to Alexandria Technical College and graduated with an associate's degree in sales and marketing. Shortly after, she began her own retail gift basket shop. She sold her business 1994 and participated in a Holiday Craters Tour that promoted her gift baskets. There she put out samples of gourmet food items and had excellent sales. That was when her idea of Tastefully Simple began.
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She began the company in 1995 in a 1,200 sq. ft. shed that had no running water. She used a pool table as a packing surface and her own savings and an investment from her quiet partner, Joani Nielson, and a $20,000 small business loan.Impact on the Industry
Tastefully Simple has been ranked near the top of the Inc 500 list of fastest growing privately held US companies for four years in a row. In 2002, Tastefully Simple ranked its highest ranking of #7. Tastefully Simple is a member of the DSA and have been since September 1, 2001. The company has been making headlines for over 10 years now.
- Minnesota Business Hall of Fame (2006)
- Inc. magazine's list of CEO All-Stars (2005)
- Fast Company magazine's 25 Top Women Business Builders (2005)
- Small Business Administration Entrepreneurial Success Award (2004)
- Ernst & Young ® Entrepreneur of the Year finalist (2003)
- Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year (www.mlmlegal.com) for Minnesota & the Dakotas (2000)
Discussion of Products
Tastefully Simple sells their products via direct selling, home parties, catalog sales, corporate gift accounts and website sales. All products are backed by a customer satisfaction guarantee. The products are food and gourmet items. The products are convenient and easy-to-prepare gourmet foods that are primarily sold through taste-testing parties. Tastefully Simple sells desserts, appetizers, festive gift packs, and many other food items that the customer can eat right out of the package or prepare with one or two additional ingredients.
Discussion of Opportunity
Consultants are offered training through ongoing education through monthly team meetings, one-to-one coaching for leaders, regional conferences, an annual national conference, a leadership conference, and TS Success trainings held throughout the country.
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Representatives earn commissions on sales. They can start by purchasing the Business Blast Off Kit. The Kit includes party food kits, printed and training materials, display products, samples and party supplies, a Consultant Guide, training videos, and videos and catalogs. Training comes from their sponsor, "shadowing", a variety of training materials, conferences and regional events. They are able to have their own website for a one-time fee.
The company offers the following information regarding its opportunity:
1. it's simple!
What our consultants (www.mlmlegal.com) do:
- Have parties
- Sell products
- Sponsor others
What you'll receive:
- Incredible support from our headquarters team
- Stellar marketing tools
- Online resources, including
- Online catalog and e-marketing tools
- Your online marketing suite and website*
*Additional fees apply.
- Personal development with coaching and inspiration
- Amazing training to achieve both your personal and professional dreams
2. it's delicious!
Our products are:
- Easy
- Consumable
- Fun
- Creative
- Economical
- Homemade
3. it's fun!
You'll discover so many perks:
- Flexibility
- Travel
- Income
- Friendships
- Recognition and so much (www.mlmlegal.com) more
1. sell food
This is your business. Ready to start earning 30% (or more as a leader) on your sales? Do just that through parties, reorders, your own website, events, fundraisers and business gifts.
And by consistently partying every month, you can also earn dream vacations with Tastefully Simple. Think of it as selling your way to sunshine.
Parties/Week |
Approx. Hours/Week |
Monthly Gross Profit |
1 |
4 |
$450 |
2 |
8 |
$900 |
3 |
12 |
$1,350 |
4 |
16 |
$1,800 |
Did you know? As a consultant, you have no out-of-pocket cost. |
||
Gross profit is based on 2013 average of $375 per tasting party at 30% commission. Like any business, income is dependent on your efforts, expenses and productivity. For more information, call 866.328.6673.
2. sponsor others
The first way to earn income is by selling food - that's the foundation of your business. Your second path to profits? Just share your excitement and teach others to do what you do!
Plus, you can earn exclusive trips just for (www.mlmlegal.com) leaders.
Promote your way to:
- Up to 8% commission on team sales
- Bonuses - including $200 each time you promote
- Higher personal sales commission rate - 35% or 40%
Leadership Commitment |
Leadership Level |
Average Annual Leadership Income |
A little extra time |
Senior Consultant |
New in 2013* |
2-5 hours per week |
Team Leader |
$833 |
2-5 hours per week |
Team Manager |
$2,753 |
5-20 hours per week |
Senior Team Manager |
$7,199 |
5-20 hours per week |
Team Mentor |
$15,023 |
20-40 hours per week |
Lead Team Mentor |
$31,113 |
20-40 hours per week |
Senior Team Mentor |
$90,623 |
Income is based on 2013 commission, including bonuses. Leadership Cheques are paid monthly on team's retail sales. These income examples are calculated by averaging data on consultants who had been at the appropriate achieved leadership level for one year or more.
*Commission was not paid at the Senior Consultant level prior to March 1, 2013.
Discussion of Distributor Base and Sales Volume in U.S.
The company operates within the United States. It is not publically traded. As of 2007, Tastefully Simple (www.mlmlegal.com) has grown to become a $100 million plus enterprise with thousands of consultants nationwide.
Company website: https://www.tastefullysimple.com/
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Jeffrey A. Babener, principal attorney in the Portland, Oregon, law firm Babener & Associates, represents many of the leading direct selling companies in the United States and abroad.
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