With unemployment at its highest point this year, many of us know at least one family affected by layoffs, disappearing bonuses or – my favorite euphemism – furlough days. Many who are still employed are nonetheless nervous about the future of their own jobs and have begun investigating top home-based business opportunities.
Beth Leeper, a consultant with The Pampered Chef, has a solution for out-of-workers: Spend a few nights a week cooking dinner at other people’s homes, showing friends and strangers how to cook meals for $2-$3 per person in 30 minutes or less by using the right carving knives, stoneware bakers, sauce whisks, juicers, measuring cups and stoneware loaf pans, and introduce them to an alternative way to earn an extra buck, save some mad money or create a new career.
By joining The Pampered Chef, consultants follow a long line of name-brand direct selling companies whose sales were made from the ground up, one home party or demonstration at a time. Arbonne, PartyLite, Primerica Financial Services and Reliv are all examples of successful businesses that are members of the Direct Selling Association (DSA).
According to the DSA, “In 2008, US direct sales were more than $29.6 billion with more than 15 million direct sellers nationwide. The vast majority are independent business people – micro-entrepreneurs – whose purpose is to sell the product/service of the company they voluntarily choose to represent. Approximately 90% direct sellers operate their business part-time.”
Despite statistics from the DSA, though, Beth says many Pampered Chef consultants look upon their home-based business opportunities as their careers. “This is a main income source for many families, not just a hobby,” she says. Consultants have the option to train and lead teams of other consultants and provide service to their own customers. “Of the 6% of women in the US who earn more than $100,000 per year, 80% are in the direct sales business,” Beth adds.
Beth’s attraction to a Pampered Chef consultant’s career was flexibility. “When I started, I was initially just looking to host a show. I had hosted several shows in the past and was familiar with the quality of products, and I just wanted a lot of them for free!
“At that time, I was also looking to make a career change. I had a wonderful job with a large company and I loved the work I did, but, I had 2 young children and was looking to cut back to 4 days a week. I never imagined that The Pampered Chef would offer exactly what I was looking for. What I have found over the last 4 years as a Pampered Chef consultant is another family. I have been truly blessed to find a company that supports me in all that I want to accomplish, personally and professionally.”
The Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker is a best seller at in-home shows
Beth loves the product line, which is why she originally went for the hostess’s free gifts. “One hot product we offer right now is our Deep Covered Baker, which we call the Pampered Chef answer to the all day Crock-Pot,” Beth says. “You get the same deliciously moist and flavorful results, in much less time. Because this product is part of our Stoneware Collection, it can be used in the oven and Microwave oven to prepare dishes like Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco in under 30 minutes, or Chocolate Lava Cake. Pampered Chef products are also so versatile that many of them have several uses.”
During the in-home shows, Beth shares ways to use the products and allows the customers to actually try products before purchasing them. Sampling before buying is a hallmark of direct selling.
Another benefit to Pampered Chef sales is encouraging families to plan ahead to eat healthier meals. “Gone are the days when running through a fast food drive-thru was faster and less expensive,” Beth says. To feed a family of 4 that way costs me almost $30! And much of the food is wasted because it’s no good when reheated.”
Beth Leeper's kids enjoy using Pampered Chef tools and helping whenever she's in the kitchen.
Many of the recipes created by the Pampered Chef have become family favorites at Beth’s home. She says they’re easy to make, even for non-cooks, and they use many items you already have stocked in your pantry, so there’s no extra trips to the grocery store required.
Check out this recipe from Beth’s newsletter for a post-Thanksgiving turkey option. This recipe was developed and tested in The Pampered Chef Test Kitchens by professional home economists.
Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped red or green bell pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger root
1 can (8 ounces) pineapple slices, reserving 1/4 cup juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup teriyaki sauce
4 hamburger buns
Directions:
1. In Classic Batter Bowl, combine ground turkey, bread crumbs, bell pepper, green onion, ginger root, 1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice and salt; mix gently but thoroughly. Form meat mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
2. Grill over medium coals 10-12 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use Barbecue Turner to turn burgers once during cooking. Baste with teriyaki sauce using Barbecue Basting Brush during last 2 minutes of grilling.
3. Grill pineapple slices 5 minutes, basting with teriyaki sauce. Grill buns to warm; remove using Barbecue Tongs. Serve burgers on buns; top with pineapple slice.
Yield: 4 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 250, Total Fat 3 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Carbohydrate 48 g, Protein 10 g, Sodium 2050 mg, Fiber 1 g
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