Stella & Dot

According to their web site, Stella and Dot, an Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Company, is a San Francisco based social selling company that creates flexible entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Their boutique-style jewelry and accessories line is available exclusively through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists and online. Their one-of-a-kind collections are designed by celebrated New York designers and featured in Gossip Girl, In Style and Lucky Magazine as well as on the wrists and necklines of today's hottest celebrities.

Why am I talking about this company?

Our connection was born at a women's conference in Dallas that my daughter and I attended.  It was there that we met Tysh, a successful Stella and Dot stylist.  She was fun and delightful and told us she would be near Tyler for Thanksgiving and would love to do a trunk show for us.  I thought it could be a fun way to entertain all of the relatives who were at my house, as well as those visiting my friends.  You know how you get tired of eating and fighting the crowds of Black Friday?  Well, join us and slow down for a while, visit friends, look at jewelry and shop for those gifts you still have to buy.

We all loved trying on the wonderful necklaces, bracelets and rings, looking in the mirror or just getting opinions from everyone else. 

We had a nice crowd and there was lots of laughter and excitement.  And, of course, my 8-year-old granddaughter thought it was truly magical!

Have you ever attended a Stella and Dot trunk show?  What did you think?  Post a comment and let me know.



Our Spa Night

I recently read an article in the Dallas Morning News about the expected 5,500 women attending the annual BeautiControl convention held at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine this summer.

The article stated, "BeautiControl Inc., which is based in Carrollton, says it is prospering because it has carved out a niche for itself in the direct sales market. Instead of just selling products, it sells an at-home spa, where beauty consultants come to a client's home and pamper six to eight women for an hour with its skin treatment line. The clients pay only for the products, not the treatment."

"We provide a unique opportunity for women to de-stress and relax," said Laura Norton, 35, of Texarkana. She is an executive director who has been with the company for three years.

"A recent report by Focalyst, a joint venture between AARP Services Inc. and the Kantar Group, said that 48 million people will buy anti-aging products in the next 12 months, spending $4 billion on them. The anti-aging market is one that BeautiControl aggressively taps into."

As a "beautiful-older-woman" you have probably tried all kinds of beauty products during your life. I have been cleaning out my cosmetics drawers in preparation for moving to a new house. Can you believe that I was able to put together SEVEN grocery bags full of cosmetic samples and unopened jars and tubes of beauty products that I had never even used? As a member of our local freecycle.com, I was able to give those bags to 7 women who were thrilled to get them.

I recently attended one of the BeautiControl "spa" parties that the news article talks about and had a great time trying the products and getting pampered by the "hostess." It was a wonderful woman's "bonding" evening. However, when it came to purchasing a whole new line of products, those seven bags came quickly into my mind. My new leaf is... only buy what you will actually USE. However, it may be worth the price of a jar of bubble bath to get to attend one of the parties!

Here are some pictures of the fun we had. We got lip treatments, hand treatments, foot treatments and even some relaxation and aromatherapy. One of the other women sells a line of clothing so we even tried on sweaters. :)