I was first (really) introduced to Pampered Chef a few years ago. I attended a freezer meal workshop and after about $140 spent on the Pampered Chef seasonings and all the groceries, I ended up with 11 freezer meals that were ready to be made an day of the week. I confess, I am the most non-domestic Goddess you will ever meet. I don't think I have ever made anything from scratch, unless you count putting flour and water together to make paper mache paste. I attended 2 more freezer meal workshops after that and I am hooked on their seasonings. For the second installment of Business Spotlight, I introduce you to Alicia Bowser.
In January of 2010, my life was very unsettled. My daughter was about 1 ½ and I was enjoying being a stay at home mom. Before I had her, I taught Kindergarten. I always expected that teaching is what I would do. I thought I would have my daughter, maybe have another one or two and then return to teaching when the youngest started school. My goals were simple but my life was unsettled. My husband’s job was almost a 2-hour commute both ways and I felt unloved, unwanted, and just unhappy. I had a great support system of friends but no real prospects on what to do next. I had even considered divorce and starting over as a single mom with an in home daycare business so that I could stay home with my daughter and find some happiness. What was in my future?
I had set up a Pampered Chef party as I typically did every 6 months or so. I loved the products. I don’t remember what my first product I bought was but I knew it was AWESOME! I had been asked to be a consultant many times before from different consultants but it wasn’t for me. I was just a customer. No ambitions to sell anything. Well, that party was a light in my life that I needed at that moment. As the party went on I thought “I could do that! I could earn a little extra income and get out a little bit more so I wasn’t just a stay at home mom!” And with the benefits from my party, I not only got FREE products but I got a business, too.
My business took off with some great parties. My personal life started getting better, too. My husband and I reconciled our differences and began healing our marriage. I was really doing pretty well and felt more confident. Later in the year I started working out more and really trying to make my business a success. By the end of the first year, we were doing better and even took a trip to Disney. It was nice having the extra income for that trip. But then in March, our life was changed when we heard the words from our OB “you’re having twins!” She told us that we probably needed someone to be at home full time with the kids and she also warned that I would probably be put on bedrest. The nice thing was that my business allowed me to be flexible and do just that. We talked about me quitting and I was just not convinced that I needed to quit. After all, Direct sales companies always promote the flexibility of the business. So I decided to just see what happened.
At the end of July that year, I was put on bedrest. I wasn’t allowed to drive, lift anything heavy, cook, and was told to basically sit still. Luckily, I had a little thing called Facebook to keep me occupied and a phone. During my time on bedrest, I continued to place orders for people and sell products to my friends and family. They really helped me continue my business. Some weeks were great and some weeks weren’t so great. But I didn’t give up. The twins came, and my business continued. I wasn’t able to get out as much as I had once been able to but I still worked my business. The first year with twins is TOUGH but another year past.
Fast forward again to 2013, my husband and I finally decided it was time to make the move closer to his job. We picked up our entire lives in Spring, TX and moved them to right here in Katy, TX. Moving to a new city where I only knew about 3 people was very difficult. I knew nobody and nobody knew me. My customers where all over the city but I didn’t really know anyone here in Katy. When we moved, I knew I would meet more people through my children and from my neighborhood but I needed more friends to sell to. So I joined several groups and continued with my business. As my business has grown here in Katy, I have felt a great relief that I have been able to maintain it through all that I have endured. If I can do this business, then ANYONE can do this business.
As my children have now grown older (7 yrs. old and two 4 year olds), my goal is to shift my business into a full time position. I believe at some point I will go back to teaching but for now Pampered Chef Is my passion. And honestly, I am teaching. It may not look like what I thought it would, but I am teaching people how to create recipes using simple products that cut time and cost. Through my business I have built lifelong friendships, learned how to cook, and been able to continue being a stay at home mom to my kids.
If you would like to see me in action or even start your own business, contact me at
Alicia Bowser
www.pamperedchef.biz/aliciabowser1
281-787-0436
Find me on Facebook at Alicia’s Table
