Premier rally!

So I spent the weekend in Columbus, Ohio for Premiers regional conference. There were 15 of us here locally that went together. And trying to keep that many ladies together was a chore. But my Premier mom, Brenda, had an excellent idea. She bought some cardboard hearts & some wooden dowell rods. And we made signs. Not only to use so we could all see each other - but also to get attention from the Premier people so they would take our pic & put it in the newsletter they send out!

Thursday night after we arrived, everyone went into one room & we got started. Brenda's being silly & she hadn't even had anything to drink... I had 2 jobs. #1- I held the ribbon in my hands while another lady strung it. We eventually cut them in half & then curled them to attach to the rods.
My second job was to write cute little sayings about Premier on the hearts with a black marker.

The finished product. This was Friday morning before everything got started.

Obviously I had no clue what to expect because I was a Premier rally virgin. But I quickly learned that Premier does NOT mess around. Everything was top of the line! We had trainings on Friday & Saturday. But of course, they made it fun & it wasn't like we were sitting down taking notes all day. They'd give away prizes & people would sing & stuff like that.

This guy was called, "Mr. Celebration." Before each session would start he would go up front & they would draw jeweler numbers & give away 50 & 100 dollar bills. No lie. I can't imagine how much money in prizes, gift cards, jewelry, etc they gave away! I would say tens of thousand of dollars! And NO, I didn't win a dang thing!

Premier is also big on "recognition". And they have goals in place for jewelers. And when you obtain those goals, you get recognized by either getting certificates for jewelry or pins or something. In addition to that, you get to walk your happy bootie out on stage (& senior leaders are on stage giving you five & telling you, "good job!") during Rally & your name scrolls on the screen. And guess who got to march her happy bootie out on that stage - twice?! Yup - ME!! (And you'll just have to take my word for it because I don't have any pics on my camera 'cuz I was on stage - duh! But other people took my pic. If I can get somebody to send me some - I'll post them for ya!)

The first time was because within my first 45 days in Premier, I had 9 home shows. And I got a certificate to purchase $300 in jewelry. The second thing was for being a member of the "home show club". And there are different levels you can earn. Right now I'm in the "25 home show club". I had 25 home shows in a 120 consecutive day period. There were other people there that were in the "200 home show club." Cut me some slack people, I've only been in 6 months!

One of the most exciting parts is when they introduce the new spring/summer collection on Friday afternoon. After they show us each piece on the big screens, they have several stations set up so that ladies can get a closer look at it. But our group is lucky because Brenda pre-orders the whole entire line. So there was a box with her name on it waiting for her. (AND-speaking of prizes again- they gave away several entire lines that afternoon... & one of our ladies won it! We were all screaming & jumping up & down for her. That's worth about $2000 right there!!!!) So Friday night we all got to play in the new jewelry!

Friday night they had a 25th anniversary celebration party for us. And when we came up to the escalators & looked down - this is what we saw.

All these people waiting to get into the party just like us!

There was a band & they had cupcakes & punch!

Dancing!

And of course - this party was where they gave away all the stuff I mentioned in my previous post. So this was after Rose stole, er I mean WON, my Coach bag. Everyone wanted to get their pic with her. Please look closely at my face. How funny am I?!This was Saturday morning before the sessions that day. And I must tell you. I was exhausted. I don't sleep well away from home plus we had gotten up at 5:30 that morning! Yikes!

THIS was the part I was looking most forward to. The founders of Premier, Andy & Joan Horner, spoke live & in living color!

And I must tell you. They seemed like the most down to earth people. They each spoke to us.

And they didn't talk about selling jewelry. They didn't talk about making money. They talked about serving others. And enriching others' lives. And the biblical principles they founded Premier on.

And I was truly inspired. I mean, of course I've heard the philosophy of Premier. And I've heard their views on business. But to actually HEAR the people who founded the company 25 years ago when they were in their 60's & already millionaires? And to have their son (who is now the President) read us a letter from 25 years ago his dad wrote to him & his brother explaining WHY they wanted to start this company? I'm tellin' ya - they are the real deal. And I am proud to be involved with such an organization!

(And now I can't wait for National Rally in Texas in July! I may have to sleep a solid week leading up to it because they say it's non-stop for 4 days. And prizes? Well - they are giving away a C-A-R everyday! Maybe I can set my hopes only to be crushed again?!)