subject: Thirty-One Gifts - Helping Women Celebrate, Encourage and Reward Themselves [print this page] Seven years ago, Cindy Monroe was a working mother in corporate America. Between raising two children and working at a full time job, Mrs. Monroe said she realized how little free time she had.
She dreamed of running a company that would have flexible schedules for its employees and prioritize giving women due recognition for their dedication and hard work. From this vision, the company, Thirty-One Gifts was born.
Today, Cindy Monroe is the CEO of one of America's fastest growing Home Party companies.
The name of the faith-based company, "Thirty-One," is a reference to Proverbs 31, she said, about the virtuous woman who worked inside and outside the home and deserved a lot of praise.
Thirty-One Gifts offers personalized fashion items such as purses, handbags, totes, and accents for the home.
"Women get so wrapped up in going to work, kids and responsibilities, that you really don't have time to hang out," Cindy said.
Over the past seven years, Thirty-One Gifts has seen tremendous growth. "For the first three years or so, we saw between 300 to 400% growth," said Scott Monroe, Cindy's husband and the company's Chief Branding Officer. "And we only had about five or six employees that whole time. Every year since then, we have consistently seen between 200 and 500% growth."
What sets Thirty-One Gifts apart from other direct selling companies is their strong culture.
"People often ask us if we are a Christian company," Scotts says. "And the answer is that we are a company that was founded by Christian people and run by Christian principles, and our business, therefore, is really an extension of who we are."
Growth in Direct Sales
"The direct selling industry has outpaced the retail industry's rate of growth for much of the past decade. "In-home sales parties are increasingly popular", said Amy Robinson, spokeswoman for the Direct Selling Association in Washington, D.C.
"I think the opportunity to get together with like-minded individuals is really appealing because we're all so busy," Cindy said. "Who doesn't want an excuse to kick off your shoes and shop?"
Thirty-One Gifts' customers can host a party in their home get discounted or even free products and have the choice of becoming a consultant themselves. For $99, new consultants get supplies to host several shows.
"They are essentially starting their own business. They're not employees of ours," Cindy said.
Thirty-One Gifts - Helping Women Celebrate, Encourage and Reward Themselves
