There is no sign up fee!

Do you have to place a minimum order the first time you order?

No. There is no minimum order requirement for your first order or for any order after that.

Do you have a start up package?

No, we don’t. You can order exactly what you want. You pick the mixes and any of the extras that you want. We do sell an advertising/sample kit for $25 if interested in something like this. (details can be found on website)

Is there a quota that you have to meet by a certain time?

We have structured an active/inactive requirement that anyone can easily meet. Although there is not a minimum order that you have to purchase for your first order or each time, we do require that you purchase a minimum wholesale order of $100 in three months or you will be considered an inactive member of The Gourmet Cupboard. You do not have to spend this amount at one time, but in three months, your orders must total this amount. For every $50 in mixes that you spend with us, we will send you a free mix (any bag $3.00 wholesale and under) of your choice. You may you use these for taste testing samples at shows, to keep for yourself, to give away as gifts, or whatever you desire.

We have divided the year into four (three month) intervals.

February, March, April

May, June, July

August, September, October

November, December, January

We grouped the months together like this, so that you would not have 3 slower months in a row. January and February are, for the majority of us, slower months. We didn’t want to group these 2 months together, so we have January with November and December, and then we included February with March and April. This way, it is much easier to meet your minimum quarterly requirement!!

If someone joins The Gourmet Cupboard during the middle of a three month period, we will begin tracking purchases the following quarter. When you are an active member you will be eligible for the following:

An inactive status will not grant any of this, but by simply placing one minimum order of $150, you may regain your active status.

Do you have to meet the quota in the quarter that you join?

You don't have to meet our minimum quarterly order of the $100 until the next quarter. So, this gives a chance to anyone who just wants to "test the waters" out before jumping in!

What is the shelf life on the mixes?

Coffees- just a couple of months (they lose their flavor after sitting there awhile). We do not suggest purchasing more than just a few of our coffees at one time for resale.

Teas- 6 months- Even though the flavor will hold up for longer, they tend to harden after awhile. All the other mixes- as long as they are sealed in their original bag, all mixes should hold their flavor and quality for up to a year.

How do I know what to order the first time so that I won’t be stuck with mixes that aren’t the best sellers?

Are the mixes subject to sales tax?

Every state’s laws are very different. In Texas they are not taxable unless bundled in a basket with other items, but consult your local taxing authority for the rules in your area/state. When shipping them out of Texas, we do not charge tax to any of our distributors or retail customers.

Is the Gourmet Cupboard licensed through the Health Department?

Yes, we are. We are periodically checked by the Hardin County Health Department and the Texas Manufactured Foods Division.

Do we have to have a special permit or license to sell The Gourmet Cupboard mixes?

At some shows, you are required to have a temporary health permit. They will tell you ahead of time and it will state it in their application. Most of the arts and crafts shows don’t require this, but some of the really big ones do. This usually costs around $30.

Where can I go to sell the mixes?

All distributors have different ways and places that they sell the mixes. Art and Craft shows have been VERY successful for us and for most distributors who attend them. Festivals, trade days, and art and craft malls where vendors have designated booths are also great places to set up. You can check with your Chamber of Commerce for a listing of shows. Most will send you a brochure with all the shows, dates, and contact information for the whole year. You can also check your newspaper. Some large cities print an entire section dedicated solely to show listings a couple of times a year. Other great places to set up are in a teachers’ lounge before and during their lunch break and during their conference times. Some schools will allow vendors to come in and set up and others will not. The secretary should be able to let you know. Different places of work will also allow this as well. There is a website, www.craftlister.com that is a really great place to find out about fairs/festivals. You just enter your zip code and how far you are willing to travel, and about once a month or so you will get an email listing the one within your area. There is also a magazine called, "Where It’s At", which is a great magazine with listings of shows. Other vendors will also be able to let you know of shows they are aware of too.

Can we adjust the prices on the mixes or are the prices set?

The retail price is the suggested retail price, but if you want to adjust the prices, then you can. If you want to change any of the prices, then you can go to the distributor page of our website, find a copy of our tri-fold brochure, and make your adjustments accordingly. Some distributors that are charged an extra percentage if their mixes are in a booth at a craft mall, adjust the prices a little to make up for the percentage taken from their profit.

Can we have our own website? Yes, you can. The only requirement that we have is for you to state that you are an independent distributor of The Gourmet Cupboard on your site. What if one our customers orders off of The Gourmet Cupboard website? How do we get credit for that order?

After submitting their order, a screen will pop up and ask for their shipping information and a required field of which distributor they are ordering under. This way, each distributor will get credit for the mixes sold under their name. So, make sure you give all your customers a brochure with your name on it and your re-order sticker is placed on each mix that you hand out!!

Do you have company offered sites?

Besides what we offer above, there is a lady that has designed many websites for our reps. If you are interested in having your own website, all of her contact information can be found in our back office. You are not obligated in any way to use her, but she is wonderful and comes highly recommended.

Do you offer a discount to your customers if they buy more than one mix?

There have been several ideas for the "sale" prices that you can offer your customers. Please feel free to use any of these, make up your own, mix and match any of these, or not use any of these and offer no sales! It is totally up to you!

Idea A

Buy 8 of any size, get one free!

Idea B

Buy 10 of any size, get 10% off your total order!

Idea C

Buy $30 worth and pick a grab bag. (you can use the mixes for the month’s specials for your grab bags)

On the Shaker jars- 4 for $15

Right now I am unable to purchase the display you have for your shows, so what do you suggest I do for a display to make my tables look nice?

There are so many different ways to display that really look nice. Many people fill different baskets full of mixes and group them together according to theme. (All the dips together, soups together, cookies and breads in one basket, etc.) Some people have actually labeled on the basket what is inside each one. They named the category and then typed below it the contents of the basket. You don’t even have to have the same type of baskets. If you use all different sizes and shapes of baskets, that is fine! Some people have lined the baskets with material or bright colored tissue paper. Some people use a table cloth and place different heights of boxes or Tupperware underneath and then place their baskets on top of the tablecloth (some on the risers and some on the actual tabletop). This looks nice too and gives your display a little variety with heights instead of all the baskets just sitting on the table. If you or someone you know is handy with wood, we also have the patterns to the different display stands in the back office.

Can we make copies of our catalogs and brochures and labels?

Yes, you may do this if you want to. There is a copy of the catalog and the tri-fold on the distributor page of the website. Many people copy their own and have their contact information already printed on the forms.

Do you find that most of your distributors do not have everything in stock? What do they usually do?

Each distributor is different. Some have a really great stock and keep a few of each on hand, and some just usually order what others have ordered from them. We would suggest having on hand what you know is popular in your area and if someone orders something you don’t have, then just place that in your next order. Honestly, your stock really just depends on what shows you go to, how big they are, how often you attend them, etc.

When should customers expect their mixes after ordering (let's say I do not have it in stock)?

We try to process orders as quickly as possible, but we say 3-5 business days.

Are we assigned ID numbers?

You do receive an ID number when signing up, but we prefer to use first and last names. Because most of the time we are able to speak or email one on one with our distributors, we feel like this is so much more personal than ID numbers.

You pay 10% to distributors for direct recruits, but do you pay anything to them when their recruits recruit someone under them?

We only pay direct recruits. You can recruit as many people as you want, and as long as you are active, you will always receive the 10% commission from their orders. When we first started this business, paying for downline recruiting was something that we considered, but decided against it because we would rather offer a higher percentage to you for those recruits that you are actually helping along and sponsoring. Now, if someone on your team recruits others, and then later leaves the company, than all of their commission checks would then go to you!

What is the difference between a retail and wholesale/independent distributor?

A retail distributor is one who sells at a store, and a wholesale/independent distributor sells at home shows, arts and crafts shows, etc. As far as ordering procedures and requirements, nothing. Each is given the same wholesale pricing and information.

Is there a Yahoo Support Group for distributors to join?

Yes! And you can join for free! It is run and moderated by several of our wonderful distributors. There are lots of wonderful, creative, ideas shared. Opinions, ideas, questions, and comments are all shared each day. You can participate as little or as much as you would like to!

Do you ever hold competitions among the distributors?

We hold some sort of competition each month and the winners win a free mix/mixes in their next order! They are simple contests just to make it fun! Because we all market the products in different ways, sometimes the contests may not suit you, but that is okay! This is just for FUN, and hopefully the next month’s contest may be of interest to you!

Is your facility smoke free?

Yes, it is.

Is your facility open to the distributors?

Yes, we would love for you to come by, meet us, and see how we do things. Please call and let us know you are coming! – (409) 287-4447.