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Alison Fuller PERSONAL STYLIST/STAR DIRECTOR, STELLA & DOT WWW.STELLADOT.COM/ALISONFULLER Great success doesn’t always stem from a selfmade business. Many of the most stunning careers are had by innovative, motivated people coming into existing businesses and using every opportunity available to make success happen for them and the company. Fuller is this type of woman. She is the spirit of entrepreneurialism and realized about three years ago, while pregnant with her third child, that she needed a commodity she could be passionate about to satiate this desire to build and succeed at something fun and positive. She found an answer in Stella and Dot, a jewelry and accessory company that has passed over the brick and mortar storefront in favor of what they call social selling: selling their products through in-home parties and trunk shows hosted by their personnel of stylists. Stella and Dot’s at-home businesswoman model gave Fuller the opportunity to create a flexible work environment, the success of which could only be championed or hindered by her own hard work and networking. Fuller took that challenge head on. Today she has added nearly 2000 people to the Stella and Dot team and continues to help grow the market for Stella and Dot jewelry.
Q: What does your role consist of at Stella & Dot? AF: My role is ever changing and growing, but basically boils down to two main tasks: Firstly, I am a Personal Stylist for our amazing line of boutique-style, celebrity-coveted, editor-adored jewelry. I come into your home/office with our collection of accessories and style women with everything from black tie event statement pieces, to everyday “go to the park” jewelry. And secondly, I simply help other women do what I’ve done. I am a leader, coach and mentor to other women who also want to start their own social selling, fashion business with Stella & Dot. I support my team of 2000+ stylists through targeted communications, fun monthly meetings, small groups and oneon-one support. The greatest part is that I get to do it all from home! Q: How have you advanced Stella & Dot and your industry since you have been working with the company? AF: Within the past 3 years I have helped grow an international sales team that sold over $6 million in 2011, and helped create over 2000 jobs for women and their families. We have created our own economic stimulus plan, which has done a lot for my family AND the families of all our stylists! Q: What is your crowning achievement? AF: I left the comfort and security of my pharmaceutical job in January of 2010, and have never looked back. Fast forward two years from that decision, and I find myself ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ along with a group of fellow stylists, our CEO, and CCO, when Stella & Dot was honored for job creation in America and our contribution through the Stella & Dot Foundation. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience! It all started with that leap of faith.
Q: What is the key to success in your opinion? AF: Oprah Winfrey said, “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” We are all given 24 hours in a day and it is up to you, your own personal work ethic, drive, determination, and tenacity to choose what you will do with one of life’s greatest gifts – time. Q: Who is your business hero? AF: Hands down, undeniably, and with a passionate “absolutely,” Jessica Herrin. She is a mother of two and the founder and CEO of Stella & Dot. She is mission driven and her mission is clear: to build a company that revolutionizes the homebased business opportunity for women, because, as Jessica claims, “nine-to-five just doesn’t flatter.” We are building a company of strong women living bold lives. The icing on the cake is that I get to call her my friend. Q: How does living in Orange County affect you as a businesswoman? AF: I am extremely fortunate to live in such a healthy, active, climate-friendly place like Orange County. Running an accessories business in a place where women can accessorize all year long works out pretty well. Q: When not at work, we can find you? AF: With my Loyola Marymount University college sweetheart and husband of 14 years Chad Fuller, and our three fantastic kids, Delaney (10), Addison (5) and Charlie (3). My family is my reason for working as hard as I do. But we don’t just work hard, we play hard! We ALL do the fitness phenomenon called CrossFit, we love being outdoors, and truly enjoy living in this beautiful place.
| Holiday 2012 Issue | 161