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The Pampered Chef: The Story of One of America's Most Beloved Companies Audiobook
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(3.29) - 79 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Pampered Chef is Doris Christopher’s extraordinary account of how she turned an innovative concept and $3,000 investment into a business with annual sales approaching the billion-dollar mark. It is packed with real-life lessons and inspiring insights for small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. In 1980 Doris Christopher, a former home economist and teacher, was itching to get back into the workforce after an eight-year hiatus as a stay-at-home mom. Drawing on her personal and professional expertise, and determined to make cooking easier and more convenient for families, she started selling high-quality kitchen tools through cooking demonstrations to groups of women in their homes. Today, the company she started in her basement, The Pampered Chef, is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary and has grown into a corporation (now owned by Berkshire Hathaway) with tens of thousands of independent Kitchen Consultants who present more than a million Kitchen Shows a year, attended by more than 12 million people. The Pampered Chef is the story of the vision, energy, hard work, and chutzpah that drove Christopher and her company to the height of success. She describes her early days as a “one-woman show,” chronicles the company’s gradual expansion, its challenges and growing popularity, and the process, offers invaluable advice and sound strategies on how to found and grow a business, including: • Hard learned lessons for start-up entrepreneurs • How to create a business concept and set your priorities • Knowing when to expand and when to slow growth so that demand doesn’t overwhelm your operations or supplies • How to counter the naysayers and deal with adversity Today, as at the company’s founding, achieving a better balance between work and family remains central to The Pampered Chef’s mission. The Pampered Chef brings Christopher’s recipe for success to women, and men, everywhere.
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"Very interesting to read about the humble beginnings of what has grown into a nationally recognized company. I felt it could've done with some editing, as there were many areas that were repetitious, but otherwise it was a quick and informative read."
— J.M. (4 out of 5 stars)
The Pampered Chef Listener Reviews
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" This was a fast read. You can almost hear Doris's voice coming through on each page. It tells an inspiring story on a company that started in a basement and now is known world wide. "
— Joanne, 12/11/2013 -
" I may be a little biased, but I loved reading how this company came into being, and the events that have allowed it to become a household name. "
— Kristin, 10/13/2012 -
" I didn't love it, but I didn't HATE it. Very repetitive, literally, I think Mrs. Christoper copied & pasted entire paragraphs throughout the entire book. It also read more like a personal recount of the history of the company, rather than words of advise on her experience with the company. "
— Abby, 6/4/2012 -
" I personally love Pampered Chef products, so it was interesting to learn how the company started in Doris Christopher's basement! "
— Aspasia, 2/29/2012 -
" I have known Doris Christopher for 17 years and loved reading this account of The Pampered Chef. She is an inspiration! "
— Kerry, 11/21/2011 -
" A company that started in the family garage and made it. A great story. "
— Monica, 11/22/2010 -
" Great real-life story about taking a concept, developing it, and working through the growing pains. "
— Angtburg, 11/18/2010 -
" I really liked this book...although most people won't find it that interesting. Interest is generated by relevance...and this book was extremely relevant to me at that time. I absolutely loved it...and learned quite a bit from it. "
— Jeff, 5/14/2010 -
" Very easy to read, and very inspirational as a woman trying to start/run a direct sales business. "
— Angie, 12/4/2009 -
" Very easy to read, and very inspirational as a woman trying to start/run a direct sales business. "
— Angie, 11/25/2009 -
" "In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."<br/>--- Thomas Jefferson "
— Shu, 9/4/2009 -
" A company that started in the family garage and made it. A great story. "
— Monica, 7/28/2009 -
" I personally love Pampered Chef products, so it was interesting to learn how the company started in Doris Christopher's basement! "
— Aspasia, 6/18/2009 -
" I didn't love it, but I didn't HATE it. Very repetitive, literally, I think Mrs. Christoper copied & pasted entire paragraphs throughout the entire book. It also read more like a personal recount of the history of the company, rather than words of advise on her experience with the company. "
— Abby, 2/8/2009 -
" This was a fast read. You can almost hear Doris's voice coming through on each page. It tells an inspiring story on a company that started in a basement and now is known world wide. "
— Joanne, 11/15/2008 -
" I may be a little biased, but I loved reading how this company came into being, and the events that have allowed it to become a household name. "
— Kristin, 8/6/2008 -
" I really liked this book...although most people won't find it that interesting. Interest is generated by relevance...and this book was extremely relevant to me at that time. I absolutely loved it...and learned quite a bit from it. "
— Jeff, 3/23/2008 -
" I Love Pampered Chef. "
— Sandy, 8/30/2007
About Kimberly Farr
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.