The Life of a Brand Ambassador…
March 10th, 2008
The good folks at the Word of Mouth Marketing Association have asked us to step in and contribute a guest blog for the WOMMA Word today. And instead of blathering on as we are prone to do, we asked one of the Lead Brand Ambassadors of Fiskars (a client of ours), also known as a Lead Fiskateer (and around here, one of the Fab 4) to write about what being a Brand Ambassador means to her. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you Stephenie Hamen:
Two years ago, I found myself searching for some information on the Fiskars website when I saw an icon off to the side that said, “Become a Fiskars Brand Warrior.” Now, as a crafter and avid fan of their product, my curiosity was peaked. I clicked on it, and my life has never been the same.
Soon after I applied online, I had my face-to-face interview with the staff at Brains on Fire and was subsequently hired for a groundbreaking program in the crafting industry - the Fiskateers. Four women who love to craft and scrap from across the country were hired and I am one of them. The day I got the call was the day that I felt like I had won the lottery.
To totally understand why I was so excited to be working as a Brand Ambassador for Fiskars, I explained it to my husband, who is a golfer, like this: Ping is going to hire you to go out and play golf. They are going to provide you with all the latest and greatest products, and each time they come up with something new, you get that, too. You just go and golf. You don’t have to be good or even keep score. You just have to love the game. They are also going to give you stuff to give away to other golfers to try and to keep and use. They are going to pay for all of this golf, fly you to play golf in other states, and they are also going to give you a paycheck… would you turn that down?
For those of us who do this, it is not a job. It is a passion. I don’t sell products, no matter what anyone thinks or says. We sell nothing, because we are not sales reps. I am a crafter first and a Fiskars employee second. They have never asked us to say we like something we don’t. They have asked our honest opinion of ideas and products so many times it would scare most other companies. They have let us voice our concerns about products on the blog and publicly. They have never censored our responses or our thoughts. They have made changes to products based on our feedback as a community. They let us share the bad along with the good. They have brought us in and made us part of their team, but not in a way that compromises our thoughts, ideas, or art. We are able to post projects and ideas using products other than Fiskars and are not limited to just their tools and consumable lines. How many companies do you know would do that? I don’t know of many, but this works - and it works well!
In less than two years of active registration, we are at almost 4000 unpaid Fiskateers worldwide. There is something about Fiskars allowing us to take some ownership of their company that has people worldwide proudly sporting and showing off their one-of-a-kind engraved scissors. They are a company that not only listens to, but embraces their customers, artists, crafters, and creative minds from every walk of life.
I live and breathe this program. Hundreds of people have thanked us for being the first truly positive, open, and inviting crafting site on the web. Newcomers never feel shunned, but are welcomed in with open arms. First time scrappers are not afraid to post their work as they are on other sites because we raise people up and encourage them here. The point of this whole movement is to inspire people to share their love of crafting and to share their passion for creating, no matter what their medium, their skill level, or their talent. And, even at 4000, it still feels like a small, friendly, close-knit community.
It is about building community. It is about learning from each other. It is about inspiring people to try something new. It is about friendship. It is about crafters and scrappers coming together.
While it is sponsored and supported by Fiskars, at the end of the day, it belongs to us. All 4000 of us. I am proud to be Fiskateer #003, a number I wear with pride. I wear my orange shoes, my orange shirts, my apron, and my love of this community everywhere I go. This is not a job, it is a way of life, a passion, a dedication, and a commitment to bring crafters together.
This is the life of a Fiskars Brand Ambassador - a life that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
Stephenie Hamen is one of four Lead Fiskateers and is a part-time, paid employee of Fiskars. She resides in Chicago, IL with her husband and two sons and is also a teacher of hearing-impaired children. Oh, and she’s a Cubs fan. A big one. For full transparency, Brains on Fire asked her to write this first-person perspective of her front-line experiences as a brand ambassador.
Other posts by Spike.
Christy says:
Stephenie, this is a fabulous post. It really gets to the heart of the difference between sales and ambassadorship. I love the golf example.
In fact, when I read that, my heart lept — I want that job! Only, not for golf… And I had to think really hard about what it is that I’d not see work as work. I think it’s an important exercise for everyone.
In the end, I came up with the following short list of products I’d probably love enough to get paid to do it: yarn, fabric or digital cameras.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:51 amnofi.org » links for 2008-03-10 says:
[...] The Life of a Brand Ambassador… Links — March 10, 2008 at 3:02 pm [...]
March 10th, 2008 at 11:03 amDebby says:
Way to go. I love Stephanie’s assement of Fiskateers. As one of the 4000 unpaid Fiskateers I totally concur with Stephanie. This is a community of passion, love, and commitment. Stephanie is full of enthusism and passion for the craft and Fiskars. I’m glad to count her among the people I admire.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pmJulie Overby says:
Well said, Stephanie! You and the other 3 leads have done an outstanding job of leading us Fiskateers in sharing the passion of crafting along with the love for Fiskars. Thanks for all you do!
Hugs,
March 10th, 2008 at 3:00 pmJulie
Patty #2832 says:
Bravo Stephenie!
I am so proud to be a part of the kind, caring and compassionate group! As one of the beginners in this “sport”…. I have found everyone to be so kind while commenting on the projects we post!
Our Lead Fiskateers are FANTASTIC !!
Thanks to Fiskars for allowing us a friendly forum to hang out at!
Hugs all around!
March 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pmConnie says:
Way to go Stephenie!! We love you and the other lead fiskateers. Ya’ll keep me inspired and motivated to enjoy my hobby more than I thought. Thanks for being you.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pmconnie #2909
Laura Casey says:
Bravo ! Stephenie, you just wrote the “Declaration of Independence” as it were, for all of us! This is exactly how I feel. I, too, am one of the 4000 unpaid…unpaid in dollars…but Im so rich and fulfilled as a crafter! I can easily say that the day I became a Fiskateer…my life was changed. I found where I belonged. I knew the Fiskars name and knew they were a well respected company…but I have since learned they are a company with heart…and truly listen to their customers. We have been blessed with our Ambassadors…and I can honestly say, I will be a Fiskateer for life! Thank you all for giving us a sense of community and for giving us this program. I have never been prouder to be associated with a company in all my life!
Sincerely…Laura
March 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pmProudly Fiskateer #1943
mariah # 2457 says:
Way to go Stephanie.. we love you as a lead Fiskateer.. you are a inspiration to all of us
March 10th, 2008 at 6:55 pmall of you leaders motivate us to do ourbeloved scrapbooking.. mariah # 2457
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Cherie Smutnick says:
Stephanie I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know You, Holly & Cheryl at the SA N50 training. The three of you girls have touched the hearts of 50 Fiskateers by making us feel that we were all old friends (getting together for the biggest slumber party ever) and not people who were meeting for the 1st time. It is by observation that all of you (including May even though she was not with us in body but spirit) have a “TRUE LOVE FOR ALL THINGS FISKARS”
March 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pmI will never forget your final speach at the graduation is was through hoarse speach and tears how you described what Fiskars and the Fiskateers program has ment to you and how it has and continues to enhance your life. It is so refreshing to hear that you view your position as living out a dream that you are so greatful to have and it was something you looked forward to doing each day. All this speaks volumes of your dedication and love for Fiskars and the Fiskateers. I am forever greatful for the experience of meeting you. Thanks Stephanie~~~~
hellyeahdude.com says:
Spike, it was a pleasure posting your story on the WOMMA blog, I hope I did well enough to fill in Shannon’s shoes!
- Patrick
March 11th, 2008 at 5:48 amStreetcom Blog » Blog Archive » Życie Ambasadora Marki - Brains on Fire says:
[...] Więcej na Brains on Fire [...]
March 12th, 2008 at 7:18 amJen Bybee ~ Fiskateer #258 says:
Well said Stephenie! and thanks for sharing Spike! THIS is why I applied for the lead fiskateer position. It would be a dream job to say the least. I love crafting and I love even more sharing cool ideas and tools with other people. I spent half of my time last night at a crop teaching others how to use my cool new Fiskars corner and border punch. I didn’t get much done but I had so much fun and made some new friends. I love being a Fiskateer crafting abassador
March 29th, 2008 at 5:22 pm