October 2007 • InRegister
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68
InRegister
By CHRIS RUSSOBLACKWOOD
Fellow bowlers at Circle Bowl and Comite Hills neighborsthink of Kim Brecheen as the highly approachable “girlnext door.”
Little do most of them know, Kim hasreached celebrity status at
the helm of the rapidly expandingcompany Slumber Parties, with
2006 revenues of $62 millionand 16,000 distributors worldwide.
She has appeared on Montel (twice) and hosts annual New
Orleans conventions and Las Vegastraining sessions, at which
thousands of her distributors gather. SlumberParties, one of the
fastest growing businesses in the CapitalRegion, employs at-home
parties to sell lingerie, lotions andbedroom accessories. Through
a totally automated Web-based system, distributorsorder and
products are shipped within 24 hours from oneof Slumber Parties’
warehouses on Evans Brook Drive.
Training, Kimsays, is the hallmark of her business.
“If productsare displayed and presented in a tasteful manner,
it works,”she says. “I tell my distributors to run theirparties as if
their mother and grandmother were in theroom.”
Kim began this journey as a guest at aFun Party, a similar
style operation, in the early 1990s.She bought two shopping bags
full of items and agreedto book a party under the Fun distributor,
who wasfrom out of state. When she had more than 30people
wanting to attend, she cancelled that party and becamea Fun Party
distributor herself.
“I ended up beingNo. 3 nationwide that year,” says Kim,
explaining she washolding parties Monday through Thursday
evenings in Baton Rouge, andFriday and Saturday evenings in New
Orleans.
She was profiting$3,000 or so a week while still being
employedas a legal secretary.
In 1992, the company announced itwas dissolving. By that
time, Kim had almost 50 distributorsunder her. She quickly
regrouped, locating vendors from package labels,and launched her
own firm, Slumber Parties, shortly thereafter. Somewomen who
worked for the Fun office joined forces underKim, too.
“They watched me grow and they knewI was honest,” she says.
“I had 50 distributors,then 80, then 200, then 1,000.”
All the while, shewas working out of a spare bedroom at her
housein Central. She took Slumber Parties on the road, runningradio spots and interviewing potential distributors in hotel seminar
roomsaround the country. Slumber Parties rented a 750- sq.-ft.office, then moved to 1,500 square feet, then 6,600 squarefeet.
Today, Slumber Parties has a total of 81,000 squarefeet of
office and warehouse space, and 72 home officeemployees.
Kim has unique incentives for her distributors, including
anover-the-top wish list “shopping” extravaganza at theMarch
convention. The Marriott ballroom is filled with items anddistributors walk away with trips, jewelry, flat screen TVs,
whatevertheir hearts desire.
“We have a true sisterhood,” saysKim. “We are helping each
other dream bigger. Theyget financial freedom and a chance to
find themselves.”
Shehas an executive board, which plans events and trains
distributors.Many family members work for Kim, as does
Charlotte Mancell,who helped Kim set up parties in the “Fun”days.
One board member chairs SPARCAS, Slumber Parties’
nonprofit organization.Last fall, SPARCAS selected a Colorado
distributor as its firstrecipient.
“Tonya,” who was experiencing tough times, was givena car
with insurance paid up for a year, food,clothing, Christmas gifts
and money for day care. Montel surprisedKim by having “Tonya”
meet her on the showin February.
“I remember when I was a singlemom with my parents
paying my kids’ before- and after-school care because I was
struggling,” says Kim. “I’venever been a greedy person. I
remember my roots.”
Kimis taking her family on a cruise in December. Shewill
have to miss her weekly bowling league, where she’sbeen a
mainstay for 16 years, however.
Editor’s Note: Kimwill be one of the participants in “Feathering
YourEntrepreneurial Nest,” an event for women who want to starttheir
own businesses Oct. 13. For more information, call 225-924.5339.
Slumber Party
Slumber Parties CEO Kim Brecheen
Kim Brecheenat September Las Vegas
training event
Powerhouse
