Sales and distribution are the lifeblood of any business; socially responsible businesses are no different. To make a difference in the world, a business has to make its product or service available and get the public to buy it. But how can one compete with businesses for which the bottom line is the only measure of success? You need to get creative! In this practical and inspiring guide, Thompson and Soper draw on real -world examples to show how a values-driven business can establish a foundation from which innovative sales and distribution strategies naturally flow. They lay out concrete steps for communicating a powerful, motivating vision for the business, and for designing sales and distribution strategies that fit the needs, interests, and habits of the target customer. "Values Sell" will help any socially conscious entrepreneur develop competitive sales and distribution strategies while staying true to his or her distinctive mission.
NADINE A. THOMPSON,
CEO & FOUNDER
Soul Purpose Beauty and Lifestyle Company
The chronicles of the business world are, of course, filled with success stories--tales of the individual entrepreneur to accounts of the largest conglomerates. But what makes a business a success? A new, unique product or service? Of course. A never-before-seen invention? Absolutely. And everyone says hard work and determination are key.
However, there is one common element found in every success story. And Nadine Thompson, who is today writing her own chapter of business history, is the embodiment of that singular characteristic. We're talking about vision--the visualization and foresight of what a company should be and will be. As the Founder and CEO of Soul Purpose Beauty and Lifestyle Company, a unique direct-sales company that produces natural personal care products, Thompson says, "The driving force behind the success of Soul Purpose is that I created a vision, and never strayed from it.
"Simply put, I launched Soul Purpose with the vision to create quality products; to empower people to put self- and health-care first; and to create entrepreneurial opportunities for our consultants," Thompson continues. "Over the years, I had many nay-sayers and many doubters; but I refused to lose sight of my vision. I never let that go."
The result of Thompson's commitment? Warm Spirit, founded in 1999, produced a comprehensive collection of nature-based beauty and wellness products, with the unique creations supplied to buyers through a nationwide network of more than 30,000 Warm Spirit consultants. The company transformed the face of the direct sales and network marketing industry by providing an opportunity for wealth and financial freedom that had not always been accessible for women--and even less so for the African-American community.
Today, Thompson has taken her vision and empowerment acumen to another level, moving on from Warm Spirit to establish Soul Purpose Beauty and Entrepreneurship can be a rewarding experience but it requires hard work and focus.Lifestyle Company...her new venture, which is an innovative direct selling company that launched in January, 2008.
"The unique selling proposition of the Soul Purpose Beauty and Lifestyle Company is strengthened by the fact that all members of this community will be shareholders as well stakeholders in this enterprise," says Thompson. "With Soul Purpose's new marketing and compensation plan, wealth and profits are recycled directly back into the households and communities of its stakeholders." Thompson has a global vision for Soul Purpose with plans to expand internationally while redefining our notions of beauty and empowerment with a multicultural aesthetic.
Born in Trinidad, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Thompson received her Master's Degree in Social Work from Smith College in Northampton, MA. She went on to become Dean of Multicultural Affairs at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, to which she brought her rare combination of insight, cosmopolitan warmth and her gift for bringing people together. She was able to meld the prep school's long tradition of education with a racially diverse and representative student body and faculty.
Her success with Warm Spirit and now with Soul Purpose propelled her into the national spotlight, and she is now recognized as a committed and passionate advocate and noted speaker in the areas of racial equality, entrepreneurship, women's issues and empowerment. Thompson has lectured to a variety of audiences--some of her more noteworthy appearances and speaking engagements include:
* The National Black MBA Association
* The "Today" Show on NBC
* Social Ventures Network
Nadine Thompson / Page 2
* ESSENCE Magazine's "Women Who Are Shaping The World Leadership Summit"
* Circle of Sisters Expo
* The National Organization of Women
* Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference
* Columbia University, School of Business
* Women of Vision Alliance
* The Wharton School of Business
* National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Thompson has also published essays on multiculturalism, diversity and psychology, and she recently released her first book titled, Values Sell: Transforming Purpose into Profit Through Creative Sales and Distribution Strategies, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers in the summer of 2007.
At Warm Spirit, Thompson not only served as the CEO and visionary, she was also the creative director and sole product developer for the distinctive product line which has been recognized as one of the best nature-based lines in the country. Thompson brings this expertise to her new enterprise Soul Purpose and works with a team of perfumers, aroma therapists, chemists, herbalists and organic experts to turn her product ideas into reality. Thompson describes the Soul Purpose product line as the "next generation" of beauty and personal care products.
Thompson's vision of empowerment, wellness and wealth creation has not only touched the lives of women and men in the United States, but has also benefitted the lives of women globally in Ghana, India and Vietnam. Her work with the Thompson Foundation provides a market opportunity for women in northern Ghana to sell their wild-crafted shea butter to Rain Shadow Labs, Soul Purpose and other cosmetic companies in the United States.
Thompson has received several awards, including: the Black Enterprise Magazine's Emerging Company of the Year (2006); Onyx Woman Economic Empowerment Award; the Global Diversity Network Trailblazer Award; The Los Angeles Black Expo, Madam CJ Walker Award for Leadership and Entrepreneurship; The Rhode Island House of Representatives Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the year (2006); and the African American Empowerment Weekend Legacy Award (2008).
Thompson's long-term, compelling vision is to establish the Nsoromma Foundation where successful Soul Purpose entrepreneurs will mentor and coach other women from the Native American and African Diaspora around the ideas of business development and entrepreneurship using Illumination, Beauty and Lifestyle as the paradigm for wealth creation and empowerment.
The business story of Nadine Thompson continues to be written as she broadens her vision and launches her new venture. Future chapters will, undoubtedly, chronicle further success as she once again stays true to her plan and never waivers from her commitment.
Thompson is also a wife and mother of two children, Camilla (15) and Isaiah (13). She lives in Exeter, NH at Phillips Exeter Academy with her husband, Rev. Robert H. Thompson.
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