The Pampered Chef: The Story of One of America's Most Beloved Companies

by Doris Christopher

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,

• 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Memoir, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lisa Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch my full video review at https://youtu.be/fgKS5FOaOQ4 - Available August 31, 2020.

On the last Monday of every month, my book review will highlight a female founder or business owner. Most of these women started a company from their homes with less than $10,000.

The August Female Founder review is The Pampered Chef: The Story of One of America's Most Beloved Companies by Doris Christopher. As a female founder, I love this book. Over the whole book, Doris shares details about income, warehouse space, number of consultants, and other business details that helped me to understand how she had grown this company over 20 years. As Organize 365 moved into physical products, I was hungry for information about how to figure out what size warehouse to select, how long of a lease to sign, and other details. This book definitely delivered. As I read multiple female founders, there are some key numbers in the business that serve as benchmarks. This is a fantastic read of a fast growing company.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

an entrepreneurial story about the growth of the company from a female CEO! strong backstory and detail during early stages. fades in value as the company grows and behind achieving substring growth. limited insight into tactics and strategies being very high level summaries.

[Jenn Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This happens to be a marvelously interesting book about a company that grew into one of the very best companies in America. Doris Christopher's unique storytelling of how she built her business is as great as her business itself.-JW

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights into how the company slowly evolved into what it has become today.

[Florin Roșoga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and impressive look into the birth and growth of The Pampered Chef company, and founder, Doris Christopher. From humble home beginnings to billion dollar company.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - a very detailed look at the Pampered Chef business. Appreciate all the details on size, income, and growth.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an inspiring story for an aspiring entrepreneur.

[Donnelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a nice book to read - made me want to work for the Pampered Chef, or at least have a party. Having sold home party products for two different companies, I found it very interesting to learn about the start up operation of the PC and its continued growth. I even learned something my PC consultant didn't know - the pig wand was not removed from the market because it couldn't live up to the guarantee of the PC, but because it was hand made and the supplier couldn't keep up with demand. I recommend this book for anyone who's ever attended a PC show - you'll find it very informative.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love non-fiction books that do exactly what they say they're going to do. In this one, Doris Christopher lays out how she started and built up her business, The Pampered Chef. Because she started by herself out of her basement and now runs a company of thousands across the company with a hundreds of thousands of square feet headquarters, this is quite the inspirational story.

[Lynne Strang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable story about a stay-at-home mother who created a multi-million dollar business. I especially liked the eleven tips for start-up entrepreneurs that Doris Christopher presents in the second chapter. If you're an aspiring or new business owner, this is a book that you might want to read two or three times to absorb its many lessons.

[Jeff Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Aspasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally love Pampered Chef products, so it was interesting to learn how the company started in Doris Christopher's basement!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A company that started in the family garage and made it. A great story.

[Shu · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."
--- Thomas Jefferson

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read, and very inspirational as a woman trying to start/run a direct sales business.

[R]

I am enjoying it. Very simple language, almost a "to do list" - yet strikes a personal note, and very engaging. Doris speaks to my heart!

[Angtburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great real-life story about taking a concept, developing it, and working through the growing pains.

[Kerry Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have known Doris Christopher for 17 years and loved reading this account of The Pampered Chef. She is an inspiration!

[Renée Milani walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Such an inspiration. This book is about how the company was created, very interesting!

[Cindy Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story about a great and respected company.

[Marialexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. It was fun, light, but most of all, packed with many lessons for any entrepreneur.

[Lola Shahdadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the guidance that I received about being a woman in business. The advice was so valuable!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great to.find out from.the owner the how and why a product was started! As an independent consultant it is nice to hear the background.

[Sandy Fredette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Pampered Chef.