Orville and Heidi Thompson launched Scentsy on July 1, 2004, shortly after their fateful encounter with two stay at home Moms selling wickless candles at a trade show.

These stay-at-home moms were selling decorative warmers which used the heat from a light bulb to melt the scented wax instead of the traditional wick and flame method.

Orville was fascinated by the products, so much that he brought home scented warmers for Heidi to sample. Heidi fell in love with the warmers, and shortly after they boughtthe company and moved it to Meridian, Idaho.

Through Heidi’s research, they decided to align Scentsy with the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and launch Scentsyas a direct sales, “party plan company”. The fun, party-like atmosphere that was created when Heidi shared the products with her family and friends could easily be duplicated by anyone, anywhere. Launching Scentsy as a party plan company would allow people who loved the products to share them with family and friends and earn an income at the same time.

On their way to their first meeting with potential distributors, Orville and Heidi created the company mission statement:“To bring value to the world by providing an industry-leading, family-friendly business opportunity selling creative, artistic, high-quality products that Warm the Heart, Enliven the Senses, and Inspire the Soul.”

Scentsy’s Humble Beginnings

Early on the Scentsy’s manufacturing and shipping operations were run out of a 40 foot metal box on the family sheep farm in Meridian, Idaho. Because Orville and Heidi were still deeply in debt, they had to be extremely industrious and creative to get the company off the ground.

In just a few short months, Scentsy had outgrown the 40 foot box and signed a lease on an 18,000 square foot office/warehouse space in Meridian, Idaho. The Thompsons, with their family and many friends, carried out all of the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping 7 days a week, with no salary, for almost two years.

By June of 2006, Scentsy moved to a new 5,000-square-foot facility with warehouse and office space for manufacturing and shipping.Again, Orville knew this would be a short term move as Scentsy was growing fast.

Shortly after Scentsyleased a 14,000-square-foot distribution center near Chicago, Illinois, to support the company’s growth in the Midwest and eastern part of the country.

By 2008, Scentsy began to upgrade their systems with better automation to increase their production efficiency while preparing for expansion into other countries. In Spetember 2008, Scentsy launched its party plan concept in Puerto Rico, and never looked back. Since then Scentsy has expanded its opportunity into Guam, Canada, UK, Germany, and Ireland.

Just as Scentsy was celebrating its fifth anniversary, they were awarded the DSA’s first ever Rising Star Award. The DSA gives this award to the company that has experienced the most remarkable growth while staying true to the DSA’s Code of Ethics.

More Growth, Awards, and Giving Back

Since 2009, Scentsy and its thousands of distributors have been on an amazing trip. From 2009 to 2012, Scentsy:

Awarded employees $100,000 to spend in 40 family owned local businesses
Launched an 80,000 square foot distribution center in Lexington, Kentucky
Opened operations in Canada in 2009
Added 65,000 square feet of office space with wellness center and gym for employees
Launched Six Pack Give Back to support six local charitable organizations
Made the Direct Selling News Global Top 100 list
Named #1 consumer product company on Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies
Began construction on new 50 acre campus with office, warehouse, and distribution space
Lunched in Europe, with a successful launches in UK , Germany, and Ireland
Opened new 146,000 square foot distribution facility in Coppell, Texas
Raised $600,000 for the Idaho Food Bank, through their “Halt the Hunger” campaign
Launched new “Layers” product line, a personal and laundry care line
Launched “Sincerely Scent”, a line of customizable scented greeting cards

The Scentsy Story Continues

What began in 2003 as a simple idea inspired by two stay at home Moms has since become a thriving international business. Scentsy and their thousands of consultants continue to share the “Scentsy Experience” that touches thousands of lives each day.

Orville sums it up best with this quote:

“Through the power of our fragrances, the simplicity of our product line, and a deep sense of family at home and at work, we find hope, vision, and an appetite for working hard as a team that binds us together. With Scentsy, we have each found something that speaks to and encourages the best in ourselves and each other.”
Contact me to learn more about our products and starting a Scentsy business of your own.