Written by Parson’s Green

In the lead-up to seminar 2025 (which just wrapped up last week), there was lots of hand-wringing about the event. It seems that some consultants weren’t excited about the idea that seminar was being held in Charlotte instead of Dallas, as has been the tradition for decades. (With the Dallas convention center under major renovation, the event had to be held somewhere else.)

More and more consultants and directors in Mary Kay are seeing how costly events like seminar are, and they just can’t justify it when they’re making little to no money in this pretend business.

Korrin Monson Salas wanted to share what was on her heart. The mindset in Mary Kay was always you could only miss an event for two reasons. Death or dilation (childbirth)! Nowadays fewer consultants are attended in person events. Four seminars are being combined into two. More directors hold local recognition.

How do you sell the sizzle of seminar if you can recognize consultants at home?

Amy Bailey McLaren just wishes directors would wait to recognize consultants after seminar to not spoil results. Rachel Marie Nelson says she tried that last year but her team waited until after August to work on their new year’s production goals. She will go back to celebrating early. She needs production any month she can get it.

Sue Cooper Bennett mentions we are still recovering from the COVID lockdown. People don’t want to go to in person events. Lauren Bilodeau Coe used to go live during COVID for her weekly meetings. She once averaged 500 views. She know only gets between 90-130. Could it be that people are simply tired of the Mary Kay flopportunity.

Orenda Raichel Hunniford draws a hard line. If you want your prize, you must pick it up at seminar. If you don’t attend, she’ll announce the results later on Facebook. No mailing and no separate celebration.

Robyn Glass Miller does her recognition early. Consultants can invite their friends and family to the in person event. More chance for recruiting! Her top consultants would be going to seminar anyway.

Gail Smith Scott admits she was spending a lot of money to attend events but would come back with little payoff. She can’t sell the sizzle when she can’t feel it herself. The company has done a poor job of communicating the value of seminar.

Karen Gummo is a Mary Kay lifer who loves the company. She’s been indoctrinated for 33 years and a director for 27. She even planned her wedding around seminar attendance. She does admit you must be open to however someone wants to fit Mary Kay into their life.

Kira McKee says consultants need to afford to be able to go. They should be selling $6000 a year to earn enough to pay for seminar while keeping $100 a month back for the family. Wouldn’t a part time job with benefits pay you more than that?

Shari Huls Schlapman confesses she will not be going. It’s just too expensive. You have to think like business women.

Lynette Brazda Bickley admits the translations that were done last year were hard to see but reminded everyone to keep praying. She also would like Ryan Rogers, the CEO, to ask why attendance is down.

Teresa Pults Franklin has been on the hamster wheel for 30 years and a director for 11. She loves in person events and makes sure to include husbands. She has consultants in multiple states and mails prizes.

Finally Lynette jumps back in to mention she’s also been in for 30 years. She looks to Charlotte as an adventure and will be praying for corporate for the time seminar is there.

Mary Kay is pushing more and more costs back to the directors. If they want production from their units, it’s up to them to motivate the troops. Could Mary Kay be planning to do away with in person events?