Uppercase Living appears to have stopped operating.
Its website has been offline since 2018 and we could not reach the company. This page is kept for reference.
Looking for an alternative to Uppercase Living?
These consultants can help you find something similar.
Uppercase Living Overview
- Founded
- 2006
- Est. Demonstrators
- 0
- Commission
- 25% - 37%
- Downline Commission
- 2% - 12%
- Startup Cost
- $59
- Products Sold
- Home Decor, Vinyl Lettering, Wall Decals, Seasonal Decor, Personalized Gifts
- Category
- Home Decor & Storage
Uppercase Living was founded in 2006 to sell decorative vinyl lettering through home parties. The earlier Direct Sales Aid profile named its founders as Inger Erickson and Stephanie Geisler. Customers chose a ready-made expression, such as a family motto or a seasonal greeting, or designed their own online, then rubbed it onto a wall so it looked hand-painted. The company grew quickly and for a time also sold Blume Jewelry. Its independent Demonstrators sold at Open Houses and through personal websites across the United States. In April 2018 its website switched to a maintenance page, then to a coming-soon page, and the company has not traded since.
Uppercase Living - Our Thoughts
Company History
Uppercase Living was founded in 2006. The company said its aim was to create an inspiring decorative medium so customers could turn their spaces into a reflection of themselves. The earlier Direct Sales Aid profile named the founders as Inger Erickson and Stephanie Geisler. The product was decorative vinyl lettering, sold through in-home parties called Open Houses.
The company said it “quickly grew” as people around the country found value in surrounding themselves with meaningful words. It added staff, systems and operations space, and put an executive team in place to support a growing base of customers and Demonstrators. By around 2011, the earlier Direct Sales Aid profile said, it had thousands of Demonstrators in the United States and Canada.
“To transform, inspire, and enrich lives through an impactful product and unique business opportunity.”
Uppercase Living's founding principles — Uppercase Living website (uppercaseliving.com), 2017
The company kept its catalog fresh with spring and fall idea books, holiday collections and promotions. Its website ran in much the same form from 2011 until early 2018.
What They Sold
The core product was vinyl lettering, which Uppercase Living called expressions. A customer chose a phrase, a size and a color, then rubbed the lettering onto a smooth surface. Once applied it looked hand-painted, and it could be peeled off later. The company published application tips for fresh paint, oil-based paint and overlays.
- Ready-made expressions: hundreds of quotes, family sayings, scripture, names and room labels.
- Custom designs: the MyDesign Suite, which the earlier Direct Sales Aid profile said offered more than 50 fonts and 30 colors, priced per letter.
- Seasonal décor: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas designs, often paired with wood blocks, glass blocks, plaques and platters.
- Photo prints: printed photos and designs, launched as UL Photo Prints.
- Blume Jewelry: for a time, bangles, necklaces and charms carrying the same kind of messages.
Customers could order from a Demonstrator in person, at an Open House or through the Demonstrator's website.
How the Business Worked
Sellers were called Demonstrators. They showed designs at Open Houses, and took orders online. Hosts earned free and half-price products when an Open House reached $200 in sales, plus a Double-Up Reward. The earlier Direct Sales Aid profile said hosts could earn 10% to 20% of party sales in credit and up to four items at half price.
Starter Kits
Around 2011, the earlier Direct Sales Aid profile listed four kits: an Expressions kit and a Blume Jewelry kit at $249 each, a complete kit with both, and a $59 Networker kit for online sellers with a year of website service and catalogs. By 2017, the company's join page offered a $59 Special-Edition Holiday kit with a year's website subscription, the $99 Inspirations kit and the $199 Executive kit.
Pay
In 2017 the company advertised up to 37% commission on personal sales and up to 12% on team sales, with training bonuses for building a team, trip incentives and product discounts. Earlier, the base commission was 25% plus volume bonuses. The earlier profile said Demonstrators needed $300 in sales each quarter to stay active.
What Happened
Uppercase Living's website was still trading on March 14, 2018, with a 2018 copyright line and its usual Shop Now, Join Us and Open House pages. By April 10, 2018, archived copies show its contact and careers pages returning errors. On April 14, 2018 the home page had been replaced with a maintenance notice.
“Uppercase Living will return shortly. Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. Please check back soon.”
Uppercase Living website notice (uppercaseliving.com), April 2018
In May 2018 the address showed a bare “Uppercase Living will return soon!” page. It never did. No closure announcement has been found, and the company has not traded under its own name since. Today uppercaseliving.com is listed for sale by a domain broker.
Former Demonstrators kept whatever stock they had. Uppercase Living vinyl and décor still turn up second-hand, but new designs and custom lettering are no longer available from the company. People who loved the home party format can look at live companies such as Scentsy or Pampered Chef on Direct Sales Aid, for example Scentsy.
Uppercase Living User Reviews+ Add a Review
Incredible company that stands behind the high quality VINYL they make and sell.
Terrible quality, received several complaints about the products and had a bad experience myself. Vinyls ripped easily and would not stick as easily as portrayed. Customer service was non-responsive and I had to report them to the BBB in order to get any type of action and even still was only refunded a fraction of my purchase amount.
Uppercase Living Media
