Stella & Dot MLM Review: Is It Legit? Everything You Need to Know

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Stella & Dot MLM Review

Stella & Dot is a popular fashion and jewelry multi-level marketing company that’s been around since 2003. But is Stella & Dot a scam? Or is it a legitimate MLM? In this comprehensive Stella & Dot review, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the company, including its history, products, compensation plan, and more. We’ll also share our thoughts on whether we think Stella & Dot is a good opportunity or not. So whether you’re thinking about joining Stella & Dot or are just curious about what it’s all about, keep reading.

History of Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot was founded in 2003 by Jessica Herrin and Blythe Harris. The company is headquartered in San Bruno, California and has offices in the UK, Canada, and France. Stella & Dot sells its products through a network of independent Stella & Dot stylists.

Herrin is the CEO of Stella & Dot. She and Harris started the company with the mission to give women a flexible way to earn an income. Prior to Stella & Dot, Jessica worked in the software industry. Harris is the Chief Creative Officer at Stella & Dot. She has over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, working for companies like Gap Inc. and Old Navy. Stella & Dot is her first venture into the direct sales industry.

Stella & Dot was born out of Jessica’s own personal frustrations with the corporate world. In an interview with Forbes, she said, “I wanted to create a company that would give women an opportunity to have a successful career without having to sacrifice their personal lives.”

Stella & Dot was originally started as a side project to another company Jessica and Blythe co-founded together, an online wedding registry called WeddingChannel.com. The two women ran Stella & Dot as a side business until 2008 when they decided to focus on Stella & Dot full time.

Stella is Jessica’s grandmother’s name and Dot was Harris’s great-grandmother’s nickname. Stella & Dot is named after these two inspiring women.

What products does Stella & Dot sell?

Stella & Dot sells a wide range of jewelry, handbags, and accessories. The company has a monthly jewelry collection, as well as an additional collection that’s released several times a year. Stella & Dot’s jewelry is made with semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, and 14k gold and plated metals. The company’s handbags are made from vegan leather and the majority of Stella & Dot’s products are lead and nickel free.

  • Jewelry: Stella & Dot’s jewelry includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and more. The company uses semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, and 14k gold and plated metals in its jewelry.
  • Handbags: Stella & Dot’s handbags are made from vegan leather and come in a variety of styles, including totes, crossbody bags, and clutches.
  • Accessories: Stella & Dot also sells a range of accessories, including scarves, hats, sunglasses, and more.

In addition to selling jewelry, handbags, and accessories, Stella & Dot also has a line of clothing. The Stella & Dot clothing collection includes dresses, tops, bottoms, outerwear, and swimwear.

Stella & Dot products are designed in-house by the Stella & Dot design team. The company works with a variety of different vendors to manufacture its products. Stella & Dot does not disclose where its products are manufactured.

Are the products good?

The quality of Stella & Dot’s products is mixed. Some Stella & Dot customers are happy with the quality of the company’s products and say they are well-made and stylish. Other customers have complained that Stella & Dot’s products are cheaply made and not worth the price.

How does Stella & Dot work?

Stella & Dot operates as a multi-level marketing company. Stella & Dot stylists are independent contractors who sell the company’s products through in-home trunk shows, online parties, and pop-up shops. Stella & Dot stylists earn a commission on the sales they generate, as well as bonuses and commissions when they recruit other stylists to join Stella & Dot.

How does Stella & Dot work

In order to become a Stella & Dot stylist, you must purchase a starter kit. Stella & Dot offers two different starter kits, the Business Builder Kit and the Mini Stylist Kit. The Business Builder Kit costs $599 and includes $700 worth of Stella & Dot products. The Mini Stylist Kit costs $199 and includes $350 worth of Stella & Dot products.

Once you purchase a starter kit, you become a Stella & Dot independent contractor. As an independent contractor, you are not an employee of Stella & Dot and you are not entitled to any of the benefits that employees receive, such as health insurance or paid time off.

Stella & Dot's compensation plan is based on a point system. Stella & Dot stylists earn points for the sales they generate and the recruits they sponsor. Stella & Dot pays its stylists a percentage of the sales they generate, as well as bonuses and commissions when they reach certain point thresholds.

In order to receive payments, Stella & Dot stylists must maintain a minimum monthly sales volume. Stella & Dot does not disclose its minimum monthly sales volume requirement.

Stella & Dot has a ranking system for its stylists. Stella & Dot’s rankings are based on the number of points a stylist has earned. The higher a stylist’s ranking, the more they can earn in bonuses and commissions. Stella & Dot does not disclose how many ranks there are or what the specific point thresholds are for each rank.

Ranks are:

  • Star: The Stella & Dot Star rank is the lowest rank a stylist can achieve.
  • Director: Stella & Dot Directors have achieved a higher point threshold than Stars.
  • Executive Director: Stella & Dot Executive Directors have achieved a higher point threshold than Directors.
  • Senior Executive Director: Stella & Dot Senior Executive Directors have achieved a higher point threshold than Executive Directors.
  • Style Director: Stella & Dot Style Directors have achieved a higher point threshold than Senior Executive Directors.
  • Presidential Director: Stella & Dot Presidential Directors have achieved the highest point threshold and are the top-ranked Stella & Dot stylists.

Can you make money with Stella & Dot?

It is possible to make money with Stella & Dot, but it is not easy. Stella & Dot stylists earn a commission on the sales they generate, as well as bonuses and commissions when they reach certain point thresholds. Stella & Dot does not disclose its minimum monthly sales volume requirement, so it is difficult to say how much a Stella & Dot stylist would need to sell in order to make a profit.

Has the company faced any complaints or lawsuits?

The Stella & Dot company has faced several complaints and lawsuits over the years.

  • In 2012, Stella & Dot was sued by a former stylist who claimed that the company was operating as an illegal pyramid scheme. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
  • In 2014, Stella & Dot was again sued by a former stylist who claimed that the company was operating as an illegal pyramid scheme. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
  • In 2015, Stella & Dot was sued by the Federal Trade Commission for operating as an illegal pyramid scheme. Stella & Dot agreed to pay a $15 million fine and restructure its business model in order to settle the lawsuit.

In addition to the lawsuits Stella & Dot has faced, the company has also received numerous complaints from customers and stylists. Complaints against Stella & Dot include allegations of poor quality products, difficulty reaching customer service, and problems with the compensation plan.

What we like about Stella & Dot

  • Stella & Dot offers a variety of jewelry and fashion products.
  • Stella & Dot’s compensation plan is based on a point system, which allows stylists to earn commissions on the sales they generate as well as bonuses and commissions when they reach certain point thresholds.

What we don’t like about Stella & Dot

  • The Stella & Dot company has faced several complaints and lawsuits over the years, including allegations of operating as an illegal pyramid scheme.
  • Stella & Dot has also received numerous complaints from customers and stylists, including complaints about poor quality products and difficulty reaching customer service.

Alternatives to Stella & Dot

If you are interested in joining a multi-level marketing company that sells fashion and jewelry products, there are several alternatives to Stella & Dot that you can consider. Some Stella & Dot alternatives include:

  • Origami Owl is a multi-level marketing company that sells custom jewelry.
  • Paparazzi Accessories is a multi-level marketing company that sells fashion jewelry.
  • Premier Designs is a multi-level marketing company that sells jewelry.
  • J.Hilburn is a multi-level marketing company that sells men’s clothing.

Our verdict

Our verdict

Stella & Dot is a legitimate MLM company that sells jewelry and fashion products. The company has faced several complaints and lawsuits over the years, including allegations of operating as an illegal pyramid scheme. Stella & Dot has also received numerous complaints from customers and stylists, including complaints about poor quality products and difficulty reaching customer service.

We do not recommend Stella & Dot. We believe there are better alternatives to Stella & Dot that offer similar products without the legal troubles and complaints.

It’s always important to thoroughly research any multi-level marketing company you’re thinking of joining. What to look for in an MLM:

  • A company that has been in business for several years.
  • A company with a good reputation.
  • A company that offers products you’re interested in selling.
  • A company with a compensation plan that you understand and think you can realistically achieve.
  • A company that is upfront about any legal troubles it has faced in the past

I Buy I Review is the top source of information on MLM companies and other at-home money-making opportunities such as online courses and programs. We review each opportunity carefully and give you our honest opinion so you can decide if it’s right for you.