Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip 2013 – A holiday of a lifetime!!!

So the next day we had a super early start, buses left at 5:30am {not too much of a hardship as we were still jetlagged and waking up around this time anyway} and took us to SLC airport to board our charter plane to the nearest airport to Kanab, Stampin' Ups manufacturing plant in Southern Utah.  I felt so sorry for the staff who travelled with us as it was like taking 180 children on a trip, with stops for toilet breaks, making sure we all had our passports and ensuring we did not leave anything behind.

Stampin' Up! chartered the plane to take us to St.George and wait for us whilst we visited the factory, had lunch and travelled back to the airport.  It was the largest airplane to have landed at the airport in is history so there was a camera crew ready to meet us!

We then boarded more coaches for another 2 hour stint before arriving at Kanab.  We planned bingo for SU prizes which kept us entertained and I was slightly worried for the lovely people at Kanab as I wondered how they could top the previous days welcome.

I need not have worried, all the staff were outside the building clapping and chering for our arrival and were ready to serve us a BBQ lunch with all the finishing touches you would expect from the Stampin' Up! events team.

We then broke in to groups and were taken on a tour of the factory building and Shelli's private apartment.

We were shown how they colour the ink pads, I was so amazed, I genuinely thought that most of the processes would be automated but that is not the case at all.  The ink pad sponges were added a giant mixer approx 20 at a time and a measured amount of ink was added to the bowl whilst it was mixed up till all the pads were coloured.  They were then glued in place, labels attached and assembled ready for dispatch. 

Stampin' Up! is the third largest employer in Kanab and Shelli has made a commitment to her staff to keep the plant open and employing local people.  They are such a thankful and loyal bunch of people and so many of the staff have worked there for more than 10 years.

They all took a great pride in what they did and were thankful to us for selling the supplies they make.  I was very humbled.

These are the mag plates or metal patterns for every stamp set that Stampin' Up makes.

And here are some stamps cooling, I just wanted to snap them up and take them home with me!

As we went around each process were were given some of the products off the line to take home with us and this lovely guy signed one of my ink pads so I can remember that I bought this one home from the factory in person!  In face I came home with so many products and gifts that Stampin' Up! even provided a box to be shipped home for us to help us with our excess luggage problem!

We then had a nosey round Shelli's apartment which beautifully decorated and so homely.  I even sat on Shelli's bed although I look a little stiff as I did not want to crease the bedding…

And this is one of the boxes with all the waste rubber in it.  Have you ever wondered what they do with it all?  It goes to a great home :0)

Stampin' Up! have refurbished the local children's play area and this is
the perfect soft material for the floor to give the kids a soft
landing!!

I think Rhoda is looking some off cuts she can stick back together…  This truly was a tiring but magical day and I am so lucky to have had the chance to see the staff and the factory first hand.  I definitely have a better appreciation of the products and where they come from. 

So we travelled back happy but weary, had lunch to go on the coach and retreated to our beds early.  And guess what I found when I got back to my room?

Isn't it lovely? And the stampin up badge on the front is the best!

So the next day was a welcome 'at leisure day' we managed to slide into breakfast 15 minutes before service was finished and then wanted off to the outlets and Park City for shopping and a spot of lunch.  Park City is such a pretty little town and the No Name Saloon had been recommended for lunch.  We weren't disappointed….

And whilst looking around Park City, we saw a Banksy! I have never seen one in person before.  I was quite chuffed that a woman of my age knew what it was :0)

And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the hotel to get ready for our final night get together.  We had not been told what or where it was but that we should wear comfy shoes and bring along a jacket/cardigan.

We were driven in to the mountains and warned to drink lots of water as we were going higher and higher and might suffer altitude sickness.  We then turned into a Ranch, a real cowboy ranch with horses, animals in the most beautiful setting.  They had laid out tables for dinner with lights in the trees, drinks on arrival and a live band and line dancing organised for after.  Honestly, if I had of known what was in store I would have been nervous, I don't really do dancing, and I am not really a country/horsey girl but I truly loved the experience.  And I could not think of another activity that would round off the most wonderful incentive trip as well. 

It was such great fun, there was dancing, s'mores, and lots of relaxed happy people.

This table was for the Australian demos and their guests…

S'mores are a messy job :0)

And my final pillow gift, sigh, so lucky.

So we slept soundly smelling of bonfires with happy memories and nightmares about our luggage allowances and woke for one last breakfast and our final goodbyes before heading off our a road trip, just Simon and I.

I have the most amazing Incentive Trip, I want to say it was the best ever, it was certainly up there, different and so wonderful to spend it with the Australian girls and get to know them as well as spending time with my old friends from Germany and France.

So I will leave you today and come back in a day or two with more of the road trip part of my holiday.  I hope these posts are not boring you to death.  I promise to share photo's of the swaps and samples I received on my travels but most of them are in the box which is being shipped back to me.

I am off to Cornwall with the kids for a week but am on my mobile should you need me and plan to update my blog whilst I am away.

Take care and thanks for sticking with me!