Q & A: Tami Matlock Gives Back with Scentsy

This week’s Q&A profiles Tami Matlock, Independent Director for Scentsy, a rapidly growing company offering a variety of home fragrance products, including scented, wickless candles and decorative warmers.

Tami, who is celebrating her two-year anniversary working for Scentsy, lives with her husband and three sons, ages 4, 7 and 16 in the Mount Vernon Forest neighborhood. A former elementary school teacher for eight years, Tami received a B.A. in elementary education from Minot University in 1997.

How long have you lived in the Mount Vernon area?

Since last April 2011. My husband is a helicopter pilot, and we relocated from Las Vegas, Nevada to the Mount Vernon area. He works at Fort Belvoir. I am originally from Minneapolis, MN.

How did you become interested in your job?

Three years ago, I discovered Scentsy products while attending a craft show. I loved the idea of having a candle that smells great, but is wickless and flameless, especially with young children in the house. One year later, I decided to go back to work to help pad our family’s savings account (and for sanity purposes!) I knew selling for Scentsy was something I would be good at because I truly believe in the products.

With three busy boys at home, how do you balance work and home life?

I love that I can make up my own schedule and still be able to be home for the kids after school. I do end up working a lot in the evenings and on the weekends. But it’s never too overwhelming with Scentsy, everything is based on simplicity … it’s one of the company’s core values.

Where is your favorite place to go in the Mount Vernon area?

I love the path that runs along the Potomac River on the GW Parkway. And my family also loves visiting Mount Vernon Estate. My 7-year-old asks to go everyday.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, hanging out with my kids and doing science experiments. I also love to exercise.

What’s one interesting aspect of your job?

They say that your sense of smell is related to memory and feelings. I host a lot of parties to sell our products. This involves everyone standing around deciding what scents they want. It’s interesting to listen to people recall stories about what memories come to mind when they find a special scent. It really provides a lot of insight to who they really are.

What’s on your iPod?

I like all kinds of music. You’ll find everything from the Twilight soundtrack and country to classical and hip-hop on my iPod. Even Buzz Lightyear, thanks to my son.

If you weren’t in this business, what would you be doing?

This is actually my dream job. I really love what I am doing and I love the flexibility. I’ve met so many new people, made wonderful friendships and I’ve been able to give back to the community.

When I started this job two years ago, everything just took off … it’s become more than I could have ever imagined.

Editor's Note:

As part of Scentsy’s multifaceted charitable giving program, the company’s Scentsy Family Foundation chooses a new cause to support twice a year. Last April, the company donated over $600,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Currently, the company is helping support the non-profit organization, Autism Speaks.

In an effort to support the company's charitable giving program, Tami also gives a portion of her personal proceeds to a number of organizations each month. She recently selected the Salvation Army in Minot, ND — one that hits close to home as the recent floods there affected many of her family members.

Her next personal charitable program “in the works” for this fall involves Scentsy’s “Buddies for Comfort.” She plans to purchase and donate the cuddly scented, stuffed animal buddies to donate to children who are temporarily residing in the military community’s Fisher Houses. A “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military medical centers, Fisher House facilities offer special support during stressful times when a wounded, injured or ill family member has to be hospitalized.

To support the Buddies for Comfort fundraising effort, or for more information about Scentsy, visit tmatlock.scentsy.us.