Help others and you’ll be rewarded!

Urszula and Bogdan Płonka have been with Oriflame for 12 years. Both Executive Directors, they take care of 14 groups, and are currently creating another two.

The couple met in Poznan, where Urszula was attending dressmaking school, and Bogdan the Military Academy. They married in the last year of their studies, eventually settling in Szczecin.

Financially, things were tough for the young couple; to get ahead, they worked for several different network marketing companies. They joined Oriflame in 1992, recruited by Bogdan’s sister and brother-in-law.

Urszula started to sell cosmetics to her neighbours, as well as urging them to sign up with Oriflame. Thanks to her enthusiasm and drive, she reached Director in just three months. “First the money came in”, recalls Urszula, “and with it came new satisfaction– and responsibility. There were new
Leaders who needed my help and suppor.” By helping others to get promoted, I got promoted too".

New titles came in one after the other: Gold Director, Sapphire Director, Diamond Director, Double Diamond Director, and then Executive Director. “It was incredible! During her first month, my wife earned twice as much as I did, a Polish Army officer”, sighs Bogdan, who left the Army some years ago.

 With their first money, they bought a car; they repaid their debts and furnished the flat. They have been working together ever since. They complement each other perfectly: Bogdan is in charge of the accounts, carrying out transactions with headquarters and analyzing how the “family business” is progressing.

Urszula works with the Consultants, which she loves doing. She trains her people, organizes promotions and still sells a lot herself. “Direct contact with the client works for me as a cure against the blues”, laughs Urszula.

What they appreciate most about Oriflame is that it’s the only place where they’ve found a permanent job where the remuneration doesn’t depend on the boss’s mood, but only on their commitment. “Most people want to be employees”, say Bogdan, “But the truth is, today you get hired, the next day you get fired.

At Oriflame, whether I stop working or not is up to me.” They cannot imagine working any other
way. The company has become their passion, but family is still their No. 1 priority.

Kasia, 21, studies marketing, management and sociology in Poznan, and is already an Oriflame Director. Sylwia, their younger daughter, can’t wait to turn 16 when she can sign up too.

Thanks to Oriflame, they not only built their dream house, but have also visited a dozen or so countries on different continents. Bogdan drives an “Opel Vectra”. Urszula has an “Opel Corsa” which she won two years ago as the Oriflame prize for the best sponsor in Poland. Kasia drives a “Fiat Seicento”.

Increasingly often, they are thinking about building a new house somewhere around Poznan, to be closer to their family and the headquarters in Warsaw. Their life’s creed: Help others and you’ll be rewarded!

Urszula and Bogdan Plonka
Senior Executive Directors
Poland