The compelling stories of Shanna Gardner Fernandez’s parents, Shelli and Sterling Gardner, demonstrate their fervor for business and commitment to their religious beliefs. When Shelli was a little child, her family relocated from Southern California to Kanab, Utah. At the age of almost eighteen, she got married to Sterling, who launched her business career.
Together, with the assistance of Shelli’s sister’s husband, they launched a business in Las Vegas designing custom homes. Shelli was determined to be a successful businesswoman, so she researched opportunities with Tupperware and other direct sales companies. But the notion she and her sister LaVonne shared was what got things started.
Upon failing to find a rubber stamp company that satisfied their needs, they adopted the successful business models of companies such as Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Discovery Toys. This concept gave rise to Stampin’ Up!, a company that initially sold stamps manufactured by other businesses before going on to design, produce, and advertise its stamps.
Their 1993 relocation of the company from Boulder City, Nevada to Kanab, Utah, showed even greater commitment to their business. Shanna’s mother, Shelli Gardner Fernandez, assumed the role of CEO in 1998 and managed the company’s growth and success. After Sara Douglass took over in 2014, Shelli and Sterling were able to concentrate on their missionary activities. This demonstrates their steadfast faith and dedication.
