Sparkle Gem Jewelers, a family owned and operated costume jewelry manufacturing business, traditionally sold its products only to wholesalers. Recently, however, Sparkle Gem was approached by the charismatic Barb Stephens, who convinced the owners to begin selling through a network of distributors she had organized. The distributors recruited individuals to host jewelry parties in their homes. Sparkle Gem’s owners, the Billing family, have been thrilled with the revenue generated by these home parties and started making plans for the expansion of the distributor network.

However, Mrs. Billing just received a letter from a jewelry party customer, who expressed sympathy for Mrs. Billing’s loss. Confused, Mrs. Billing contacted the letter writer, who told her that Barb Stephens had come to the jewelry party at her church and told the story of Sparkle Gem. According to Stephens’ story, Mrs. Billing was a young widow struggling to keep her business together after her husband had died on a missionary trip. The writer had purchased $200 worth of jewelry at the party and told Mrs. Billing that she hoped it helped. Mrs. Billing was stunned. She and her very-much alive husband had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

What should Mrs. Billing do now?