Home Party Tips

One of the many great things about convention is being able to learn from other consultants. There is a phrase you here a lot with Usborne, "There is no need to re-invent the wheel." We can learn so much from other consultant's successes and failures. Last year I left for convention very frustrated with my home parties...I was sick of getting everything ready only to have a party with only 1 or 2 people in attendance. Yes, there is always the eShow. But, we all know that people really need to see and touch these amazing books to fall in love with them. So, at convention I was able to attend a seminar by Melissa Beyer that completely addressed all my frustrations! You can listen to Melissa's training session on your consultant site...Under Links, Training, Audio Training, Home Shows, "Home Show Tips & Tricks" Melissa Beyer Convention 2009. I have incorporated these tips and tricks and have seen HUGE results!!!

Home party problems & solutions:

Problem: Bad attendance

Solutions:

1. Hostess coaching:

• Make sure the initial invitation to the party is either in person or over the phone. This is SO much more effective than emails or Evites...these are easier, but they are also easy to ignore and forget!
• Let the postcard be a reminder, not the initial invitation.
• Call your hostess 3 different times between booking the party and the party day. 1st call - to tell her to make her guest list and begin inviting over the phone or in person. 2nd call - the day you mail the "postcard reminders" to let her know they have gone out and to remind her to keep telling her friends. 3rd call - 2 days before the party to have her call everyone who has responded "yes" and those who have not responded one last time to remind them. Tell her we all can get "Mommy Brain" and completely forget!

2. Send the postcard reminders for your hostess

• Yes, I know this is more work for you. Yes, I know it means paying for postage. But, it completely takes away any anxiety you have wondering if they ever got sent out!
• As soon as a hostess books a party, I email her a blank Avery address labels template in Word and ask her to type in her addresses and email it back to me. Then, all I have to do is print, peal, & stick!
• Put them in the mail 10 days before the party date.

Problem: Not getting started on time

Solution: On time drawing

• I let the guests know about the "on time drawing" by putting a little return address label sticker on the postcard reminders that says: Arrive on time! Free book drawing at 7:05
  
• As guests arrive, I give them a drawing ticket (2-part raffle tickets from Wal-Mart).
• At exactly 5 minutes after the party start time, I draw a ticket. I have a basket of books the winner can choose from.
• My basket of drawing books are free books I have collected from Home Office Challenges, booths where there wasn't an organization to redeem free books, etc.

Problem: Not getting home party bookings at every home party

Solutions:

1. Circle or highlight available dates on your calendar and put stickers on the dates you really want to fill (i.e. the most recent ones that you don't want to pass by without having a party). Stickered date = free book from basket of books :)
2. Gift-bagged brownie mix or cookie mix for anyone who books at the home party. Ensure them that is all they need to do to prepare for their guests...they don't even have to go to the store!
   

Problem: No body pays any attention to what I say because they are looking at the catalog

Solution: Wait to give out catalogs until AFTER you have shared

• When guests come in I only give them 3 things: a clipboard with a wish list attached, their free book drawing ticket, and a pen.
• I wait until AFTER I have shared about the books, the hostess benefits, and the business opportunity to give them a catalog...but only after I receive their customer survey. Keep reading. :)

Problem: Not getting back customer surveys

Solution: Fill out your customer survey and I will give you a catalog

• Getting back customer surveys is HUGE because guests may mark on there that they are interested in having a party or becoming a consultant but would never tell you in person.
  
• After my presentation, I pass out customer surveys and ask them to wave them in the air when they are done. Then I bring them their catalog.
• When they are "checking out" after making their selections, I will find their customer survey and see if they checked any boxes. If they did, I will follow up with them right then by either getting their party on the calendar or talking with them about being a consultant and giving them a recruiting packet and maybe even signing them up!

As I said earlier, these things have really helped my home parties. I have higher attendance which has resulted in higher sales! Give these tips a try and see how it goes!