26Sep
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Most people that I know give out some sort of gift to their hostess for having a party. What you choose to give is totally up to you, but I have a few suggestions for what you may want to do or not do.
I always suggest to my team to give something that is a current item in our catalogue. This way they can tell everyone how wonderful it is and encourage them to purchase it.
If I am running a special where I am trying to increase bookings, then I may offer a larger version of my usual gift or I may offer extra credit to my hostess.
Some companies offer special items that are not available in the catalogue and that the consultant can buy at a great price to give away. These could be test products; products discontinued a while back, a variety of things. Be cautious using these as giveaways at a party as someone may fall in love with an item, recommend it to everyone, and then you disappoint them when you cannot get them
giving a hostess gift, hostess gift, hostess gifts, hostess incentive
14Apr
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This is a great little game to encourage your hostess to do a little bit more before you arrive for her party.
You want to create a tic tac toe board and each square is going to have a different activity for them to do. At the top, you list what they will get if they get a line on the board. You may also want to offer something extra for each line and if they complete all the items on the board. This would be on top of the normal hostess credit. Indicate on the form what they are going to receive.
Ideas to fill your tic-tac-toe board
- Have 3 outside orders
- Have someone who wants to book a party before I arrive
- Have someone who asks about the business
- Party starts on time
- Have 7 people attending
- Someone shares a testimonial at the party
- Party sales are over $X
- Receive $100 in outside orders
- Have 2 of Y product purchased
- Sending out an invite on Facebook/sending out an Evite
Essentially, you can add anything to this that you want your hostesses to do. If you find that they are always missing certain steps, then add it onto this checklist.
games, hostess coaching, hostess game, hostess rewards, Tic-tac-toe
13Apr
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You may be wondering what exactly a hostess package is and why you should use one. Keep on reading to find out.
I like to create hostess packages in advance of going to a party or to a trade show or any other event. I use an envelope which is big enough to hold several pieces of paper and a catalogue as well as some other information which I will list.
What to put in your Hostess package:
- Hostess letters – Mine is a one page write up with information about hosting a party
- Monthly specials – The specials for the month they are hosting
- Catalogue
- Several order forms & envelopes for money and orders
- Hostess Tic Tac Toe (will be posting tomorrow)
- Business Cards
- Business Opportunity Letter
- Guest list ideas
I give these to the hostess when they book their party. If they book at someone else’s party, they will get it at that time if their party is within a month. Otherwise, I will mail it out to them later. This would be true as well if they book at a trade show.
Remember to put your contact information onto everything you can, as people tend to misplace things and you want them to contact you if they have questions.
Business card, coaching your hostess, direct sales coaching, direct sales hostess coaching, hostess coaching, supplies
12Apr
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Image by alancleaver_2000 via Flickr
Everyone in direct sales wants to have a successful party. One of the keys to be successful is hostess coaching. Don’t know what it is? It means being in touch with your hostess before her party and helping her with her party to make it a success.
For me, I like checklists that remind me what I need to do so I do not have to think about it. I have seen a variety of checklists out there so it is best to find a method that works for you. Some people organize their lists by what they are doing each week before the party, others organize it based on how many phone calls they typically like to do. It is best for you to sort it out how you prefer.
The biggest benefit I find is that the checklist reminds me of things that I need to speak to the hostesss about so that I do not have to think about it or remember.
Header:
- Hostess Name, Phone number, email address, Address
- Date of party, Date hostess package mailed/given
- Notes
First contact:
- Get the header information if you do not already have it
- Make arrangements to get the hostess package sent out
- Go over the expectations of your hostess for the party
- Go over any rules that you may have at your party
- Make sure she knows how to get a hold of you
- Discuss guest list
Other contacts:
- Did she receive the hostess package?
- Ask her to make a wish list based on your average party
- Remind her of any hostess/customer specials
- Go over how to add up any outside orders
- Discuss payment methods
- Call before party (typically a day or two before the event):
- How many people are attending
- Go over the rules again
- Confirm the time and the address – get directions if needed
You may also want to track your after party steps on this form as well.
- Date party entered
- Date party delivered
- Leads to follow up on – Parties, Recruits
For someone who is not currently doing hostess coaching, or who is looking to be more efficient, this is a great place to start.
Did I miss anything you feel is important? Please let me know in the comments
Checklist, checklist for hostess, hostess checklist, hostess coaching, working with hostess
11Apr
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- To help the hostess to be successful
- To get the hostess all the products she wants for free
- Make sure that your hostess knows what is expected of her
- To let the hostess know what you expect from her
- To make sure the party is a financial success from the consultant’s point of view
- Let the hostess know she does not have to go overboard with snacks
- Support your hostess to success
- Lets your hostess know that the party is still on and allows them to feel comfortable with you
Why do you feel that it is important to coach your hostess before her party?
Business and Economy, coaching your hostess, direct sales coaching, hostess, hostess coaching, parties
11Mar
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Most people that I know give out some sort of gift to their hostess for having a party. What you choose to give is totally up to you, but I have a few suggestions for what you may want to do or not do.
I always suggest to my team to give something that is a current item in our catalogue. This way they can tell everyone how wonderful it is and encourage them to purchase it.
If I am running a special where I am trying to increase bookings, then I may offer a larger version of my usual gift or I may offer extra credit to my hostess.
Some companies offer special items that are not available in the catalogue and that the consultant can buy at a great price to give away. These could be test products; products discontinued a while back, a variety of things. Be cautious using these as giveaways at a party as someone may fall in love with an item, recommend it to everyone, and then you disappoint them when you cannot get them one.
direct sales gift, gift, hostess gift
22Feb
Filed in Bookings | Hostess
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How to Fill your Calendar with Parties
Step 1 – Figuring out when you can do parties
You are going to need two different calendars to do this – one for you to mark up and one for you to show to your customers.
Mark Your Version
On your version, mark any commitments that you have such as meetings, kids activities, family events or appointments that you have. Don’t forget to mark off the days you already have parties scheduled! Once you do this, mark off any days you do not want to do parties. I know some people that will not do parties on Sundays but you may prefer to book off Tuesday nights. Mark whatever is appropriate in your life.\
Select Available Days
The days that remain are those that you are willing to book parties. From here, you may want to mark off a few other things. For instance, maybe you have 14 days that are open on your calendar, but you only want to do 4 parties (book 6 in case of cancellations). Take 4 of those free days and mark them off. Now you only have 10 days left for 6 potential parties, which will allow your hostess a bit of choice.
Create Booking Calendar
Next, you want to move to the calendar that your possible hostess is going to see. Put X’s on the days that you are not available. When your hostess is looking to book a party, she will see that you only have the 10 days left and will pick one of those. If you have a day that you really want to do a party for whatever reason, you may want to red circle that one and offer an extra hostess reward.
Step 2 – Booking your Parties
When you go to your parties, you want to take the clean version with the unavailable dates X’ed out and the ones you really want to book marked as well. When you have a hostess that says she wants to book, you can ask her if she has a date in mind and go from there. If she wants a date that is already X’ed off, you have to turn her down gently and tell her that date is already booked but you have the next date available.
Book a Hot Date
If your hostess is not sure what date she wants, try offering her one of the red circled dates first. This is to her advantage as you are offering her something extra and it books a date that you really want to have a party on. It may cost you a few extra dollars, but you will easily make that up by having a party instead of sitting at home on the couch.
When using this method, you will have bookings on the days you want them and days off when you prefer. It is also easier for your hostess which they will be thankful for, even if they do not thank you.
bookings, calendar, schedule
11Jan
Filed in Customers | Hostess | Parties
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A catalogue party is when you give your host some catalogue and order forms and they go out and collect orders for you. If you are able to, it is helpful to lend your host some samples or product so they can show them to people. This will help to get more sales as people are visual.
Provide them with all the information that they will need such as the methods of payment, how to calculate shipping, taxes and anything else that they may require. A copy of the monthly specials that are available to them or customers is a good idea.
Contact your hostess about halfway through the catalogue party to see how things are going. It is best to give no more than two weeks for them to submit their orders to you, more than that and people start to get antsy and wonder where their products are.
Make sure that you give your hostess lots of catalogues. This way she can leave them with people in different places to help gather orders. Tell her to point out her favourite products to people as testimonials will help to get more orders.
catalog party, catalogue party, customers, party
10Jan
Filed in Customers | Hostess | Parties
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A lot depends on the company that you are having the party with. There tend to be the standard rewards – free product and discounted product. How much and at what rate is dependent on the company. If you are trying to pick between companies in regards to which to have a party with, the benefits may be a good way to help you select.
Some companies will also offer specials where if you order a certain amount of product you will get something free. This offer is typically to induce customers to make purchases, but they not usually discriminate against the hostess.
Many consultants will offer some time of gift to you for inviting them into your home and allowing them to show their product. They may give you a product, a discount on your own order, or an extra amount of free credit.
benefits, free, hostess, party, products
