Congratulations! You smart lady, you’ve chosen to host a direct sales party!
Hosting a party is such a fun way to reconnect with friends, and score some amazing swag while doing so.
For some, hosting comes naturally… for many of us, it can be a bit intimidating. A direct sales party is a great way to jump that hurdle. Why? The entertainment is provided for you, and with some companies, the food isn’t even a worry!
Remember, our goal is to have fun…and to spoil you, the hostess with freebies!
Here’s a few tricks I’ve picked up in my years that my hostesses have found helpful:
BE HONEST
Full disclosure necessary. I can’t say that enough.
There are people who love surprises, but trust me… even those people do not appreciate showing up to a girl’s night only to discover it’s actually a direct sales party. Whaaaat?! Be excited about the product your consultant is about to share. Because really, you should be. There are so many amazing products out there, that your friends will be just as excited to see as you are!
Be fair to your friends and consultant: let them know what kind of an event they are coming to. It’s not a bad idea to give them an idea of how the night will go too. For example, when I do an Epicure Party, I typically cook a small selection of foods with my guests for them to sample. Guests love hearing that they will be able to try out the products for themselves before they buy!
Sharing your top 5 favorite products is an excellent way to share with your guests what to expect, and how great the party will be. Share what you love, and why you love it so much.
GET PERSONAL
Get personal… but not annoying.. Facebook invites are not as much of a hit as they once were. Adding your friends to a facebook group without their permission is even worse. Please, please don’t do that.
Instead, send a real message. Let them know you are having a party for ____ company, and what they can expect.
Perhaps they can expect easy meal solutions for their busy family. Or, maybe they are looking for quick dinners after their work schedule. Were they just talking about switching their diet? -maybe the company has a great meal plan they’d be interested in. Let potential guests see how they can benefit from attending, and what they’d be missing out on if they didn’t.
INVITE THEM AND FEED THEM
Inviting your friends to a girl’s night featuring ____ (direct sales company) is totally great… but you know what’s greater? Food. Offer wine or fresh cupcakes. Perhaps you are famous among your groups for the perfect chocolate chip cookie- or maybe a killer margarita. Let your friends know it will be there. Adult bribery.
Invite about 20-25 guests. Trust me. When a guest sees a small list, they realize they are special to you, and will be more likely to make your party a priority than if they were one of 99 invited. So be a bit strategic in your invites… don’t go as nutty as we used to recommend.
REMINDERS
3 days before your party, and on the day of the party, it’s advised to gently remind your friends of your upcoming event. Remember, most companies will offer the option for guests to still order, even if they can’t make it… preorders
PREORDERS
The key to giant shopping sprees is pre-orders. On your invite include a link to your party where guests can check out a catalog and order if they are interested. This link will also let guests know what to expect. I might not be interested in a food party, but if I see that there’s delicious beverages and meal kits, I’d be all over it.
PREPARE
On the day of the party there’s a few things you can have on hand to help out yourself and your consultant:
- have those preorders ready to go. Remember, guests that can not make it to your party can still order! (ask your consultant for your personal party link- online ordering is becoming so easy!)
- pull out a few spare chairs if it looks like your guest list is larger than your seating area.
- light a lamp. Guests are much more comfortable flipping through a catalog when there’s enough light. It’s completely okay to borrow your desk lamp or nightstand lamp
- purchase/ prepare ingredients (For Epicure cooking classes hostesses provide a small list of ingredients that we use to cook up a delicious tasting menu at the party
- Pens- one for each guests is great!
EARLY BIRDY
Still nervous? Invite a close friend to come early. There’s really nothing to fear, yet it may ease your mind if you invite a friend to coe earlier to help you with last minute details.
Most of all…
RELAX
Your consultant is most likely going to arrive about a half hour before your party. Relax with her for a moment… ask some questions, enjoy a glass of wine, then sit back, relax, and enjoy your party!
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