When You Have Run Out

kazza replied:

I was in the same boat as you, but I never gave up. To help me make it through, I went through my mail list and phone numbers plus emails.

I contacted who I could, sent out heaps of letters to past customers and just stuck to my guns and never gave up.

Word of mouth and marketing is what I use, I have only been in the game for a little over a year, it is a hard game. I only think of positve thoughts, not negative, accept rejections, but you will get back up on your feet, that is what I am doing and having a positive attitude helps me along the way.

Hope this helps you

love2party replied:

I agree with Kazza. 

I had 4 months off last year and had to start up again this year with no parties.  I just went back to my really good hosts and also to my original friends that helped me get started initially. 

It took a month or 2 to get going again but now I have 9 parties booked for the month of May and had 6 for the 2 months previous. 

Just be positive and persist, it does pay off in the end. 

Good luck and I hope it works out for you!!!!

marina replied:

Never ever let yourself run out of bookings. If you do it means you have not got a good hostess program or it could be the product., or it could be just you not being enthusiastic towards the products. there is always a valid reason why you run out of bookings and you need to find out the problem and fix it.

If you do run out of bookings once you will have to try like crazy to restart your business and it can be done. Call up past hostesses, ask your friends and family to hold a party for you so you can be introduced to some new people.  Hand out flyers but that is really hard.

Once you restart your business do not let it drop again.

Not every show you will get a booking, but as long as you can average 3 shows a week every week you are doing well, and if you are not doing 3 shows a week then you have to work harder at getting the bookings.

I do remember the first 3-4 months of a new business are very slow, as it was for me, but once you get over the initial months then you really should be averaging those 3 shows a week to have a really successful business.

regards

marina

CKCath replied:

Marina I think that you are being a little to general, sometimes there are very valid reasons why bookings dry up - and they have little or nothing to do with product or enthusiasm. In my case I have been getting very few bookings of late due to the ecnomic climate in my town. We are in the grip of the worst drought in recorded history. We have had ten years without any decent rain... needless to say in my farming community food and clothing has become more important to my potential hostesses than what I (or many other party planners) sell.

The only way things are really going to improve in my area is RAIN.  I cannot make that happen.

Yes often we run out of bookings, sometimes it is because we are stale ourselves, but sometimes it is due to factors outside our control.

My advice when you are in the situation where bookings are running dry is to not give up. Try approaching community groups, kids groups, sporting clubs and offer to help them raise much needed funds through your plan.

I have found over the summer in particular that ringing my previous hostesses has not helped, they are in the same boat as me, hanging out for rain so they can earn money to spend.  However, by offering my services for fundraising efforts I am reaching larger groups I would not have met other wise. It's hard getting bookings from these events, but at least I am still out there getting my name and products noticed.

When bookings dry up - think outside the square - and outside your freindship base as well. Freinds are great but we don't want them to start thinking they are responsible for maintaining our business for us.

I am about to implement a referal program. My plan is to tell everyone that I know that there is a free gift ( my PP gives $5 per booking to hostesses) for any referal they send my way. They may not want a demo, but someone they know might. It is another way of getting ppl talking about me and my PP as well.

marina replied:

HI Cath,

I was being general and  it would  affect the small country towns as you say.

Here in the city if you have a great hostess program with good products then in general the booking should not dry up at all.

again if it does dry up , there is a reason and you need to find out why.

cheers

marina

thinker replied:

you could always do what i saw tonight , we went out for dinner and on every table in the place was entry form for a compition, you could be one of 10 lucky winners, the prize was a small bottle of wine chocalates and a free viewing for you and 10 friend of this fantastic jewellery.

Marie replied:

Ladies,

Thanks for your guidence I have read them thoroughly. Well I know that my products are great because people tell me. I am just knew at this game and since moving to Sydney 6 years ago have found Sydney siders not the most friendliest people, but I have still 2 more bookings. 

I think that Marina you are being too harsh, but that is my opinion, products aren' t always the reason why, you can certianly try mine if you wish I have had no complaints yet. Just visit my website.

I just wanted some advice how I could get this business moving a bit more. I am going to try fundraising and I have just joined a women's networking group which I hope will help me. Some of the women seemed very interested and have decided to have an open house with these women in a couple of months. Once I get to know them.

One other thing I will be advertising through this site and other forms of communication are for consultants to join my business. So if you ladies know of anybody wanting some extra money perhaps direct them my way.

Marie

www.essentialstuff.com.au

Kelly replied:

Suggestions for Booking

1. The telephone is your best friend, use it. Make at least 5 calls per day for bookings and recruits. Do this faithfully and assure yourself a full date book.

2. A walk-in or open house. To acquaint neighbours and your community with you product, send invitations to friends, neighbours and acquaintances. Give brochures to the newspaper person, put notices up in supermarkets. Advertise that there will be refreshments and a chance to see your product.

3. Mystery Hostess Party. The consultant has a party in her home and awards the hostess credits to the guests. The credits can be divided up or given in different ways. For instance, name goes in for each $25 bought.

4. Trade shows, fairs, expos, events. Check on local activities and reserve well in advance. Consult your up-line on methods and set ups.

5. Advertising. Newspapers etc

6. Brochures. Distribute your catalogue or mini brochure at dentist, doctors, or anywhere you do business.

7. Business referrals. Real estate office, model homes, flower shops. Any business exchange advertising and verbal referrals.

8. Bridal registry/bridal showers. For the bride where the guests may purchase gifts.

9. Show on the go/Booking in a basket. Excellent for the office. Place several small items in a basket and one larger one. When an order of $30 is placed, the customer can select a small gift. When all the gifts are gone, the hostess gets to open the bigger gift. (suggest 10 gifts)

10. Delivery Day Special. Offer the hostess, at the time of delivery, a special gift from you when she picks up a booking or two as she delivers her guests items.

11. Offer the hostess an additional gift when she re-books herself with-in 3 months. You may want to offer her an extra incentive for holding 3 shows within a year.

12. Offer a gift with purchase to encourage orders.

13. Offer a free product of their choice to people who take the brochure home, share it with friends and family and get 5 additional orders resulting in a certain amount of dollars.

partyplans replied:

When You Have Run Out..

...you just quit..

No no no... not on this site! But that's just what most new party planners do when they exhaust their friend base and do not have a support group assisting them like all of us.

Lets hear some more ideas on how to extend the 'circle'

You are all in direct sales, so as scary as it is, you need to promote your business... and be ready for rejections!

I think of all those promotional staff that stop you in the street and try and sell you something or sign you up for something. Half the people walk past and don't even acknowledge them. Rude I think, but they dont mind and just move on to the next person with an equally big smile. I just say "no thanks"... but it's still a rejection for them non-the-less. The important thing is that they keep trying and they get the people in the end. It is a numbers game.

(actually, the best approach was one young lady who said she was stopping all the attractive guys walking past.... that slowed me down a bit before I replied "no thanks")

Anyway.. lets hear some more booking ideas!

(Actually, do people agree this should be a forum category on its own?)

Kelly replied:

excellent forum idea!

Zammy replied:

Brilliant forum idea Mr PP :)
Bookings is a topic I think we can all do with some fresh ideas on occaisionally!

jomyles replied:

I would love to see this as a forum topic.  We can all use some new ideas, me especially at the moment!!!

Cheers

Jo

kathymollie replied:

Great idea Mr Party Plans...we can all use some fresh and some not so fresh ideas to improve the bookings in our diary....
Cheers...Kathy

partyplans replied:

OK,

The new forum category is now created.. but it is empty!

Quick! everyone go there and share any booking ideas you have now!

http://www.partyplan.com/forum/forums.php?fid=36

Marie replied:

That's a great forum idea. Sometimes we need a liitle help.

Marie

www.essentialstuff.com.au