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Well, I had a demonstration today with 5 guests. 3 of the five guests signed up to be wholesale buyers. The other 2 bought a few items at retail. Not enough to give the hostess her benefits. She was so upset and says she felt very cheated. I have a few outside orders and my sponsor has a few and we are planning on working to get the orders up so she can get her $100 for $20 or more. She said that if her guests knew that she would not get her benefits if they signed up to be wholesale buyers than they would have never done it. She said her guests only came to the party to help her get what she wanted. I still feel sick about this and I'm wondering how you would have handled this situation. Please let me know.


Karen

I usually find a way for her to get her hostess rewards, by doing just what you are doing, combining orders and things so that she gets what she deserves. I like to treat my hostesses AWESOME!!


Em

the total orders from her party, including wholesale buyers, should be used for the hostess. The new wholesale buyers should understand that. What I have done is this: if the guests want to be wholesale buyers, since I am losing my commission (the 35%)I want them to host a party (and book it that night), everyone will understand this, I get them to fill out the consultant form and pay the $29, but I don't start their account until their party. I do give them the 35% discount at that time, but they do not get their free gift until their party since their account will not become active til their party. This is the easiest way I have found to get the hostess her rewards, and the guests their wholesale accounts. You have to treat your hostesses well because word gets out and if people think it's not worth it to host, then they won't. In order to get people to want to host, you have to treat your hostesses well so they will be advertising for you when they tell all their friends how much product they got.

Cassandra, you said about the same thing when I posted a similar problem, I don't understand how you get the new wholesale buyers to agree to that. Do you just hope they don't figure out later that you put them off? Because when they get their starter kit, they will see that they don't have to host a party to get the discount.


What if they don't want to host a party? I have such trouble getting bookings for new parties, people just don't want to do parties. So say, someone signs up, you put their order in under the hostess and hang on to their sign up and then they flake on the party. What do you do then? Not process them? Tell them they have to make another order to sign up? Just put it through as is?


I would feel unethical if I told them they can't sign up until they have a party because that is not true. So I am wondering how you present it. I know you have said you say, since I am sacrificing my commission, would you do this for me. But that hasn't worked for me. They don't care that I am sacrificing anything, or that the hostess isn't getting anything. They just care that they are getting the best deal.


So I don't understand how to balance between the hostess special and the new wholesale buyer. Of course, my last hostess didn't even want to spend the 20$ for her bonus. sigh. My VP hasn't done a good job explaining it, either, but she lives in another state and I kind of fend for myself.

It is always a difficult one and I'll admit I don't promote the wholesale buyer thing as much as I did when I started. I have found that people sign up and then never place another order, however my clients re-order from me on a regular basis. I know that wholesale buyers sometimes turn into bb but not as often as I would like.


I have been very lucky in that I have always gone over the $250 and I always pay the $20 for the hostess. I figure they will then want another party when they want more stuff or around the holidays!


Try and bump it up with other orders if you can - you don't want anyone bad mouthing your biz!!


Keri Burks


http://www.PureSkinSystems.myarbonne.com (http://www.PureSkinSystems.myarbonne.com)

I agree w/ Cassandra. Hostesses are supposed to get the credit for all the volume from the party. But, as consultants we definetly want to offer the wholesale account. I don't think Cassandra comes across as "you HAVE to book a party to get the wholesale account." We should definetly remind them that we are giving up our commission but we still want to get them the best deal. Hosting parties is how we maintain our business. If they are still unwilling to host a party for you, then I would let them know that even though their order entitles them to a free gift, or the $100 for $20, that this bonus should go to the hostess for giving the party. Most people should at least understand this.

In past experience, the wholesale buyers want their benefits straight away - this is why the one on one is so appealingsmileys/smiley2.gif So, the presentations are not the only option for running our biz (thank goodness)


Keri Burks


http://www.PureSkinSystems.myarbonne.com (http://www.PureSkinSystems.myarbonne.com)

This is what we do butit depends on the total order of the folks who are signing up. Every party we have has at least one person spent $250. We put the hostess benefits on that order. When we input the order, we have it sent to my house and I split the order for the appropriate people. The key is that the $100 for $20 is a hostess bonus not a sign up bonus. I do let the new sign up know that in the future, orders they place over $250 will have the same benefits. So far no one has had a problem with it. As for ones where several folks sign up but don't hit the $250, I add the miscellaneous orders (folks who don't sign up) to the highest one to get it to $250. If there is not enough, I call around to see if anyone on my team has any orders they want to put in & don't charge them shipping.


I have stopped saying that it's $100 for every $250 because of this very issue. I only offer up to $200 for $500. If we can only mannage one $250 but the orders total $500 or more, I let the hostess know that we will orser one right now & the other as soon as possible & that it istop priority.

Karen-


Hi there. When I do a presentation, I always find that bringing the hostess a gift works best. So I would suggest giving her some sort of gift just for hosting the Arbonne Presentation. That way everyone is happy. Works for me!

I've had this happen to me in the past where we just couldn't manipulate things in order to get her the hostess rewards. Sometimes that happens with parties & you have no extra orders to get the difference. So I just pretty much had to eat it. The hostess gave her $20 & I bought the rest. And it was painful b/c I couldn't afford it. But I couldn't not do it, I couldn't go back on what I told her she would be getting because she would have every right to feel cheated.


But sometimes you can get it to work out right.


Another reason why I didn't like doing parties & am not doing them now.

I agree, we have to do what we say we will do. I want the hostess happy so that she continues to tell others & possibly hosts more parties in the future.

I understand parties are not for everyone. But I don't want potential bb's who are reading these posts to get the wrong idea. I still think doing parties is great b/c it gets you in front of many people in a short amount of time! I think as long as there is a $250 order total, whether a wholesale account or totals of retail, we need to get the hostess her $100/$20. If there is not $250 in orders, then the hostess should have known up front that there is a minimum to get the discount. She stills gets the gift for hosting, but this should be her incentive to get outside orders and try to get the most people to come! Definetly match effort for effort. I still love doing parties! That is "my time" smileys/smiley17.gif

You're right, there are some people that parties work great for. And I think that is fantastic. They just were never right for me b/c I was uncomfortable with the concept in the first place. I've just never been a home party person so I felt awkward & it probably affected my parties without me realizing it. That's why it's so FANTASTIC that we have the choice. People who love parties can do those & be VERY successful. That's how most of our NVP's became NVP's. And those who don't can do the one on one approach.


I see a lot of positives to doing the party system. Just because it's not for me doesn't mean I don't see the value. I agree with you, if there is a $250 order total then she should get her products no matter how it happens. And you should always let them know upfront what the minimum is to meet.And she does get the other gift as well.

I hope you do awesome w/ the one on ones Jennifer! smileys/smiley2.gifI am just starting the results approach and still feeling awkward w/ that!smileys/smiley5.gifBut I too see the value in both styles, and doing what you are comfortable with.

Cassandra, you said about the same thing when I posted a similar problem, I don't understand how you get the new wholesale buyers to agree to that. Do you just hope they don't figure out later that you put them off? Because when they get their starter kit, they will see that they don't have to host a party to get the discount.


What if they don't want to host a party? I have such trouble getting bookings for new parties, people just don't want to do parties. So say, someone signs up, you put their order in under the hostess and hang on to their sign up and then they flake on the party. What do you do then? Not process them? Tell them they have to make another order to sign up? Just put it through as is?


I would feel unethical if I told them they can't sign up until they have a party because that is not true. So I am wondering how you present it. I know you have said you say, since I am sacrificing my commission, would you do this for me. But that hasn't worked for me. They don't care that I am sacrificing anything, or that the hostess isn't getting anything. They just care that they are getting the best deal.


So I don't understand how to balance between the hostess special and the new wholesale buyer. Of course, my last hostess didn't even want to spend the 20$ for her bonus. sigh. My VP hasn't done a good job explaining it, either, but she lives in another state and I kind of fend for myself.





I just explain to them that since they are signing up wholesale that I am losing my profit from their order.The 35% they are saving would have been my take home money. That I would appreciate it if they would host a party or give me a few referrals to help me offset my profit loss. I don't see this as unethical and I say it in such a way that it's not something that is required, but appreciated. After all, this is my business and I'm doing this to make money. When I get together with them in the future and they decided to not host a party, that's fine too, then I just go forward with starting their account at that time. It's never been a problem and I have never had anyone not understand why I do this. Or I should say Did this as I don't do many parties anymore.

Thanks, cassandra. I tend to be wishy washy and ramble on too much, so I think I confuse people more than anything. That is why I was wondering how you present it concisely so they understand. I only do a couple parties a month, if that, so I don't have a good system down. But I got three booked for next month, so I want to know how to present it so I don't have another person gripe about paying $20, or losing their bonuses, etc.


thanks


BTWI wasn't trying to imply you are unethical, it was late when I was typing, and I'm sorry if it come across like that! I was trying to figure out how you word it so it is clear and up front. thanks again.

no problemsmileys/smiley4.gif

I agree with Krys.


I give a hostess gift at the beginning of a presentation, thanking the hostess before I even start.


It sets a nice, appreciative tone, and people see what they can get just from hosting.

<I agree with Krys.


I give a hostess gift at the beginning of a presentation, thanking the hostess before I even start.


It sets a nice, appreciative tone, and people see what they can get just from hosting.>


I couldn't agree more. I do the same thing and it starts the class on a very positive note.

Hi Everyone,


Just wanted to share with you what I do for parties. I always present the hostess with a Salt Scrub as a Thank you for having the party. I let all new "Wholesale" Consultants know that their first order will be shipped to me. I sign everyone up for their own accounts, but put the order under one person (the hostess if she has opted to sign up). This gives me the option of using the $100 for $20, all the bonus add ons, and almost always an RSVP. If somone is choosing the RE-9 Night Creme as their free gift, I will put the $100 retail under them, otherwise you can end up losing money! If my hostesses have put out the effort to throw a successful party I will also pay the $20 for them so they get either the RE-9 Body set, or $100 in product free and clear.


The other benefit of having the first orders come to me, is I get more face time with the new consultants when I drop their order off. I can talk to them one on one about their new products, and the opportunity they have joined.


Hope this helps.


Jennifer


www.abundantdreams.myarbonne.com (http://www.abundantdreams.myarbonne.com)

That's great information Jennifer. Thank you.





Karen