WAHM Forums

I need to hear from all of you about how you handle things at the end of your party, when guests are placing their orders.


Now, I have tried moving myself to a different room. I have tried asking everyone if they wouldn't mind waiting while I help people one on one. Ugh! Nothing works.


At the end of the party, I am swamped! No matter where I go in the home, where I sit, stand, what I say, etc., there's a big crowd around me and I'm not able to give the one on one attention to each customer as I would like to. I just end up with my head bowed down over my calculator.


Any ideas? I have joked with my husband that I'm 'this close' to buying one of those number wheels that we see at our local 31 Flavors, and having everyone take a number!

Mellonie,


I feel your pain! I too want to work-in more one-on-one time and when it's check out time, people are ready to go and it's just impossible. I used to find a nice quiet place, but then I was missing out on what the guests were saying. By staying in the same place, I am able to interject more meaningful information as people are talking. But then the guest "checking out" can get irritated if I am interrupted by someone else wanting to ask a question, etc.


What about making a concerted effort to get the one-on-one time in before the check out. After any presentation you do, just hop right in and start chatting it up. I typically step back for a while to let everything sink in. But maybe I need to be jumping right in with everyone?


I am looking forward to see what other suggestions come this way.

I always have a spot set aside from where the presentation was (maybe in a guest room or upstairs, etc.) and I tell them at the end of the presentation that I will be helping them with calculating their orders one at a time. As I finish with each guest, that guest will walk back to where everyone is gathered and call for the next person to go. It does take a little more time but that's valuable time that you can work on getting another booking or getting to know each customer individually. I also tell them that if you are in a hurry, to get in front of the entrance or door where I am so you can be sure to get in first or nextsmileys/smiley2.gif

You know what? That is what I do, but something you just said, Nikki, struck a cord with me..... "that guest will walk back to where everyone is gathered and call for the next person to go."


That's it! What a light bulb moment! That is kind of taking the 'take a number' concept, but putting in a more friendly format.


Leah, we should try that, don't you think? How cool!


Nikki, what do you say to the guests to really set them up for this, and what do you say to the individual guest that they will literally go back and say, "Next!"??

I usaually just mention that I will be over here in the living room (or whereever)and when they are ready just to bring their order over to me to close them out... luckly it's worked out well for me.





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Well, I've already told you what I say to let them know the format of closing up and order taking but you actually said what the guests usually say when they walk back into the room with the other guests: "Next!"..lol. I just tell them (after I've asked them to book,taken their order, given them their receipt and thanked them for coming)...OK, you can let them know we're done and usually 9 out of 10 times they always say, "Next." lol

Our VP HIGHLY recommends having people figure out their own orders and giving them a timeline to do it. She even sells really nicely laminated sales tax pages and tells us to have several calculators handy with them. She was with Tupperware for 20 years and did it all the time with them and it worked like a charm. She gave them 15 minutes to order and then when the orders were in she did the door prize and THEN she lets the host serve her snacks etc. That's when she talks to people about booking, selling etc.while they're munching. She calls it the 90 minute party and she has everything down to how many minutes it takes. I can email you a copy if you get me your email address. Mine is lskillman@verizon.net (lskillman@verizon.net) . Jeannie also has a website as she used to be a motivational speaker and all of her items are there at www.winningiscontagious.com (http://www.winningiscontagious.com) . But I do have a copy or the 90 minute party and that will get you started. That might be the best route for you to give you time at the end to talk with people individually and you're also able to help them with orders one on one too.

That's whyFollow-up calls are important. It gives you a chance to talk to them after the party, when they had time to think, Oh! I really wish I would have ordered that item! You know, Sue and Tanya would love these products. Etc.


This way if you miss talking to them one-on-one, you get another chance.


Debbie

Lisa, I sent you an email for the 90 minutes presentation. I'd love to try that one time:)

Personally........I'm scared to let my guests handle their own calculations smileys/smiley36.gif

Yeah... you'd have to go over them anyway one at a time because you'd be the one swallowing the mistakes and miscalculations if you didn't. I have a calculator handy on the coffee table for those who would like to have their form ready when it's their turn but most usually wait for me to do the calculations for them. With some parties having 20 or more guests, those small little mistakes can add up quickly and cost you quite a bit. I go over each ticket whether they have it calculated or not.


I've got a party tomorrow where I am stepping out of my normal comfort zone and doing something totally different. It's a "Pay & Take" party so I'm hoping most of the orders will be for items I have on stock there at the party. I'm hoping this style of presentation will give me more time with each guests with their orders. I'm thinking I will set up my "spot" close to my display and near the guests as they table shop(which is not the typical thing I do). I'll let you know how it turns out. Wish me lucksmileys/smiley2.gif

With the sales tax sheets and several calculators you don't have too many mistakes. I don't usually do my parties that way, but do on the larger ones just to save time for me. I've never had a mistake yet. If your shipping is based on a % you could get the sales tax sheets for that % too. Then it's just adding.

My husband actually comes with me to my shows. He sits in the back and gets to snack while I do my presentation. Then, he takes care of payments etc. so that I can be around the jewelry where I'm needed for questions etc. This has worked very well for us - it gives him a feeling of being involved (which leads to more support) and it gives me time to be more one-on-one with the guests and helps me get more bookings etc. b/c I'm not distracted. Plus, the guests who know what they want and want to shop and go, can do just that.


Then DH and I go out for ice cream or a snack and use it as our date night. We never get the opportunity otherwise.


This was actually DH's idea. He went to a Men's Training (I LOVE THOSE!!!) and came home super-supportive and with lots of new ideas how he could help me. He even booked me a show and shared the business opportunity!!! smileys/smiley4.gif


I know this won't work for everyone, but that's my $.02. We're very fortunate to have family in the area for free babysitting! smileys/smiley2.gifEdited by: MamaK