WAHM Forums

I am thinking about becoming a Tastefully Simple Consultant. I have done other party plans and am wondering from those who currently sell, have sold in the past or who are customers what your thoughts are. Do you like the party plans. Do bookings come easily - do you get many reorders. If you are a customer do you reorder or only when you are invited to a show. Opinions appreciated.

Thanks
Dawn Collyott

I am a customer of Cheryl's (she is a member on the board).

I have ordered from her twice in the last month and a half...I do enjoy the products but have never done a party, but I will continue to order from her very often!

Best wishes on your decision.


Melissa

I was a TS consultant a few years ago. Then I started my second magazine and was way too busy so I stopped. The money was good, the ordering system was simple, and my upline was great about helping me out. Honestly, though, it just wasn't for me. I like to cook and bake but it was a lot of work to get all the samples ready, tote everything in to someone's house, clean up afterwards, etc. For someone who likes to entertain, cook, and bake, I think it's awesome. The produce is DELICIOUS and I always got quite a few orders from every party.

My former sponsor has a large workplace and sells TS part-time. Her co-workers reorder CONSTANTLY. She hasn't done a party in a long time and makes a good part-time income from it. I still reorder some of my basics (Spinach & Herb especially) even without going to a party. All in all, I think it's like another other MLM opportunity - you have to decide if it's the right one for you.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions and best of luck!

I have been trying to find some gourmet foodie companies to let me do product reviews on their items as I heard that TS had delicious products

I have been to several vendor events where Tastefully Simple has been represented. They always seemed to do fairly well, but then again lots of people stopped by their booth/table just for samples. I have never had a party with them, but have been to one and ordered again a few times when I ran across them. I think they have a good product, but can't recommend them one way or another as far as working the business since I'm not familiar with that side of it.

Good luck making your decision!


Stacey
www.petlane.com/staceywatson
Stacey's SnipPETs (http://www.staceyssnippets.blogspot.com)

I really like TS.. I have been a re-order regularly person.... but lately Ihave kinda fizzed out a bit.

I do order when I attend a party. They are excellent things to have on hand when you need a quick potluck dish or entertainment dish :)

Hi Dawn!

I've tried a few direct sales party plan and could never get parties, so my business went no where. Tastefully Simple has been a blessing for me because now I am getting parties and customer who just want to place orders with me. I'm find that people really enjoy sampling.

It's really easy set up too. I do NOT make the samples, my hostess does. The extra samples that I bring are the pre-made sauces that come in little containers and those are all bagged in ziplocks, ready for me to just grab. My display is very simple, yet inviting...takes me about 5 minutes to set it up. My display consists of about 10 products, one gift set and a few props, like fake grapes, garlic, ect, that I put around my boxes.

Clean up for me is very easy...the host keeps all the extra samples, so I'm just packing up my things and that's it! Most of my hostess leave the sample out for husbands to snack on!!

Re-order are a huge bonus and one of the reason I wanted to do Tastefully Simple. Both men & women love TS and all age groups as well. Kids love our desserts and older senior citizens like to gift shop because they can't always get out.

I love watching all the party guest eww & aww over the samples and how they start sharing what they could use the products for...the guests thenselves, sell everyone on the products!! Parties are lots' of FUN!!

The best thing about TS is the company it's self...truly an amazing company to work with.

Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions that I can help you with! We would love to have you!!

BTW Melissa...tell your daughter that "her" soup should be there on Thursday!! :)

I think the key to success in Party Plan, Network Marketing or any home business is to decide if it is truly going to be a fit for you; to understand exactly what will be expected of you; and to set your calendar up to accommodate success.

In most cases, it takes more work in the beginning to get your business launched and out there. It takes the willingness to make those contacts and be "Aggressive" in contacting and asking your list to host a party. And, by aggressive, I don't mean acting aggressive. Just aggressively being willing to pick up the two ton gorilla that the phone can turn in to, ha!

Solid follow up and good customer care is the secret to repeat orders, customers and referrals. People are busy and when they know you are serious about your business; stay in touch with them; and want their business, they will become very loyal.

A big piece of the process of getting parties easily is in developing a win-win presentation for your potential hosts. We are often taught to ask for a "favor" or "help us out" and this places almost a burden on your potential host.

Go into it offering an amazing, fun experience with lots of freebies for the host and people will see it in a different light. It will become much easier to book parties from your parties as well.

And, themes are ALWAYS a fun idea and get your audience engaged.

An example would be a Caribbean theme, with steel band music and clothing. Give a prize for the best dressed Caribbean guest, etc. That is just one idea and there are many.

With these economic times, people want to have FUN! Let's show them fun and watch those bookings and orders zoom in!

Good luck with your decision!

Expect Success!

Jackie Ulmer
http://DirectSalesRockStar.com Let's Connect on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/jackieulmer

Cheryl, I was hoping you would chime in! I am so excited to get my order, and I am thrilled at how quickly TS ships and gets items to me...another plus in my opinion.



Melissa

I really like the TS products. I don't re-order as much as I probably could but I usually pick up some products where ever I see them at other bazaars.

I really love their products but I tried to set up a party and no one wanted to come I was really bummed out but what I did like was you could have a online party at the same time and some of my friends did order from that.

I'm not into going to people's homes and hosting parties but everyone is different. Good luck to you!

~Linda

I just joined TS a few weeks ago.:)

I'm very excited!! I'm going to the regional conference in Cincinnati in a couple of weeks. I've already had a couple of orders thru my website. I have 2 parties on the books and will be doing my "launch party the being of March.

Best of luck with your decision!

Tastefully Simple (http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/mkohler)

I LOVE tastefully simple!! They have awesome products!!

I hear nothing but good about that company!

When I was at Karen Phelp's Leadership Bootcamp in October, there were about 5 gals from TS there - and they were sitting two rows ahead of me most of the weekend.

When we role-played some meeting content (like having a number-of-bookings-spell-down)... those gals SHINED with how many bookings they do! Unbelievable.

Selling that kind of product just isn't my cup of tea... but for those that are attracted to it, I think TS does many things well - it sure is easy to see that their people are happy.

Just my .02

:)

I really love TS! If I had more time, I would highly consider joining myself. Good luck with your decisoin.

As a Tastefully Simple consultant, I just want to say that you have all made me smile today...THANK YOU!! I appreciate reading all of your kind input on Tastefully Simple and so happy to know that you love our food.

Get ready for some great new products coming your way next month!! :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

When I was at Karen Phelp's Leadership Bootcamp in October, there were about 5 gals from TS there - and they were sitting two rows ahead of me most of the weekend.

:)

Hey, I was at Karen's Bootcamp also, did we meet? That was a great event and I just got my DVDs yesterday. Looking forward to plugging them in!

I am a customer. I love the products, but typically only order when I go to a party.

Thank you SO much for all the positive posts! Of course Cheryl and I are "fans" but it's nice to see that many of you have had a positive experience as well.

Our business continues to get easier and easier as the years go by. I remember like an earlier post said, preparing samples and lugging a lot of stuff to my parties. Now, consultants have the option for NO sample prep (everything is in pre-poured, foil-topped samples) and I'm down to just a few things to bring into the hosts home.

Things have changed dramatically in the past 11 years! ;-)
Wishing you all the best in your decision process and hope we can call you "official" real soon!

PS - New consultant special runs to the 12th. Just thought I would remind you in case you were not aware.

I've purchased from a friend as a favor, but never reordered. I just don't really eat that kind of stuff. Mixes are really not my thing. I try to go for scratch or organic. But it sounds like lots of people like it.
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Susan's post made me think to share that if you've not seen a catalogue in a long time we have had organics in the line, we do have more "all natural products" and we have many items that are "open and enjoy." We'll never be a total "health food company" becase we're designed to have "something for everyone" and like most people sometimes we treat ourselves to something decadent and sometimes we're being very careful about what we consume. We will always try to provide both options so we can appeal to the most amount of customers across the U.S.

You know, we've been around 15 years this year and we're always trying to make ourselves just a little bit better with every catalogue. Thanks to all of you who have given us a try and if it's been awhile, check out our new Spring/Summer catalogue March 8th!