WAHM Forums

Hi everyone! My Nation does strictly the REsults Approach, but I'm sitting at Exec. Area for a few months now and want to start doing parties for a volume boost to get me to Region! I've done other party plans in the past, but just had some q's for those who do @rbonne parties.


How much shipping do you charge? This could be tricky because if the sales are $500 or more it will be $22.95, so I want to make sure it's covered.


What do you use for order forms? The ones they sell are a bit pricey at $2.50 for 10 (I'm used to getting 50-100 for that price). I know I can print them out but then I won't have a customer copy.


Any other tips, advice?


Thanks!


Rachel

Hi Rachel! Congrats on AWESOME achievement. Our area does strictly parties, but I'm thinking I'd have better luck with the Results approach. So, if you care to send any info on how to do that my way, I'd be thrilled! (I've listened to the info online for it, but would love to hear from someone who is actually doing it! I'd be doing it with the AI line)


Anyway, on to answer your questions LOL. I charge $3/person at a party if there is 5 or more people and $5 if there are less than 5 people. It usually works out. I have never had a $500 party so I haven't had to worry about it. For order forms, I've been making copies of the one from the catalog, copying both sides. When I give them their order I give them that sheet back (I've made a copy of the order for myself) and that way they have their order info plus the info about the new autoship program. :-)


Hope that helps! You will do GREAT with parties!! I don't mind doing them, but I have a hard time finding people to host them for me.


Heidi

I charge 6% of their order for shipping. Soretail price + 6% (shipping) + 6% (tax) - discount = Total. That way if someone is getting an R9 set, their portion of the shipping is more than someone getting a shampoo. Don't forget to figure the tax and the shipping before you take the discount out, as tax and shipping are based on Retail, that was never explained to me and I could never seem to get the numbers quite right at first.


I find that if I give out samples before the party, to all the guests and those who want to place a book order, sales are higher. A lot higher. Sort of like combining the REsults approach with the party approach. smileys/smiley4.gifEdited by: cassandra

I really like that idea Cassandra. Actually both of them. smileys/smiley2.gif





Heidi

Parties are great for building volume. Let me tell you a few things I learned (the hard way)

Anyone who signs up to be a $100 consultant, you can not split their shipping unless you combine it with a retail order....my luck was such that everyone signed up and I did not realize I could not combine shipping. Luckily, they all understood and paid the postage. Also, don't forget if they sign up and don't buy $100, they will get charged an extra $5 for shipping because of the consultant box. Lastly, check your state laws. Here in CA, you have to charge tax on the total (inclthe postage).

Good luck!!
Sandi

I make my own order forms. They get a copy of it when I give them
their order. I also keep a receipt book with me in case someone
wants a receipt that night. Out of ~100 parties, I've had 5
guests ask for a receipt that night. Most are perfectly happy to
get it in their order.



I also charge 6% shipping. If I was at a show that charged what
was listed on the catalogue order form ($7.95), I would not order,
especially if I was just ordering an eyeliner or something. I've
never had anyone complain about the shipping.



Good luck going REGION! I hope to go sometime this summer.
My problem is that one of my legs is MUCH stronger than the others,
making the numbers a little difficult. I am working on finding
new people and helping to develop some that have struggled in their
business.



-Beverly

Wow Beverly! That's a lot of parties!! How do you get them all? I also am having trouble booking more. I have heard mostly "oh, I don't know anyone" or "I've tried to have parties and no one came". Any tips?


I also do 6% shipping at parties and copy the order form from the catalog. I give them a catalog w/order form still in it for future use. I include a thank-you note with their order and a reciept. I let them know that they will recieve 20% off their next order placed by such and such a date.

Yes, I'd love to know how you get people to do parties. A lot of people tell me that they don't go to anyone else's parties, so they can't expect anyone to come to theirs. I even offer to let people have them at my house so they don't have to clean, etc...but not many takers.


Heidi


PS Carrie, I like your idea too!

I'm having a hard time with parties as well.


I've had neighbors/friends say "I'll check with my friends to see if anyone would be interested if I have a party". smileys/smiley5.gif


I would rather they just said no thanks.

This is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I think that could be used to help book parties. Offer to donate a % of the sales to research and since we have products thatcater to healthy living I think this could be used to our advantage. Everyone wants to think they are doing something to help.


A lot of other companies that don't have anything to do with wellness are using I think we should as well.

A* used to have campaigns for this month, for Breast Cancer Awareness... like a special lipstick and the title was "kiss for a cure" the proceeds going to Breast Cancer Awareness... but some (very loud)people had a problem with A* donating money to research that does testing on animals, since our policy is no animal testing, so they stopped doing the special campaigns as a company... doesn't mean that each individual consultant can't have their own campaign... smileys/smiley2.gif

I get people to book the old fashioned way... I bribe them. Plain
and simple. You have to give them stuff or they won't do
it.



If they tell you they get invited to parties and don't go, ask them to
give you the names of their friends sending out invitations, clearly
those people are doing parties!



Make sure your parties are fun and SHORT! People need to have a
good time, and they need to know that we won't be there all
night! I used to feel the need to tell everyone absolutely
everything about how great A* is. I had a lot of trouble booking
when my shows were over 2 hours!!



Make sure you are offering them some guarantee of getting
something. If you say, you get $100 of stuff for only $20 when
your party reaches $250, many people may think their show won't get
that high. People really underestimate the spending habits of
their friends. Also, why not go ahead and fork out the $20 so
they get the $100 for free? Discounted is good, but free is better.

Thanks for all the great advice! One of my newest BB's is a former makeup artist, so we've set up Monday Makeover Madness in a local cafe. Last Monday was our first, and we had a $500 show! I underestimated the sales and was really short on shipping! Lesson learned, I'm doing the 6% this time around!

The company I've been with for over 2 years was pretty much party formats only (I sold plastics if you know what I mean)and giving away things is definately a big one for getting parties and also for getting people there.


One of the most simple but fun party games you can do is the purse hunt. I have a premade list and you can make up you're own. Put things that are fun and interesting like 'picture of man you didn't marry', 'Something Red', an Arbonne product etc. Make them silly and people will amaze you what they find. Just remind them to bring their purse so they can participate.


I have pages of games I can pass on. I even have a whole game of The price is right where the whole party is formatted to the game show right down to having your pets spayed and neutered at the end. I haven't adapted it to Arbonne yet. I used to do Auction parties where a list was given with the invite and the one with the most auction bucks at the end one the prize or prizes if the party is big enough. You put things like 'Bring aFriend'earn $100 Auctionbucks, RSVP to host get $100, Book your own class get $1,000etc.To keep cost on prizes down you can even do sample sizes of SSS and Unwind bathSalts in small sachets. PM me if you want some of these and I will try tomorrow to get them on Word format to send out.


Another thing to help a host decide is finding places outside of their home to hold parties. I've held them at Churches, Beauty Salons, Cafe's and even a flower shop. They went fine and no one had tomake their home spotless. I had some great advice from ladies that had been in the business for 20+ years and loved doing them, Just my back kept me from toting around what was necessary to do an awesome show. This company has a much lighter load and of course I fell in love with the products first.