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Whether you are just getting started in Direct Sales or you are a seasoned party plan pro, here you will find tips and techiques on presenting an in home demonstration. From ice breakers and games to product demonstration and dating offers, find ideas on how to grow sales and move forward with your direct sales career.
Before the Party
Giving an in-home demonstration requires planning in advance
Preparing your hostess for her upcoming party is a very important part of the in-home demonstration. Preparations should begin 2-3 weeks prior to the party. When booking parties, make sure that you do not book parties out more than 2-3 weeks.--Present your hostess with a Party Plan Package containing all the information she needs to have a successful party
--Have her fill out and return, within 48 hours, a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the guests she wishes to invite
--Around two weeks before the party, mail each guest an invitation and/or current flyer
--Stress to your hostess that she needs to personally invite each guest herself
--Offer to mail catalogs and order forms to out of town family and friends for your hostess
--Give your hostess 2-3 catalogs and monthly flyers and 4-5 order forms so that she can begin to collect outside orders before the party, from guests who will be unable to attend
--Offer your hostess incentives such as a specific product or discount for completing the following tasks:
o Have 10 guests in attendance
o Have $100 in outside orders before the party
0 Have 1 dating booked before the party
--Go over the planned refreshments with your hostess and discuss any special ingredients you may need for your demonstration
--The day before the party, you, the consultant, should personally call each guest to remind them of the party and let them know that they will receive a prize for showing up on time, and another for bringing a friend
Let's Get this Party Started!
--Plan to arrive to your party at least 45 minutes early to set up and help your hostess with any refreshments
--As the guests arrive, personally welcome each guest, and use their name in a sentence
--Make sure that you START ON TIME. Do not inconvenience the guests who arrived on time by waiting for others who may or may not show up
--Pass out small party favors to all guests who arrived on time, and give a slightly larger gift to those who brought an uninvited guest
--Do an icebreaker game to kick off the party
--As the guests arrive, personally welcome each guest, and use their name in a sentence
--Make sure that you START ON TIME. Do not inconvenience the guests who arrived on time by waiting for others who may or may not show up
--Pass out small party favors to all guests who arrived on time, and give a slightly larger gift to those who brought an uninvited guest
--Do an icebreaker game to kick off the party
The Toilet Paper Game
Try this game at your next party as the perfect icebreaker game.
Pass a roll of toilet paper around to each guest, starting with the hostess, and ending with you. Ask each guest to take as little or as much toilet paper as she thinks she will "need". When it is your turn to take some toilet paper, plan to grab 8-10 sheets.Now that everyone has taken paper, starting again with the hostess and ending with you, ask each guest to share something about themselves with the group. Each square of toilet paper they have taken is one fact that they must share with the group.
When it is your turn to share, make sure that you share how you got started in your business, and what the financial rewards have meant to you and your family.
Articles on Direct Sales
Great Articles for Your Party Plan Biz
Here are some of my favorite articles on direct sales and party plan consultants. Enjoy!
- 6 Ways to Dress Up Your Home Party Demonstration
- This article describes ways to make your home party demo more attractive, which will in turn increase sales.
- How to Sell Tupperware and AVON Together Locally
- Need ideas on how to make two direct sales companies profit for you simultaneously? Here are some great methods to sell Tupperware and AVON together.
- Home Party Plan Theme Parties
- Learn all about Direct Sales theme parties, and find out why they are the single best way to increase datings at your home party plan demonstration.
- 6 Ways to Errand Advertise Your Party Plan Business
- Need inexpensive ways to advertise your direct sales business on-the-go? Look no further. 6 Tips that allow you to promote your direct sales company while you are running your day-to-day errands.
The Listening Game
Start this game after playing your icebreaker game.
Right before you start your demonstration, tell each guest that you will be playing a game this evening with a special prize. This prize can be any item from your company with a retail value of $5 or so.
You will need a supply of dollar store backsratchers (one for each guest), and some tickets.
Pick out a buzz word. The word can be anything from your company's name or a specific product, to the day of the week, a color, or anything at all.
During your product presentation, whenever a guest hears you say the buzz word, they will raise their backscratcher. The first guest who does so gets a ticket. The guest with the most tickets at the end of the demonstration wins the prize.
This game is great to play as it gives each guest an incentive to listen closely to your presentation.
You will need a supply of dollar store backsratchers (one for each guest), and some tickets.
Pick out a buzz word. The word can be anything from your company's name or a specific product, to the day of the week, a color, or anything at all.
During your product presentation, whenever a guest hears you say the buzz word, they will raise their backscratcher. The first guest who does so gets a ticket. The guest with the most tickets at the end of the demonstration wins the prize.
This game is great to play as it gives each guest an incentive to listen closely to your presentation.
Demonstrate Your Products
--Begin to demonstrate your products. Make sure you only demonstrate products that cost $30 or more. As guests buy the products demonstrated, it increases the party sale totals helping both you and your hostess. Rest assured that those guests who want to buy a lesser expensive product will find it in your catalog.--Pass around each product after you have demonstrated it so that guests can touch it
--Involve your guests by asking questions and using their names. Say something like, "Sally, where would you put this product in your home?"
--Weave dating and recruiting calls to action into your demonstration. When showing a product that is a hostess special, be sure and mention it. Talk about the rewards of becoming a consultant, or gifts you have earned.
Stack Your Hostess
--At the end of the show, have your hostess sit in a chair in front of the other guests
--Begin to pile on top of her all the hostess gifts she will receive, or may be eligible to receive, for hosting a party
For instance, "If Jenny's party reaches $500 today, she will get this collection. And when Jenny's party exceeds $1000 today, she will get all this too!"
--Make sure to include any half price items your hostess is eligible for as well
--Begin to pile on top of her all the hostess gifts she will receive, or may be eligible to receive, for hosting a party
For instance, "If Jenny's party reaches $500 today, she will get this collection. And when Jenny's party exceeds $1000 today, she will get all this too!"
--Make sure to include any half price items your hostess is eligible for as well
Play a Dating Game
This game can be done in several ways, using straws or candles, or simply notes attached to prizes.--Pick out some of the best party gifts you have available to guests
--Attach a note to each of these prizes, stating one of the following
o You've Won a Party! (half the items should say this)
o You've Won Free Product
o You've Won a Discount
o You've Won Free Shipping
--Place all items in a bowl, box, or other container
--At the start of the party, explain that this is an optional game, where the guest will not only receive the prize, but may win a specified product valued at $10-15
--Mention that the way the game works is that whatever the note says must be done. Tell the guests that they may draw a note that says they've won a party. If they do that, you expect them to date the party immediately, and if they've won the free product, you will give that to them immediately
--Guests who draw a prize are willing to host a party, even if they do not win one
Wrap it Up
As your party wraps up, it is important that you take the time to go over each guest's purchases on a one-on-one basis. Again, use the guest's name when talking with her.
Take this opportunity to mention complementary products to the ones the guest is purchasing, or offer a discount if the guest spends a little more.
Also make sure that you ask each guest to date a party. Guests expect you to do this. Do not let them down.
Take this opportunity to mention complementary products to the ones the guest is purchasing, or offer a discount if the guest spends a little more.
Also make sure that you ask each guest to date a party. Guests expect you to do this. Do not let them down.
Direct Sales Resources
Here you will find my favorite Direct Sales and Party Plan Consultant resource sites.
- Direct Sales from Stay a Stay at Home Mom
- This is a great site that gives tons of free info on all aspects of staying a stay at home mom. There is a whole section on Direct Sales, full of useful games, ideas, and more.
- DSWA Direct Selling Women's Alliance
- A fantastic site dedicated to helping all women working in the Direct Sales industry. They are not company specific, but offer training and support for all in this profession.
- Top 5 Ways to Get More Datings at Your Direct Sales Home Party
- Ideas and tips for dating more parties at your home party presentation.
- Party Plan Companies
- A list of Party Plan companies. If you do not have a company yet, or want more information about some of the companies out there, check this list out!
- Direct Sales Supplies
- Find company specific and generic supplies for your home party plan company here! Best prices online.
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Direct Sales Books on Amazon
Here you will find some recommended reading for Direct Sales professionals. Leave a book in your car for when you are in the doctor's office waiting room, or while your daughter is in ballet class.
Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/10/2009) 
More Build It Big: 101 Insider Secrets from Top Direct Selling Experts
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/10/2009)
Direct Sales: Be Better Than Good--Be Great!
Amazon Price: $22.50 (as of 07/10/2009)
Making Millions in Direct Sales: The 8 Essential Activities Direct Sales Managers Must Do Every Day to Build a Successful Team and Earn More Money
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/10/2009)
Presentations for Profits
Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
Party Plan Consultant Supplies on eBay
Find supplies pertaining to your company, or the direct sales industry in general on eBay.
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Tell me what you think!
Have a party game to share? Just want to post a comment? Here's the place!
Lensmaster
patty wrote
Thank you for all the info, I have had the idea of selling my jewelry through party's. You gave me a lot of good info. I was thinking of selling all my crafts at these party's. I do a lot of wood christmas deer, wood snowmen and wreaft's. It
would be like a home decorating party. What do you think of that?
Posted September 26, 2008
Lensmaster
Adrian D wrote
Nice work
Posted December 23, 2007
by cleobird
Hi, I'm Rayven Perkins. I have spent 7 years finding and
implementing unique cost-cutting tips that allow my family to live comfortably
as a one-inc...
