Frustration, Disappointment and a Dream: My Open House Story

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around a participant's experience preparing for an open house event, expressing feelings of frustration and disappointment due to challenges in securing orders and bookings. Various participants share their personal experiences and suggestions related to hosting shows and managing expectations during the holiday season.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration after making numerous calls without securing any orders, reflecting on a difficult start in their second month of business.
  • Another participant shares their experience of using school connections to promote their open house, suggesting that personal outreach can be effective.
  • One consultant mentions insights from a cluster meeting, emphasizing the importance of consistent effort during the holiday season to secure future bookings.
  • Another participant encourages the original poster to communicate their goals to friends and family, suggesting that personal connections may yield better results.
  • One participant highlights the inevitability of rejection in the business, suggesting a focus on positive responses and the potential for follow-ups after the holiday season.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best strategies for securing bookings and orders, with no clear consensus on a single effective approach. Some participants emphasize personal outreach, while others suggest broader promotional tactics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects the challenges faced by new consultants in the Pampered Chef community, particularly during the busy holiday season, and the varied experiences of participants in navigating these challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

New Pampered Chef consultants or those experiencing similar frustrations may find the shared experiences and suggestions relevant to their own situations.

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I am expecting 35-40 at my open house Sunday. I mailed 65 invites. I am so ready for this and very excited!!!! I have the day off from work today so I have been on the phone all morning trying to get outside orders.I have made 40 calls and every single call has been a "NO" so right now I am so frustrated I don't know what else to do. This is my second month and I'm
trying so hard because my first month was a disaster only 1 show,with a few bookings but they keep postponing their dates. About 20 people I've talked to
says maybe after the new year they will order but not interested in hosting a show not even a catalog show.(I'm thinking, What is wrong with you) HELP!!! How do you get them interested????
I've talked so much this morning that I am losing my voice Right now I am thinking maybe I made a mistake trying to do this. I will see how my party turns out Sunday them I'll decide what to do. Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated. My director has emailed me once since I signed up and that was after my first party last month just to see what my sales were I have thought about calling her but decided to post here instead.Please respond asap. Thanks
 
Give your director a call and see what she has to say. Don't give up on yourself! It is hard trying around the holidays, but that is also a ticket to get into the swing of things. I have you asked your kids friends? You might want to try putting catalogs at your kids school. Maybe enough for each teacher with an outside order form, a sample of upcoming host specials and a summary of the host program and a flyer with your open house on it.
I am trying that with my open house on the 20th at the three schools here in my area. You could also use the holiday mini catalog or the new season mini catalog. I have been handing those out instead of a full catalog.

I hope I have helped even a little. It was hard for me last year around the holidays too. This year is better to my surprise and I just pray it keeps getting better.

Hang in there :)
 
One of the Directors in my cluster said a few things Tuesday @ our cluster meeting that really hit home to me. I only have 1 show booked this month, a Fall Bazaar this month and NOTHING in December. 1 show in January and 1 in April and that's it! She asked who wanted to be in business in January. We all raised our hands of course. Then she said if you aren't working in Nov and Dec then where are the bookings in January going to come from. We have a GREAT cluster and have 3 directors running the meetings, sometimes more. Those 3 directors have a combined experience of 22+ years. My Director has been in the business for 5 years.

When I talked to her about my bookings I was really upset. Because I was really needing those bookings. I had 8 shows scheduled for October and only submitted 3. :( Well, I now have 2 shows this month and have the ones from last month on the line for shows this month. I know alot of people don't recommend it, but get out that phone book. BE PERSONALABLE! Smile while you talk to them. IT REALLY CHANGES YOUR VOICE! Don't ask if they'd like to have a show. They'll only say NO!
Say "Hi Mary. It's Amber with The Pampered Chef! How are you today?" pause for response and then say "I'm trying to get my show calendar set for the month and wanted to give you first crack at the good dates. Which date would be good for and your friends to come to your show, November 9th or 10th?"
This gives them a question to answer, but not a NO question. There is also a file on here called a 100 NO's. You should expect to get 100 no's for every yes. SO DON'T GIVE UP YET! You'll get there! Call your Director. Mine doesn't call me alot, but that's fine. She knows that if I need help I'll call her. She once said that her job was to help me be a success and to call anytime that I needed help.

SORRY SO LONG!! :o Hope it helps!
 

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PLEASE don't give up!!! It is so hard to get discouraged but you can't let that take you down! Have you tried letting your friends and family know that this is something that you really want to try and make a go at it? Let them know that it is important to you and you would appreciate their help. If you try this, I think you will be surprised. Explain to them that it is time for everyone to start their holiday shopping and this could be a great way for them to do it. I am sorry that you are having a difficult time. It sounds like you are trying very hard but take a moment for yourself and regroup then start over. I hope that your Open House goes well but don't be discourage if it doesn't go as you would like. I have had 3 and only one was a success, not that the other weren't but they did not produce much at all. Any NEW business is great. I wish you all the best and hope that you will give it more time!
 


Hi there!First of all, congratulations on your open house and all the hard work you have put into it! It's understandable that you are feeling frustrated and discouraged after making so many calls with no success. It's important to remember that rejection is just a part of this business and it's not a reflection of your skills or efforts.One thing that might help is to focus on the positive responses you have received, such as the bookings you have already secured. Also, keep in mind that many people may be hesitant to commit to a show during the busy holiday season. You can always follow up with them after the new year when things have calmed down.In terms of getting people interested, try to personalize your approach and make it about them. Ask them if there is anything specific they are looking for in terms of kitchen tools or recipes, and then offer a solution with your products. You can also mention any current promotions or specials that may entice them to host a show.Don't give up just yet! Keep reaching out and promoting your open house, and hopefully you will see great results on Sunday. As for your director, don't hesitate to reach out to her for support and guidance. That's what she is there for. Best of luck with your party and keep up the amazing work!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "Frustration, Disappointment and a Dream: My Open House Story" about?

"Frustration, Disappointment and a Dream: My Open House Story" is a personal narrative that explores the challenges and triumphs of hosting an open house event in the context of direct sales, specifically with Pampered Chef. It delves into the emotional journey of the author as they navigate setbacks and ultimately find success through perseverance and creativity.

What were some of the main challenges faced during the open house?

The main challenges included low attendance, difficulties in engaging guests, and initial feelings of disappointment when the event did not meet the author's expectations. These obstacles tested the author's resolve and required them to rethink their approach to direct sales and customer engagement.

How did the author overcome feelings of frustration and disappointment?

The author overcame these feelings by reflecting on their goals and the reasons they started their Pampered Chef journey. They sought feedback from attendees, adjusted their strategies, and focused on building relationships rather than just making sales. This shift in mindset helped them regain motivation and enthusiasm.

What lessons did the author learn from the open house experience?

The author learned several valuable lessons, including the importance of preparation, the need to adapt to unexpected situations, and the power of resilience. They also realized that success in direct sales is not solely measured by immediate sales figures but by the connections made and the community built.

How can others apply the insights from this story to their own direct sales efforts?

Others can apply these insights by embracing challenges as learning opportunities, focusing on relationship-building with customers, and maintaining a positive mindset even in the face of setbacks. Additionally, they can use the author's experiences to inspire their own creative approaches to hosting events and engaging with their audience.

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