Is an Open House the Key to a Successful Pampered Chef Party?

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses experiences and strategies related to hosting open house events for Pampered Chef parties. Participants share their plans, outcomes, and reflections on previous events, highlighting various approaches to engaging guests and promoting products.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shares their detailed plan for an open house, including food stations and promotional strategies.
  • Another participant recounts their experience with a "Death by Dessert" open house, noting low attendance but some sales success.
  • Several users express interest in the effectiveness of different invitation methods, with one participant mentioning that emailing invitations yielded better results than mailing them.
  • One participant reports a successful open house with significant sales and multiple bookings, emphasizing the importance of discussing various hosting options.
  • Another participant highlights a specific dish that was particularly popular at their event.
  • One participant reflects on their past open houses, describing them as unsuccessful but expressing optimism for future events with a larger contact base.
  • Another participant mentions the importance of offering prizes to encourage attendance and engagement at open houses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of various strategies for open houses, with no clear consensus on the best approach. Some participants share successful experiences while others reflect on challenges faced in previous events.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and insights related to hosting open houses, focusing on engagement strategies, attendance, and product promotion without implying any official guidance.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants considering hosting open houses may find the shared experiences and strategies relevant to their planning and execution of similar events.

P
Porchechef
Messages
82
Hello folks! I am having an open house tomorrow night. I want to see if there is anything else I should have.

I have 25 people RSVP'd (I invited 125 so not too bad!).

Here's what I am having-

Station 1- DCB display with the mexican chicken lasanga

Station 2- Appetizer- Greek Torte Dip- will display the batter bowl and small tools used

Station 3- Molten Chocolate Mini Cakes- displaying the pan used

Station 4- Ultimate Mandoline- guests will get to play with it

Display area- The booking slide idea- I made it into a bulletin board with statements like- Do you want fun with your friends while learning a new recipe? etc. I also displayed the benefits of hosting a cooking show/benefits of hosting a catalog show- very brief!

I will have order forms and catalogs ofc for the guests- I am giving away prizes for those who order, book a party, or bring in an outside order- I am using the host benefits as a prize- free products, 10% discount for the year, half-price products, etc. I already have 3 outside orders (I didn't have to ask for these yet).

I also will demo the 8" saute pan with the ice cube to advertise the August special for hosts.

How does this sound? Anything else I should remember? I don't want to be overwhelming.

By the way, I think the reason why I have so many people rsvping (I also did the reminder calls) is because I stated it was a "come and go" open house- they could come in anytime between 6-9.

Ok- thanks in advance for your comments!:D
 
Sounds like you have it well planned. I did a come and go "Death by Dessert" deal one night, but it didn't go so great. I had invited close to one hundred people, but only about five or six showed up. I had made about seven or eight desserts.....
Those of us who were there had a good time and I managed to wrangle a little over $300 in sales. Since I was still in my first 90 day period, my son ended up with a $150 show and my husband ended up with one too.
 
I love all the details that you are sharing! The stations are a great idea too! I'm curious if you just mailed your invites or e-mailed them as well. Please update how everything went. I'm thinking about doing an open house in either August or Sept even though the July host special is so great!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Hi ladies! I apologize I didn't get to sit down and share my success! It was a great open house! I had sales of $515 and 2 bookings and 2 potential bookings (which became bookings two days later) therefore 4 bookings! I also had 2 potential bookings for fundraisers- I never thought of bringing this up before. There is so many details to share! But I mentioned the benefits of a cooking and catalog show. Then I explained the wedding registery and fundraisers- many people had questions about the fundraisers. I will be meeting with these two potentials next week about it. Emo812- mailing invitations never did me justice for Open House (it works good for cooking shows). I just emailed through PWS and had details about the prizes and how many recipes they would be tasting. You should have a fall kickoff open house at the end of Aug or beginning of Sept. Email me if you want more info about my open house :-).Thanks!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
OHHH I also added one more station- the Lemony Gingeritis (without the vodka) THIS WAS A HUGE HIT!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks Tyler for sharing!My 1-yr is Aug 31st also, so I'm thinking of trying a Anniversary/Fall Kickoff Open house too. I at least have more people to contact now (my other open houses for HWC and my grand opening were FLOPS- big time). But I've had several shows, more contacts, and maybe could get a few more people. We'll see. least by doing it at home- I am not lugging things somewhere. :D
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
That's right- and what you can do is invite everyone who has attended your shows. I invited about 125 and 25 showed up. My previous open houses has been a flop too! Its better once you have a larger number of people to contact and OFFER prizes! I offered 1 half price item, month host special, and $25 of free products (use the freebies that you earn from this show). I was excited cuz I was wanting the grill pan and was able to get it free AFTER giving away the three prizes I mentioned. You can do it! :-D
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Open House in the context of a Pampered Chef party?

An Open House is a casual gathering where potential customers can come to see, touch, and try out Pampered Chef products. It allows guests to explore the product range, ask questions, and enjoy some food prepared using the products, creating a relaxed atmosphere for socializing and shopping.

How does an Open House contribute to the success of a Pampered Chef party?

An Open House can significantly enhance the success of a Pampered Chef party by providing a low-pressure environment for guests to interact with the products. It encourages more people to attend since they can drop in at their convenience, leading to higher attendance and more sales opportunities.

What are some tips for hosting a successful Open House for Pampered Chef?

To host a successful Open House, consider offering a variety of food samples made with Pampered Chef products, creating an inviting atmosphere with decorations, and providing product demonstrations. Additionally, promoting the event through social media and personal invitations can help increase attendance.

Can an Open House replace a traditional Pampered Chef party?

An Open House can complement traditional Pampered Chef parties but may not fully replace them. While it offers a more casual setting, traditional parties often include structured demonstrations and games that can engage guests more actively. Both formats can be effective depending on the host's goals and audience.

What should I do if attendance at my Open House is low?

If attendance is low, consider reaching out to invitees personally to remind them of the event. You can also offer incentives, such as discounts or giveaways, to encourage attendance. Additionally, gathering feedback on scheduling and marketing can help improve future events.

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