Been Invited to a Pampered Chef Show W/ Different Consultant?

[raebates]

Attitude makes a HUGE difference. Going to the party with an attitude of support and openness to learning, then letting the consultant know at the end (or the beginning, but that might make some people nervous) that you are a consultant and so won't be ordering is one thing. Going and talking trash about the consultant and attempting to keep the people around you from booking or recruiting with that consultant is just plain rude.

Understand that I would never assume that you would be rude and disrespectful in any way. If you can't adopt a truly positive attitude, though, simply decline the invitation. If you really feel a need to ask why she decided to go with another consultant, I'd suggest waiting until after her show is done. That would create less of a disruption for her and the other consultant.

 

[raebates]

Oh, and another way that I'm completely weird--it wouldn't bother me at all of another consultant to come to one of my shows. I'd hate for that consultant to be rude, disrespectful, and disruptive, but I wouldn't mind at all if one was there.

 

[chefann]

Oh, Make sure the other consultant doesn't recruit her! I'd still mark THAT territory.

Actually, it's completely up to the prospective consultant to decide who they want to sign with. Some people aren't comfortable working with people with whom they are already friends.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I probably wouldn't go - just because I'm busy, and it wouldn't be the best use of my time. It's an evening I could be home with my family....why would I spend it going to a PC show where I wasn't the consultant?

 

[DessertDivaFL]

Don't assume anything about the other consultant or your friend. When you assume you run the risk of making an "A&@ out of U and ME". (Sorry for the colorful remark)

I think it is important to encourage ALL consultants during this stressful economic time, no matter what. My 2 cents.

 

[missyciccolella]

I agree with Janet, I wouldn't blindside the consultant...this situation happened to a very good friend of mine. She called the consultant (or maybe emailed) and said she had been invited to the host's show, but since she was a consultant she would like to come and watch/observe. The consultant had no problem with my friend coming, and they were both able to learn from each other...the consultant doing the show was open to my friend's thoughts and my friend picked up some new ideas. If you want to go then do so but just be honest about the situation

 

[gilchrist_pchef]

If another consultant came to my show, I wouldn't mind.... I wouldn't want them to tell me at the start of the show though. I would want them to tell me at the end of the show why they didn't buy anything. I would ask and see if this other consultant is very new at the biz; if she is don't go. If she has been doing it awhile then she should be pretty comfortable around anyone.

 

[NooraK]

I had another consultant come to my KITK on Saturday...

My question is, should I let this consultant keep attending my workshops? Do I email her and ask what she feels I did "wrong"? I don't want her making remarks like that to people who don't know me. I always get several "strangers" I don't know at these workshops. BTW she was at the Team Meeting I went to on Monday night. It was multiple directors and I didn't recognize hers. She must have been telling the table where she sat about the KITK because one of the ladies came up to me and asked to pick my brain on how I did these!

I would talk to your Director about what happened and how you feel about it. She can probably suggest the best approach. Personally, I would probably jump the gun and call the person and say "I don't want you to come to my shows because you ruined the last one!" but that's probably not the best way. Your Director may even suggest that she talk to the other consultant's Director about what happened.

 

[Chef Bobby]

I'm always interested in seeing how other consultants do their shows. I'd go just to watch and even offer to help anyway I could without taking over.
I had a simular situation where a hostess that had a party booked with me had her son join PC without contacting me. He went through HO and was recruited by my Director.

 

[Sheila]

I just had a friend book & host a cooking show with another consultant because she didn't want to do a catalog show & was too impatient to wait for me to come off maternity leave (c-section recovery) to do her show. You can go read that thread here to see how many problems have popped up over that whole thing. She's definitely MY customer now!!! LOL

 

[Sheila]

I also did a show last month where another consultant was a guest. She was polite enough to sit back & not intervene, just watch. When one of the customers asked about the pineapple wedger and I said I didn't have it, she popped up & said that she actually had that in her car! She went & got it & the customer liked it so much she bought one. I was in the kitchen talking consulting stuff with one girl when another one came in the room & said that she had been asking questions with the other consultant who sent her in the kitchen to talk to me. She was at least polite enough to not try & steal a potential recruit. I thought that said a LOT for her business practices.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I've been selling for over 15 years and for awhile there was a "competing" cluster in our area whose cons kept showing up at my shows... THIS WAS BEFORE THE BOOKING BENEFIT (I always would hear complaints at craft fairs or shows about this cluster & their poor customer service etc.)

It is very unnerving to have another cons. at a show (not if they are in our cluster we encorage our newbies to observe different cons for training) but to have "strangers"
attend who makes comments all the time, rolls her eyes, WEARS her PC shirt or brings her bag stuffed with catalogs, business card magnets or recipe cards to pass out as she's leaving is unethical and annoying.


If you go I KNOW you wouldn't behave this way , but there are some out there who do.

 

[tmseiling]

Hi all, I agree with a lot of what is being said, you never know why this person went with the other person, it could be family, a family friend.

Don't let this ruin your friendship with this person, you never know what the future holds and if you do go, be nice you might really hit it off with this person.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

WOW! Thank you ladies for all of your thoughts & advice! Wasn't expecting quite this much of a response! After reading through everyone's responses and thinking about it, I still don't know what I'm going to do, but I know that I would never go and ruin the show for the other consultant. That's just not how I roll. The main thing that bothers me is she is a member of our neighborhood card club that I also belong to and I'm quite sure that she has invited everyone from that, and that is taking away from me. I have never "bugged" anyone from my list of family and friends to buy or book from me. I let them know that I am selling it and if they want or need anything, they can call me, I'm not going to be that person that is in their face all the time. I don't like the idea of all of the club people going to this other consultant, but I also know that there isn't anything that I can do about it. I would never call and "yell" at her or anything either, because of course I don't know the circumstances of her booking with this other consultant, I don't know the other consultant either. I do know that she has never been to one of my shows, so it's not because she doesn't like my style... I'm sure it was just one of those things. She has never been to any "party" that I have hosted, PC or anything else, and she has been invited to a few... So, I guess my issue now of going or not is would I go if it were a jewelry party or something else, or am I just putting so much thought into this one because it's PC... I probably won't go, just because I wouldn't go normally, and I just established Monday night as Family Dinner night (my son and his fiance and baby will be coming along with my DH and our younger son and daughter) and the party is Monday night, so I'm not going to give up our first family dinner night for her party just to go and watch. So, there, I just made a decision! I'm not going and it has nothing to do with being mean or mad, it's about my family coming first. I feel so much better now! Thanks!!!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

WOW! Thank you ladies for all of your thoughts & advice! Wasn't expecting quite this much of a response! After reading through everyone's responses and thinking about it, I still don't know what I'm going to do, but I know that I would never go and ruin the show for the other consultant. That's just not how I roll. The main thing that bothers me is she is a member of our neighborhood card club that I also belong to and I'm quite sure that she has invited everyone from that, and that is taking away from me. I have never "bugged" anyone from my list of family and friends to buy or book from me. I let them know that I am selling it and if they want or need anything, they can call me, I'm not going to be that person that is in their face all the time. I don't like the idea of all of the club people going to this other consultant, but I also know that there isn't anything that I can do about it. I would never call and "yell" at her or anything either, because of course I don't know the circumstances of her booking with this other consultant, I don't know the other consultant either. I do know that she has never been to one of my shows, so it's not because she doesn't like my style... I'm sure it was just one of those things. She has never been to any "party" that I have hosted, PC or anything else, and she has been invited to a few... So, I guess my issue now of going or not is would I go if it were a jewelry party or something else, or am I just putting so much thought into this one because it's PC... I probably won't go, just because I wouldn't go normally, and I just established Monday night as Family Dinner night (my son and his fiance and baby will be coming along with my DH and our younger son and daughter) and the party is Monday night, so I'm not going to give up our first family dinner night for her party just to go and watch. So, there, I just made a decision! I'm not going and it has nothing to do with being mean or mad, it's about my family coming first. I feel so much better now! Thanks!!!

That's what I was trying to say in my post. It's just a matter of priority, and going to someone else's PC show wouldn't be high on my list when I could be spending the evening with my family!

It could be that she is doing it as a favor to a friend who is starting their business. I know that when one of my best friends became a PC consultant, and begged me to help her. I'd never gone to anyone else's shows, and had never hosted a show...and was only doing this one under duress. I was afraid no one would come to mine, because I'd never gone to theirs...and to be honest, I wouldn't have known NOT to invite another PC consultant, because I wouldn't have known anything about how the system works.

 

[chefann]

It could be that she is doing it as a favor to a friend who is starting their business.

That's a good point! I just had an email from my cousin, who used to be a PC consultant and knows that I still am one, about a catalog show she's putting together for a friend of hers who just signed.

 

[wadesgirl]

WOW! Thank you ladies for all of your thoughts & advice! Wasn't expecting quite this much of a response! After reading through everyone's responses and thinking about it, I still don't know what I'm going to do, but I know that I would never go and ruin the show for the other consultant. That's just not how I roll. The main thing that bothers me is she is a member of our neighborhood card club that I also belong to and I'm quite sure that she has invited everyone from that, and that is taking away from me. I have never "bugged" anyone from my list of family and friends to buy or book from me. I let them know that I am selling it and if they want or need anything, they can call me, I'm not going to be that person that is in their face all the time. I don't like the idea of all of the club people going to this other consultant, but I also know that there isn't anything that I can do about it. I would never call and "yell" at her or anything either, because of course I don't know the circumstances of her booking with this other consultant, I don't know the other consultant either. I do know that she has never been to one of my shows, so it's not because she doesn't like my style... I'm sure it was just one of those things. She has never been to any "party" that I have hosted, PC or anything else, and she has been invited to a few... So, I guess my issue now of going or not is would I go if it were a jewelry party or something else, or am I just putting so much thought into this one because it's PC... I probably won't go, just because I wouldn't go normally, and I just established Monday night as Family Dinner night (my son and his fiance and baby will be coming along with my DH and our younger son and daughter) and the party is Monday night, so I'm not going to give up our first family dinner night for her party just to go and watch. So, there, I just made a decision! I'm not going and it has nothing to do with being mean or mad, it's about my family coming first. I feel so much better now! Thanks!!!

It sounds like you never even asked her, maybe that's all the other consultant did and she wanted to book a party!

 

[Liquid Sky]

The main thing that bothers me is she is a member of our neighborhood card club that I also belong to and I'm quite sure that she has invited everyone from that, and that is taking away from me. I have never "bugged" anyone from my list of family and friends to buy or book from me. I let them know that I am selling it and if they want or need anything, they can call me, I'm not going to be that person that is in their face all the time.

99.9% of the time, no potential host or customer is going to call you to host a show. This is our responsibility as consultants to run our business. Offering the opportunity to host or attend a show of yours is not being the person that's in their face all the time.

So, in hind site, you may be displacing your annoyances with yourself onto your friend. I know this sounds kind of weird and I don't want to sound mean or anything! Because, what I gather is that the #1 frustration is that the friend knows you are a consultant but booked a show w/ someone else and now you are upset she did not come to you to have a show. If you never asked her.....then what do you expect?

Please please please don't take what I am saying as that I am criticizing you or anything!!!! I just think this has nothing to do with your friend but more with you being upset for not getting the booking or the business....but you never asked for it :blushing:

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I went to another company's show and got the greatest booking ideas from attending. You never know what you may learn, if you see it as a learning opportunity. I inputed the other company ladies ideas into my shows, and now average about 4 bookings per show. But Paula, you're making a great decision. Unrelated to PC, your personal life came first.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

Okay, people, enough already.... I am not mad at her, thought I pointed that out in the above post, just wasn't sure where to go with this.... I am not going to call all of my acquaintances and friends and family every couple of months and ask if they want to book a show with me.... That's just not how I am, I don't want my friends to look at their caller ID and say "Oh man, it's Paula again, I know what she's calling for, and I don't want to book a party!" Not me, sorry, if that's how your relationships with your friends work, then that's great, that's not how ours works. And again, I never said that it was her problem or mine, I was just voicing an issue, I worked it out, I thank you all for your opinions but I really don't need anyone to tell me that all of a sudden this is my fault and I'm not working my business right, because I am working my business the way that I want. And again, I put it out there when I first became a consultant a little over a year ago, there have been a few people that have booked parties, I do bring the new catalog to the card clubs with me when we get one, in case anyone wants to see it and that's as far as it goes and even after this, that is as far as it's going to go. No, that might be the best way or the most beneficial way to run my business but I am not in this full time and I don't want to be. And no I don't do the 1-2-3 success thing either. Sorry, this maybe coming off a little bit**y, but I just felt that the last couple of posts came off a little on the attack and since I had posted above that I had made my decision and I wasn't angry with her and I wasn't going due to a family dinner, I don't think that any of it was called for. Anyway, I probably shouldn't hit send, but I'm going to anyway... Sorry in advance!

 

[Liquid Sky]

Okay, people, enough already.... I am not mad at her, thought I pointed that out in the above post, just wasn't sure where to go with this.... I am not going to call all of my acquaintances and friends and family every couple of months and ask if they want to book a show with me.... That's just not how I am, I don't want my friends to look at their caller ID and say "Oh man, it's Paula again, I know what she's calling for, and I don't want to book a party!" Not me, sorry, if that's how your relationships with your friends work, then that's great, that's not how ours works. And again, I never said that it was her problem or mine, I was just voicing an issue, I worked it out, I thank you all for your opinions but I really don't need anyone to tell me that all of a sudden this is my fault and I'm not working my business right, because I am working my business the way that I want. And again, I put it out there when I first became a consultant a little over a year ago, there have been a few people that have booked parties, I do bring the new catalog to the card clubs with me when we get one, in case anyone wants to see it and that's as far as it goes and even after this, that is as far as it's going to go. No, that might be the best way or the most beneficial way to run my business but I am not in this full time and I don't want to be. And no I don't do the 1-2-3 success thing either. Sorry, this maybe coming off a little bit**y, but I just felt that the last couple of posts came off a little on the attack and since I had posted above that I had made my decision and I wasn't angry with her and I wasn't going due to a family dinner, I don't think that any of it was called for. Anyway, I probably shouldn't hit send, but I'm going to anyway... Sorry in advance!

I NEVER said you are not working your biz right or wrong! So please, don't turn my posts into something it wasn't. Also, assuming I call my friends/family every couple of months to ask if they want to book a party is silly. There is a balance and I maintain that.

Looking at your OP, you were upset she booked a show w/ another consultant and admitted you never asked her to have a show w/ you. So, I addressed that, as many others, as you never asked and you have no idea what the circumstances are that lead her to booking that show.

Then you went on to express your fear that she is inviting everyone from your card club and that will take biz away from you. So, I addressed that again as this sounds like you are or WERE just upset over the fact that biz is going to someone other than you.

I am just responding to the concerns you expressed and you asked for opinions. Now I think it's not right to attack me for giving my opinion or "failing" to read into your typed words something other than what I was interpreting. I said repeatedly to please not think I was meaning to be harsh or that I was judging you or whatever. I was simply giving my opinion on what I THOUGHT was the core issue.

I wave the white flag. Sorry if I offended you. That was not my intent or purpose.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I NEVER said you are not working your biz right or wrong! So please, don't turn my posts into something it wasn't. Also, assuming I call my friends/family every couple of months to ask if they want to book a party is silly. There is a balance and I maintain that.

Looking at your OP, you were upset she booked a show w/ another consultant and admitted you never asked her to have a show w/ you. So, I addressed that, as many others, as you never asked and you have no idea what the circumstances are that lead her to booking that show.

Then you went on to express your fear that she is inviting everyone from your card club and that will take biz away from you. So, I addressed that again as this sounds like you are or WERE just upset over the fact that biz is going to someone other than you.

I am just responding to the concerns you expressed and you asked for opinions. Now I think it's not right to attack me for giving my opinion or "failing" to read into your typed words something other than what I was interpreting. I said repeatedly to please not think I was meaning to be harsh or that I was judging you or whatever. I was simply giving my opinion on what I THOUGHT was the core issue.

I wave the white flag. Sorry if I offended you. That was not my intent or purpose.

I wave right back and I knew that I shouldn't have hit send on that post, but I also said I was just shocked that she invited me to the show with another consultant, that was my biggest upset over the whole thing... But now I'm letting it go.... the whole thing, the invite and my snotty post and everything... as they say, Bless and Release.... Done!

 

[Liquid Sky]

If ya look a few posts down from your OP, I said I would have been really irritated over what that friend did as well. :blushing:

It's hard especially when it comes to our friends/social connections and our businesses!!! It takes it to an emotional level and it's super hard not to react. I battle with that all the time and thank goodness I have Chef Success and my husband to help me "see the big picture" and get other opinions. Does that make sense?

BFF still??

 

[ChefPaulaB]

If ya look a few posts down from your OP, I said I would have been really irritated over what that friend did as well. :blushing:

It's hard especially when it comes to our friends/social connections and our businesses!!! It takes it to an emotional level and it's super hard not to react. I battle with that all the time and thank goodness I have Chef Success and my husband to help me "see the big picture" and get other opinions. Does that make sense?

BFF still??

No worries, it's all good!