Boost Bookings with an Interactive Show - See if Others Have Tried It!

[milkangel]

Hi, i was woundering if any one had done a interactive show! and did that increased the show total and did you get many bookings from it? i have a show sunday and going to try it. we will see what happens.

 

[peichef]

I've been doing interactive shows since October (when the VP of Cdn Sales did some training here & challenged us to do it) -- my lowest show total since then has been $575, all the others have been over $700. (I've always had a high show avg, but I'd say it has gone up.) As far as bookings, I'd say they are up slightly, but interest in the business opportunity is up
It takes a bit of practice to get the "flow" for these shows -- I'm excited to get my DVD & see how the 3 ladies on there make it work. Sometimes, I find it has made the show longer -- but that depends on the recipes.

 

[stacywhitlow]

I started doing interactive before the DVD came out & I do mine just like Jennifer does hers. It has increased my bookings & recruit leads but not sales yet. I have had a few "small" shows these past few months. I am hoping that they increase real soon.

 

[KellyTheChef]

I did my second hands on show tonight...the ones who participated definately purchased the things they used, so I would say sales have gone up. (They are buying things they wouldn't have "known" to buy unless they tried them!)

Anyone have good ideas to keeping the show down in time? I still don't feel like it is cutting off any time....

 

[lissahope26]

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get people to participate? My last show, my host was the only one participating!

 

[AnnaPChef]

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get people to participate? My last show, my host was the only one participating!

Try writing the names of the tools used in the recipe down on a piece of paper and having everybody draw one when they come in. When it's time for that tool to be used have the person holding the name come up and use it. It's kind of a game, but it maight work.

 

[scottcooks]

What words are you using? Something like, "Pampered chef has found that our guests just LOVE getting their hands on our products, to determine if they are something useful, substantial, and valuable to them. Wouldn't you like to dream a little about the possibilities, and to try a lot before buying anything? Each of us will take a turn using a tool this evening. Come and see what all the excitement is about!!"

 

[mama2emma]

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get people to participate? My last show, my host was the only one participating!

My director shared this email from Jennifer Bartucci with us a few weeks ago. I tried her ticket method and it worked like a charm! Everyone was helping, laughing, and involved. I give away free shipping, but I suppose you could do just about anything - people are always excited to win a drawing. You could even give people extra tickets for booking a show.

"I've done the interactive shows several different ways and I think I've settled on my favorite and most comfortable way. The remarkable thing is.......I don't think it's really a new concept. I think lots of consultants have been doing this for years. The "new" concept just motivated ME to finally relinquish some of the "control" at my shows!!!

At one show I did a Stuffed Tortilla Bar.......good for those groupie shows. Let's the ladies chit chat while you work with 2-3 at a time. Not something I want to do at every show, but definitely nice to have in my back pocket for those repeat groups.

At the other, I did little to no pre-show preparation, with the intention of "them" making everything. Too time consuming - and I had several ladies who planted themselves in the easy chairs and did not want to get up. I was actually apologizing for wanting them to. Demo too long!

At the third show, I found my comfort zone. I didn't make any announcement of this being "different" or "hands on." I made name tags (ESSENTIAL so that you aren't saying, "you in the red shirt, do you want to try the garlic press?"). I LOVE this because it allows me to meet everyone personally. I give them their catalog, order form and make the name tag as they come in. I've talked about doing name tags for years........so I'm grateful again that I finally DID it!! Hard to teach this old dog new tricks!!

I started using tickets at my shows about a year ago. I have strips of tickets laying all over the room. When we start I say this, "I only play one game.....there are tickets all over the room, everyone gets a ticket for being here and then you can earn more tickets. At the end we you are going to tear your tickets in half and you'll give me half. I'll draw a winner and that person will get a 10% discount on their entire order! You can get more tickets throughout the demo by; telling me if you have a particular product and why you love it, by being the first to find the page number of the product I'm showing.....if you say something funny you might get a ticket, you really never know when I'm going to award tickets!!" Then I start the demo. I started with Stoneware, did my spiel, talked about the sale, etc.

When I got to the first "step" in the demo, I said, "Who wants to come up here and try the Mix n Chop? You'll get 2 tickets when you do!" I did this throughout the demo and I never had a lack of volunteers. I made sure that everyone got to try something. One of the guests who was using the Kitchen Spritzer said, "And it comes out in one continuous spray!" I had never said it that way before and I liked the way it sounded. So, I said, "That's a great way to say that -- you get an extra ticket!!" Sometimes someone shares a great tip or something and the guests will get into the tickets by saying, "She should get a ticket for that!" Pretty much by listening to their comments and conversation, you can award tickets for anything -- it lends itself to a lot of humor. One time a guest came 15 minutes late because her toddler broke a dozen eggs while she was leaving. You'd better believe she got 12 tickets - one for each egg she cleaned up!!
Once in awhile someone will say they don't like stoneware or another product, I'll tease and say something like, "I might have to ask for your tickets back for that comment." Everyone laughs and I let her know that not everyone loves stoneware and that we have lots of other products. (Now I can talk about the Sheet Pans!!). Sometimes if most of the guests have a product, ie The Food Chopper, I'll say, "Who does NOT have the Food Chopper? You're getting a Sympathy Ticket, because everyone should have one of those!!" It's unexpected, so they laugh. I LOVE the ticket game.

I got everyone involved very easily. But, just as nice is that if you get a group that doesn't want to participate, you aren't stuck, you just step back into your old demo. No sweating it!!

Then at the end while doing the DPS, I'll talk about bookings again, etc. When I get to the choice for information about the business, I say, "Here's your last chance to get more tickets. I've told you how I came to be here as a consultant tonight and why I've been doing this for 8 years. This business can work for so many different people for so many different reasons......maybe you've got some credit cards you'd like to make a dent in, but the money's just not there each month, maybe you want to stay home with your kids and stop working for daycare money, maybe you just want new furniture or a real vacation.......this is your chance to ask me any question at all about PC as a business. Whether you're interested yourself, or you know someone who might be interested.....or even if you just want more tickets and you can think up a good question!! I'm going to give you 3 tickets for each question......."

Because I've been doing tickets throughout the entire demo - it's very natural to move into the recruiting "game." (Thanks Susan Farnham for this idea!!)

When I was checking them out, it was easy to say......you were really good at demo'ing your product, have you ever thought of doing this?

Anyway, I know that was long -- but I really enjoyed that last interactive show and I'm excited to do some more (4 this weekend)."

 

[KellyTheChef]

Also...just like in the DVD (which you may or may not have yet) have the HOST direct the guests as they come in to wash their hands and put on a nametag. That way you aren't "ordering them around". Plus, if they have a nametag on, you can ask people by name to try out tools.

 

[AMTC]

I did my first interactive show last night and while I thought the show went well, it sits at $211 my worst show EVER - I don't think it was the interactive though, I think people liked that - I got two bookings AND a WEDDING REGISTRY from it, but there were also 2 former PC Consultants there. One didn't order a thing - she said she "knows someone still in the business who will give her a discount" and I think she had a couple of friends there that she was making that offer too- I feel bad for my host - she did a great job and worked hard and she's not going to get much for it.....

 

[stefani2]

Interactive Show...IMO, an Interactive Show can be one of three ways:
1. The guests make the recipe using the PC products
2. The Consultant can make a majority of the recipe, but get volunteers (or pick out volunteers if needed ) to help out with some products
3. The Consultant to do the demo, then (a) pass some other tools/products around to the guests during the demo OR at the end of the Show

Either way you choose to do it, the guests will be able to feel and/or try out the products for themselves. It just depends what you are comfortable with.

But that is just my opinion. :chef:

 

[sarahlegare]

I had my first interactive show last night & it went AWESOME!!! :love: It should reach $600 no problem, but the thing that's so great is that I got 7bookings!!!!! 2 March, 1 April, 2 May & one this summer (probably June!!) & a wedding registry that towards the end of the night, they decided to do the registry, but end it with a Bridal show in the beginning of May!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!
Good sales that'll definately create more sales through the bookings! My host is SOOOOOO happy that she'll get all those booking benefits! She's really happy about the free, 60%, 50% all that stuff too!!!:love:
Oh yeah, and I did the Jennifer style interactive show! The guests did all the prep for the Warm Nutty Caramel Brownies..........

 

[AMTC]

Oh yeah, and I did the Jennifer style interactive show! The guests did all the prep for the Warm Nutty Caramel Brownies..........

Hey! That's the one I did too!!!! Maybe there's something in those brownies that make brides want to register!!!!

 

[stefani2]

confusedIn response to the 'Jennifer-style' reply - is that referring to the Interactive DVD??? I don't have mine yet, so I was confused when I read this comment. Anybody want to clarify for me? TIA.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Jenna...there are three consultants on that new DVD...Jennifer, Teresa, and Jullian...so yep, that's what they are referring to!!

 

[stefani2]

DvdOOOOKKKKK...So NOW I understand that thread "Jennifer, Teresa,....." LOL
It ALL makes sense now! Thanks Kelly for clarifying!

 

[jkinak]

I have been doing "interactive" shows since I started over a year ago. It just seemed like more fun to get someone else to use the products than just watch me. I usually start by asking everyone what their favorite product is so that if I am using it in the demo, they are the first one I call on!
I really like the ticket idea though, I am going to give that a try for my next show! 10% sounds like a great incentive for guests to bulk up their order!