Boost Your Bookings: Unbeatable January Incentives for Hosts!

[pampered2007]

Happy New Year everyone! I want a strong STRONG January to start my year off! I was thinking about offering some sort of incentive that potential hosts will not want to pass up! Anyone have any "knock your socks off" ideas??? I did think about offering to purchase the 60% off host special for my January hosts, but still thinking...

Let's brainstorm together! Ideas anyone? Thanks!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

Once at conference (after the 60% off host bonus was introduced) they discouraged us from adding other incentives because it looks like you don't believe in our host program.Our hosts have 5 price points (What a great deal) FREE
up to 30% discount
1/2 price
60% off
10% for a year

 

[Sheila]

And in Jan they get 50% MORE in free stuff!

 

[pampered2007]

Believe me - I couldn't agree more! I was just trying to give that extra little push, ya know? I honestly feel that there really isn't a need to add additional incentives, but sometimes it's nice to just sweetin' the pot a little. Especially this month!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I'd rather sweeten my paycheck

 

[lfox1028]

If they are still on the fence, remind them about the booking benefit. When their friends book and hold shows in the next couple months, they will get a past host special at those shows. Wouldn't you want to be the one to start it all and get those bonuses at each show? It worked for me and I now have 11 shows on my January calendar... 8 came from telling this to hosts who were still thinking about it! Good luck!!

 

[Karen]

Believe me - I couldn't agree more! I was just trying to give that extra little push, ya know? I honestly feel that there really isn't a need to add additional incentives, but sometimes it's nice to just sweetin' the pot a little. Especially this month!

I was going to offer to buy the ingredients for the recipe.

 

[chef131doreen]

I was thinking about the same thing I have done this a few times an worked great a few times the extra 60 % off items for Jan are the 13x 9 stoneware or the 13 x 9 baking Dish I will buy that for the hosts if they book a show in Jan they are not too high in price so out of pocket is ok

 

[lorilynn95]

I've started doing a special bookings game at my shows - it does take a bit out of pocket expense, but really helps get and keep bookings.
I have everyone choose an envelope at the beginning of the party and say their are added gifts that they can get later in the envelope. Each envelope has a $10-$15 item on a card in it. Along with a space for a date.
Towards the end of the show I give one to the host for her to open (it has a $30-$40 item in it, usually a stone). I tell her that is hers FREE when she gets 3 bookings. Then I tell the guests that when they book their party with me that night, they can open the envelope and see what item they will receive when they host their party on the booked date. All items are ordered at their party on the hosts order with the hosts discount and the original host's item is ordered at the 3rd party if all 3 parties held. It is also ordered on the hosts order with the host discount.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

I've started doing a special bookings game at my shows - it does take a bit out of pocket expense, but really helps get and keep bookings.
I have everyone choose an envelope at the beginning of the party and say their are added gifts that they can get later in the envelope. Each envelope has a $10-$15 item on a card in it. Along with a space for a date.
Towards the end of the show I give one to the host for her to open (it has a $30-$40 item in it, usually a stone). I tell her that is hers FREE when she gets 3 bookings. Then I tell the guests that when they book their party with me that night, they can open the envelope and see what item they will receive when they host their party on the booked date. All items are ordered at their party on the hosts order with the hosts discount and the original host's item is ordered at the 3rd party if all 3 parties held. It is also ordered on the hosts order with the host discount.

I've seriously considered doing this several times - I'm just not sure if it'd be incentive enough for some people?

 

[Jmioni]

So, is it illegal to offer a gift card for referrals? I saw someone doing that and I didn't know.

 

[ChefShalon]

Who said it is is illegal to offer a gift card? I am considering doing a game like deal or no deal, with envolpes having products in them and if they wish to open the envolpe they have to take the deal to host a show. I saw this done at a 31 party. But im thinking that your idea is better.

 

[Jmioni]

Well, I meant more "against policy" to offer say a Starbucks gift card if your friend hosts a show.

 

[Jmioni]

So, what it says is "I need fresh faces this year! Receive a FREE $20 gift card to the store of your choice if you refer a friend to me and they host a PC show"

 

[cookinforyou]

I've started doing a special bookings game at my shows - it does take a bit out of pocket expense, but really helps get and keep bookings.
I have everyone choose an envelope at the beginning of the party and say their are added gifts that they can get later in the envelope. Each envelope has a $10-$15 item on a card in it. Along with a space for a date.
Towards the end of the show I give one to the host for her to open (it has a $30-$40 item in it, usually a stone). I tell her that is hers FREE when she gets 3 bookings. Then I tell the guests that when they book their party with me that night, they can open the envelope and see what item they will receive when they host their party on the booked date. All items are ordered at their party on the hosts order with the hosts discount and the original host's item is ordered at the 3rd party if all 3 parties held. It is also ordered on the hosts order with the host discount.

Lori how much of an increase in your bookings have you seen? I would think that is outting alor of pressure on your host the night of the show, maybe if she new ahead of time. And are you giving her the gift for 3 bookings after the last is held?

 

[pcsharon1]

My preference if I'm trying to do a month where I have a fantastic amount of shows (sadly for me lately that would be more than two but anyway.....) I choose to offer a prize to the highest show above a certain amount. Makes the hosts I have work harder. For example.....the show I just submitted, the host didn't want her host special so I bought it (I don't get paid for it and it doesn't go toward any trips or anything so it really doesn't matter) and I'll use it as an incentive of that time at a point in the future when I want really good sales. Who wouldn't give an extra push to get a FREE cranberry rectangle stone? And they are going to benefit in other ways from having a larger show - even if they don't win the baker.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

So what I have done is gone to like JoAnn's or Michael's or Hobby Loby ( depending on what side of the country you live on ) and got little chinese boxes ( at one time I had pastal pink poka dot boxes) that matched the dot's bowl's that PC has in the catalog. I tape a specific date to the front of each box ( that I want to host a show) on the side of the box wrapped in tissue paper I have a card with an item written on it paring knife, or twistic clip, small bamboo tongs ( you can order these off of the supply order) and I have a little sign that says if you pick me you get something for free!!! Then I have a special hostess chinese box that I have that has something special in it that leads into the three chinese boxes that have the dates!! So she can encourage her friends to book off of her party!!!

I have gotten a lot of responses out of this and really helps boost show bookings!! Everyone likes getting something for free. I have also gone to the dollar store and put something cute in the boxes that was only $1.00 but it's still something cute, like stationary, etc!!

Hope that helps!!

 

[lt1jane]

my director does a pay the date type of thing. She has a sheet of paper with all of the dates she's available for parties. She passes it around for people to sign up. What do they get? Any $30 or less item in the catalog (their choice) for the date of their party ($1 if their party is on the first, $20 if their party is on the 20th). It is bought at their party with their discount, etc...

 

[chefa]

Wonder if it would work if you offered the $30 item on the 1st of the month, the $29 item on the 2nd, etc. That way you'd front load your calendar. Might have to give that a try.

 

[ChefCKHall]

You know, I have never offered an incentive for bookings. The Pampered Chef lineup of items and host rewards is the best in the biz! That is one of the reasons I joined after having PC shows for nine years. I don't have to do anything, the product is the key!

 

[MLinAZ]

Wonder if it would work if you offered the $30 item on the 1st of the month, the $29 item on the 2nd, etc. That way you'd front load your calendar. Might have to give that a try.

That's what I was thinking too...wanting to encourage EARLY dates, not late dates.


At conference this year one of the workshops talked about offering the DCB for $20 (when it was $69) for a specific date. When I came back from Conference and my show schedule was pretty much zilch I used this offer for an August show and it got a "maybe some day" past guest to book a show that was in 2 weeks immediately.

I wouldn't do it all the time but if you want to add a show or fill a certain date, it could be worth it. But I do think it has to be an item that people are VERY anxious to get a hold of and at a big discount.

 

[kristina16marie]

yes, i do the "pick a date, pick a prize" thing - but only for booking in close. 2 wks or sooner only. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. i'm going to try it at my party on sunday 1/9 to try & book for 1/14 or 1/15 because i'm still unemployed for that weekend. i need to jumpstart january BAD!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I use this incentive a lot during events!!!

 

[priseortega]

What type of prize do you offer for the pick a date incentive?

 

[cookinforyou]

I used dollar days last year to help start my January, but this year I am almost 100% booked so I am pushing hard for February I want all the double points I can get! So I am offering the; large groove cutting board, the food chopper or the bbq grill tray for $date of show Feb =$1.00 but the deal is all shows must close in Febrauary and within 5 days of show date. I am host coaching that they get all the outside orders in before the show date

 

[priseortega]

do you require a minimum in sales for them to receive the item.
Priscilla

 

[Sheila]

So, what it says is "I need fresh faces this year! Receive a FREE $20 gift card to the store of your choice if you refer a friend to me and they host a PC show"

Just a suggestion ... make it a personal gift certificate for PC products! Only valid AT the referral's show and only through YOU. That way, you know the referral will host before you pay the "referral fee", it's commissionable sales for you and it could potentially boost the host into a new level of benefits.

 

[Dotty]

I'm planning on limiting my incentives to free parties and Supply Order items. I really like the chinese box idea. I had already picked up a few at target with a vague idea of doing something with them to promote shows. Thanks for putting some words in my mouth. "Pick me for something free!" I love it!

 

[cookinforyou]

What type of prize do you offer for the pick a date incentive?

I am using items in the $30 range food chopper, lg groove cut board etc..


And yes I require a $500 show, but I remind them how easy that is if they invite everyone who eats and ask for orders from those who can't come.


if you search under files dollar days there are tons of flyers, I really like a couple I plan to modify.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I just use things that are on the supply order form, such as things that we can order in multiples like paring knifes, and small tongs, or citrus peelers, little things, if you do expensive things then guest will come to expect and expensive item every time. I learned five year's ago not to do that unless I could absoultly afford the item that I wanted to give away for free.