Changing up My Business! (Venting)

[crissy11]

I do mail them the packet after I have confirmed their show date. I call them a week after the show and confirm. I then mail the packet with the guest list sheet in it and a big sticker on the envelope that says I am waiting on their guest list. I also have a copy machine with a fax so I encourage them to fax me the list within a few days. I do lose a few hostess packets a year but it is easier for me to not have to remember to mail a packet after I get the guest list. I spent two weeks ago confirming with all of my Feb. hostess and then mailed all their packets out at once. I am now confirming with my March hostess and will start their mailings out the first week in Feb.
It works for me.

 

[chefallison53]

Way to go! I am sure that you will like this better once you get it going.

I hand them two of our 3 part guest lists the night of the show...as well as a self addressed stamped envelope. I tell them that this is the "worst" part of having a show, so just go ahead and fill out all of the slots and mail it back to me within 3 days. That way, they don't set it aside "for later" and then forget about it. Once I have the list in hand, the host packet goes out. If I don't get the list quickly, I will give them a reminder call...and after that call and tell them that I will not be able to hold their date without the guest list.

No more parties that the host LIES to me about how many were invited...or WHEN they got mailed...or even IF they got mailed!! My attendance has gone WAY up! I also coach them to include phone numbers so I can do their reminder calls (I use post calls) and this has helped with attendance too!

Make sure you use the host's name and address as the return address, so they open up the invite!

about how much out of pocket will this cost you per average show?

 

[hperschnick]

Hmmm... interesting thread. I have just decided to NOT mail my hosts invitations because I HATE doing it. I'll have to really pay attention to how it affects attendance and show sales. I hate addressing them, remembering the stamps, everything about it. As I was addressing the invitions for an upcoming show last night I was so thrilled to think I woudn't have to do this again (I have done this since I started). I know what my potential problems are going to be by reading your posts though. Good luck to all!

 

[JAE]

I'm too much of a control freak to give up sending the invites.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I'm too much of a control freak to give up sending the invites.

Hee Hee! Me too!

 

[crissy11]

I type in all of the addresses in Publisher and it saves them. Then I just print them out on labels and put on the invites. The next time they do a show I print out their addresses and mail to them to edit and get back to me. Love that as I have them saved and don't have to retype.

 

[JAE]

I've been e-mailing the copy of the addresses back to the host so she can check to make sure she didn't forget anyone. She can also check that she has heard from everyone.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

I'm too much of a control freak to give up sending the invites.

ROFL Me too... and then I know that their done and sent.....

 

[fruit76loop]

Mail them for the host!!I mail my hosts invitations and I too am a closet "control" freak. But here is what I do that is a little different than some of you.

1. I have my host email me her guest list already typed up in labels!! She then saves her original guest list so she knows who she needs to call for RSVPs. WHOO HOOO!! Just changed in December, thanks to Don Funt!! Thanks Don:love: ! Saves a ton of time on my part and I save the list in a folder on my computer "guest lists" and save each guest list under the hosts name (last name, first name). GOTTA LOVE IT!!! :love: I just print out the invites and labels and WaLa instant invites! So, yes for repeat hosts, I just email them the list they update it and shoot it back!

2. I also charge a flat fee for a show. It doesn't matter if you invite 5 people or 100 people. My fee for a show is $25, this includes $10 for cost of invitations and $15 for demo food. I let my host know as soon as she receives her guest list at the show that she only needs to get the guest list to me and drop a check in the mail to me for $25. Because I of course will mail the invitations and do the grocery shopping for her. My hosts love this! I often have hosts that want to give me more $. I price out my recipe or recipes to make sure they are at least $15 but no more than $20. I only do a second recipe if the first recipe is very inexpensive and the second recipe is already made. Most of the time I still spend more on invites, ink and postage, but this way I am not spending all of the $$$!!

Something I did try for 6 months that I just quit was flyer invitations. I tracked my show average and average attendance while I did this and didn't see any difference. I loved the idea of having a flyer in the mail verus a postcard, but I honestly started to resent:cry: the time it took to print, fold and mail these! So I am back to postcards and I can get 40 invitations done in about 10 minutes!!

 

[momoftwins]

Oh...and something else. I tell them that I will pay for their postage when they reach a $1,000 show. If it falls lower than that, they will reimburse me when we close the show.

I used to offer to pay for postage with 40+ names, but that doesn't always guarantee you a large show. Now, they are more concerned about listening when I coach them to reach $1,000!!

That is an awesome idea Kelly!!! I have always mailed out the invitations for the hosts but to be reimbursed is not a bad idea. Hmm - might have to think about that.

 

[wadesgirl]

Okay, I just need to vent again... One of the hosts that made me decide to change my business is this >.< far from me telling her to shove this show where the sun doesn't shine! We rescheduled her show for next Monday but every time I call her to get the show recipe, she's short and snotty with me. Sunday it was she's "cleaning her house too busy" was how she put it so I told her I would call her back tonight. I called from my home phone and she must have recognized the last name on caller id because she answered the phone literally "I cannot talk right now". I asked when would be a good time to talk. She says "I don't know". So I'm sitting here trying to keep my head high and not cry too much. What did I do to her? She was one of those people who told me they kicked another consultant out of their cul-de-sac for being too pushy but she asked me to call her back about hosting a show and she set a date with me twice. I know it's not a personal thing against me, I'm just a little emotional right now (no, I'm not pregnant). So, I'm off to email her just to say I was looking for her recipe selection. If she doesn't reply by Friday, I'll call back then. I just don't understand some people. I'm not some punching bag and this is my business!

 

[cathyskitchen]

Yep, that's all you can do. She apparently wants to do a show but not be "bothered" by phone calls. Send her an email that you're sorry you haven't been able to catch her at a good time, list the things that you wanted to talk to her about, and tell her when you'll be available to talk and ask her to call you. If you don't hear from her by XX date, you'll assume it's XX recipe and you'll show up at XX time. Done!

 

[wadesgirl]

I tried to email her and nothing came out nice so I think I will wait until tomorrow to email her. I talked to three other hosts after talking to her that made me feel all better. My host for next weekend is all set to have another$1000 party for me. I think that will chear me up just fine. I have two shows that day so it will hopefully be a very productive day!

I'm glad I found this website. I really needed to vent but there really is no one to talk to. DH told me to cancel if she was making me that upset but I won't do that (I AM the better person!). My director has been very distant lately so calling her probably won't do any good. Sometimes you just need to get stuff out and people who can relate are good ears to fall upon.

 

[JAE]

Why don't you just stick with e-mail? She obviously doesn't want to talk. If she responds to e-mail then just communicate through e-mail. Give her a deadline for recipe selection, which should really be one of the last things you do after she knows how many people are coming. I usually know way before that, but it's better to decide when you have a guest count. I ask guests to RSVP by four days before the show. That is plenty of time to shop for the recipes. I don't pack until the day of the show, so the recipe is very irrelevant for me until two or three days ahead because I usually make an outline. It's much more important that she calls all her potential guests. Send her short, direct, polite e-mails. "I'm just checking in about your show. Hopefully, you are getting responses back from your guests. If there are people you haven't heard fromby the end of the day on Thursday, start calling them on Friday to see if they area able to attend. Let them know that we need to get a count so we can choose the recipe. Direct them to my website or offer to get a catalog to them if they can't come to the show. I'm looking forward to your show. Let me know what I can do to help you."
This soon before the show, you don't need to know the recipe.

 

[wadesgirl]

I can tell you my attitude just did a 180! My sample package that has been showing as received for the last week JUST SHIPPED!!!!:sing: :sing: :balloon: :balloon: :balloon: :love: :love: :love: :chef: :chef:
Sorry! I does make me feel better!

 

[wadesgirl]

Why don't you just stick with e-mail? She obviously doesn't want to talk. If she responds to e-mail then just communicate through e-mail. Give her a deadline for recipe selection, which should really be one of the last things you do after she knows how many people are coming. I usually know way before that, but it's better to decide when you have a guest count. I ask guests to RSVP by four days before the show. That is plenty of time to shop for the recipes. I don't pack until the day of the show, so the recipe is very irrelevant for me until two or three days ahead because I usually make an outline. It's much more important that she calls all her potential guests. Send her short, direct, polite e-mails. "I'm just checking in about your show. Hopefully, you are getting responses back from your guests. If there are people you haven't heard fromby the end of the day on Thursday, start calling them on Friday to see if they area able to attend. Let them know that we need to get a count so we can choose the recipe. Direct them to my website or offer to get a catalog to them if they can't come to the show. I'm looking forward to your show. Let me know what I can do to help you."
This soon before the show, you don't need to know the recipe.

Just had to let you know that she responded very well to email although she never mentioned it when I asked her previously about the best way to get a hold of her. I sent her an email last night saying that I was sorry we weren't able to connect yet but just waiting to find out her recipe choice. She responded within an half hour! Of course, she hasn't even looked at her host packet because her answer was "what are my choices?" We now have her recipe picked out and the show is on as of right now.

 

[JAE]

That's great. You're probably relieved. I hate making phone calls to work all this stuff out and I really dislike hearing busyness in the person's voice on the other side. KWIM?

 

[wadesgirl]

That's great. You're probably relieved. I hate making phone calls to work all this stuff out and I really dislike hearing busyness in the person's voice on the other side. KWIM?

I was very releaved to hear she isn't cancelling her party (yet... could still happen). I just thought the way she answered the phone was completely rude. I'm not houding her or calling her every day and I am just trying to do my job.

 

[vtodd71]

What I've learned in this business so far is that because PC is important to you it isn't necessarily important to everyone else. I've had some of the same issues with hosts and have just chalked it up to that. Besides, some people are really absent minded and don't follow directions well. I also feel that some people don't have very good social skills and so they don't know better. I've tried to be patient with my hosts although it is sometimes hard to do.

At the same time, don't let this host ruin it for you. I live by the motto of you got me once shame on you but if you got me twice shame on me. I'm patient to a point but I'm not a push over.

 

[wadesgirl]

What I've learned in this business so far is that because PC is important to you it isn't necessarily important to everyone else. I've had some of the same issues with hosts and have just chalked it up to that. Besides, some people are really absent minded and don't follow directions well. I also feel that some people don't have very good social skills and so they don't know better. I've tried to be patient with my hosts although it is sometimes hard to do.

At the same time, don't let this host ruin it for you. I live by the motto of you got me once shame on you but if you got me twice shame on me. I'm patient to a point but I'm not a push over.

I am well aware that hosts have lives outside of PC, it's my life not theirs. I just don't agree that I should have to deal with how rude she was to me. I've made changes in my business because of this and have moved on.

 

[vtodd71]

I am well aware that hosts have lives outside of PC, it's my life not theirs. I just don't agree that I should have to deal with how rude she was to me. I've made changes in my business because of this and have moved on.

I'm not saying she should have been rude to you. I'm just saying that people are people and you can't always take it personally. If I got upset everytime I got ignored, talked rude to, or whatever, I'd be a nervous wreck. Maybe your host didnt' realize she was being rude to you. Maybe before you called she had an arguement with her spouse/kids/etc. and she ended up taking it out on you. No it isn't fair but you just deal with it and move on.

I'm sorry you had this issue.

 

[wadesgirl]

I'm not saying she should have been rude to you. I'm just saying that people are people and you can't always take it personally. If I got upset everytime I got ignored, talked rude to, or whatever, I'd be a nervous wreck. Maybe your host didnt' realize she was being rude to you. Maybe before you called she had an arguement with her spouse/kids/etc. and she ended up taking it out on you. No it isn't fair but you just deal with it and move on.

I'm sorry you had this issue.

I know, I get your point but if I'm in a fight with my DH, I don't answer the phone! I still don't think she had any reason to talk to me that way.