Combo Party Help: Tips for a Successful PC/PL Party?

[Christ Follower]

I have the medium square w/cran accents but no other new stuff. Dots bowl (not smallest one) and white stuff. I also have the tiles small bowls and small plates. I wish I had the new rectangle platter w/cran accents so I could do the idea at conference w/the candles! Dang! Maybe I'll go get the sample before then. It's only like $14.95 or something....

 

[BethCooks4U]

I have the medium square w/cran accents but no other new stuff. Dots bowl (not smallest one) and white stuff. I also have the tiles small bowls and small plates. I wish I had the new rectangle platter w/cran accents so I could do the idea at conference w/the candles! Dang! Maybe I'll go get the sample before then. It's only like $14.95 or something....

So do the medium square w/ cran accent, with the dots bowl (you could put a small white square at an angle under the bowl too if you wanted to - I just tried it). That would make a pretty place setting!

Personally, I wouldn't do anything with candles - that's her thing. Oh, but take the trifle bowl and ask her to put a candle and ring in it!

 

[melindag]

my personal opinion is if you and the other consultant have a clear partnership - and do not make guests feel like you are trying to outdo each other, they are a little more receptive to spreading their order between the two of you. When I partner with a TS consultant - we introduce each other as a courtesy, and we "pitch" back and forth to each others products...in other words - she pitches our loaf pans for bread, and prep bowls, S.A. dishes, bar pans....everything, and I make an effort to do a PC recipe incorporating TS products, or have a little something from each as a recipe. I will say that my PC/TS combo shows are more successful and fun, than doing a combo with other companies. I will take slightly lower sales, if it helps me reach a group of people I wouldn;t otherwise have the opportunity to network with....and I partner with that TS consultant as far as networking...committing to her that if a customer asks me if I know a TS consultant, it is her name that I give....and likewise I appreciate the same kind of reciprocating referral from her to her customers. This is always a win/win.

I think it is good to caution a host that sales will be lower on each side, but i can be a postive experience too.....it won't or doesn't have to be a complete bust either!

just thought I would offer a slightly different perspective....
Melinda

 

[BethCooks4U]

my personal opinion is if you and the other consultant have a clear partnership - and do not make guests feel like you are trying to outdo each other, they are a little more receptive to spreading their order between the two of you. When I partner with a TS consultant - we introduce each other as a courtesy, and we "pitch" back and forth to each others products...in other words - she pitches our loaf pans for bread, and prep bowls, S.A. dishes, bar pans....everything, and I make an effort to do a PC recipe incorporating TS products, or have a little something from each as a recipe. I will say that my PC/TS combo shows are more successful and fun, than doing a combo with other companies. I will take slightly lower sales, if it helps me reach a group of people I wouldn;t otherwise have the opportunity to network with....and I partner with that TS consultant as far as networking...committing to her that if a customer asks me if I know a TS consultant, it is her name that I give....and likewise I appreciate the same kind of reciprocating referral from her to her customers. This is always a win/win.

I think it is good to caution a host that sales will be lower on each side, but i can be a postive experience too.....it won't or doesn't have to be a complete bust either!

just thought I would offer a slightly different perspective....
Melinda

I hope I didn't come across as suggesting they are competing. I think they definitely should blend the products - people will be putting both in their homes after all. I do know though that some consultants will try to take over and you should be prepared to hold your own. If you come off as really nice it can only work in your favor.

Setting up a combined display shows cooperation and starting with a snack isn't hurting her demo. I have done the exchange of intros too and that works. We just have to be careful that it doesn't become all about her product. When I've done it with TS we used our products to make her mixes and it worked out great. I didn't talk about our pantry in deference to her being there.

 

[melindag]

I hope I didn't come across as suggesting they are competing. I think they definitely should blend the products - people will be putting both in their homes after all. I do know though that some consultants will try to take over and you should be prepared to hold your own. If you come off as really nice it can only work in your favor.

Setting up a combined display shows cooperation and starting with a snack isn't hurting her demo. I have done the exchange of intros too and that works. We just have to be careful that it doesn't become all about her product. When I've done it with TS we used our products to make her mixes and it worked out great. I didn't talk about our pantry in deference to her being there.

I'm sorry Beth, I certainly wasn't implying anything about your particular post at all....but I am aware of some combined party fiascos where each consultant or at least one consultant would completely overrun the other - and thus it was not a good partnership. All I was trying to say was that a spirited partnership can go a long way in making the night a success for both consultants and the host. Sorry if I didn't choose my words carefully enough.

Like you - there are certain PC items (pantry) that I also de-emphasize - out of deference to TS as well. I try to incorporate a balance.

Melinda

 

[BethCooks4U]

I'm sorry Beth, I certainly wasn't implying anything about your particular post at all....but I am aware of some combined party fiascos where each consultant or at least one consultant would completely overrun the other - and thus it was not a good partnership. All I was trying to say was that a spirited partnership can go a long way in making the night a success for both consultants and the host. Sorry if I didn't choose my words carefully enough.

Like you - there are certain PC items (pantry) that I also de-emphasize - out of deference to TS as well. I try to incorporate a balance.

Melinda

You were fine - I'm just sensitive and don't want to come across wrong.:love:

 

[Christ Follower]

I'm not counting on the sales for this show. At this point, I hope it will qualify. Really, I'm hoping this will open the door for more contacts or even a booking or two! The PL consultant is higher up with lots of people under her so she's really good at what she does. I'm just hoping there will be some PC fans there that want to earn some free stuff!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I'm not counting on the sales for this show. At this point, I hope it will qualify. Really, I'm hoping this will open the door for more contacts or even a booking or two! The PL consultant is higher up with lots of people under her so she's really good at what she does. I'm just hoping there will be some PC fans there that want to earn some free stuff!

Go there with the attitude that you represent a great company and have a lot to share - and learn from her!

She is no different from or better than you.

 

[KellyTheChef]

My vote for you is the Tiramisu Brownies (either finished in the rect. baker or done up in the trifle bowl as a trifle) or the Turtle Fudge Skillet Cake- you can bake the cake at home and have it totally cooled and on a platter...then you just "finish" it off and it is a very quick demo! I did this a lot when we had Pan-O-Rama last time and I had a small baby at home (still nursing) and wanted my parties to be as quick as possible!!

 

[KellyTheChef]

I like the brownie pizza idea......

What are some of your favorites? I like the smores pizza but it's too hard to cut and not make a HUGE mess.

Cut the brownies AFTER putting on the "sauce" but BEFORE you add on all of the toppings...that way you aren't trying to cut through them!

Any time you have something like this (7 layer salad squares, fruit pizza, clubhouse chicken squares, etc.) you can apply this tip.

 

[KellyTheChef]

I hope I didn't come across as suggesting they are competing. I think they definitely should blend the products - people will be putting both in their homes after all. I do know though that some consultants will try to take over and you should be prepared to hold your own. If you come off as really nice it can only work in your favor.
Setting up a combined display shows cooperation and starting with a snack isn't hurting her demo. I have done the exchange of intros too and that works. We just have to be careful that it doesn't become all about her product. When I've done it with TS we used our products to make her mixes and it worked out great. I didn't talk about our pantry in deference to her being there.

If you have a great other consultant that wants to work WITH YOU...then you are good! If not, it's not so pretty. My one (and hopefully last) experience with sharing a show I was dealing with a VERY PUSHY TS consultant. Talking with her prior to the show on the phone, she sounded great...but then the night of the party she was a nightmare!

I can see, though, where working WITH someone...the shared show could be very good. When someone is working AGAINST you...it stinks!

 

[Christ Follower]

If you have a great other consultant that wants to work WITH YOU...then you are good! If not, it's not so pretty. My one (and hopefully last) experience with sharing a show I was dealing with a VERY PUSHY TS consultant. Talking with her prior to the show on the phone, she sounded great...but then the night of the party she was a nightmare!

I can see, though, where working WITH someone...the shared show could be very good. When someone is working AGAINST you...it stinks!

I guess I wont know till I get there.....

She SEEMS nice enough, but then again, the night of her show, she was trying to recruit one of the guests to PL!

 

[Christ Follower]

I might be booking another combo show with this same lady for a Nov. show. Still haven't done the first one (it's on the 18th). I'll keep you all posted.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

I have the perfect recipe for you. I made it when I first started with PC. The Baked Alaska Cake (magnificent mint version)

It's a chocolate mint cake made in the large batter bowl. You would bring the cake already cooked. The only thing you would have to demo is putting it together. It is easy! You cut the cake into 4 equal parts the cream cheese, powdered sugar, mint extract. Put together and the outside is coolwhip. I'm doing this one in December.

 

[Christ Follower]

I have the perfect recipe for you. I made it when I first started with PC. The Baked Alaska Cake (magnificent mint version)

It's a chocolate mint cake made in the large batter bowl. You would bring the cake already cooked. The only thing you would have to demo is putting it together. It is easy! You cut the cake into 4 equal parts the cream cheese, powdered sugar, mint extract. Put together and the outside is coolwhip. I'm doing this one in December.

Thaks for the suggestion! I'll have to give it a try!:thumbup:

 

[Christ Follower]

For anyone who is interested, here are the results so far.....

I had the combo PL/PC show last night in a town 35-45 minutes away. About 10 or so guests attended. At the end, I only got 2 orders totaling about $60! I got one booking for guess what? Another COMBO show.

The PL consultant on the other hand, had a line of people ordering from her. She also got 3 bookings. It took everything in me to not cry! I still have TWO MORE combo shows to do with this PL consultant (Nov. 10th and Nov. 13th)


Someone please tell me a nice way to decline if anyone else asks for one.......

 

[chefann]

Let any prospective hosts know that: "I've found that combo shows are not usually successful. People come with a limited budget, and having them split their money between two companies will greatly reduce your host benefits."

 

[Christ Follower]

Let any prospective hosts know that: "I've found that combo shows are not usually successful. People come with a limited budget, and having them split their money between two companies will greatly reduce your host benefits."

I will try that if anyone else wants to book a combo show off the next two the PL lady and I will be doing. The combo show on Nov. 10th, the lady doesn't seem to care about host benefits and just thinks it would be "fun." Unfortuantley, I still need to make $$ b/c this is my job.

I may offer the lady that booked a show for the 13th an extra $10 if free credit if she can collcet $150 in sales BEFORE I arrive to do her show. At least this way I wont have to worry about the show qualifying or not. Still deciding on that though.....

 

[Christ Follower]

Here's an update on my latest Combo show with PL:

Just did another one tonight. Sales are at $713 (with a couple more coming in)

Got one December catalog show and one December "combo" show.

I decided I would go ahead and do them ONLY during the holidays.

The combo show I was supposed to do on the 13th postponed to December 2nd. So 2 out of 3 shows I have on my calendar for December are for Combo shows. Let's just hope they go as good as the one tonight!!!

 

[dannyzmom]

Whew - I am glad I read all the way thru to the end .. I have aa PC/PL show coming up in a few weeks....

 

[Christ Follower]

Whew - I am glad I read all the way thru to the end .. I have aa PC/PL show coming up in a few weeks....

It worked out well this time around! Good luck with yours!

 

[jcsmilez]

I think the warm nutty caramel brownies can be pretty quick to demo. Just put them in the oven as soon as you get there (you could probably even combine everything at home and bring in the batter bowl) then it's so quick to demo the food chopper and utility knife on the nuts and rolos.

I love this recipe! Serve on the appetizer plates and you'll be showing off about $250 in products and a little from 3 of the 4 expensive collections. You could then talk about the cookware or if time allowed do the caramel bites in the cookware-- those sound so yummy!!

Chocolate and candles does sound like a great combo.

The lava cake could definitely work too..

Just try to make the best of it.

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

After reading thru these posts, I was just wondering, what recipe(s) did you end up making? You never did say, unless I missed it somewhere??

Paula

 

[Christ Follower]

After reading thru these posts, I was just wondering, what recipe(s) did you end up making? You never did say, unless I missed it somewhere??

Paula

The first show that I did, I made Mississippi Mud Trifle. I also pre-made the caramel sprinkle bites. On the trifle, I basically had everything prepped and just layered it.

The one I did last time was the Turkey & Cranberry Ring which worked out MUCH BETTER! I pre-made the Mini Ham Puffs (using turkey instead) and then demoed the Ring. While it was cooking the PL lady did her thing. Since it takes 30 minutes to bake, the timing worked out well b/c it had just enough time to cool.

I will do another two in December with the same lady. On these ones, I think I will pre-make the cookies or brownies from the homemade for the holidays show and then demo the layering and really focus on the gift giving ideas. One of the shows I already spoke with the host and will be setting up "stations" where they can practice the Mandoline, food Chopper, Citrus Press, Garlic Press etc.

 

[dona]

I am doing a combo show soon with the purse lady. She doesn't have a demo and I am making all food in advance just little tastes. I am setting up a table for holiday ideas and gifts. I intend to do a short presentation on how to survive the holidays, make gifts, shorten cooking time and give gift ideas. I am going to push different items as "must haves" for the holidays. Hope it works

 

[DCoopPC]

Definately Do itI have participated in two shows like this recently and am doing my own in a couple of weeks. Sales were 400 and 650 at the shows I already did. I think that is pretty good considering that there were numerous products to chose from. I think our product sells itself, even when up against others. Everyone has to eat, therefore cook (somewhat). Not everyone needs jewlry, baskets, purses etc....

 

[chefdiana2007]

You could also make the Banana Cream Brownies sq. It is an old PC recipe, but easy to do and very pretty.