Do Other Direct Sales Companies Offer As Much Free Stuff As TPC?

[chefann]

My cousin had a Premier Jewelry party a little while back. I find their jewelry to be comparable to Lia Sophia, but the consultant really harped on recruiting. She had a recruiting game with questions inside jewelry boxes and we each had to pick a box and ask the question inside the box. She acted as though she had never been asked the question before, when it was obvious that she had purposely picked those questions. I have heard that Premier's catalogs are REALLY expensive - like a couple of bucks each. And it felt really weird trying things on when the consultant kept telling us that most of her samples are also her personal jewelry (and we couldn't try on the earrings).

 

[ChefBeckyD]

My cousin had a Premier Jewelry party a little while back. I find their jewelry to be comparable to Lia Sophia, but the consultant really harped on recruiting. She had a recruiting game with questions inside jewelry boxes and we each had to pick a box and ask the question inside the box. She acted as though she had never been asked the question before, when it was obvious that she had purposely picked those questions. I have heard that Premier's catalogs are REALLY expensive - like a couple of bucks each. And it felt really weird trying things on when the consultant kept telling us that most of her samples are also her personal jewelry (and we couldn't try on the earrings).

Because you never know where those earrings may have been!:yuck:

 

[chefann]

Yeah, but the way she said it was like she didn't trust our ears not to be grody. I almost asked my cousin for some rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball so I could sterilize some and try them on.

 

[BethCooks4U]

A lot of direct sales companies must push that kind of techniques to their reps because I too have come across that at other shows (Party Lite for one). I don't do the question game at my shows just because it is such a turn off for me at those shows.

I have been to alot of shows that are all about a recruiting commercial or she must get xx bookings and I hate that (one had the host say who she thought would be most likely to book - she picked me - lol I did not - I will not have my friends badgered to book - host totally understood!). One consultant barely talked about her products at all!

I have never been to a PC show that made me feel pressured. That's probably one of the things that attracted me to this company.

I make my show about the products and how generous the company is to their consultants and hosts. I do short commercials but they are sprinkled throughout and aren't in your face.

Maybe I could be a higher performer if I used some more high pressured techniques but that's not me.

 

[chefann]

Beth, I'm with you 100% on this one! I've been to "those" shows for other companies that were high-pressure. What a complete turn-off! Those are why I don't play a lot of the typical recruiting and bookings games.

We have such a great product line and host program, that we don't need to bully people in to hosting or signing!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

A lot of direct sales companies must push that kind of techniques to their reps because I too have come across that at other shows (Party Lite for one). I don't do the question game at my shows just because it is such a turn off for me at those shows.

I have been to alot of shows that are all about a recruiting commercial or she must get xx bookings and I hate that (one had the host say who she thought would be most likely to book - she picked me - lol I did not - I will not have my friends badgered to book - host totally understood!). One consultant barely talked about her products at all!

I have never been to a PC show that made me feel pressured. That's probably one of the things that attracted me to this company.

I make my show about the products and how generous the company is to their consultants and hosts. I do short commercials but they are sprinkled throughout and aren't in your face.

Maybe I could be a higher performer if I used some more high pressured techniques but that's not me.

I actually went out and bought tickets to do the question game - but after having been to 2 different shows where it was done, I decided it just wasn't for me! One (LS) was extremely pushy, and the other (Discovery Toys) was stilted and boring.........so now I am trying to figure out how to use my tickets!


I have wondered about the idea that I would be a better recruiter, etc.....if I used more high-pressured techniques - but I just don't want to be that kind of consultant or person - and my director, and SR Director aren't like that either. I know Beth that you have been recruiting really well this year - just by being you. Disproving the fact that you have to be pushy and aggressive to do well. I take to heart all of your advice and wisdom here on CS, and want to build my business the way that you are building yours.

 

[finley1991]

I think there is a way to do it without being overwhelming on the recruiting. If you sprinkle it in and not making the ticket segment too long or make everyone ask something, it's fine to put in. I did the pass-the-prize at my last show after my Why Bag and it all lasted less than 5 minutes. In a 60 minute show that's hardly overkill. I think what's great is that we can find a balance and we're not ALL about recruiting! We have some great products and a great host program we can slip in there every now and then!

My jaw is still on the floor about the message about the Perfect Party and the consultant telling people how much their orders needed to be! That horrifies me!!!!

 

[chefann]

Becky, you can use your tickets for "Have it, Love it" during your demo. People love that one, and it will increase your sales because people get to hear stories about products from other guests, not just you. Give a section of tix to one guest and have them be in charge of handing them out (so you don't get overly sidetracked from your demo). Then you draw one at the end for another door prize. Or give a gift to the person with the most tickets.

 

[pamperedgirl3]

I think having been to some of these other types of parties has scared me off from talking about recruiting at my shows. I really don't want to turn people off from even wanting to come to a show just because they think I'll bug them about joining. So I basically just stopped mentioning it. After hearing about the recruiting "game"--can you call that a game!!!--I'm wondering about doing the ticket game at my shows now.

I hosted a party earlier this year for another DS company & almost all of it was about joining. The "game" was to go around & read a question on a paper & the first person to say the answer got a prize. But all of my family was turned off by the show & I was really embarrassed for hosting it because I really liked some of the products I used & thought it would be fun. She had said we could have a certain type of show & then when I told her the date & what kind of show I wanted, she said she wasn't doing that anymore (this was like 2 weeks later). I was really bummed about the experience & probably won't host shows anymore--definitely not these kind. Which is a bummer b/c I'm sort of friends with this person & she LOVES PC. The only party I may ever host in the future is Tastefully Simple. I really like sampling all the goodies & the person who has done my SIL's shows I've been to doesn't even TALK about booking or recruiting--not sure how great it is for her business--but at least I know my family & friends won't be turned off for her being pushy!

 

[pamperedgirl3]

I also used tickets when I did on-time drawings. People would write their name on the back of the ticket when they arrived & I would draw a name from there. I didn't want them filling out their DPDS too early so the tickets worked nicely.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Becky, you can use your tickets for "Have it, Love it" during your demo. People love that one, and it will increase your sales because people get to hear stories about products from other guests, not just you. Give a section of tix to one guest and have them be in charge of handing them out (so you don't get overly sidetracked from your demo). Then you draw one at the end for another door prize. Or give a gift to the person with the most tickets.

That has been my problem when I've done the Have It Love It game - I lose my train of thought so easily - maybe I could have the host hand out the tickets? I've just thrown candy in the past......

 

[chefann]

I let someone handle it - the host or a chatty guest. I also have them give a ticket to the person who reads the guest special for the month 3 times during the show (they read it to the group when I'm doing something repetitive with the demo).

 

[heather223]

I have a bingo game that I made to use during my shows. Basically, I put names of products that I always demo and words of things I talk about (round up from the heart, Get Paid to Party, Hosting a show). It has worked well because the guests pay attention to what I am talking about and it helps me to make sure I talk about somethings that I don't like to. It also makes it very stress free for me and my guests. If anyone wants to see it let me know and I can email it to you. I did a presentation on it at my last cluster meeting.

 

[LibrarianChef]

WOW! I didn't know much about liasophia jewlery. I wonder how similar it is to Premier Designs. I have another friend who sells liasophia jewlery, too (in a different state). But I've never really talked with her about the details. She and her mom buy PC from me.

I believe the Premier Designs consultant I know gets most of her jewelry kit for free every year by earning it through sales. They get a new kit every year so that customers stick around (and can't say they basically own everything). I just remembered that she did 100 shows last year!!!! I remember her talking about walking the stage as conference. So I'm trying to figure this out...if she did 100 shows (2 times per week) and assuming she averages $1000 per show at 50% profit and then makes 10% of what every recruit under her sells. Hmmm, she's not doing too bad. No wonder she's able to take everyone out to dinner and fly all over the place.

I attended one of her shows where we drove two hours to get there and she didn't do games or the pressure talk, thankfully. Of course, her schedule was already booked for the year so she honestly didn't seem to need to book more shows at the time.