Fall Festival Success: How I Organized and Ran a Profitable Home Party Event

[Dotty]

Brag Alert!!

I organized and ran a Fall Festival for Home Parties. I'll attach my flyers for vendors and advertisements. Feel free to modify and use for your own.

Costs:
American Legion - $100 for a weeknight 4-7pm
$13.50 in advertising in our local EZshopper and Pennysaver
round plastic tablecloths 9 @ $1.50 (walmart)
cups and plates and spoons
pasta bake ingredients
2 prep bowls filled with M&Ms for door prizes
1 batter bowl (spare from my kit)

Income:
9 vendors signed up, 7 paid in advance, 6 showed up, 3 cancelled at the last minute. Profit from the vendor fees paid for the advertising and misc. supplies.
$300 show plus plenty of cash and carry (I'm down to one box of cash and carry inventory - goal = none!!)

4 bookings - 1 due to the DCB showcased with my pasta bake!

Vendors: Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia, Thirty One, Avon, Tupperware, Celebrating Home
Vendors who didn't show: Wildtree, Tastefully Simple, Creative Creations

Overall - It was a great success. We had people show up at 4pm, waiting outside the door. The big rush was from 5-6, after 6pm it was very dead.

The vendors wanted to know when the next one is. We're planning on early March (goalsharing checks go out the last week of Feb.). My idea for a theme is Pamper Me. I'll have the same vendors plus more if I can get them, and a masseuse.

 

[ShellBeach]

Way to go on taking the incentive!

 

[Becca_in_MD]

That's great! Thanks for sharing.

 

[dme.grant]

I love this idea of organizing it yourself. I'll be moving soon, and depending on how things go, I may try and do this, to get out there in the community some more.

 

[Dotty]

I heartily recommend trying to organize it yourself. I advertised in craigslist for vendors (and for the event too). But most vendors I got from word of mouth from my customers and friends. Hey, do you know a Tastefully simple rep? Or a scrapbooking rep? etc, etc. I also contacted a few reps by going to the main webpage and searching for local reps. Then I just went down the line with phone calls and e-mails until someone was interested.

 

[ajhunt2]

Doing this soon too. Here's my flyer.

We are doing it as a fundraiser for a local food pantry since it's getting close to the holidays.

 

[jla8279]

I was wondering how to rent space like that for a vendor event. We have an American Legion not far from me. I'll have to check them out to see if I can rent sometime. Thanks for the great idea!! I love this FORUM!!

 

[yankfan24]

I heartily recommend trying to organize it yourself. I advertised in craigslist for vendors (and for the event too). But most vendors I got from word of mouth from my customers and friends. Hey, do you know a Tastefully simple rep? Or a scrapbooking rep? etc, etc. I also contacted a few reps by going to the main webpage and searching for local reps. Then I just went down the line with phone calls and e-mails until someone was interested.

Dotty....great job. I've been organizing one for 3 years now and we have 2 per year (Spring and Fall). I love organizing them and it's better to be in control. We don't advertise for the vendors as most are repeats from previous events, or have contacted us after finding out about it. We'll have 20 vendors on Saturday. Praying for decent weather and no snow. We post on the local TV stations community calendars, local Pennysaver type publications, craigslist, facebook the event, make up fliers/posters and chamber of commerce calendars. There are some additional ways for your next event to get it out to the public. HTH

 

[California Girl]

after I saw this I called 3 American Legions around me! I hope they get back to me soon!!