Grand Opening Questions - Suggestions Please!

[koima]

I have three shows booked and a potential preschool fundraiser for my first month, November. I haven't had a Grand Opening, and hadn't planned on it, but I want to be sure I qualify in November (in case the fundraiser doesn't pan out!) and get as many PC bucks as possible in the first 30 days! Plus, with the Sell-A-Thon, it would be to my advantage to kick things off right!

I'm thinking about having a Grand Opening, but our house is a mess and I have two very small children (DS 3 years old, and DD 11 weeks), so it seems like it would be an obstacle to having a party here - both in getting the house together enough for friends to come by (we have lots of clutter!), and keeping the kids from being underfoot and screaming. I was considering doing one the weekend after Thanksgiving, since the house will be a little more put together from having my family over for the holiday, but I don't know if anyone will be around, and still have the kid issue.

I have several friends who have said, "Invite me if you have a show" but weren't interested in having their own shows, so I think I'd have decent turn out.


What do you think I should do?

 

[melatc]

If you can't figure out a good time to have it - and, I'd try to get someone to watch the children for you - put together a catalog show! If you have people who are willing to come to a show or place an order, they'd probably place an order to help you out. Also, I'd ask if they know anyone who would be interested in hosting; those type of guests usually know someone who will take advantage of getting free products & they'll be a great guest for them! Good luck with your start up month - it's a GREAT time to start this business!!!

 

[ChefJoyJ]

I would try to get a sitter for your kids, or get DH to take them out for the couple of hours you'll be doing your show. It would be impossible to do a show with your kids around, and possibly underfoot. Also, you don't have to clean the entire house, just the rooms the people will be seeing, so if you don't have time to do a thorough cleaning/decluttering, you could always do a stash-n-dash, and remove most of the clutter to an area of the house where no one will see it. Then you can clean it and make it look nice.

I did a grand opening for my business, and am so glad I did! I got 2 repeat hostesses out of it, several repeat clients, and an amazing show total!! I highly recommend it as a way to let all your friends/neighbors/DH's coworkers, etc, know about your PC business! If you want, I'll post my grand opening flyer when I'm on the computer that has it.

 

[ChefJoyJ]

Here it is. I printed it on really cute paper with a snowflake border.

 

[pcchefjane]

I like your flyer. I will let my new Recruit see it! She is wanting to do a Grand Opening as well. She plans to sign when we turn in her Show sometime after the 7th!

 

[ChefJoyJ]

I hope it helps! I signed at the very end of Dec., so I held my grand opening in early Jan. I wanted to sign at a time I could get my hosts excited and really get started with a bang!

 

[stefani2]

If at ALL POSSIBLE - get a sitter for your kids, OR keep DD and just have a casual laid-back kind of open house.

- Play the Ticket Game (with extra prizes for those who attend and/or bring a friend)
- Have food pre-made
- have different stations - products to demo - hosting - recruiting

If you have lots of interest from those who want to attend a show but not host - I would run a $1000 Mystery Host Show in conjunction with your Open House.