Help Me Decide on Open House and Other Things

[babywings76]

Okay, so I usually do a season Kick Off at the end of August. I'm low on shows right now, but may be able to get my 2 in for August...more about that below. So I'm thinking of doing my season Kick Off in September. Do you think a Weeknight, Friday night, or Saturday would be best? I'm undecided.

Soooo, right now I have one catalog show I can submit. I have a few small orders that have also come in that I could add to that catalog show, or I could try to get even more orders and eek out another catalog show to have my 2 for August for the bag incentive. Or do I add those other orders to the 1st catty show and have my Kick Off be in August?

I just want to get this show submitted and not hold onto it so my friend can get her grill set soon. I pampered my bank because the lady who helped us open our new account was interested in getting something. I'm hoping more orders will come in, but I can't guarantee that will happen.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[esavvymom]

I've heard directors/uppers suggest doing a Two-night Grand Opening, and I think also for Open House. Since not everyone may be able to come on that one night, give them a choice. So say maybe a Thursday evening and a Saturday or Sunday time slot (brunch, afternoon, evening?) Do the exact same thing at both, just offer two different times.
I know it's a little more work.And to help with the 2-show thing, maybe you can do it Tuesday August 30th and then do another the following Sat or Sun (Sept 3rd or 4th (except Labor Day is the 5th...so not sure if you want to do it THEN or the following weekend). It might be further apart than a normal open house/grand opening, but it gives folks options?? and hopefully enough orders for you to get that 2nd show? In your invitation- maybe tell then for August- they can order the discontinuing products (offer a discount even??) or they can still get the fabulous Grill Pan set. Then for September, they can see/buy new products. Just thinking out loud. Maybe it will give you an idea.ANd make sure you've sent out the Grill Pan Set special to your contacts! Maybe you can get that 2nd show you need that way?!

 

[babywings76]

I struck out a few weeks ago calling every single potential booking I had for bookings. I sent out my newsletter this month and included a nice blurb about the grill set special. I also borrowed Rae's idea she posted on her FB biz page about having a "Pantry Club" where they place their orders (local ones get free S&H). But my open rate is terrible and of those who did open it, 2 unsubscribed (and one was a past host of mine w/ a show over $1000...so I'm really discouraged right now that I'm a terrible consultant or something.) I've posted on FB about the Pantry Club, too. I had one friend order the Grill pan set special (hence my one catty show I still am debating submitting as is or adding on these other few items people have come to me wanting to order.)Having the Season kick off party usually helps me get a couple bookings for the fall and I usually end up w/ enough sales for a small show (usually around $300 in the past). I do have a couple booth opportunities set up for this Fall, too, so I'm hoping for some bookings soon.I really want all 4 of those bags for the incentive, so I hope to do enough to reach that. But really, I want to step up my business and have more recruits and more parties. I'm dreading this school year, it's going to be insane w/ my 4 kids schedules plus I just was asked to do this job at church that is very time consuming but great (it's a volunteer position), so I just don't know how my show calendar is going to be due to all of that.Oh, and my one and only recruit who was awesome for this and had an amazing beginning, kind of had some bum experiences this summer with the biz and told me she thinks she's going to quit. Sorry this is turning into a venting session...