Host Doesn't Want to Buy Ingredients

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses a situation where a Pampered Chef consultant is facing challenges with a host who is reluctant to purchase ingredients for an upcoming show. Participants share their experiences and opinions regarding host responsibilities and the dynamics of ingredient purchasing.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions that the host is unhappy about having to buy ingredients, which she feels was not the case when she was a consultant.
  • Another participant suggests offering to go to the store for the host and having her reimburse later, questioning if the host simply does not want to spend the money.
  • Several users note that the host seems to be resistant to spending money on ingredients, with one participant stating she feels it is "not right."
  • One participant shares their experience of offering to pay half the cost of ingredients or suggesting a cheaper recipe if they were to cover the costs.
  • Another participant recalls that in their past experience, consultants paid for ingredients and questions if Pampered Chef reimbursed them.
  • One participant reflects on the enthusiasm of the host and how it affects their willingness to invest in the show, noting that past consultants can sometimes be challenging hosts.
  • Another participant expresses that they always buy the ingredients for their shows to maintain control over the recipe and ensure a positive experience for the host.
  • One participant shares a personal strategy of handling ingredient purchases to avoid issues with hosts buying incorrect items.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on whether hosts should be responsible for purchasing ingredients, with some participants advocating for consultants to cover costs while others emphasize the traditional expectation that hosts provide ingredients.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varied experiences among consultants regarding host responsibilities and ingredient purchasing practices, highlighting the differences in expectations based on individual experiences and historical practices.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants navigating similar situations with hosts who are hesitant to purchase ingredients may find the shared experiences and opinions relevant to their own practices.

  • Thread starter
  • #31
Okay, I just got off the phone with her and it went very well! She was very nice and just said she'd been caught off-guard and that she had always bought the ingredients for her show. I suggested that maybe that's how her recruiter/director had done it and had just told her that's how it was done.

Anyway, she's expecting 10-12 people and I think there a couple people who have $300 lists. :D So this might turn out to be a great show after all!!
 
GreatGlad to here it worked out OK. Still, grab some Execdrine stock. You may still need it dealing with an ex.
Now too you can relax and just let it happen. No more fretting over it. It is nice when that happens isn't it?
 
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OK - I had to post - I am an ex-consultant that recently signed back up. I quit selling PC 6 years ago because I had a family, exchange students and decided to finish my degree. I met my present director at a craft fair at work and had her do a show for me. I did everything I was supposed to do as a host, bought the food, did follow up calls and had outside orders. My show was over $700 and after she was done - I realized that I missed selling PC. I missed the products, the cooking and the customers. She tried to get me to sign up at my show, but I didn't. About 2 weeks later, I called her and I am back in the game. I have just finished my SS3 month and had almost $4500 in sales in November alone. I got all 3 of the SS bonuses and 3 of the additional ones. I have 10 shows booked for January and I am having loads of fun. Not all ex-consultants are bad customers.

Boomer Sooner,

Shannon Overstreet
 
  • Thread starter
  • #34
Shannon, I hope you didn't take offense to anything I said in my posts. The only reason I mentioned she was an ex-consultant is that I was surprised that she had such an issue with the host buying the ingredients. I figured an ex-consultant would know that was standard practice. Sorry if I offended you in any way!
 
I wasn't offended at all. I just didn't want the new consultants to get the impression that ALL past consultants were as described in this thread.

Boomer Sooner
Shannon Overstreet
 
May have already resolved - but here is what I doSince I started selling PC - almost 3 years ago - I have purchased all of the ingredients myself. I just find it easier. I do not do many shows on weeknights, and prefer weekends. On weeknight shows it is just so much easier for me to be able to get the prep work done (I try to chop, slice, grate, etc. as much as possible and leave only minimal work for the demo). It just works better for me this way since weeknight shows are usually late nights anyway - I want to be as quick and efficient as possible and still have products to demo. And the cost of the ingredients is a tax deduction.

Since PC started the $15 hospitality bonus, I have been requesting that the host reimburse me $15 for the food (no matter what I spent). I have not had any problems with this. Most of the time, I spend more that $15 so I can still claim some expense.

I hope your show went well.
 
So......We did the wind up and the worrying about it......

I'm DYING to know......

How did the show go??

:)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #38
The show went great! Sales are currently at about $720, and we're going to try to close tomorrow. There may be one other order coming in, plus the host's order. So definitely worth it! :D
 
Wow, awesome Kristen! Odd how sometimes the shows you're not sure about are the ones that turn out quite well. I just had a catalog show that started out as "I might be able to get $100 in sales for you..I'll try my best" and ended up at over $500! Again, congrats!
 
Kristen said:
I have a show this weekend and just called the host to give her the ingredient list for her show (she's an ex-consultant, by the way). Anyway, she's at work and said she'd call me later to talk about that. She isn't happy that she has to be the one to buy the ingredients and said that it was not like that when she was a consultant. It's almost sounding like she is ready to cancel if she has to buy them!

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to handle this? I did tell her that she gets the $15 back in product value that she does not get if she has a catalog show. Should I offer to buy the ingredients? I don't want to lose this show, but I also don't want to be taken advantage of.

Oh, and she also told me previously that she wants a dessert pizza...so I can't even pick a cheap recipe if I DO decide to buy her stuff.

Help!
Click to expand...

Kristin the peanutty pizza isn't too much (brownie mixes are on sale) ~ or make cookie kisses? I'd buy them and just forget about it. You'll be totally repaid if you have a good show and if you get a booking, how happy will you be?

:)

Just read the thread ~ I'm happy you had a great show!
 
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I purchase the ingredients and ask the host for $5Regardless of what I spend, I only ask the host for $5 back toward the ingredient cost. It saves her the trouble of shopping, I know what I've got is fresh (usually bought day of show) and right (I got tired of having hosts hand me biscuits instead of crescent rolls!).

This has been working great for me and is a hook for guests to host with me rather than another consultant. Once she gives me her $5, I usually end up having spent only up to about $5 myself. Beside which, I know the host will always put other food out for her guests and while that might be an expense that she chooses, I feel it's a good business move for me to help her with the cost of the demo ingredients. Of course, keep the receipts as a business expense.
 
Me too ShannonI know not every exconsultant is like that. Someone said they worked with a past consultant and that it was awsome. I just wish my experience had been that good. I have dealt with two exs thus far and both times I just want to strangle them!
Both were guests thank goodness so...
All worked out eventually though.
 
Just had to put in my 2 cents.I don't and probably won't buy the ingredients for my host. I have done over 300 kitchen shows and have not had one host complain about buying the ingredients for their show.

I explain when they book the show that they have to do 2 things...buy the food for the recipe...and get their guest list to me 15 days prior to their show. I also tell them that they get $15 in free products to reimburse them for the cost. I only make one recipe at my shows and let the host know that she can prepare as much additional food as she wishes.

Occasionally, I will offer the express shows when I need to fill a date in 2 weeks or less. I then buy the food. I also travel a lot to small towns to do shows and sometimes I will have to buy certain items the host cannot find or the items cost too much in their town. For example, I can buy a block of Parmesan cheese for $2.14 but in one town I travel to it is $8.99!!! So I always buy the cheese when I go to this town!

Just my 2 cents!
 
Late CommentsI know I'm a little late on comments, but I haven't had much time to read posts this month. Christmas time is crazy!

I prefer to purchase the food for the host, but I play it up like I'm doing them a favor. I say excitedly, "I can purhase the food for you if you would like." I explain to them I keep track of prices for recipes I'm offering to make for the month and purchase at the least expensive stores. This way they know it will save them time and money. I also explain that The Pampered Chef gives them $15 toward a food credit just for having their show, and I explain to them I usually spend less then this. I also tell them if it's more I will only charge them the $15. They really think they are getting a great deal this way :) Psychology is a great thing!

I like to purchase the food for the same reason many others have stated. I like to do the prep ahead of time. I feel like it is much more relaxing when I arrive at their home. I also have many of the ingredients already at home (like garlic). I also always watch for sales on cheese. My local store often has blocks of cheese for $1 on sale. I buy about 20 packages at a time. It lasts so long!

I have only had one host who wanted to purchase her own food, and she was an x-consultant. I was actually glad she purchased the food because we made two recipes for a Survivor show and the teams did the cooking anyway, and I don't think I could have purchased the food for $15.

For some reason it just seems to always work out for me.

Best of luck to everyone!

Rhonda B.
 
I think from now on I'm going to buy the ingredients for my shows and have the hosts reimburse me. I really felt the stress during my last show when I did the Roasted Red Pepper & Artichoke Dip to top the savory crostini. I spent like 20 minutes at the host's house before the show doing half the prep work so that the demo wouldn't take forever, and it still took forever and I forgot to do some of the things and did them in the wrong order. I got so flustered! Of course it probably didn't help that it was my first large KS, and the host wanted 2 recipes (which was ok at the time b/c I was gonna have one done completely before the show).. And half the stress might have been the fact that my host didn't get home from her out-of-town biz trip until the night before the show and I hadn't been able to reach her til then to figure out whether I was getting the ingredients or she was... so there I was, running all over town trying to find ingredients for this dip that I was going to make, dragging a sick 1 year old.. with a deli girl that didn't know how much 8 ounces was.. and a Wal-Mart that had everyone and their brother shopping for the holidays....
So, I think I'm going to do the shopping from now on so I can do a bunch of prep work at the house before I leave and that way I won't have to mess with it when I get there ;) Whew.. Thanks for letting me rant.. boy I feel better after getting that off my chest!!

On a side note, is there any recipes (besides that blasted Cool Ranch Pizza) that you suggest for beginners? Or tips on doing show demos? Thanks :)
 
RecipesAmanda,

I really like doing the Elegant Artichoke cups. You do need the mini-muffin pan, but most of the other products are SS products. They are really easy and so yummy. My family always requests them for get to gethers.

Also, the Calzones from the F/W 2004 Celebration shows are easy and crowd pleasers.

I think the last recipe in each section of the Season's Best are SS recipes and are easy.

I also like doing rings and the Florentine Garden ring is a host favorite.

Hope this is helpful.
 
I just did the family baked burrito at a show last week, and we used left over steak. It was great, and easy and everyone loved it. :D
Amanda Fairall
 
I always do my own shopping. I also tell my hosts that if they have 15 guests the night of the show that the ingredients are free! Otherwise, I just have them reimburse me 15.00. It works out great!
 
showmehow2 said:
I agree with PamperedPrincess74. I have a hard time asking to be reimbursed so I just use it as my "thing". I offer one recipe and then bring a microwave cake as backup in case there are lots of people. The food is tax deductible and I steer my hosts to lower priced recipes. Plus, when I bring the ingredients, it's only on my shoulders if I forget something and everything is washed, prepped & ready to go. I find it's much easier to do some of the prep at home and finish up at the show. I still take a long time! This is another example of the different ways we all run our own businesses. What works for me may not work for someone else. All in all, whatever everyone feels comfortable with is what they should do.
Click to expand...

I always tell hosts to supply cups, plates, snacks, water/soda, and a dessert (unless it is a small group then I will). I bring an entree, salad, and fun drink for the quik stir pitcher. That way hosts don't feel as though they are bearing the brunt of the show:) .
 
Make a deal with the host.Personally, i have never had a host refuse to buy the ingredients. But, if a host had difficulty with the cost, I would make a deal about who pays depending on show product sales total. If her show goes over $500, offer to split the cost 50-50. If sales are over $700, pay it all. And if sales are under $500, she pays. But, Pampered Chef is giving the host $15 in free products for hosting, a really good deal, I think.

What I have found is, that if you do something for one host, you are going to have other hosts want you to do the same. Now, you could offer a "free" show (where you pick the recipe and pay for the ingredients) for a doorprize or contest. But I wouldn't want to pay for the food for all my shows. With having done over 200 shows, that would really eat into my commission.

Jodi
 
I had a host who either didn't read the hosting letter I gave her and/or I didn't tell her to buy the ingredients until the day before the show. Now, when I go over the hosting benefits (I just run down the 9 parts of our host benefits in the show planner) I say "For opening your house to me and providing the ingredients for the demo, you get $15 in free product." It usually helps to address it at the beginning so they know what they are getting into. If the host can't afford it, I will offer to pay for the ingredients, but I will let her know I'm picking the recipe.
 
Offer to buy the ingredients and asked to be reimbursed the day of her show. Remind her that PC is reimbursing HER $15 as a thank you for hosting a cooking show.
I have been a consultant for 8 years and the host has always been expected to provide ingredients unless other arrangements are made with the consultant.
Don't let her bully you, but you can also say that if she has a $600 show you'll take care of the food.
 
Good Idea!
Happy Mom said:
I buy the ingredients for the recipes and make them up to the point of the last few steps. I do two recipes for a large show; one for a small show.

I don't ask for reimbursement for the ingredients as hosts provide paper goods, drinks and other snacks. I see this as part of my business expenses.

Perhaps PC should change its policy, then, and give us a $15 crdeit instead of the host. I would feel uncomfortable asking a host for money for ingredients I purchased.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way about asking a host for the money. Great suggestion on having PC change its policy and give us a $15 credit - I'm going to mention it to my director and see what her feedback is.
 
I'd probably have to quit PC if we had to buy the ingredients! I don't feel like I have the time. It's all I can do to get my act together and pack my case the night before the show. Most of my shows are out of town, so I have to leave as soon as possible after I get off work.

Besides that, I have a thing about going to the grocery store. I'd rather be kicked! Now that my husband's retired, he has graciously consented to going to the store for us--thank goodness!
 
Do you still give them the $15?Hi guys!

I ALWAYS remind them that the hospitaliy bonus is basically to make up for her buying the groceries. It is actually in my booking "Commercial" at shows.
I say "And for doing nothing more than buying ingredients for 1 recipe and inviting everyone you know over to try it and see our great tools in action, the P.C gives you $20 to spend as a Thankyou! Before you've even gotten any sales yet!"
Im in Canada, its $20 here, I know its $15 for U.S. right?:)
 
Veevahchef said:
Hi guys!

I ALWAYS remind them that the hospitaliy bonus is basically to make up for her buying the groceries. It is actually in my booking "Commercial" at shows.
I say "And for doing nothing more than buying ingredients for 1 recipe and inviting everyone you know over to try it and see our great tools in action, the P.C gives you $20 to spend as a Thankyou! Before you've even gotten any sales yet!"
Im in Canada, its $20 here, I know its $15 for U.S. right?:)
Click to expand...

That is a good idea, I would just worry that I may have a host that doesn't reach the $150 minimum show and then I would have to pay her the $15 that she expected. Have you ever run into this problem?
 
No, because in order for it to qualify as a show it has to get to $150. That information is in the catalog, show planner, and you can tell them that.
 
cmdtrgd said:
No, because in order for it to qualify as a show it has to get to $150. That information is in the catalog, show planner, and you can tell them that.
Click to expand...

I do realize that it's in the catalog. The part that concerned me about the little commercial was the "Before you've even gotten any sales yet". Some hosts may take advantage of that thinking that even if they didn't get the sales they would still be getting the $15. I just didn't want anyone to get burnt by that.
 
I'm not exactly sure what you mean about "before you've gotten any sales". The nice thing about the catalog is that it shows a $150 show = $15 free product. It is PC saying that, not me, which makes it more of a business transaction and not "I don't want to help you" type of feeling. I make sure that my hosts know that they have to have at least $150 in sales. If I need to reach a sales goal, or I just want higher sales, I try to find out what they want out of the show. Then I can coach them to the higher sales and tell them I'll give them x if they reach $y in sales. I just try to be up front about it as much as possible. I look at it from their perspective, not mine. If they think I am doing this so they can get a whole bunch of stuff for free and at a discount, they are usually more inclined to get the sales. It doesn't always work.
 
Re-doesnt want to buy ingredientsYou could offer to bring them and give her the bill-this will save her the time picking them up and make you look good. if she won't buy or pay then could you deduct some credits and use them yourself?
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my host doesn't want to buy ingredients for the party?

If your host is hesitant to buy ingredients, reassure them that they can still host a successful party by using what they already have at home. Encourage them to choose recipes that require minimal or common ingredients, or suggest that they ask guests to bring a dish or ingredient to share.

Can I provide the ingredients for the cooking demonstration?

Yes, as a consultant, you can offer to provide the ingredients for the cooking demonstration. Discuss this option with your host and let them know that you can bring the necessary items to ensure the party runs smoothly.

How can I motivate my host to purchase the ingredients?

To motivate your host, highlight the benefits of purchasing the ingredients, such as the opportunity to try new recipes and the chance to earn free products based on party sales. You can also offer to help them find budget-friendly options or suggest simple recipes that require fewer ingredients.

What if the host is concerned about the cost of ingredients?

If cost is a concern, discuss the possibility of scaling back the menu to include less expensive recipes or using ingredients that are already available in their pantry. You can also suggest a potluck-style party where guests contribute ingredients or dishes, reducing the financial burden on the host.

Is it okay for the host to skip the ingredient purchase altogether?

While it's ideal for the host to provide some ingredients, it's not mandatory. If the host prefers to skip the purchase, focus on engaging activities that don’t require cooking, such as product demonstrations or sharing recipes. This can still create a fun and interactive experience for guests.

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