Host Rescheduling Stress: Preparing for a Frustrating Stoneware Sale

[krzymomof4]

I have a host who originally scheduled for Sept 9. She had to reschedule due to family matters. No biggie. She rescheduled for the 30th because she doesn't want to miss the stoneware sale. Now she wants to reschedule the time. I never got her guest list before her original show date, now it is 11 days before her new date and still no guest list. I have called her and she said she would email them to me. Still no list. Am I just stressing over the little things?? I need to get this in gear, but she never follows through with what she says she is going to do. Now I don't know what to do!!

 

[tiffanypc05]

If she reschedules this time, I would not give her another chance to do a ktichen show. It sounds to me like she's not very interested in doing the show. You can tell her that she can feel free to do a catalog show but you can't take the risk of having her cancel again. In april, I had a whole lot of cancels, and it was b/c i was rescheduling 3-4 hosts- some of the hosts had rescheduled 3 times already. Now, if the hosts continue to reschedule then I don't put them on my calendar and just offer them a catalog show.

HTH

 

[lisacb77]

Those are good tips. I have one who's rescheduled twice, but I used to work with her and know she's flaky. But I know when she does have her show, it will be huge b/c she knows a LOT of ppl in her town, so I'm patient.

 

[krzymomof4]

What is really weird is that she is super excited about having a show. It just seems she can't make the time to deal with the details.

 

[dannyzmom]

What is really weird is that she is super excited about having a show. It just seems she can't make the time to deal with the details.

I have a hostess JUST like this. she WAS scheduled for June...gave me the (small) guest list and had me mail out th epostcards only to have her cancel a week before - she rescheduled for August...same thing - I remailed them, she called the day before and said she only has 4 people coming and wants to cancel it and make it a catalog show. So we decided on an August cat show...then she changed it to a Sept cat show. We were supposed to close it out on Friday -- she calls me over teh weekend and asks if we can close it NEXT Friday...UGH

 

[pampered1224]

So here's what you need to do...Be stern. Be firm. Tell her you need her list today. If you do not have it by the end of the day, you will not be able to do her show on the 30th. Then if she tries to reschedule, simply tell her you do not have any dates available for her. This would be the truth so you do not have to lie. I personally would not bother with a possible host like that when their are real hosts out there. And the truth part is "any dates AVAILABLE FOR HER." Not that you don't have dates available, just not for her.
I know this may be harsh to some people but come on, business is business. Not a wishy washy possibility. Probabilities don't get you any money. Only sure things do.

 

[lisacb77]

Be stern. Be firm. Tell her you need her list today. If you do not have it by the end of the day, you will not be able to do her show on the 30th. Then if she tries to reschedule, simply tell her you do not have any dates available for her. This would be the truth so you do not have to lie. I personally would not bother with a possible host like that when their are real hosts out there. And the truth part is "any dates AVAILABLE FOR HER." Not that you don't have dates available, just not for her.
I know this may be harsh to some people but come on, business is business. Not a wishy washy possibility. Probabilities don't get you any money. Only sure things do.

I like that John. I now have a 2nd October host who has changed her date, and when we changed it she said "that should be okay as of right now." Boy ppl do not get it!

If she flakes on me, I think I'll do like you say and offer her a catty show. B/c she wants to be a Saturday night host, and I don't have any more of those available this year! Thanks for the great idea...

 

[AJPratt]

Be stern. Be firm. Tell her you need her list today. If you do not have it by the end of the day, you will not be able to do her show on the 30th. Then if she tries to reschedule, simply tell her you do not have any dates available for her. This would be the truth so you do not have to lie. I personally would not bother with a possible host like that when their are real hosts out there. And the truth part is "any dates AVAILABLE FOR HER." Not that you don't have dates available, just not for her.
I know this may be harsh to some people but come on, business is business. Not a wishy washy possibility. Probabilities don't get you any money. Only sure things do.

Here, here! Remember, this is YOUR business and you need to take back control.

 

[krzymomof4]

I kind of cut her some slack because of the reasonings behind why things got wacky. She turned it into a catalog show.

 

[bbauman07]

If she reschedules this time, I would not give her another chance to do a ktichen show. It sounds to me like she's not very interested in doing the show. You can tell her that she can feel free to do a catalog show but you can't take the risk of having her cancel again. In april, I had a whole lot of cancels, and it was b/c i was rescheduling 3-4 hosts- some of the hosts had rescheduled 3 times already. Now, if the hosts continue to reschedule then I don't put them on my calendar and just offer them a catalog show.

HTH

They don't get mad? I have thought about doing this just haven't tried it yet.

 

[bbauman07]

I have a host who originally scheduled for Sept 9. She had to reschedule due to family matters. No biggie. She rescheduled for the 30th because she doesn't want to miss the stoneware sale. Now she wants to reschedule the time. I never got her guest list before her original show date, now it is 11 days before her new date and still no guest list. I have called her and she said she would email them to me. Still no list. Am I just stressing over the little things?? I need to get this in gear, but she never follows through with what she says she is going to do. Now I don't know what to do!!

You could try offering an incentive from here on out if your hosts complete their guest list and postage returned to you within one week. I'm just starting to mail out invites for my hosts and am going to be trying this also, I was thinking an additional $15 in free product for their show.

 

[krzymomof4]

To make a long story short, her sister just found the daughter that she gave up for adoption when she was 15. They were set to meet her for the first time when we were scheduled to have her 1st show, so of course I rescheduled without hesitation. I contacted her again and the "new" niece informed everyone that she is getting married on the 30th, but was hoping to get back in time for her show. Needless to say, I understood, but that seemed a little hectic to me to have everyone being tense from going to a wedding of a new found relative and then going to a PC show an hour later. She is just having a catalog show now and then going to rebook off herself and give it a try again. Now if this stuff happens the second time around, I can't say that I will be as understanding as I was this time!

 

[Rebeccascabinet]

I agree with John, this your business. You sometimes have to be firm and picky about who you work with. Store shop businesses do that. I always see signs that say " have a right to refuse service to anyone". And because its your business you can also be very flexible. I am rarely flexible on my dates. I don't like to to feel overwhelmed (who does?), but I am very flexible on other things. You have to run it like a business. Thats my two cents.

 

[chefkristin]

Just tell her that you assume that she is taking care of the invites and that you will show up at such and such a time and that if you don't hear back from her that you will show up at your regularly scheduled time. She will call after that!