How can I get more bookings for my business while my husband is deployed?

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores the challenges faced by a participant in securing bookings for their Pampered Chef business while their spouse is deployed. Participants share personal experiences, suggestions, and emotional support regarding marketing strategies and community engagement.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration over a lack of bookings despite efforts like attending bazaars and advertising.
  • Another participant shares their experience of starting slowly and suggests personal outreach, such as calling contacts and inviting them to shows.
  • Several users mention the importance of community engagement, including hosting open houses and distributing flyers.
  • One participant notes that they had some success with a previous show but still struggle to secure additional bookings.
  • Another participant emphasizes the value of face-to-face interactions and suggests going door-to-door to invite potential hosts.
  • Some participants discuss the potential benefits of utilizing online platforms for orders and shows, even while being limited in physical outreach.
  • One participant mentions the idea of placing catalogs in local establishments to reach a broader audience.
  • Another participant shares their experience of finding success after a year and suggests that persistence is key.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of various strategies for securing bookings, with no clear consensus on the best approach. Participants share a range of personal experiences and suggestions without a unified agreement.

Contextual Notes

Participants are primarily consultants navigating the challenges of building their businesses in a military community, often facing unique circumstances related to deployment and relocation.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for new Pampered Chef consultants, particularly those in military communities, who are seeking ideas and support for increasing bookings and engagement.

A
afwife98439
Messages
17
Ok, Ive had 2 bazaars, One was two days straight. I got two more orders to add to a show and i got 1 booking. I can't seem to get bookings!! I've advertised and what not....I think my next step is putting it in the base paper...but I don't know how much thats going to be. I can only put a flyer up on one place on base and that sucks. My husband is deployed right now and can't really help me very much. My brother is trying to help as well but I am not qualifed to do individual online orders yet. I don't know what to do....I'm running out of options and its getting frausrating...I have a meeting tonight with my directors and what not...maybe they can help me or something. I was hoping the two day one was going to be my big hit but there wasn't enough people to show up. Most of my action happened on the 1st day. Anyways...I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what it is. I'm thinking it may have something to do with me being a month away from my due date and nobody wants to book with me just in case something happens you know....but i don't know. Its been a month into this business and its just not going....I know it takes time and what not but wow...i didn't expect it to be soo dry around here...( sorry I'm also venting my frausrations....) Anyways....If you have any suggestions I would really appreciate it!!! :cry:
 
How many shows have you submitted? How long have you been living on base? I'm asking so I can maybe come up with some ideas for you.
 
You mention that you had bazaars, but did you phone everyone on your list of 100 and ask them if they want to have a show? Let everyone know that you're starting your business and could use their help.

If you want to take individual orders online, you can set up a show on your PWS with you as the host. Customers would then enter that info to shop. Since you need to transfer those orders to P3 anyway, you just enter them there as individual orders.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
erinb said:
How many shows have you submitted? How long have you been living on base? I'm asking so I can maybe come up with some ideas for you.
Click to expand...

I haven't been able to submit any shows because the orders i have so far don't even come close to a qualified show...Ive lived on base for 6 months and I just started at the end of november. Don't really know anyone, so yea..i just feel stuck right now...
 
Ok, I signed in Oct. and got off to a really slow start. I don't know anyone in my housing community, other than the direct neighbors. I decided to have an open house and printed off 180 flyers for it. I went around stuffing them in every newspaper holder until I ran out. I have also read about consultants going door to door and personally inviting people. They have a harder time saying no when they are face to face.

You don't have it as easy as some, but you can do it!! Just stay positive and don't get into a slump over it. You know you could always have friends that live far away do catalog or cyber shows. I had my friend and my SIL do long distance catalog shows for me.

I hope this will help some, I will keep thinking on this. I too lived on a military base and know how it can be to "warm up" to people. Hang in there!!
 
erinb said:
Ok, I signed in Oct. and got off to a really slow start. I don't know anyone in my housing community, other than the direct neighbors. I decided to have an open house and printed off 180 flyers for it. I went around stuffing them in every newspaper holder until I ran out. I have also read about consultants going door to door and personally inviting people. They have a harder time saying no when they are face to face.
Click to expand...
So how did this turn out Erin?
 
sfdavis918 said:
So how did this turn out Erin?
Click to expand...

I had $168 is sales, got two phone calls from people wanting to be added to my newsletter list and 1 booking from it.

It wasn't quite as well as I would have liked, but it did get me a step further than what I was:)
 
Don't worry. You're doing great. Every party you have should have 2 bookings. Before you know it you'll be booked up and booking in advance.
 
I know how you are feeling. I just qualified after being a consultant for a year. I am having a hard time finding bookings. I finally got my daughters old teacher to host a show and it was a $1000 show. Which was awesome just no bookings. I seem to sale good just not get many hosts. I hope to pick up after the holiday break. We will see. Keep up all the hard work in the mean time. As far as living on the base. Maybe put some catalogs at the hospital and get some shirts to show off while shopping at the PX and Commissary.
 
hey don't limit yourself to the base. See if they have a locate YMCA or something equal to that and join up also go by the Chamber of COmmercer if you are on one of the State side bases they will have the inforamtion on upcoming events in the area and definitely start wearing logo clothing. If you can't afford the ones from Merrill do what I did when I first started and I purchased a few blue discounted shirts and went and had them embrodier with the PC logo. But the t-shirts with Merrill I believe are about $10 or so. you only need one or two. Also if you will email I can send you some other ideas that might be able to help. I moved less than a month after I start with PC and have had my share of ups and down. Total understand the frustration but if you hang in there you will see some changes. The Mascot for my team is the Turtle probable can figure out why. The truth of the matter is that each person on my team started out slow and it took each on them 6 months or more to get qualified and sometimes they do go to get a show in for months. Please remember to use that list of 100 and you might do a Mystery show where you get people to collect $50 -100 in sales include theirs and enter them into a drawing at the end. The prize will come from the free products you get from adding all the orders together. It really helped my biz. when I joined a church and I told a few people what I was doing and asked for their help or to refer me to someone if they couldn't help. Hang in there and here is my email if you want to contact me about more info on moving your biz. to a new location. [email protected]
P.S. you might want to check into one of those support groups that they have for the wives of deployed soldiers you could find some real support there. Go luck and Merry Christmas.

pam
 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I leverage social media to get more bookings while my husband is deployed?

Social media is a powerful tool for direct sales. Create engaging posts showcasing your products, share recipes, and highlight customer testimonials. Join local community groups and offer virtual cooking classes or demos. Use stories and live videos to connect with your audience and encourage them to book parties or private consultations.

2. What strategies can I use to reach out to my existing customer base for bookings?

Reach out to your existing customers through personalized messages or emails. Remind them of the benefits of hosting a party, such as earning free products or discounts. Offer incentives for hosting, like exclusive recipes or a special gift. Follow up with past hosts to see if they’d like to book another party.

3. How can I network with other military spouses for potential bookings?

Connect with other military spouses through local support groups, online forums, or social media. Attend events or gatherings where you can meet potential customers. Offer to host a cooking demo or party for them and their friends, emphasizing the community aspect and the fun of cooking together.

4. Are there any online platforms I can use to promote my business while my husband is deployed?

Yes, consider using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to promote your Pampered Chef business. Create a dedicated business page and share content regularly. You can also use platforms like Zoom or Facebook Live to host virtual parties, making it easy for people to join from the comfort of their homes.

5. How can I balance my business activities with family responsibilities during deployment?

Time management is key. Set specific hours each week dedicated to your business, and communicate these with your family. Involve your children in simple tasks related to your business, like helping with social media posts. Use tools like scheduling apps to plan your activities and ensure you’re making the most of your time.

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