If you do the search option in the little brown toolbar up there and type in "open house" you will get lots of great threads that talk about this. I'm sure everybody does them a little differently. Some of us feel that calling it an "Open House" could make you end up with smaller attendance. Calling it an actual kitchen show with a solid start time may be better. But, in true "open house" format, which I have done, you would probably prepare a bunch of the recipes and maybe save one or two for a demo. Display all the products you can and maybe put up some posters or flyers. I just read one suggestion on here today that was great, especially if you're starting out. Make a flyer or a big poster and trace your/draw a hand on it and write "Would you give me a hand in starting my business by being a Kitchen Show host?" or something like that. I thought that was cute.

I've done drawings every hour or given every guest a little door prize. Obviously have catalogs for them to browse and tell them they can place orders. Have a "mystery host" drawing where everyone who places an order can enter to win all the host benefits. Draw that at the close of your show and that person is considered the host. Although you'd have all the orders shipped to you. You could do another search up there with "mystery host." Those REALLY seem to get people interested in attending and placing orders. I'll attach an invitation I used for an open house I had a year ago. Obviously it's tailored to meet my specific needs, but you'll get the idea.

As for who to invite.....EVERYBODY! Anyone you can possibly think of and even people you don't know....like neighbors. Some people post invitations in public places, but personally I haven't had good luck with that. Good luck!!!

 

I had a open house as my first show with PC. I just invited most everyone I knew to come to my first show at my house. I don't know if thats technically an open house since I didn't pass out flyers to my whole neighborhood. I had one of my good friends get all the host benefits and she helped me out in the kitchen since I was doing the presentation and couldn't be everywhere at one time. I thought it was a great way to start my business. I had gotten 2 bookings from it and it ended up being a $400 show. I was alot more comfortable since it was my own home and it kind of gave me an idea of how I would want to do shows at other's homes. Anyway, thats my little plug for open houses. Good luck with yours!