chefmary
Gold Member
- 432
I hate to whine and I try to keep my posts upbeat, but I need to get this off my chest and perhaps just down on paper, so to speak, so I can wrap my mind around what has gone wrong with this fundraiser I have been looking forward to! I am feeling very frustrated and somewhat used.
I just got off the phone with the host, who booked this show at my open house last month. Her daughter also booked and her show was last weekend, at her mother's. No one showed up! I suck it up, because I know her mom is the better customer of the two and I am looking forward to the fundraiser, which we discuss while I prepare the demo recipe (yes, they wanted me to do the demo!!). The FR host is looking to make this a big fundraiser and invite her friends with spouses, since most of them cook and possibly open it up to a larger audience. We discuss demo ideas and I offer a raffle prize, to help encourage spending and thereby bring in greater donations for the organization.
I received an email from her yesterday, telling me that she has finally decided on the specific branch of her charity that she wants to work with and that she'll be sending out invitations, etc. and that she and her daughter have secured the Fire Hall to accomodate the larger crowd she is anticipating. Nothing else.
I spoke with her today, and learn that she has invited other vendors to the event to sell their wares. Once I got over my initial shock, I told her that I was surprised and disappointed, because this was not what we had spoken about. I know that she really doesn't know what she is doing and I pointed out that by inviting additional vendors she wouldn't necessarily get a greater return, since most people have a specific spending budget for these types of events. She then asked me if I would still be offering a "bring a friend, get a gift" for those in attendance. I said that I usually do that when we are talking about a PC only situation (I'm certainly not going to give a gift to someone who is coming to purchase candles or makeup only!!). She also asked if I was still offering the raffle prize and I said that I would, but I did say that I would offer an entry based a PC purchase. I'm sure she was disappointed with that, but again, I offered this before she decided to bring additional vendors into the picture.
She said that she was going to make PC the focus and pass my catalog only to friends at her workplace, but I don't know how she can do this and not make the other vendors upset. I don't know what she has told them and I certainly don't want to walk into a situation where the other vendors are going to be "hostile."
I told her that I would email her my thoughts and so I turn to you to see if anyone can help throw some inspiration my way!
To those of you who made it to the end, thanks for listening to my rambling! It does feel better to get it out!!
I just got off the phone with the host, who booked this show at my open house last month. Her daughter also booked and her show was last weekend, at her mother's. No one showed up! I suck it up, because I know her mom is the better customer of the two and I am looking forward to the fundraiser, which we discuss while I prepare the demo recipe (yes, they wanted me to do the demo!!). The FR host is looking to make this a big fundraiser and invite her friends with spouses, since most of them cook and possibly open it up to a larger audience. We discuss demo ideas and I offer a raffle prize, to help encourage spending and thereby bring in greater donations for the organization.
I received an email from her yesterday, telling me that she has finally decided on the specific branch of her charity that she wants to work with and that she'll be sending out invitations, etc. and that she and her daughter have secured the Fire Hall to accomodate the larger crowd she is anticipating. Nothing else.
I spoke with her today, and learn that she has invited other vendors to the event to sell their wares. Once I got over my initial shock, I told her that I was surprised and disappointed, because this was not what we had spoken about. I know that she really doesn't know what she is doing and I pointed out that by inviting additional vendors she wouldn't necessarily get a greater return, since most people have a specific spending budget for these types of events. She then asked me if I would still be offering a "bring a friend, get a gift" for those in attendance. I said that I usually do that when we are talking about a PC only situation (I'm certainly not going to give a gift to someone who is coming to purchase candles or makeup only!!). She also asked if I was still offering the raffle prize and I said that I would, but I did say that I would offer an entry based a PC purchase. I'm sure she was disappointed with that, but again, I offered this before she decided to bring additional vendors into the picture.
She said that she was going to make PC the focus and pass my catalog only to friends at her workplace, but I don't know how she can do this and not make the other vendors upset. I don't know what she has told them and I certainly don't want to walk into a situation where the other vendors are going to be "hostile."
I told her that I would email her my thoughts and so I turn to you to see if anyone can help throw some inspiration my way!
To those of you who made it to the end, thanks for listening to my rambling! It does feel better to get it out!!
