"Lost" Potential Hosts Getting Mail!!! Grrr!

[ChefNic]

:grumpy:
I have several people who booked shows...and now I can't get in touch with them...
This isn't a new problem, or something none of us have complained about before...BUT...I want to get to the bottom of it.

I want to send self-addressed stamped postcards to them with a few questions...all they have to do is mark the answers and drop it in their mailbox.

Say something like:
I'm sending this postcard because I've not been able to reach you, and your show date is coming up or just passed.
~ Are you still interested in hosting?
_ YES!! DATE:_____________
_ Later - Month ______________
_ Never

~ Would you like to remain on my email list:
_Yes
_No
_Add my friend ________________________________________


ETC....
Do you wonderful creative people have something like this made up?
Have you done anything like this?

I ask everyone at my shows when I'm taking orders if they want to book...they CAN say no...and I pleasantly thank them...never any pressure. So WHY...OH WHY!!!... can't they return my phone calls!! I leave a message: "If you are no longer interested in hosting, let me know that as well, and I'll take you off my future host list"....and still NOTHING! With caller ID, I really feel like they are avoiding me, and with answering machines...I KNOW THEY are avoiding me.

I feel an obligation to my past host to get her that 60% off she is expecting since they booked from her.

I think my upline SED gave me this postcard idea a couple years ago, I just never did it.
I think I would be able to bless and release if I would just Hear Back from them!!

Thanks!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

I love the postcard! I think I would just send it on a brightly colored postcard & see what you get. Some people just aren't courteous enough to return it anyway.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Hmmm, it's a good idea - lets them know that you aren't upset, just need to know for the record what is going on.......but my one question is - If they won't return a phone call or email, do you think they will return a postcard?

 

[ChefNic]

Becky~I feel like if they just don't have the guts to say it to ME on the phone, maybe they will have the guts to mark it on a postcard.
The postage is worth it to me to know for sure.
I also want them to be aware that they are dodging me...it's just annoying!
I would have the decency to let a consultant know I changed my mind.

I have people sit down with me and say.."I want to do a show!!" or even " I want it all, I want to do a show and be a consultant" Then they don't even return a single phone call.... They sit down and volunteer the info before I ask...to me that means they are serious! So at least give me the courtesy of answering my emails and phone calls...

I have six shows and a catalog show this month(Sept) ...but there are NINE others on the calendar for SEPTEMBER that never set dates...that's just Sept...I have other people on other months as well - and again, I never pressured any of them to book shows, I simply ask, they say yes...then don't return my calls.
I'm fine with 6 shows a month! I just want the courtesy that I would give to them.

Sorry for the rambling...maybe i'm just in a certain mood...I made several phone calls last night, got mostly answering machines - again...hmmm - caller id at it's best.

Thanks everyone!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I rarely have anyone return a phone call! In fact, I consider it a gift if I get a return phone call - even from people who have been the ones to initiate the booking etc......I know that it is what I would call common courtesy - but I guess what I consider common is becoming more rare.
I also know that people have insanely busy lives, and even though my business is priority to me - it isn't priority to everyone else.
I may be different from alot of consultants, I don't know, but I have stopped stressing about the ones who don't follow through. Sorta a "Bless and Release" mentality - I just move on to the next person who is interested in a show. I do continue to contact and call occasionally, and keep them on my email list - and if they ever want a show, well, they know where I am, or they can pick up the phone next time I call.
Case in point - I had a past host from 3 yrs ago who, after her show, was like "Don't call me, I'll call you" for keeping in contact. Okay, fine.
I sent her an invitation to my Fall Preview this year. (I invite only past hosts and their guests) She came, brought a guest, and booked a show for October! Her friend is waiting til her show to book her own show for November! AND she emailed me this morning with her 40 person guest list, and told me she already has 6 people committed to coming to her Oct 25th show, and one of those wants to bring 2 friends with her!

This is from a woman who had not returned a phone call or email in 2.5 years!

Soooo - yes, by all means, mail out the postcard - it may be just the thing someone needs to finally spark them to make contact. But don't write them off - keep in contact, just make sure you aren't investing alot of emotional energy in people who are not responding.

 

[ChefNic]

Thank you for your advice.
I definitely don't write anyone off.
and I let them know that I know that they are busy, and it is my job,not theirs to remember Pampered Chef.
After blessing and releasing people from years ago...I am just ready to do one last step before blessing and releasing some of these more resent 'lost' hosts...from June and July. I'm not ready to just release them yet.

I really started this thread to see if anyone has already done something like this, not to justify why I'm doing it...i plan on doing it.

Thanks for your input.