Maximizing Incentives for Catalog Shows: Tips for New Consultants

[Intrepid_Chef]

I am a new consultant and have been lurking around here for a while. I finally became a member mostly so I could look at those nifty flyers you're all uploading!

Since I'm a TOTAL newbie, I have the same question when I read about various incentives, like discounts, gift certificates, and other promotional items.

How do you do it? Submit a catalog show and give them a discount using the host discount? Pay for the certificate or discount out of your own pocket?

Any tips would help a lot!

 

[scottcooks]

I was just talking with another consultant (who represents another company) about 'massaging the details' to give customers the very best deal.

You've got the idea - a discount is typically something you don't have to pay much for - giving someone 20%, might simply be adding it onto another show you already have going in. They don't know that, and you can create a receipt in Pampered Partner to say just about anything you want it to... it's a little complex when you start entering orders on a host's actual true order, just from a receipt standpoint; just keep a tally next to your computer so everything is correct to you. God bless; take care!

-praying for Paige and her family-

 

[MaddyandOwensMom]

I had the same question last year after I had only been in it a few months. My director told me that you add whatever "freebie" you are giving her to her order. She is getting at least a 15% discount on any products she buys separate from her FPV. Therefore, whatever you give her will have that same discount. Don't forget that you then get a commission on that same product. I have offered $15 in FPV for the host to hold the show on the original date and it has never really cost me that much-maybe about $9 after the percentage off and the commission. Hope that helps!
Jessica M-J

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Well, my first show is in the name of my roomate's pet, who has a very person-like name and a different last name than me! This enables me to get the red trivet to give as a gift or show at parties. So ... would I be able to, say, over a 10 percent discount to Black Friday orders, putting those orders under the name of the cat? Would this mess up their guarantee? I'm a little worried about meeting the $150 minimum for the Dec. 1 show so I am trying to put in orders that would count toward that.

 

[scottcooks]

theoretically, you have the idea - Yes - you can offer a 10% discount, putting the show in the name of a pet. No, it doesn't mess up their guarantee. The name is just a way of filing the info for PC HO.

You may not realize you can actually print receipts for a show that you have not sent in - this is how I do some of the gifting and all.

One way to make up the payment, is to do the math separately, then make a "Consultant Gift" amount for the difference in product or half price or whatever. The customer doesn't know how you paid for it, just their own bottom line.

Good luck; God Bless You! Keep asking questions until you get answers you need.

-Praying for Paige and her family-

 

[BethCooks4U]

Well, my first show is in the name of my roomate's pet, who has a very person-like name and a different last name than me! This enables me to get the red trivet to give as a gift or show at parties.

So ... would I be able to, say, over a 10 percent discount to Black Friday orders, putting those orders under the name of the cat? Would this mess up their guarantee? I'm a little worried about meeting the $150 minimum for the Dec. 1 show so I am trying to put in orders that would count toward that.

CAT'S NAME??? Come on! Pampered Chef is so generous to us and to our hosts I do not understand why people have to LIE and take advantage of the system. This kind of thing really makes me see red. Be honest. If you don't have a host then admit you are doing the show (you still get most of the benefits) or have a mystery host (pick someone who places an order or the highest order or something).

Sorry, I don't mean to attack you personally but I see too much of this and new consultants should not be encouraged to "bend the rules" like this.

 

[BethCooks4U]

One other thing: You need to be aware that HO does have people who read posts on this site. You are admitting to fabricating a host which is wrong. If the wrong person sees posts like this you will get a call from HO on it.

 

[lkprescott]

Well, my first show is in the name of my roomate's pet, who has a very person-like name and a different last name than me! This enables me to get the red trivet to give as a gift or show at parties.

So ... would I be able to, say, over a 10 percent discount to Black Friday orders, putting those orders under the name of the cat? Would this mess up their guarantee? I'm a little worried about meeting the $150 minimum for the Dec. 1 show so I am trying to put in orders that would count toward that.

Curious but why use the cat's name? You can host a show as a consultant and it's my understanding that you're not limited in doing so although obviously to grow you're going to have to find more hosts.

Why not put your first show in as you being the host? That's what I did and it was fine... it gave me the confidence to have someone else as host once I understood the process from invites to receiving and distributing the shipment.

 

[fikibiff]

Beth - that really does sound like a personal attack. This is a new consultant and maybe she just needs help. When I started I was told that HO frowned on consultants doing their own shows and that I should put things under my husband's or neighbor's name. She just used a different name that happens to be a cat.

 

[stacywhitlow]

Beth - that really does sound like a personal attack. This is a new consultant and maybe she just needs help. When I started I was told that HO frowned on consultants doing their own shows and that I should put things under my husband's or neighbor's name. She just used a different name that happens to be a cat.

Not sure who told you that. It states specifically in the Recipe for Success that consultants can host their own show. I agree with Beth. Why not have the roommate be the host? Not the cat.

 

[stacywhitlow]

Since I'm a TOTAL newbie, I have the same question when I read about various incentives, like discounts, gift certificates, and other promotional items.

How do you do it? Submit a catalog show and give them a discount using the host discount? Pay for the certificate or discount out of your own pocket?

Any tips would help a lot!

Earn FREE products during Sell-a-thon and panarama. Take advantage of host special that the host doesn't purchase. Order products from the supply list. Then all of these can be used as incentive freebies.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

My roomate does not care about the products. The cat was at least present for the demo!

Anyway ... it's just something I was debating as a way to potentially offer greater benefits to customers in the future, and because I, too, thought that HQ might frown on a self-sponsored show. At this point, if I gave somebody a 10 percent discount, it would come out of my pocket unless I put it on the host's order, and if I have a show that is barely $150 in sales (like I do now) and need those orders to make the show minimum, then I have a show I can't turn in! I also envisioned giving away the 60 perent Simple Additions item as an incentive to boost sales, but in the end, nobody took me up on it because the only customer interested in them booked her own catty show.

So calm down. I haven't even submitted the show yet and may end up changing the name of the host.

Anyway ... I AM earning a few spring products throught he SAT, but being that my start is kind of slow, the bundle will be small. And I DO have a supply order going in soon, HOPEFULLY before my next in-person show. And I don't think a consultant as the host will get the 60 or 50 percent discounts, which is why I was giving them away.

It really doesn't seem a whole lot different to me than the "mystery host" thing, but oh well. Calm down. It was just a thought. At least I know how to make people respond to this thread.

 

[BethCooks4U]

As I said, it was not a personal statement. I was talking to ALL of those who think you can just put anything you want on your orders and "work" the system.

She may have gotten bad information from here, her director, other sources and I understand that. Starting a business with deception is no way to become successful. The Business Guide and the PC website are a wealth of information even if your director isn't.

If a person isn't getting the shows or orders she/he wants they need to look at what they are saying and who they aren't asking and not how they can beat the system.

[edit: This was posted before Di's last post. Again, I am just trying to help here. Just don't start your business thinking this is okay. That's all I'm saying.]

 

[wadesgirl]

Consultants can host their own shows when they wish to. You do get all the same host benefits except:
10% discount
Booking benefit
Commission on the host order (anything that is on the unlimited discount would normally be commissionalbe on a regular host order)

Plus, as far as I understand, anyone living in the home with the consultant is also ineligable for these benefits for the consultant. That way consultants aren't putting the show in their SO's name all the time to reap the benefits. The benefits are designed with our hosts in mind to help them not pay full price for a whole year. As a consultant we get different benefits all the time (including 20% off any personal non-commissionable order put in).

If you offer 10% off to a guest, that would only be a few dollars out of your pocket for their order (only $3 for a $30 order). This way it would count towards the show total and help out better than putting it on the host order.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Plus, as far as I understand, anyone living in the home with the consultant is also ineligable for these benefits for the consultant.

This leads me to a question ...

Catty Host #2 does not want her order shipped to her house, because she lives in an apartment building and is worried about theft. If I have her order shipped to my house, does that mean she loses benefits? The whole reason she is hosting a show is that she wants the discount on the Simple Additions.

Anyway, I am trying to UNDERSTAND the system here. Calm down. I'm trying to figure out what we can do for people WITHOUT breaking the rules and WITHOUT spending money out of my own pocket.

In my prior line, incentives were built into the plan. This plan is different. I look around here and see all kinds of people offering all kinds of discounts that are not built into the plan. It seems to me that this can add up BIG TIME. If I give customers 20 percent out of my pocket and I only earn 20 percent commission, I have just made NOTHING on that order.

I just wanted to know how you all do that without breaking the bank. That is all.

 

[raebates]

To have a show shipped to your address, you input it this way:Host's Name
c/o Consultant's Name
Consultant's address
City, State 00000Lots of people offer extra incentives. As you build your business, your sales will increase, as will your commission. Plus, future directors and above receive a slice of commission from their downline's sales.My rule of thumb is to make sure I'm still making a commission, even after any personal incentives.

 

[wadesgirl]

Rae is correct, I have orders shipped to my house all the time for special hosts (ie: family, friends, etc).

When I first started I didn't offer much for incentives since I wasn't making much money. Now that I have been doing this for a year, it's easier to offer things to hosts and guest. Figure out what the best for you is to do and go with that, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing, that's the best part about this business. Do what you are comfortable doing in your business.

 

[raebates]

Rae is correct, I have orders shipped to my house all the time for special hosts (ie: family, friends, etc).

When I first started I didn't offer much for incentives since I wasn't making much money. Now that I have been doing this for a year, it's easier to offer things to hosts and guest. Figure out what the best for you is to do and go with that, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing, that's the best part about this business.

I love it when people say that!

 

[cmdtrgd]

Just wanted to step into the contreversy . First off, as a new consultant your hosts ALREADY get something other hosts don't get - the 30 day thank you gift thingie (technical term). What we need to do on here is to advise people to learn to work the system LEGALLY! As for hosting your own show - THERE IS A BUTTON IN PP FOR IT!!! Sorry, but it irked me that new consultants are taught that HO frowns on THAT, but not on cheating the system!Another thing that can happen is called splitting shows so you can qualify faster. It is ethical to do this for a CATALOG show where the CONSULTANT is host. It isn't if it is a live show and/or if someone is else is the host. It is basically taking away what they earned so the consultant can earn something more!! Catalog shows can be dated anytime (I usually date them the day we decide to close the show). That way, you can have a December catalog show start November 25th. As long as you give them the December guest special info.Now, I do admit that my 10 year old niece has hosted a show and gotten free stuff - but she really did get the orders for me!!!I also have a strong recruit lead who doesn't have much in the way of support or the whole $155 to pay for the kit. I have a catalog show going. I told her I would put her name on the show if she were to get it to $400 or more so she could use the FPV towards her kit.Things like this are acceptable - just follow the rules!!!

 

[lkprescott]

Just wanted to step into the contreversy . First off, as a new consultant your hosts ALREADY get something other hosts don't get - the 30 day thank you gift thingie (technical term). What we need to do on here is to advise people to learn to work the system LEGALLY! As for hosting your own show - THERE IS A BUTTON IN PP FOR IT!!! Sorry, but it irked me that new consultants are taught that HO frowns on THAT, but not on cheating the system!

Charter host gift?

 

[lkprescott]

BTW as a consultant hosting their own show (which yes, there is a place to label the show as such in P3) you also earn the charter host gift. I'd actually forgotten about it and lo, they sent me one even without asking. I use it all the time now too at my shows (the cranberry silicon trivet/hot pad).

 

[BethCooks4U]

In my prior line, incentives were built into the plan. This plan is different. I look around here and see all kinds of people offering all kinds of discounts that are not built into the plan. It seems to me that this can add up BIG TIME. If I give customers 20 percent out of my pocket and I only earn 20 percent commission, I have just made NOTHING on that order.

I just wanted to know how you all do that without breaking the bank. That is all.

Incentives ARE built into our plan. Pampered Chef has about, if not THE, best incentive program available and we consultants should be embracing it and using it to our and our host's advantage. When we offer extra incentives it's like saying "PC doesn't give you enough". I rarely give extra incentives unless I am looking to meet a personal objective. I then tell my hosts that because I want something I am offering ___ as an extra incentive if they will help me get it.

Look at the host program closely. Then talk to your hosts and find out what it is they are looking for (I had one host who was SOOOO excited about the 10% off for a year benefit.) then talk that up! Be excited about what PC offers and your hosts will be too.

 

[cmdtrgd]

Look at the host program closely. Then talk to your hosts and find out what it is they are looking for then talk that up! Be excited about what PC offers and your hosts will be too.

I agree!!! One of the first things I learned was about our Host Benefits. The products will sell themselves. If you have anyone in the audience that has C products, THEY will sell them for you! Have your guests come up and make the recipe - makes your job easier, too!

Now, I challenge you to host a show for another DS company. I am amazed that we are the ONLY company (that I know of) that does the PHD for a year! A lot of companies offer booking gifts at the show and nothing holds their bookings - we have the host special. Nobody I know of does the 60% off one item for the host special. MOST make you pay shipping as well as TAX ON THE FREE ITEMS! What New Consultants need to know is our HOST PROGRAM! Belinda Ellsworth built two huge and hugely successful DS businesses just by starting out with that!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

PC does have good incentives. HOWEVER ... I guess I am still comparing things to my old product line. Under that program, my customers got 20 percent of their sales in free product, plus $25, plus another $25 if they sold over $300 and usually, a free item if they sold over $400 or more. They also got three half price items, which they almost never used because they were getting so much free! We also had a 70 percent discount we could offer a host for any reason we choose. The host did pay shipping on her order, but tax only on what she purchased, not on what was free. And when someone booked off her, she'd get a $75 gift certificate for $15 to spend at that show.

Customers, meanwhile, got their third item half price (the most costly of the three) and often, a 75 percent discount if they purchased $75.

You'd think I'd be doing great with specials like that. I've been to many gift fairs and found the program to be the best around. However ... the product was one that people saw as a luxury.

So here I am in a program that has very different incentives ... but a very different product as well. A product that I personally feel is easier to sell, and am seeing some initial success so I think it's ultimately going to be better.

But I look around these boards, and it seems like everyone is offering special discounts to people, especially in regards to Black Friday. It makes me wonder if they NEED to offer these incentives to get the sales they are achieving?

Anyway ... I was told a consultant/host could NOT get the charter gift. Thanks for clearing that up! I was hoping to keep it and maybe use it as an incentive for someone to host a December party, which is just outside my first 30 days.

 

[wadesgirl]

I offered a "birthday bash" sale in August since I had the day off of my normal job for my birthday. I ran it so that they would receive a discount depending on when they called me during the day. I just did it for the fun of it and sent out a flyer to my entire address book. I felt like it also served as a reminder for those guests I was never able to "connect" with at the party or reach on the phone that I am still available to them if they need anything. I didn't get that many sales so the out of pocket expense of the sale items wasn't that much. I offered 10% off items or free tax and shipping during the certain hours. Nothing that would totally break the bank though.

I did see on here were a consultant basically forgoed her commission to stay active as a director. She was willing to give up most of her commission so she could get a benefit that she would have otherwise lost. Then again, when you reach higher sales, $15,000 in sales, directorship, etc, your commission percentage goes up too. So giving a 20% discount when your commission is 27% you are sitll making some money on it. Once again, it's a personal choice by the consultant what they want to be able to "give away".

 

[Jennie4PC]

Some consultants do offer certain offers but they should come out of pocket as stated before. When I have months that I really would like to fill ex Sell A thon Month then what I do is I pass around a sheet of paper and say if you book on one of these days then I will give you a free cooking show. That is where I send the invites provide the food and plates and stuff like that. I did it to fill my Nov and Dec I had 4 people take me up on it 1 canceled and so far one has offered to help me pay for everything. The only other time that I have offered anything free is from drawings at TOH and so far only 1 person has taken me up on it.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

PC does have good incentives. HOWEVER ... I guess I am still comparing things to my old product line. Under that program, my customers got 20 percent of their sales in free product, plus $25, plus another $25 if they sold over $300 and usually, a free item if they sold over $400 or more. They also got three half price items, which they almost never used because they were getting so much free! We also had a 70 percent discount we could offer a host for any reason we choose. The host did pay shipping on her order, but tax only on what she purchased, not on what was free. And when someone booked off her, she'd get a $75 gift certificate for $15 to spend at that show.

Customers, meanwhile, got their third item half price (the most costly of the three) and often, a 75 percent discount if they purchased $75.

You'd think I'd be doing great with specials like that. I've been to many gift fairs and found the program to be the best around. However ... the product was one that people saw as a luxury.

So here I am in a program that has very different incentives ... but a very different product as well. A product that I personally feel is easier to sell, and am seeing some initial success so I think it's ultimately going to be better.

But I look around these boards, and it seems like everyone is offering special discounts to people, especially in regards to Black Friday. It makes me wonder if they NEED to offer these incentives to get the sales they are achieving?

Anyway ... I was told a consultant/host could NOT get the charter gift. Thanks for clearing that up! I was hoping to keep it and maybe use it as an incentive for someone to host a December party, which is just outside my first 30 days.

There are many people on this board who aren't even participating in the threads that talk about extra incentives........I USED TO offer all kinds of extra incentives, but have discovered that extra incentives usually
end up just costing me money, and don't benefit my business for the amount of $$ and time that I put into them.
I now focus just on our incredible host plan, and what you can get for hosting a show, and that has helped my business so much more than any extra incentives. Like Beth, I will also offer an extra incentive if I think I am close to a goal, and it will help me meet it to offer the incentive. But that is usually either something I have on hand, or possibly a free show.

November is Sellathon Month - which is huge for PC consultants....so more people offer incentives this time of year for sales & bookings than any other time of the year.

Attached are some "booking coupons" that I found in the files here - I use these at all of my shows as a visual aid to show how great the Host Program is - I hand these one at a time to my host, and explain each benefit briefly.

 

[chefmeg]

PC does have good incentives. HOWEVER ... I guess I am still comparing things to my old product line. Under that program, my customers got 20 percent of their sales in free product, plus $25, plus another $25 if they sold over $300 and usually, a free item if they sold over $400 or more. They also got three half price items, which they almost never used because they were getting so much free! We also had a 70 percent discount we could offer a host for any reason we choose. The host did pay shipping on her order, but tax only on what she purchased, not on what was free. And when someone booked off her, she'd get a $75 gift certificate for $15 to spend at that show.

Customers, meanwhile, got their third item half price (the most costly of the three) and often, a 75 percent discount if they purchased $75.

You'd think I'd be doing great with specials like that. I've been to many gift fairs and found the program to be the best around. However ... the product was one that people saw as a luxury.

So here I am in a program that has very different incentives ... but a very different product as well. A product that I personally feel is easier to sell, and am seeing some initial success so I think it's ultimately going to be better.

But I look around these boards, and it seems like everyone is offering special discounts to people, especially in regards to Black Friday. It makes me wonder if they NEED to offer these incentives to get the sales they are achieving?

Anyway ... I was told a consultant/host could NOT get the charter gift. Thanks for clearing that up! I was hoping to keep it and maybe use it as an incentive for someone to host a December party, which is just outside my first 30 days.

I think you need to totally forget about your former product line-there really is no comparison to PC as we have THE BEST Host incentives there are! Erase the other product line from your mind and start anew with ours! When you have questions, look for answers in your Business Building book or call that toll free number-they don't keep track of how many times we call to get anwers! Thank God for that!

 

[DebbieJ]

Well, my first show is in the name of my roomate's pet, who has a very person-like name and a different last name than me! This enables me to get the red trivet to give as a gift or show at parties.

You know, you could do the show with you as the host and buy the trivet for very little after the host discount. The more you cheat our company, the more our prices will go up.

 

[Geekgirl69]

You know, you could do the show with you as the host and buy the trivet for very little after the host discount. The more you cheat our company, the more our prices will go up.

The trivet would be free. It's the charter gift for hosting in your first 30 days. I got one for hosting my grand opening show.