New in Town Started TPampered Chef and Stuck in a Rut

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the challenges faced by a new Pampered Chef consultant in a rural area, particularly in generating bookings and building a customer base. Participants share their personal experiences and various strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions having a grand opening show but only securing catalog shows, expressing a desire for live bookings.
  • Another participant shares their experience of promoting Pampered Chef by talking to people in various public places and wearing branded clothing to increase visibility.
  • Several users mention leaving business cards and flyers at local businesses as a way to reach potential customers.
  • One participant recounts their success with local advertising and community involvement, including donations that led to bookings.
  • Another consultant suggests engaging with local events and fairs to network and gain exposure.
  • Some participants note the importance of follow-up with previous customers to encourage bookings.
  • One participant shares a humorous take on promoting at registries, while others discuss the challenges of not having certain stores available in their area.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of various promotional strategies, with no clear consensus on the best approach to securing bookings in a new area.

Contextual Notes

Participants are sharing personal experiences from different rural locations, highlighting the unique challenges of building a business in areas with limited social connections.

Who May Find This Useful

New Pampered Chef consultants in rural areas or those looking to expand their customer base may find the shared experiences and strategies relevant.

Hotjazz1001
Messages
4
I just moved to Cranbrook, I know 3 people and had my grand opening show etc.....made bookings from my grand opening show. But they all ended up as catalogue shows. I have no live shows booked as of yet. (Doing a bridal/grad fair on Sun) Sounds kinda dumb I am the only consultant for over a 400km radius.... How in earth can I get bookings in an area that I don't know a soul??? Open for suggestions.....:confused:
 
Talk up PC to everyone you meet. At the store, at the bank, at the video store, at church, your children's school (if you have children). Send your husband to work with catalogs if he works in an office.My former director met a lot of her customers and recruits in Target (yes DebbieJ, I'm talking about Angela :D ). We use to tease her that she stalked people in Target. She use to go up to brides who were doing their registry, and introduce them to our registry. Anyway, make yourself known as a PC consultant all over town. Wear PC labeled clothes everywhere. Carry catalogs all the time, and don't hand them over until you get their contact info.
 
Do you have a party store? Ask if you can leave your cards/catalogs/ wedding flyers there.

Go play bingo and start talking there. Or join a bowling league. That will put you in place with other people.

Good luck
 
She use to go up to brides who were doing their registry, and introduce them to our registry.

lol I did that. Nothing came of it but I figured why not try?

If you're the only consultant for 400 km, you have a wide open market. Just get your name out around town. Hair and nail salons, restaurants, real estate agents, everyone you come across. Ask your hosts and customers to spread the word even in nearby towns. They may have friends/relatives there who would be happy to find out about you. Maybe check out the policies and run a small ad in the newpapers in nearby towns. Ours has a page where we just send them a biz card and it's very reasonable.

When I started, I was the only one in about a 50 mile radius and everyone I met said they were so glad to know there was a PC consultant in the area now. (Funny, I can't seem to find any of those people for bookings now but oh well. lol) You will probably have people who are interested in the business and that's a selling point for it...the need for more consultants. Good luck.
 
When we moved 3 years ago, I didn't know anyone. We also moved to a very rural area so not many neighbors. I went to subdivisions that were fairly close (for me that is 30 minute drive) and left surveys. I collected the answered ones the next day and followed up w/calls letting them know upcoming specials. I got some bookings from that. Look under files for neighborhood survey.

Make customer care calls. Call everyone that has ordered from you & let them know about specials & ASK for bookings! You need to ask everyone!

Fliers (etc) are good but only work if you have contact info to followup. I leave business cards & catalogs at our little coffee shop & have only ever had 1 person call to place an order for the batter bowl. I have been leaving them there for over 2 years. So while this gets your info out, you probably won't get much response.

I hope this helps. Contact your director if you still need suggestions. Don't give up...it will happen if you really want it to.
 
Put a box at a local store for a free drawing to gather names. Wear PC t-shirts, bags, coats, etc every where you go. If you have kids, volunteer with their activities so you can meet other moms.
 
Do you have PC clothing, pin, or bag to carry? Ask BeckyD about that. She highly recommends it.
 
JAE said:
Do you have PC clothing, pin, or bag to carry? Ask BeckyD about that. She highly recommends it.
Oh, yes! Some of my very first shows came from just wearing a PC pin on my coat lapel!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
wowthanks for the suggestions...i'm going to try those except for the target stalker..only because we dn't have target stores in canada ;)
 
You can stalk people at the walmart registry...LOL
 
Oh my! How do you survive w/o Target? Just kidding. I like Target but try not to shop there too often. I buy things I don't need when I go there. I do shop there about once a month.
Anyway, back to the reason for this thread....
 
When I first started in Sooke another small community. I put ads in my local paper, every bulletin board has one of my flyers (grocery store, laundramat, etc.) My logo is on my car and I never go out without my PC clothing. My tote bag with catalogues and I give my business card to everyone, bank tellers, waitress's.
My biggest break was when I gave a donation to the local daycare, one of the mom's booked a show and then her SIL and then their friends and so on.
This site has tons of great ideas for getting booking leads. Hang in there!
Lorna
 
go to the Chamber of Commerce in that area might have more than one if you are the only Consultant in 400 radius and find out about all upcoming events: booths and fairs, Then take out the phone book and start calling biz.s to tell them you're Company adopts a biz each week and they won. Then ask what the best time is to drop off a prepared dish. Taske the dish you fix on a piece of SA and drop it off along with some catalogs. Introduce yourself and tell them you are new to the area and you take referrals. You can also go to the schools and ask to leave catty's in the teacher lounge.

I moved to a new area last year and there was 3 consultant within a block of each other.

I started my biz by fairs and the people at my DH job did a couple to help get me started.

hope this helps.

the fairs got me 3 recruits and I am now a Director.

Best of luck
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Well I just found out this morning that I actually got a table at the local bridal/grad showcase n Sunday...... lots of last minute preparations but hopefully it will get me some bookings and get my name out there.... Anyone have any ideas for a good tag line??
 
  • Thread starter
  • #15
I cross border shop to get my target fix LOL kalispell is only 2 hours from here that in montana LOL
 
this doc will REALLY help you!

See attached!
 
Last edited:
AdvertiseI can't stress this enough. I suggest you go for a nice brisk walk and drop off flyers in your neighborhood, and surrounding neighborhoods to let people know you are close by for shows or to place orders.

Also I agree that you should ask around to see what businesses will let you leave flyers and catalogs in their shops. Nail salons, daycares, hair salons, kid's resale shops, coffee shops, bakeries, doctor's offices, etc....

Hope it works out for you. Before you know it, you will have a wonderful customer base and lots of cooking shows|!!

Debbie :D
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first as a new Pampered Chef consultant in a new town?

Start by familiarizing yourself with the local community. Attend local events, join community groups on social media, and network with other local businesses. Hosting a launch party can also help you introduce yourself and your products to potential customers.

How can I find customers in a new area?

Utilize social media platforms to connect with local groups and communities. You can also host cooking demonstrations or workshops to showcase your products. Consider offering special promotions or discounts to attract new customers and encourage word-of-mouth referrals.

What if I feel stuck in my Pampered Chef business?

Feeling stuck is common in direct sales. Reassess your goals and strategies. Try new marketing techniques, such as social media advertising or collaborating with other local businesses. Additionally, consider reaching out to your upline or attending training sessions for fresh ideas and motivation.

How can I stay motivated as a new consultant?

Set small, achievable goals to celebrate your progress. Surround yourself with supportive peers, whether through local meetups or online communities. Regularly remind yourself of your passion for cooking and the benefits of your products to keep your enthusiasm alive.

What resources are available for new Pampered Chef consultants?

Pampered Chef provides various resources, including training materials, webinars, and a supportive online community. Take advantage of these tools to enhance your skills and knowledge. Additionally, consider joining local consultant groups for networking and sharing best practices.

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