No Demos: Can a $2K Pampered Chef Show Succeed?

[baychef]

I am going to offer this no demo to my host that is having a party for the gazzillianth time (can't get him to sign). They are a rowdy bunch and have seen demo after demo. I love this business!!!

 

[raebates]

They were all telling me how she did not demo any recipe, or have many products with her..and none of the new products...I got bookings from the 2 people that had attended that other show.

I do think it's much more important to have plenty of products and the majority of the newest ones with you when you do a show at which you make no recipe.

 

[pamperedgirl3]

I guess we'll just have to depend on the host to know her guests. If they know it will be rowdy, a no demo would probably be better. If they are newer to PC, then a demo would probably be better. Those in between probably wouldn't care one way or the other!

 

[Jules711]

I always offer the option. For a no demo show, I bring recipe prepared-maybe doing finishing touches as people show up since they seem to enjoy "helping" more when it's not really in front of others. I talk about new products, especially. I also offer open houses where I really end up talking to everyone and answering questions the whole time. I don't do a real talk, but get a lot of info out and people start having fun asking me questions. I kind of like this option b/c I seem to get to chat with each guest longer and it's a shorter show!! I, of course, still offer the full demo as well. Some people like it and some are thrilled to be able to opt for another choice. I love that I can decide what I want to offer and the host can decide what she'd like for her guests.

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

I have done a no demo show several times, and I agree, it depends on your "audience" and their preferences as to which way is better.

I have another question for all of you. When doing a show, demo or not, how much "other stuff" do you talk about besides the products? What I mean is, do you talk about....
guest specials, current and upcoming
host specials, current and upcoming
Round up campaign
bridal registry
bridal showers
sweepstakes
fund-raisers
host program
recruiting

I am having a difficult time NOT talking about each of these, but, I don't think my audience is really "into" it....I mean, I can rush through a demo, doing two recipes, and talking about all of the above, in about 45 minutes, but I would really like to cut this down if possible. I just don't want anyone to go away feeling "cheated", by me not giving out the info on something they might be needing.
Anybody out there feeling like this? Anybody out there who has "conquered" this problem???
I am sooo looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this!! Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[ChefJeniLobdell]

I'm on the fence too. I am going to try the no-demo at my next show. It just seems like my shows are so long if I demo, and I don't really get a chance to talk about other items in the catalog before people lose interest. I am even thinking of going to one of my director's shows and watching how she does her shows again for some insight. I just don't feel I am accomplishing everything I want to at shows in a good amount of time.

 

[raebates]

I don't think I ever leave a show without thinking, "Oh, shoot! I didn't mention __________." Paula, I mention all of those. I just don't do it all at once. With practice, I've been able to learn how to sprinkle one or two lines about each of the "extras" throughout my talk. I use a product for each prompt. For example, when we get to the trivet in the catalog, I mention the RUFTH campaign.I don't go into lengthly explanations unless someone asks a question.

 

[itsjustCarla]

My director has never demonstrated a recipe at her shows. She lets the host choose 2 recipes to prepare, then she asks the guests to volunteer - if no one volunteers, she has the host pick volunteers and they prepare the recipe. The guests prepare everything and also get a hands-on feel for the product. I have tried it several times at my shows and it never goes off as well as hers do, but she gets a great response. I have gotten a WONDERFUL response from catalog walk-thru shows - people love it more than just listening to someone talk about the products. I'm still working on trying to make my shows more fun....

 

[christy_c]

I think it's a great idea to let the hosts choose what type of show they want. I'm only in my 2nd month, so I've been trying to find what works best for me. At my show last week, I tried the no-demo & I don't think the crowd really cared for it. I didn't find out until I got there that all the guests except one hadn't been to a PC show before, so a demo would have been great then. After that, I told myself I would always demo at least 1 recipe at my shows. So, at my big show yesterday, I demoed 2 recipes. Most of the women there had been to several PC shows before (1 was a past consultant), so they probably would have liked the no-demo show, but they all seemed to enjoy my demos anyway. Sooo, now I've decided to let the hosts choose what they want. They know their guests and what they would like. The way I see it, it's their time to get together and have fun with their friends and family so they shouldn't have to sit through a demo if they don't want to. JMHO

 

[caryd]

I am doing my first "no demo show" this month. From the feedback that i am getting from my host, the guests are totally excited about it. I think giving the host a choice in what type of show they have is key. This host has had 1-2 cooking shows a year and some catalog shows in between for a really long time. The guests to her shows are always the same and have all of the staple PC products. I plan to really talk up our new products and the cookware with this crowd. I know these ladies have a ton of stoneware (because they purchased it from me before) Now I am going to get them started on getting all of our cookware and knives. I love my business and the creativity and ability to make each show unique. Another way to spruce up a no-demo show, is to have a theme show. This makes it new and a lot less boring to frequent PC hosts and guests.

 

[SnowChef]

I took Rae's idea of doing a walk-thru catalog show and my guests loved it! I did the Love It/Have It game, and I gave them green, orange and pink post it notes to mark items in the catalog that they were going to buy that evening (green), might consider buying that evening (orange) or would buy if they had the extra $$ (pink). I told them the catalogs were theirs to keep and to use as many Post-its as they wanted (I cut them up into small tabs) and at the end I gave a prize to the person with the most post its and also explained the benefits of hosting a show! There were only 6 guests there, one w/o PC experience and all the veterans sold her on lots of products! I will have to work on shortening it up, the girls were having way to much fun selling the products to each other, but it was one of my best shows, and it was fun and relaxing for me! I tend to get a little to wound up when I actually have to 'perform' in front of a crowd, so this took a lot of pressure off me!

I will definitely use this format again! (I even got remarks from one of the guests the next day about how much fun they all had!) Thanks Rae!

 

[Paula R. Lewis]

Thanks, Rae! I guess I'm "doing it right", but it just seems long to me. Sometimes I see people "blanking out", so I figure I must be getting too detailed, if nothing else.
I think I need to write out what to say about each "category", perhaps, and then I could work on re-arranging the words until I get it down better! (I've actually thought this for awhile now, but just haven't taken the time to actually "do it"....seems too much like school! lol)

 

[raebates]

You're welcome. I'm glad things are going well. You know I'm going to say this, but practice out loud. Get used to hearing it as well as saying it. It helps.

 

[chefkristin]

I just started making the recipe with the host before the guests arrive. It has been working out well!

 

[its_me_susan]

I have done a no demo show several times, and I agree, it depends on your "audience" and their preferences as to which way is better.

I have another question for all of you. When doing a show, demo or not, how much "other stuff" do you talk about besides the products? What I mean is, do you talk about....
guest specials, current and upcoming
host specials, current and upcoming
Round up campaign
bridal registry
bridal showers
sweepstakes
fund-raisers
host program
recruiting

I am having a difficult time NOT talking about each of these, but, I don't think my audience is really "into" it....I mean, I can rush through a demo, doing two recipes, and talking about all of the above, in about 45 minutes, but I would really like to cut this down if possible. I just don't want anyone to go away feeling "cheated", by me not giving out the info on something they might be needing.
Anybody out there feeling like this? Anybody out there who has "conquered" this problem???
I am sooo looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this!! Thanks so much in advance!!

* guest specials, current and upcoming
- both, show them what their special is at the start and talk about upcoming later on (better to get to the cookware/stones and recruiting while you have their attention)

* host specials, current and upcoming
When I use the product or show something that is a good lead into these products. Otherwise I do it at the end with the drawing slips, so they can think about saying yes! And I tell how the host will benefit. Some times at the start I tell them to watch closely because by the end they are going to be VERY envious of all that their friend host/Mary because of how generous our program is and what my average hosts receive.


* Round up campaign
- At check out. If I remember I will tell them a blurb and that unless they tell me otherwise, I will assume everyone is rounding up. I usually don't remember until check out though.

bridal registry -bridal showers: very quickly I do, and encourage them to mark it on their order form and drawing slip so I'll know to send them home with a flyer and a catalog (or mini catalog -every thing has my info on it).

* sweepstakes - nope

* fund-raisers:
YES! At the start of the show! Fundraisers are a HUGE part of big sales. I tell them right off that I am trying to increase the number of fundraisers I do because it is a great way to feel good and help others while earning money. I give them "group" ideas... book clubs, neighborhoods, sports, school, teams, etc.

* host program - Yup at beginning or end. I really emphasize catalog/web as being a good too.

* recruiting
- Many many times, beginning end and middle. Also at check out. Use the "I can't read minds - I have no idea who might have been up last night worrying about bills, etc. So I will ask each of you, and would be very excited to personally train them myself. At the beginning of my show I say to watch what I do and think about whether you might like to give this a try too. I wish someone had asked ME years ago!

 

[its_me_susan]

I know this has been discussed on here before, but after talking to a customer last night I am really undecided. She is a past consultant and she said she NEVER did a demo at any of her shows and had several $2000 shows! She said she would just bring a recipe with her and or cook something with the host before hand. Then she would just have a table set up with all her products on it. She said she had so many people begging her not to "torture" them with a demo since so many of her friends had been to several shows over the years. She said this made people comfortable to just come and go as they please. She said she didn't demo not one singe tool, but just answered questions they had. I was wondering what my fellow cheffers thought about this and had anyone tried it or had any success with this type of show?

By the way, she is now a past consultant because she has 3 kids and her DH works overseas and is gone for long periods of time.

The only time I don't demo is when I am doing a "boutique" kind of show, and I do offer the "open house" format. I tell them how PC's mission is to share our tools so that food prep can take less time so they can spend more time with their families without having to go to the drive through. The chopper alone will shave 15 minutes off food prep. The salad chopper (show) will allow them to entice their kids to eat salads - add half a bag of baby carrots to any head of lettuce (or bag).. a chunk or 2 of cucumbers; whatever you have in the house Presto, a chopped salad in minutes. Better yet, this tool is so cool to use, fill your trifle bowl with fresh veggies and hand it to your husband or teenager to "chop". He'll like it too.

I think it is really important to show some of the tools and/or make "trying them" an option. If I do the no cook open house set up, I usually have apples on hand to demonstrate the mandoline, knives, etc.

I am totally committed to bring "LESS" product! But I will bring one of each line - I am bringing the starter kit and only what I need for recipe, plus the small dotted bowl. My best selling point is that PC gives them 30 days to try out a product. If they don't like it, they call me or PC and FedEx will show up the next day to return the product WITHOUT hurting the host's sales or my commission. (they really appreciate knowing that).

The new thing we are "marketing" is the Power/Investment" Cooking show (a power hour if you will). Show will last one hour - come watch/learn how to prepare 3 easy recipes for your freezer ~ to use (thaw overnight and simply bake the next day) whenever you have a busy day. The host gets the 3 meals or she can raffle off one or two. This is a great theme for a baby shower too.

<sorry I'm in a very "sharing/talkative" mood ~ just really pumped up today!>

 

[tiffanypc05]

I haven't read every single posts but this is what I did at my last show and it's been awesome so far. I did a trifle, clubhouse chicken squares and a few more.(It was a huge show) Anyways, we brought everyone around the table and the guests actually made the recipes. It was awesome and we had such a great time. I've got $1100 in sales from this show alone. The hosts wants to continue getting orders for another week. I will be calling her today to get more orders! After the great turn out with this, I think that I will continue to do this. The was one of the funnest parties I've ever done!

 

[MeesMom3]

I have been using Rae's no demo show outline (tweaked a little) for the past month and I will NEVER go back to traditional cooking show demos unless someone requests it. Not that anything is wrong with it at all, but my sales jumped this past month not to mention my bookings. Normally, I would never have shows booked 2 to 3 months in advance and I already have 2 for July and 2, possibly 3 for August. The no demo works great for me. Plus I don't come home with dirty tools to wash AND since I bring a prepared dish to the show, the hostess loves that I purchase the ingredients and all she had to do is provide guests. I purchase the ingredients as a "hostess gift" and file those receipts! Another thing is I think most of the consultants in my area do a traditional cooking show, which makes me the wild card and I like it because I am all about being different.I LOVE THE NO DEMO!

 

[Debrachef]

I have been doing no-demo shows for years and it has made a huge difference for my business and my sales. When my host books, I give her the option of choosing a demo or non demo show, based on who she is going to invite. If they are PC veterans, then no demo. The first thing I do at my shows is ask who needs to get home early to relieve husbands and babysitters. Almost always the majority of guests raise their hands. Then I make sure to explain to everyone that I am doing what I call and "express show". I get so many sighs of relief because they know that they won't be there all night and if they leave early, they aren't missing anything, not to mention sparing them the feeling of embarrassment because they leave early. I then focus on four things: New products, stoneware, cookware, and cutlery. I do bring a dish already prepared as well. I am so much more comfortable doing the non-demo shows because first, I don't like to cook or clean dishes. This also relieves me from the uncomfortable task of having to ask the host to supply the ingredients (which there is always something missing or wrong ingredient) or asking for the $15 check if I purchase the ingredients for her. I went from hating to do KS to loving them.