Open House for Prospective Brides: Worth it or Not?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread explores the concept of hosting an open house for prospective brides, with participants sharing their thoughts, experiences, and plans related to this idea. The discussion includes various perspectives on the effectiveness and organization of such events.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, suggests hosting an open house to provide a more personal experience for brides compared to bridal fairs.
  • Another participant expresses enthusiasm for the idea and considers organizing their own open house.
  • One participant shares their experience of inviting 75 bridal leads to their open house, detailing their promotional efforts and current outcomes.
  • Another participant inquires about the format of the open house, asking if demonstrations or prepared food will be included.
  • One participant shares their apprehension about cold calling and describes using a service called Post Calls to manage invitations.
  • One participant reports a disappointing turnout at their open house but remains optimistic about future events, noting that some attendees made purchases.
  • Another participant acknowledges the busy schedules of brides as a potential reason for low attendance and expresses interest in trying the open house concept in the future.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of open houses, with some participants expressing excitement and willingness to try the concept, while others share experiences of low attendance and mixed results.

Contextual Notes

Participants are primarily Pampered Chef consultants discussing personal experiences and strategies related to engaging with prospective brides for wedding registries.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for alternative methods to connect with potential clients in the wedding market may find the shared experiences and ideas relevant.

J
jcwarr
Messages
320
due to the over load of people calling brides after a bridal fair - i thought about having an open house for the prospective brides at my house. i have a huge list of brides and thought about mailing them an invite to come and see the products without the craziness of a bridal fair where there is so much to absorb. has anyone done anything like this? i would love to hear how it went and if it is worth it. maybe i would raffle off something to entice them to come! thankd for any thoughts!
 
I haven't but, I think it sounds like a great idea. Now I'm thinking about doing one.
 
That is an awesome idea!! Im trying it!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
wedding registry open house updatejust wanted to update you all with my plan in case you want to do it as well. i just invited about 75 bridal leads to my house for a wedding registry open house. i emailed everyone and followed up with a pc postcard invite. i put a label on the front with wedding registry phrase and a label on the back for time, address, etc and my info. hopefully someone will show up. i have received one outside order from my mass email - but no registries yet!! if anyone else does this i would love to hear your ideas too!!
 
What are you planning for the open house - will you do a demo or just have the products out for them to look at and some already prepared food?

This sounds like a good idea - I hope you get a good response. I did a fair in March and haven't had much luck with follow-up, but maybe something like this would attract their attention and would be a good way to have a reason to contact them...

I'm doing another one in July and would love to hear what you have done and any suggestions you have for the rest of us.

Thanks!
 
Where do you find bridal fairs? I live in a small town, about an hour from a large city. Do I check the web, look in the paper? I figured it would be too late for bridal things, since most have everything planned for their wedding. I would love to get into the registry market.

Any suggestions?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
bridal open house - tonight!!well - the night is here! i have invited almost 70 brides - i'll be happy if 2 come :) i sent an email - then a postcard invite - then followed up with a phone call reminder. i used post calls b/c i hate making calls to people i don't know - i am SO not the cold call salesperson type!!! way out of my comfort zone - so post calls was a great alternative!! anyways - i plan on setting up my starter kit, and then one other display with the ss mixing bowls, stoneware piece, executive cookware piece and some gadgets like citrus press, prep bowl set, easy read measuring cups, etc. now that i think of it - does anyone have a list of what every bride should register for - sort of like a form to have ready to say - ok you should have these items and then add on as you like. i'm also making the asian pasta salad and micro cake in the fluted pan - so i can practice for this weekend. i'm not doing a demo - but will be able to demo items if they are interested. if anyone has any advice i'd love to hear it!!
thanks
 
Maybe I missed it, but what is a post call?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
post callswww.postcalls.com is a service where you record a message and enter the names and phone numbers of people you want to call and the service does it for you. you can track when the calls are made and see whether they connected with a live person or voicemail. the only problem is that you can't tell whether the 'live' call was heard - many people hang up when they hear a pause (i do) and then they miss the message. but most of the calls i notice go straight to message machines which is great! i think it costs 7 cents per call for pampered chef consultants - normally it's 14 cents. my director let me try it for free to see how i like it.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
what a bust!!!here's an update - not one bride showed up!!!! and my show today had only 4 people!! def. feel like the amount of work i put in doesn't always pay off - but i know there will be good days and bad ones! the 3 people who did show up at the open house did make a purchase at least. and i was going to consider it a success if 2 brides and 2 non-brides showed up - so it wasn't a complete wash!!!
 
Don't you hate it when that happens...I am glad to hear that you are staying positive, I think that brides are just so busy. I loved your idea and would think of trying it, just have to find some brides first!!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Open House for Prospective Brides?

An Open House for Prospective Brides is an event where engaged couples can explore various products and services related to wedding planning. It often features vendors, including those from direct sales companies like Pampered Chef, showcasing their offerings that can be useful for newlyweds.

Are Open Houses effective for generating sales?

Yes, Open Houses can be effective for generating sales as they provide a platform for direct interaction with potential customers. Attendees can see products in person, ask questions, and often take advantage of special promotions or discounts available only at the event.

What are the benefits of participating in an Open House?

Participating in an Open House allows you to showcase your products directly to a targeted audience, build relationships with potential customers, and increase brand awareness. It also provides an opportunity to network with other vendors and share leads.

How should I prepare for an Open House event?

Preparation for an Open House includes selecting a variety of products to showcase, setting up an attractive display, creating promotional materials, and preparing samples or demonstrations. It's also important to have a clear plan for engaging with attendees and collecting contact information for follow-ups.

Is it worth the investment to host an Open House?

Hosting an Open House can be worth the investment if you effectively promote the event and engage with attendees. The potential for sales, new customer relationships, and increased visibility can outweigh the costs involved, especially if you target the right audience.

You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Pampered Chef Threads

How can I spread the word about my Pampered Chef Open House/Grand Opening Show?
  • ChefgoesPamperedChef
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
12
Views
3K
scottcooks
Bunco Night/Spring Products Open House?
  • Jennie50
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
5
Views
2K
Jennie50
What are some fun games to play at an Open House for Pampered Chef products?
  • Sara Dawn
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
2
Views
5K
Admin Greg
Help Me Prep for Successful Recruit's Open House!
  • vogee13
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
2
Views
2K
Admin Greg
Planning a Small Open House in Florida: Tips & Ideas
  • Jennifer E
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
2
Views
2K
chefjeanine
Open House: Come and Go or Demo???
  • amerrigan
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
16
Views
2K
gilliandanielle
Hosting a Holiday Open House: Tips and Advice
  • kristyjab
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
2
Views
1K
stefani2
Open House Bridal Shower With No Demonstration
  • CindysPChef
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
2
Views
1K
Admin Greg
Selling Raffle Tickets for Open House: Ideas and Advice Needed!
  • cookinwithjen
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
12
Views
2K
Tig
Can an Open House Fundraiser Help Our Relay for Life Team?
  • PChefPEI
    • Pampered Chef Shows
Replies
4
Views
2K
ChefJeniLobdell
Back
Top