Professional Product Showcase Tips: Setting Up for Shows

[pamperedgirl3]

I too was very nervous (I still am) but when I forgot the offical name of an item, I made it a game. "Who here can find ____ in the catalog? After a few non responses, I mentioned the was a gift in it for them and they were fighting over the catalogs!!! I still keep a "cheat sheet" that just has an outline because I am easily distracted. I can easily find my place and move on. Good Luck!

I had many guests who couldn't find the products I was using in the catalog fast enough. I started writing down the products I was using for the demo in the order I was using them, along with the page # in the catalog & the item # & price. I tell my guests I have it & why, so to feel free to ask me to repeat the page # b/c it's written down. With so many products, I don't think anyone cares if you can't remember exactly what page it's on. I just write it on a larger note card. Since many times I do the same recipes in a season, I only have to write it down the first time I do the recipe. I include ANY product I use--even the woven pieces, etc.

Just tell your guests that you just started & I'm sure they will understand if you can't remember everything. Might make them think they can do it too if you do mess up a little--shows the consultants don't have to be perfect!!

 

[Karen Hodge]

I have played a game at my shows where every time I pick up a product the guests look for it in the catalog. They yell out the page# it is on. I may ask them a question about the product that they can find in the descriptions in the catalog. They then get a ticket. At the end of the show the person with the most tickets wins a prize. Then I also draw a prize winner from the lead slips. The guests seem to enjoy this game and compete just to see who can find the item first. This is a great way for you to learn about the products while providing a good time for the guests. And best of all they are telling you about the product instead of you having to remember all those details. You could even offer an extra ticket for ideas on how they would use this product in their kitchen. This gets guests thinking about how useful the item is and that they need to have it!

 

[Jilleysue]

Oh I Love The Ticket Idea.. Great

 

[ChefJoeCool]

I have found that most people want to know what they can do with a certain product rather than what it's made of, etc. While the "technical" aspect of our products ROCK, the "practical" aspect, in my opinion, is what sells.

You are going to do great!!!

 

[Jilleysue]

Thank you. You are very true. I find, people will see me doing something and just say, "OH WOW" that really pleases me. I love that they are amazed.

 

[kimmers]

I do have to say, I just can't believe how awesome everyone is to share everything. It's just great. There is so much information, I have a hard time keeping it organized on my lap top. Everyone wants to help everyone save money, make money. It's just great. I really felt crappy last night and felt like I couldn't do this because of my lack of knowledge for the products, but to hear that everyone has gone thru and just to take my time and make my show my own made feel much better.
If this was make up, or work out stuff...I would be right on top of things, but having never cooked before I really wanted to challenge myself and do something fun. I still think I look funny in the apron.....LOL I thought at first if you didn't have a $1000 show in a day, it would be looked down upon, but it is really laid back and work at your own pace type of thing...which is great for me and the type of lifestyle I have.
Thanks for everyone's help and info. YOUR GRRRRREEEAATTTT!!!

Jill,

I have been doing PC for over a year now, and I have to say that I admire you for being able to talk about the things you are feeling and going through. So much of what you have talked about in this thread is things that I have felt for a long time. I am just now getting my business back on track (I had a lot of health issues last year). But I started out SUPER. My first 2 shows were $1000 shows. I got one booking from the first show, which ended up being my 2nd $1000 show, and got no bookings from that show. I was really bummed, and it really affected how I felt. Thanks to my director and her endless supply of patience, I have kept at it, and am now getting back into it and really becoming excited about my business again.

Sounds to me you are on the right track, and I hope I can continue to learn from you and all the cheffers here.

Kim

 

[PamperChefCarol]

As far as "my display" it changes every show. I did a show last week, that I had no workspace. Come to find out her home was INCREDIBLY small, and I ended up standing in the middle of the small living room. I had sprinkled tools, etc around the room, and basically just started talking about how I had made the chicken that they were all smelling at the time. Did the same with cake. They didn't see me use the products but I described them. The show closed at $789. 2 Catalog shows.

Tonight, once I again I spread out stuff all over the living room/dining room. The I got right in the middle of them with my batter bowl full of cake mix. Did the microwave cake (Chocolate/chocolate and covered the top with raspberries. It was sooooo good.) While that was baking we made the Crab Lemon Pepper Bruschetta (this was way good. I will use that again for friends, etc). Once again, basically bringing the demo to them. I did stand behind the island to chop some things, but mostly right among them. Right now she is at $600, 1 booking, and she has some other outside orders coming in.

When I started I tried to have "stationary" display, but I am learning that for my personality style that doesn"t work working for me. I feel more credible and entertaining when I am with the customers. My show average is over $600 so I think I am going in the right direction. Plus, people, esp women, like to be able to touch and feel the products.

Just my $.02. What I have learned about PC is that everyone does things differently. What works for me, probably won't work for everyone, or maybe not anyone else.

And one more thing, I don't play games at my shows. Never been much of games person at showers, etc, so I skip them. No one has complained yet. I did pass out candy tonight for questions, but I ended up giving everyone some!

 

[Jilleysue]

Thanks everyone. Tomorrow is a pretty big show for me, so we'll see how things go. I am pretty nervous. I am set up. I am doing it in my own house. No clue how it will go. I really want to it from under my covers...LOL (shaking) I practiced tonight the whole show and I found my self looking at my notes every single second and saying um, um, um. Oh god..just kill me. Hopefully things go fine...what I really hope to get is bookings. I don't care about the sales yet, I want to branch out to other people....so hopefully I can. I am just so nervous about talking about the everything that I don't sound excited about the host program to get them excited...so hopefully things just fall into place. Since it is at my house, I have things that I am using on my table and then other things I have on my island for them to look at, so that is cool. We'll see. Wish me luck.

 

[dannyzmom]

Thanks everyone. Tomorrow is a pretty big show for me, so we'll see how things go. I am pretty nervous. I am set up. I am doing it in my own house. No clue how it will go. I really want to it from under my covers...LOL (shaking) I practiced tonight the whole show and I found my self looking at my notes every single second and saying um, um, um. Oh god..just kill me. Hopefully things go fine...what I really hope to get is bookings. I don't care about the sales yet, I want to branch out to other people....so hopefully I can. I am just so nervous about talking about the everything that I don't sound excited about the host program to get them excited...so hopefully things just fall into place. Since it is at my house, I have things that I am using on my table and then other things I have on my island for them to look at, so that is cool. We'll see. Wish me luck.

That is a GREAT attitude...get those bookings!!!

Look at your notes all you want ("See ladies, with a few notecards, anyone can do this...hey if i need to take a potty break one of you can stand in for me - LOL") and hey, we ALL say "um" a whole lot. If you counted up hpw many times i say "um" during a demo...OMG...

So - relax and have FUN with it!!!

 

[Jilleysue]

I need you Carolyn not standing there for this show, but maybe with a wireless mic in my ear. Oh and Kevin's Mom figured out something for the binder with the cards in it. If you put the card with the picture in one slide and the info to that card in another slide you can put it on your table and use the information for youself...if that makes any sense. You flip the picture towards the customers and the words stay towards you, so you can give them the information. Maybe everyone knows this. Then you flip the information, and a new picture for another product is there. It helped me tonight practice alot when I talked about SA and COOKWARE and I had it right on my demo table. SHe was my little Assistant tonight...LOL

 

[micocina]

I would still like to see photos of displays.

 

[raebates]

Jillysue, focusing in bookings is a good idea. During my first year I found myself occasionally getting discouraged by the sales at a show. Then, I realized something. My expectations were getting in my way. If I expected a show to do $800 and it closed at $798, I was disappointed. I also realized that there were shows I was doing with an expectation of low sales--never a good idea.

Here's what I did. I changed my definition of a successful show. For me, a successful show is one where everyone has a good time, and at least one person learns something. Now ALL of my shows are successful.

It helps me to curb my expectations, which, in turn, helps me to do my shows with an open mind and lots of enthusiasm. Changing my mind-set has really helped me to calm my nerves, too.

 

[*katy*]

Jilleysue,

This was my biggest fear when I first started out. I did NOT want to sound stupid! And not being a "wonderful" chef, it was inevitable! But I LOVE the products and have found that it shines through at every show. My 14 yr old daughter and I do this together and we just make sure that it is fun and we keep focus throughout the show. When they ask something that we don't know the answer to, we reply "I'm really not 100% on that, but if you will leave us your email address or phone number, we will get an answer for you and let you know first thing tomorrow." I have found that this is best because they know we care and that we are being honest. A lot of our repeat customers are those that say they appreciate our honesty on the products and that we don't pretend to know everything!

 

[ChefNic]

There is so much love in this thread, I wanted to join in!!

I always bring my cookbooks, and set then on the table in front of the guests...when they come, before the demo,they have something, along with the catalogs, to flip through,and when they see all the yummy pictures, they just may buy one! Cookbooks and spices are two things that they may not buy if they don't see and smell them in person...I always pass spices around for them to smell.

I always...always have a card table in the trunk of my car. It stays there. Even when I don't have a show for weeks! It doesn't take up room, groceries go right on top of it, and I don't have to ask the host about table space... if I get there, and see there is no good space in the kitchen - on an island, or the kitchen table, or counter, I go get my table.

I used to buy fabric and fake flowers to set up a display with my crate...I haven't done that in a while. I had Spring, Christmas, and Fall fabric/flowers. One host said that is one thing that made her want to book, was my nice display!
Now I like to just set a few products that I bring, that I won't be using, nearby so guests can look at them. Sometimes I've brought my Rectangle Woven Selection- the one for the Rect. Baker...and filled it with things and set that on the table. They can pass that around if they want...fill it with the Heart Trivet, spices, I'd have the napkin rings, etc... Chef's Tongs, ... whatever I felt at the time that I wanted to show but wasn't using in my demo.

 

[genburk]

I have played a game at my shows where every time I pick up a product the guests look for it in the catalog. They yell out the page# it is on. I may ask them a question about the product that they can find in the descriptions in the catalog. They then get a ticket. At the end of the show the person with the most tickets wins a prize. Then I also draw a prize winner from the lead slips. The guests seem to enjoy this game and compete just to see who can find the item first. This is a great way for you to learn about the products while providing a good time for the guests. And best of all they are telling you about the product instead of you having to remember all those details. You could even offer an extra ticket for ideas on how they would use this product in their kitchen. This gets guests thinking about how useful the item is and that they need to have it!

You just reminded me of a game that we played at a Tupperware party. The consultant gave everyone money (play of course) for attending, money for bringing a guest, money for showing up early or on time, and money everytime they answered the catalog question (like - what page is this on, or how much is this, or What colors do these come in?) She gave out different amounts for different things, they weren't all singles, or tens.

Near the end of the show, she brought out 3 or so gift bags (discontinued bowls, plates, cups) and auctioned them off. Since most of us were friends of family, we were all trying to outbid the others.

It was a fun game and kept out attention the whole time. I also noticed that I saw things in the catalog that I would not have noticed had she not played this game.

I was not a consultant at the time, or I would have paid more attention.

I may play this game this month, just to see how it goes.

Might be good to give the person with the most money the bag of their choice, and THEN auction, since that would help level the playing field, so to speak. Someone always ends up with way more $ than anyone else.

 

[Jilleysue]

Thanks everyone, you are really calming me down and I am thinking to myself..whatever I'll just have fun with it and go with the flow. I think I'll run to the store and get some tickets and do some games and on time things so I can take the attention off me and get them looking thru the catalog.
You guys are awesome. I do think I look at my notes WAYYYYYY tooo much...but hopefully I can get everyone talking and not looking at me....LOL

 

[dannyzmom]

Hey - call me when it's over!! I'll be reachable on my cell all day/night!

 

[micocina]

Hey Jill!

How did it go?

 

[heather9892]

hi jilleysue
if u have the new consultant printable paperwork cd
product descriptions are ALL there including the warranties for each one
i call them my cheat sheets as i am only 1 month into the business
heather

 

[Jilleysue]

Yeah I used those....I am good now. Just had to get over that first show. I did well. It was 1300.00, so I freaked myself out over nothing.

 

[speedychef]

I did well. There should be about 100!!!!'s at the end of that sentence, not a period! Way to go girly! I like that game idea Tina! That's kind of fun...tell the people with the most $$ that they would be good at this because they answered all the questions! I'd auction off a starter kit, too! Your funny money plus $155 gets you on my team!

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Yep - I am attaching it here

Thats cute.... it's differnt from the one that I have!!! I like yours better.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Thanks everyone, you are really calming me down and I am thinking to myself..whatever I'll just have fun with it and go with the flow. I think I'll run to the store and get some tickets and do some games and on time things so I can take the attention off me and get them looking thru the catalog.
You guys are awesome. I do think I look at my notes WAYYYYYY tooo much...but hopefully I can get everyone talking and not looking at me....LOL

I know how you feel I was their my first year as a consultant... I to this day sometimes feel like that I am all over the place...... keep this in mine and it is something that helped me.... the basics of a kitchen show...... my last show my DH wanted to come with me.... he wanted to see how much my shows had changed in a year.... he use to host parties for me all the time before we were married. He told me after the show he didnt' knwo who I was up their becasue my confidence in doing the demo was extremly high.. and I didnt' look like I was about to loose my concentration... I play off of people rather well.. I E smart alec remarks etc....Good luck you will do just fine!!

 

[MrsDuncan]

Quick Question.... does everyone always get the addresses of all the guests and mail out the postcards for a show? I have had several shows before and the consultant always had me do all the inviting and calls.

 

[ChefNic]

I don't send the invites...I feel that the host most likely will hand them personally to people...and how uncomfortable for the host to have to ask people at work..."hey what's your address?" ...or have to drive around the neighborhood getting addresses...seems easier to just let them pass them out...

Although...I think consultants like getting the addresses...so the consultant will KNOW how many people are invited...and if the host needs to come up with more names...etc...

Your business...your way...
what feels best to you...do that.

 

[gratergirl]

I usually use empty boxes to add height to my products on the table. I put those under cloths or the tablecloth. I use my rectangle woven selection to put prizes in and I have the tool turn about on my table with all the little gadgets in and then I usually try to bring the monthly special if it's the beginning of the month and if it's toward the end (when I'll be booking for the next month) I'll bring the next month's specials. I put my cookbooks on coffee tables along with the tri fold pictures that they give to us. I use a four foot table and seem to have enough room for most of the goods and to do my recipe. I don't have any pics....guess I tried to paint the pic for you.

 

[chefsara]

One of the key things that I have found is a quote from someone on this loop that said "I'm not a Perfect Chef, I am a Pampered Chef" and then have fun. If you mess up, admit it and go on. But if they see that you are having fun and you can relax and really do have fun it all works out and the guests make note of that. It has worked for me. I have been in 27 months and I still get nervous until I get going. There is too much to remember ALL the details. Sometimes I use a little cheat sheet or make myself little note cards, although I usually don't end up using them, but they give me confidence to get started and I know they are there if I get stuck! Have fun! They can come up and help and sometimes that helps take the pressure off of you. It's like having a bunch of friends in your kitchen all cooking together!! It can be a blast! (If there is room - I have been in some pretty small areas and can't always do that). Bottom line...relax and have fun sharing your favorite kitchen tools!

 

[lsm72]

I do all of that - I send postcards, e-vites, phone calls, etc. I'm basically a pest. I try my best to help my host when and where I can. I find that the customer care calls are most effective for getting people to live shows and/or ordering via catalogue shows.