Send Invites for the Host or Not?

[redsoxgirl]

I print one at home, bring it to work and then make copies. I also put the monthly guest special on the back of the invite so people know what they're shopping towards!

It's not terribly expensive. Yeah, it costs a few bucks, but I feel that it's worth it.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I want to share this email from a host who has a show the middle of November. I was planning on sending her host packet next Monday.
When I first met her (through a fundraiser) I thought she was very demanding....what we call an EGR (extra grace required) person. She would ask me for extra catalogs, wanted me to bring everything I owned, wanted me to do 3 recipes, etc.....
That was 4 years ago. She has become not only a wonderful host, but also a friend, and a real cheerleader for me in my business. She gives me referrals and extra business all the time - one time, she passed on an email about the outlet, and it resulted in a $300 order....
Her shows are always in the $700-$1000 range, and I have had some great shows booked from hers, and one of my consultants on my team came from my relationship with her.
I'm sharing the email, because I just wanted to show first, what can happen when you mail the invites for your host (She LOVES that I do this for her) and also what can happen when, instead of demanding that everything be done your way - you work with your host and allow her to have some control over her show. Oh - and there is a reason she was so controlling - a very bad experience with another consultant (to the point of sexual harassment) and at first, she only wanted to do a catalog show, because she never wanted a PC consultant in her house again...and neither did her friends. (It was bad, and HO actually got involved) It took a while for her to trust me...and I worked hard to build that trust - but the benefits have been priceless!
It's all in our attitude! We can look at those harder to please hosts as a pain in the neck (which I'm sure gets conveyed to them w/o words) or we can accept the challenge of doing everything we can to make their show a GREAT experience for them.....I think that if I had insisted we do everything my way when I did that first show, I wouldn't have the great relationship I have now.
The funniest part of this story...is that this host doesn't even cook! Her friends always tease her about her PC Stash that never gets used!
(and I talk to her about being a consultant on a regular basis - she says she doesn't want to work.)




Hi Becky,

Is there anyway to get some catalogs and order forms sent out fast to me by next friday Oct 17th???? I have a big order but need catalogs and order forms to complete.

I have a big overnight scrapbook weekend at Cxxxx's house and people are interested in Pampered Chef that can not attend. So I would like to bring it with me to get outside orders. So any way you can do that for me. I have to be at her house by Friday at 6pm Oct 17.

I will send you some addresses and we will try to make this a big event.

I am so glad you are my consultant.

take care and thanks
M.

 

[wadesgirl]

I want to share this email from a host who has a show the middle of November. I was planning on sending her host packet next Monday.
When I first met her (through a fundraiser) I thought she was very demanding....what we call an EGR (extra grace required) person. She would ask me for extra catalogs, wanted me to bring everything I owned, wanted me to do 3 recipes, etc.....
That was 4 years ago. She has become not only a wonderful host, but also a friend, and a real cheerleader for me in my business. She gives me referrals and extra business all the time - one time, she passed on an email about the outlet, and it resulted in a $300 order....
Her shows are always in the $700-$1000 range, and I have had some great shows booked from hers, and one of my consultants on my team came from my relationship with her.
I'm sharing the email, because I just wanted to show first, what can happen when you mail the invites for your host (She LOVES that I do this for her) and also what can happen when, instead of demanding that everything be done your way - you work with your host and allow her to have some control over her show. Oh - and there is a reason she was so controlling - a very bad experience with another consultant (to the point of sexual harassment) and at first, she only wanted to do a catalog show, because she never wanted a PC consultant in her house again...and neither did her friends. (It was bad, and HO actually got involved) It took a while for her to trust me...and I worked hard to build that trust - but the benefits have been priceless!
It's all in our attitude! We can look at those harder to please hosts as a pain in the neck (which I'm sure gets conveyed to them w/o words) or we can accept the challenge of doing everything we can to make their show a GREAT experience for them.....I think that if I had insisted we do everything my way when I did that first show, I wouldn't have the great relationship I have now.
The funniest part of this story...is that this host doesn't even cook! Her friends always tease her about her PC Stash that never gets used!
(and I talk to her about being a consultant on a regular basis - she says she doesn't want to work.)




Hi Becky,

Is there anyway to get some catalogs and order forms sent out fast to me by next friday Oct 17th???? I have a big order but need catalogs and order forms to complete.

I have a big overnight scrapbook weekend at Cxxxx's house and people are interested in Pampered Chef that can not attend. So I would like to bring it with me to get outside orders. So any way you can do that for me. I have to be at her house by Friday at 6pm Oct 17.

I will send you some addresses and we will try to make this a big event.

I am so glad you are my consultant.

take care and thanks
M.

It's so wonderful to get compliments!!

I had my own EGR host. She's the one that I changed my business because of and started sending the invites. She rescheduled twice at the beginning of the year, both times within a week of her party. I finally got stern with her and told her that she needed to respect my business and either needed to hold her next show or I would find another consultant for her to work with. She rebooked for 4 months down the road which I figured she just said so that she could put me off longer. I started sending my invites after that. 1 month before her show, I called told her that I would be sending her a guest list. To my surprise she was all about the show! She ended up having a $700 show with 2 bookings. Plus she's been a loyal customer ever since!

 

[chefsteph07]

Email is a funny thing... it is so hard to read emotion, and we need to try not to. Honestly (and I do not mean to attack or sound harsh) but If I received the email you sent this host it would have ticked me off the way it was worded. BUT that is just how I I read it. It to me comes accross pushy and demanding. I totally understand being frustrated beyond all reason with some of these hosts. That is when I am extra careful with my wording in am email. Many times (especially if I am frustrated with someone) I will have DH read over a msg. before I send it out. He lets me know If I am on thrack or not.

I hope this helps and that this show works out great for you. I enjoy your posts and views on many topics. I in no way mean to offend!

I am not offended, but can I ask why it sounded pushy and demanding? This party is NEXT Sat and we scheduled it over a month ago, so I've been very nice and understanding for the guest list but I have been antsy wondering what was going on since it's next weekend. This was about the 5th email regarding a guest list, which is why I stated I hoped she was telling her friends and family about it.

 

[chefmeg]

I didn't get the impression it was a pushy email at all, Steph.

I do think we should be able to work our business how we choose and not let our hosts demand we do certain things for them BUT we do have to be flexible. Always remember that they are inviting you into their HOME and that there are plent yof other consultants out there that they could use!

 

[chefsteph07]

Meg, I agree w/ you on this and that is why I gave in and told her I would do what she wanted. I guess what really tweeked me was the fact that over a month ago I informed her of the invites that I do and she just waits till yesterday to let me know she wanted to do them herself. I guess if she had told me that from the beginning I would have been better about it and less pestering.

Get this though, after giving in and telling her I would do what she wanted, she gave me an invite list this afternoon w/ about 20 names to mail out and 10 to email! ARGH!!! Ok, breathe, relax, be calm Steph...LOL

I love building relationships that last with my hosts, and yes, some of them I call my friends! I have met some great people, hosts and consultants alike, through PC and I am so grateful for that! I try to make every experience w PC a wonderful one for everyone involved.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Meg, I agree w/ you on this and that is why I gave in and told her I would do what she wanted. I guess what really tweeked me was the fact that over a month ago I informed her of the invites that I do and she just waits till yesterday to let me know she wanted to do them herself. I guess if she had told me that from the beginning I would have been better about it and less pestering.

Get this though, after giving in and telling her I would do what she wanted, she gave me an invite list this afternoon w/ about 20 names to mail out and 10 to email! ARGH!!! Ok, breathe, relax, be calm Steph...LOL

I love building relationships that last with my hosts, and yes, some of them I call my friends! I have met some great people, hosts and consultants alike, through PC and I am so grateful for that! I try to make every experience w PC a wonderful one for everyone involved.

That's wonderful!

 

[cochef]

I have a few questions on this topic:
* How many of you who send out the invites for the Host work fulltime and how do you manage to fit it all in?
* How do you handle it if they only give you 10-15 names?
* Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?
Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to figure how to add one more thing to my hectic schedule

 

[KristinS]

I send out a mini catalog with the printable invite from CC. I ask them to bring the mini catalog back and if they do they get extra tickets in the drawing at the show.

What printable invite on CC?

 

[KristinS]

And how do you put an invite in with the mini-cat? Do you put it all in an envelope? Tape the catalog closed? I'm intrigued but confused at the same time.

 

[wadesgirl]

I have a few questions on this topic:
* How many of you who send out the invites for the Host work fulltime and how do you manage to fit it all in?
* How do you handle it if they only give you 10-15 names?
* Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?
Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to figure how to add one more thing to my hectic schedule

I work full time and send out my invites. I normally just do it at the end of the night before I go to bed and then the PO is only a block from where I work so I drop them off the next morning.

I encourage more names if they send a small guest list. I also put on the invites "Bring a friend or outside order, get a free gift". I send some extra invites for them to hand out.

I have my own guest list that I got off here.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I work full time and send out my invites. I normally just do it at the end of the night before I go to bed and then the PO is only a block from where I work so I drop them off the next morning.

I encourage more names if they send a small guest list. I also put on the invites "Bring a friend or outside order, get a free gift". I send some extra invites for them to hand out.

I have my own guest list that I got off here.

I don't work full time outside the home....but this is how I do it too. Invites are done either last thing at night, or sometimes early morning - when I don't have a 4 yr old crawling all over me.

 

[tlag1986]

Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?

Here is an option for you if you don't want to purchase them from the Supply form.

Print it front and back.

 

[Fluffy215]

I work full time, although out right now with 2 herniated discs, but even then I would send out the invites. I make my own up or I have gotten some either off of here or from Outward Image I bought when I first started. I also email this invitation to the Host so she has the same invitation to pass out at work/gym whatever. When I mail them I also send the mini catalog and also with note on invite to return the cat for extra tickets towards prize. When I was working I would just drop off at the outside drop box outside the post office. Sometimes I had to be to work at 4 a.m. so was very convenient just to make a swing in the parking lot and drop it off.

I give out a guest list of 50 for them to fill out. I tell them they will get a gift at their party if completed within 3 days. That's the SB that they pass around and sign for the host.

 

[chefmeg]

Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?

Here is an option for you if you don't want to purchase them from the Supply form.

Print it front and back.

Lisa! this form is GREAT! Thank you!

 

[redsoxgirl]

I have a few questions on this topic:
* How many of you who send out the invites for the Host work fulltime and how do you manage to fit it all in?
* How do you handle it if they only give you 10-15 names?
* Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?
Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to figure how to add one more thing to my hectic schedule

* I do work FT at another job. I usually stuff the envelopes at night in front of the tv. Doesn't take much time.
* I ask them to send me 40 and explain why, but I take what they give me.
* I usually ask people to email me their guest list. If it's an actual list on paper, I have the ones from the Supply form, but I don't like them at all and end up either making labels on the computer or hand write the addresses.

And how do you put an invite in with the mini-cat? Do you put it all in an envelope? Tape the catalog closed? I'm intrigued but confused at the same time.

I tri-fold the invite and pit it and the mini catalog in an envelope. Only costs a regular stamp.

If you go to the Consultant's Corner > Products & Recipes > Theme Cooking Shows > pick the show you're doing and there's an option called Printable Show Invitation. It's a PDF file that you can plug info in to.
If you're doing a recipe other than one listed there, just pick the invite that goes best with it.

 

[chefmeg]

I have a few questions on this topic:
* How many of you who send out the invites for the Host work fulltime and how do you manage to fit it all in?
* How do you handle it if they only give you 10-15 names?
* Do you make up your own guest list or order them from the Supply form?
Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to figure how to add one more thing to my hectic schedule

I can't say that I work full-time out of Pampered Chef, PTA president, several committees at church, care for elderly parents, workout 3 times a week.....
I have used both an email version of the guest list and the one from supply order~I prefer an email version because SH made me a MailMerge file that I can just copy & paste info into and print the invites on my printer.

It is totally worth sending the invites & making the reminder calls~since I started doing this, my show average has gone up $200!!!!

 

[cochef]

Thank you all for the great ideas. I think I will have to just jump in and give it a try and reap the benefits -hopefully as good as some I read about!

 

[wadesgirl]

I work full time, although out right now with 2 herniated discs, but even then I would send out the invites. I make my own up or I have gotten some either off of here or from Outward Image I bought when I first started. I also email this invitation to the Host so she has the same invitation to pass out at work/gym whatever. When I mail them I also send the mini catalog and also with note on invite to return the cat for extra tickets towards prize. When I was working I would just drop off at the outside drop box outside the post office. Sometimes I had to be to work at 4 a.m. so was very convenient just to make a swing in the parking lot and drop it off.

I give out a guest list of 50 for them to fill out. I tell them they will get a gift at their party if completed within 3 days. That's the SB that they pass around and sign for the host.

Love this idea!

* I do work FT at another job. I usually stuff the envelopes at night in front of the tv. Doesn't take much time.
* I ask them to send me 40 and explain why, but I take what they give me.
* I usually ask people to email me their guest list. If it's an actual list on paper, I have the ones from the Supply form, but I don't like them at all and end up either making labels on the computer or hand write the addresses.



I tri-fold the invite and pit it and the mini catalog in an envelope. Only costs a regular stamp.

If you go to the Consultant's Corner > Products & Recipes > Theme Cooking Shows > pick the show you're doing and there's an option called Printable Show Invitation. It's a PDF file that you can plug info in to.
If you're doing a recipe other than one listed there, just pick the invite that goes best with it.

Exactly, it's not that hard to get them done in little time. I usually print all the invites out when I get the guest list and then handwrite the addresses in the night before they go in the mail.

 

[sunnygirl in nd]

I'm totally new and haven't even received my stuff yet. But..I was wondering do you ever send out e-mail invites? It seems like so many do things with e-mails these days. Does Pampered Chef?

 

[Christ Follower]

I recently started offering to do invites for my hosts in the last few months. I can say that I have seen a HUGE difference. I have had way fewer cancellations and postponements from the hosts that let me do the invites. I still include about 10 blank invites in the host packets for people they may not have addresses for, but for the most part have had less cancellations and bigger attendance at shows.

 

[Christ Follower]

I should add, I email the host a lable template to do the guest list on. When she emails it back to me full of names, I simply print out the list onto labels and slap them on the invites. The only thing I am hand writing on is the date and time of the party. SO easy!

 

[Humble Beginnings]

I should add, I email the host a lable template to do the guest list on. When she emails it back to me full of names, I simply print out the list onto labels and slap them on the invites. The only thing I am hand writing on is the date and time of the party. SO easy!

Hi,

This is a great streamline way of doing this. Would you mind posting the template you send your host?

 

[chefann]

I'm totally new and haven't even received my stuff yet. But..I was wondering do you ever send out e-mail invites? It seems like so many do things with e-mails these days. Does Pampered Chef?

There are email invitations available through PWS. However, they tend to get trapped by spam filters and not get through. Also, it's easier for most people to ignore email, because they can just hit delete.

 

[Spring]

I have been mailing the postcards imvites for my hosts for about a year now. I pay for postage and it has helped my attendance and I rarely have anyone cancel. I have found that sending a email invite a month in advance and then the postacrds in the mail at 3 weeks before the party. I send postcards to my host a week before to remind them about making reminder calls and my show average has gone from 350 to about 600 or more a month. It is worth the cost of postage. If they want to hand some out I will send them blank ones but most of them are mailed out.

 

[chefsteph07]

Meg, I agree w/ you on this and that is why I gave in and told her I would do what she wanted. I guess what really tweeked me was the fact that over a month ago I informed her of the invites that I do and she just waits till yesterday to let me know she wanted to do them herself. I guess if she had told me that from the beginning I would have been better about it and less pestering.

Get this though, after giving in and telling her I would do what she wanted, she gave me an invite list this afternoon w/ about 20 names to mail out and 10 to email! ARGH!!! Ok, breathe, relax, be calm Steph...LOL

I love building relationships that last with my hosts, and yes, some of them I call my friends! I have met some great people, hosts and consultants alike, through PC and I am so grateful for that! I try to make every experience w PC a wonderful one for everyone involved.

Ok, I have a bit of a follow up to this situation...my show is on Saturday and I spoke w/ the host this morning to find out about attendance. She stated that she had a few she knew were coming, but none of her guests had gotten their invites yet at their home, and no responses from evites...well, she gave me her guest list on FRIDAY, after I had been after her for 2 weeks to supply it, so I was able thankfully to get the invites out Friday before my mail came...I told her that they hadn't gotten them because of the mail not going on Monday, but hopefully they had received them by Tues or yesterday for sure. So then, I asked her about her set up for my demo, asked her if I needed to bring a table or if we were going to do it in her kitchen etc. She tells me that she has a place for me to do the demo, but if I want I can bring a table for "whatever"..I told her that since she was providing one that I wasn't going to bring one...a table sticks out of my trunk, and the show is almost an hour away, so if I don't have to I'd rather not, for safety reasons...she asks me if I'm going to have my "display" on the same table I do my demo. I tell her that I usually only bring the products that I am showing for the demo and I don't bring TOO MUCH extra, but certainly if there is something she wants to see just let me know and I'll bring it for her. She suddenly says "WHAT, I've never heard of such a thing...what's the point of doing a home party if you aren't going to be bringing products? We might as well just SHOP FROM THE CATALOG. Please bring LOTS of products"...I was so flabergasted at that point I just said "ok"...and left it at that.
I feel soooo out of control here! I am sick to my stomach over doing this show..EVERYTHING has been a conflict with this host...and I mean EVERYTHING. She wasn't happy w/ the date I had open, wasn't happy w/ the recipe choices, didn't want me to do the invites for her and then suddenly gave me a list, now this! I have been flexible, I am bending and doing what she wants, but when is enough enough??? Does she expect me to bring my whole kitchen? I am doing the fajitas and the apple crisp in the micro, I definitely think I'm bringing enough products, I also am going to try to bring the christmas plates and the cookbooks, beaded spreader, etc. But I am not bringing my kitchen! I feel as though everything with this has been a battle of wills and for what?? I have NEVER dealt with a host like this. I have been doing this for 5years and I know what works and what doesn't in my business. I can't even bring anything up to her without her rebuking.

Am I being too sensitive here? Out of line? are my feelings and thoughts about this not valid? I just don't know what to do. I have half a mind to cancel this! Of course, I never would, but if it wasn't so close to the date of the show, I may have.

Thanks for letting me vent. I don't know what else to do...