Should I Bring Products to My Shows for Guests to See?

[Melissa78]

Ditto to Amanda. I totally disagree with Bamboo - I only sell it when my customers see it and they too go "ooh...ahh". I wish I could 'learn' to take only what fits in my consultant bag (and my bag with paperwork/laptop). My shoulder hates me already from lugging the 100lbs but as Amanda states, when I don't bring something, they always ask. I try to tell them I'd bring it to their show but that doesn't always cut it. I just finished ordering all of the cookbooks so that I have them for August Guest Special and for going into the holidays for gift suggestions. I guess my back and shoulder will hate me even more this holiday season... (Oh and I just saw the cranberry platter at my last cluster mtg and that is stunning - the catalog does that NOOOOOOOOOOOOo justice at all - IMO)

We all do what works for us and for our sales. I'm running an avg of over $600 per show which my Dir tells me is good so I'm afraid of ruining my avg by changing this up...which means I keep lugging my 3hr suitcase with 7days of stuff.

 

[esavvymom]

You could always tell them that your back wouldn't let you bring anything else. People just can be rude or insensitive to others. They aren't there when you are unloading the entire kitchen into the Host's home or packing it up (nothing EVER goes back the same way it came out - why is that?!).

 

[pc_jessica]

oh now i don't know what to do lol so many suggestions and they all seem to hold truth to them i have my first cooking show tomorrow night and i was planning on bringing everything that came in my starter kit (the big one/normal kit), plus everything PC that I owned prior to being a consultant lol which i must say I was a PC junkie, or all the PC products I bought 2 weeks ago at a garage sale (a consultant was quitting business and she gave me a great deal on a bunch of stuff!!) so needless to say my shoulder and back will be hurting me tomorrow ugh!!

 

[esavvymom]

oh now i don't know what to do lol so many suggestions and they all seem to hold truth to them i have my first cooking show tomorrow night and i was planning on bringing everything that came in my starter kit (the big one/normal kit), plus everything PC that I owned prior to being a consultant lol which i must say I was a PC junkie, or all the PC products I bought 2 weeks ago at a garage sale (a consultant was quitting business and she gave me a great deal on a bunch of stuff!!) so needless to say my shoulder and back will be hurting me tomorrow ugh!!

I would suggest taking what you need for your recipe FIRST. Then only what important pieces you really want to take- like newer items that most folks wouldn't have seen unless they've been to a show in the last 6 months.if you've got one bag- don't fill overfill it- and by all means...test carrying the bag! I think the black bag can get really heavy really quick.If you happen to have our reusable grocery bags (or even if you have another kind)..they work great for the lightweight items and catalogs too. Easy to throw over your shoulder.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

oh now i don't know what to do lol so many suggestions and they all seem to hold truth to them i have my first cooking show tomorrow night and i was planning on bringing everything that came in my starter kit (the big one/normal kit), plus everything PC that I owned prior to being a consultant lol which i must say I was a PC junkie, or all the PC products I bought 2 weeks ago at a garage sale (a consultant was quitting business and she gave me a great deal on a bunch of stuff!!) so needless to say my shoulder and back will be hurting me tomorrow ugh!!

I did that for my first show too, took everything PC I owned (well, not everything, but A LOT!). Aside from the obvious, lugging it all and packing it all up, remember that sometimes, you just aren't going to have any space in the hosts house to display it all! I've had that happen a lot, so I'll spread it out and place it around the room and then nobody notices it! I am very guilty of taking too much and I always claimed that I had higher sales because of it, but I'm starting to rethink the whole thing. I think you have to take what you need for the recipe and I try to bring a few of the cook books and spices, and maybe a couple of the newer items, I try to bring at least one piece of stoneware, cookware and simple additions and now bamboo. At my last show it was at a cottage on the lake and I knew that it was more a party for friends to see her lake and less a PC party, so I just brought the stuff I needed for the recipe and my full Tool TurnAround and the cookbooks and a couple summer items. Got there and there wasn't room so I didn't get out anything extra, made the recipe and had a $1000 show! So, I think I'm a believer now! No more lugging the whole kitchen with me! It's easier set up and tear down and packing! Anyway, good luck! Try to hold back on taking everything, once you start, it's hard to stop!

 

[pcbarb]

Something else to keep in mind is the recruiting aspect. Someone who may be interested in becoming a consultant may look at everything you bring in and think "I don't want to carry that much stuff" or their back is not good. I am now just bringing what I need for my recipes and just a few other things.

 

[beckyjsmith]

I only take what I am using in my shows. I do take my entire tool turn about full of gadgets.
My standards are the stainless bowls, magic pot, salad choppers, large grooved cutting board, 5"santoku,handy scrapers, apple wedger , easy read measuring cups, prep bowl OR batter bowl and my 8 " saute pan. Everything else varies with whatever recipe I am demo-ing. And I don't demo anything that is $10.00 or less.

 

[pc_jessica]

I only take what I am using in my shows. I do take my entire tool turn about full of gadgets.
My standards are the stainless bowls, magic pot, salad choppers, large grooved cutting board, 5"santoku,handy scrapers, apple wedger , easy read measuring cups, prep bowl OR batter bowl and my 8 " saute pan. Everything else varies with whatever recipe I am demo-ing. And I don't demo anything that is $10.00 or less.

what is this magic pot you speak of?? i think ive looked through the catalog so much but i don't remember seeing anything with that name lol

 

[babywings76]

what is this magic pot you speak of?? i think ive looked through the catalog so much but i don't remember seeing anything with that name lol

It's just another term of endearment for the Deep Covered Baker.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

Something else to keep in mind is the recruiting aspect. Someone who may be interested in becoming a consultant may look at everything you bring in and think "I don't want to carry that much stuff" or their back is not good. I am now just bringing what I need for my recipes and just a few other things.

Ditto. I also choose my recipes to show off either the current month Host specials (if the show is at the beginning of the month, so guests may want to book) or the next month that I want to book. Sometimes it may be a small demo (like using the knives) to encourage Oct. bookings.