*Spoiler* Spring 2014 Feast Product Discussion *Spoiler*

[Junes Open Kitchen]

Your correct Amanda, it came across as a demand, did not intend that, simply that if we have a spoiler thread it should contain just that otherwise its just discussion about spring launch and timing - a place for expression regarding such.

 

[sprout18]

I should mention that I have paid for Feast for the 8th in Baltimore. However due to weather conditions ours might be cancelled. By what others are saying since I paid and it may be cancelled I should still have the right to know before everyone else. That doesn't seem rift to me.

 

[otisbg]

ok -
I am ready to be stoned or drawn & quartered but here is the scoop I just got. I have my big girl panties on and know darn well this is a spoiler thread and I am going to spoil you all because you have all helped me over the years.....

Cobalt blue is the color of the season. It's new on the can opener, tomato knife, cutting board, 1 of the collapsible bowls, and on a cheese knife they brought back by popular demand.

There is a new gardening section with 5 pieces and they will be featured as the Mother's Day special with a special little tote.

Other new items:
Plant based recipe cards
Dual-sided cleNing brush
Round scrub brush
4 whimsical scrapers
Bamboo platter
Small bowl caddy and appetizer plate stand were redesigned and now oil brushed bronze color
Bamboo tablet/recipe book stand
Bamboo charging station
Set of cord wraps
Medium cutting board with juice wells
Mini scoop n drain
Scoop loop
Trunk organizer in gray chevron
Insulated collapsible cooler in gray chevron
Insulated beverage cooler in gray chevron and both patterns are now leak proof
Super swat is back
HWC items will be a bar board with pink grips and a mini mix n chop in pink
Big new item this season is a double burner grill pan

Jean said Doris coming back has been great and she is changing things quite a bit. We had a couple of great messages from Doris via video. The big announcement was that Since January has been tough and actually a tough past couple of years that even though they said they would not do this Doris came in and said February is double points month for the trip! Jean told us not to waste this gift and that it will for sure not be happening again this year.

 

[Amanda_RI]

ok -
I am ready to be stoned or drawn & quartered but here is the scoop I just got. I have my big girl panties on and know darn well this is a spoiler thread and I am going to spoil you all because you have all helped me over the years.....

Woo hoo!

Cobalt blue is the color of the season. It's new on the can opener, tomato knife, cutting board, 1 of the collapsible bowls, and on a cheese knife they brought back by popular demand.

I love that the can opener will be a different color. No idea why, but this was exciting to me.

There is a new gardening section with 5 pieces and they will be featured as the Mother's Day special with a special little tote.

I don't know how I feel about this. A cute item for a special, I'll grant you, but we're offering gardening tools? Meh.

Other new items:
Plant based recipe cards I'm not sure what this means. Vegetarian? Vegan?
Dual-sided cleNing brush
Round scrub brush
4 whimsical scrapers
Bamboo platter
Small bowl caddy and appetizer plate stand were redesigned and now oil brushed bronze color
Bamboo tablet/recipe book stand Oh! People have been asking for something like this for ages!
Bamboo charging station eh.
Set of cord wraps
Medium cutting board with juice wells
Mini scoop n drain
Scoop loop No idea what this is. Help?
Trunk organizer in gray chevron Sigh. Maybe the other totes, etc, were big sellers for other people, but this just makes me feel like we're really trying to compete with 31, which I don't like (the competition, not the company).
Insulated collapsible cooler in gray chevron
Insulated beverage cooler in gray chevron and both patterns are now leak proof
Super swat is back Yay!
HWC items will be a bar board with pink grips and a mini mix n chop in pink Oh my goodness--the mini mix & chop will be such a huge seller!
Big new item this season is a double burner grill pan This sounds AMAZING.

Jean said Doris coming back has been great and she is changing things quite a bit. We had a couple of great messages from Doris via video. The big announcement was that Since January has been tough and actually a tough past couple of years that even though they said they would not do this Doris came in and said February is double points month for the trip! Jean told us not to waste this gift and that it will for sure not be happening again this year.

Thank you so much! (My comments are in green, above)

 

[Junes Open Kitchen]

your my hero

 

[Lilamyw3]

I'm surprised that blue is the "it" color. Blue can opener? Interesting! I still use the old one because it works so well. Maybe I'll splurge for the new one!

Glad to hear about the round scrub brush, I get asked about that often.


Thank you Otisbg!

 

[ShellBeach]

Cool! Thank you very much,otisbg!
I was wanting a collapsible bowl in something other than green.
Lots of folks asking for a cookbook stand should be happy.
Skeptical on the gardening tools - seems like that will only sell perhaps 3 months out of the year, taking up valuable catalog space.
The plant-based recipe cards cracked me up. I had a silly vision of putting them into a pot of boiling water to eat.

 

[Ellabug]

Thank you for posting the details. I went to Feast 2 years ago and had a blast, then didn't make it the following fall - and when I saw what came out that fall I was glad I didn't go, as a hobbiest consultant it wasn't worth the money to me. And every launch since then has been increasingly disappointing in terms of product releases. Fewer products each time, and many are just re-do's of what already exists (different color, remakes, re-releases). I think the gardening products will actually sell well, and I am excited for these. Also excited for the mini scoop and drain and the cookbook stand. I'm surprised and disappointed that there isn't a new cookbook or new spice or drink mix. Overall, I'm glad I didn't spend money to go, again. Any news on what the "surprise" product will be if we submit 2 shows for March?Any news on what is being retired?

 

[esavvymom]

There were 32 products total...so here is the complete list from the Free-For-All sheet.


arranged by Free-For-All Levels, so I can kill two birds with one stone! I am not writing prices right now, since I'm using the Free-for-all list, which doesn't give prices, just package values.

DECEMBER 2 or 3 Shows: (Value $48.50)

• Cobalt Blue Smooth-Edge Can Opener (original white one still available)
• Medium Cutting Board with Juice wells (just like the one we have, only smaller size- about 9x13)
• Scoop Loop (this is hard to describe, but it has two sized ends, serrated plastic. large and small serrated loops remove seeds from produce (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers, etc)

JANUARY 2 Shows (Value $48.50)

• "Batter Me Up" scraper- BLUE Swirl (decorated scraper with that phrase, and comes in two colors. Bamboo handles- very cute. the back of the scraper has measurement guides on them! Very coolWould make great hostess gift).
• Garden Trowel
• - New Booking & Recruiting Slide (updated for new hostess plan, etc)

$1500 Level (Value $178)

• Cobalt Blue Color Coated tomato knife
• Cobalt Blue Cutting Board (9x13 size cutting board, has the blue edges instead of grey. But the regular grey is also available)
• Cord Warp (set of 2) (these are a stiff foam-type wrap for cords and chargers...very nifty gadget-will be great for earbuds in the purse, etc; Cobalt Blue)
• Dual-sided cleaning brush (small brush - about the size of a toothbrush, for cleaning around the edges in your kitchen (ie- sink, drains, etc), grout, etc)
• Garden Cultivator
• Gray Chevron Insulated Collapsible Cooler (the pink/paisley items are still available...now you can just choose a more manly/less girly option)
• Round Scrub Brush (fits in the muffin pans/brownie pan wells, and can be used on cookware)
• "Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards" Scraper - PINK (decorated scraper with that phrase, two colors offered..OH, the back of the scraper has measurement guides- Loved this one)
• The Plant-Based Plate Recipe Card collection (5-vegan recipes)

$3000 Level (value $377) - Receive the $1500 package PLUS:

• Bamboo Platter (larger size, 19x13)
• Bamboo Tablet Stand (liked this alot too. Can also be used for cookbooks!)
• "Batter Me Up" scraper- Orange Swirl
• Cobalt Blue 2-qt Collapsible Serving Bowl (The original sizes/colors remain also)
• Cobalt Blue Easy Release Cheese Knife (yes, it's back)
• Garden Pruning Shears
• Garden Weeder
• Gray Chevron print Insulated Beverage Cooler (leak-proof; more "manly" print for the guys in our lives!)
• Mini Scoop-n-drain (again, just like the original, only smaller!)
• Small Bowl Caddy (redesign...oil-rubbed bronze finish)

$6000 Level (Value $718.50) - Receive the $1500 & $3000 package PLUS:

• Appetizer Plate Stand (got rid of the loop at the top, now in a oil-rubbed bronze finish)
• Bamboo Charging Station (LOVE this...holds phone, mp3 players, notepads, etc..would look so much nicer on countertops!)
• Garden Transplanter
• Gray Chevron Trunk Organizer (LOVED this...collapses to a much smaller size too)
• Paisley Dot Insulated Beverage Cooler (redesigned to be leak-proof...so ice can be put into the cooler and won't leak!)
• "Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards" Scraper - ORANGE
• Super Swat (-yep...it's back! Pink dustpan/tweezers, black swat)
  AND also in the $6000 level---->The BIG product announced:
• Double Burner Grill (VERY cool...pricey at $189. Can also get as a set with 2-grill presses for $250. But definitely will be another booking tool!)

Directors.....You get all of it (except Booking Slide), plus whatever you earned! (value of $755)

Pink Products: just two...
Pink Mini Mix-n-Chop (8 1/4" length)
Pink Bar Board...just like our current bar board, but with Pink Edges

March Sales Promotion
2 shows submitted will earn you the Pink Products, AND a really cute Blue Garden Tool tote. (no products, just the tote).

April Guest Promotion will have the Garden Tote and different levels of Tools available for sale (basically getting the tote free, when they buy certain tools. I didn't write down which tools and how much. The cheapest was the Tote, the Garden Weeder, and one other tool for $59 (saved $9). It went up from there. I think $99 was the highest?? Had all the tools and tote, I THINK.


All videos from Launch will be live on CC the week of the 10th, as will the marketing material.

I do not have a Discontinued List. That comes only from someone scouring the catalog. Sorry folks- I'm not doing it. you'll see that list soon enough in the changeover, Or if someone else has more time to spare. They did say a few prices went up, mostly $0.50 or less. Doris (via video) said 3% for cookware, and 6% for stoneware?? Example- 12" Exec Skillet is now $159 (up $4). DCB is $88 (up $3). So not major.

No new pantry items. I did notice all of the Dessert sauces, the Korean BBQ, and all Itty-Bitty Bevs are gone. The rest are the same.
No major new cookbooks, just the Season's Best, and the Vegan recipe collection.

Catalog looks great, as always. They kept the blue microcookers, along with the regular black ones.

The concept behind the hand garden tools is "Farm to Table". ANd since we deal with food...they wanted to get in on it. It's a big trend for folks to do their own kitchen gardens, etc. Prices I thought at first were high (average about $25 most of the items), BUT they are a VERY good quality when we felt them, and compared to my garden supply catalogs- same prices. They had Cobalt Blue handles. The stainless steel blades on the Trowel, Cultivator (claw looking tool), Transplanter (like a trowel, but shallower and has serrated edges), and the Weeder are full-tang, like our knives. 6" ergonomic handles with finger grooves. The shears can cut stems up to 1" thick...they open wider than most shears of similar size. You can actually select two opening sizes for larger and smaller branches, or lock closed completely. Pre-oiled blades. Felt really nice. Watch the videos later and they give some statistics about gardening trends. And they have marketing materials for it....great info! (This could open up a bit for Farmer's market booths too. Garden Hand Tools, and Kitchen Tools to prepare them later! Not sure. )

I won't post any pictures..(1) because I didn't take any, so I'd only be able to scan from catalog, and (2) last time that messed a few folks up who didn't want to see! They didnt' have products set up on tables like before...they just passed them, so we only saw/touched them maybe 20-30 seconds. Plus- ChefSuccess is viewable to outside public without a login remember.... It's not "locked down" to just consultants.

 

[Lilamyw3]

DECEMBER 2 or 3 Shows: (Value $48.50)

• Cobalt Blue Smooth-Edge Can Opener (original white one still available)
• Medium Cutting Board with Juice wells (just like the one we have, only smaller size- about 9x13)
• Scoop Loop (this is hard to describe, but it has two sized ends, serrated plastic. large and small serrated loops remove seeds from produce (tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers, etc)

Well, guess I won't have to buy that new can opener after all! :love:

 

[kam]

What's up with the amount to spend for the guest special changing each month? It is getting difficult to remember which month is which amount. Did they make an announcement that they are picking an amount and sticking with it?

 

[esavvymom]

What's up with the amount to spend for the guest special changing each month? It is getting difficult to remember which month is which amount. Did they make an announcement that they are picking an amount and sticking with it?

No mention of it was made at all. I haven't looked, but maybe it depends on what the guest special is that month. Seems that the more expensive Free items come with a higher spending minimum. IE- February's range from $10-$13 in value, March's $13-15, April's cooking utensils which are $12.50,...where as the recent Jan guest special was $4.50 to $10 in value. Don't know, just my guess.it is annoying though to have varying minimums...February, March, and April are all different ($65, $75, $70). But at least they are offering some really GOOD free items. They might also be experimenting to see what customers are willing to spend....do they increase spending.So I would really play up the value of the items because they are higher. That might be enough. Someone might be more than willing to buy one more $10 item if they could get another $10-15 item for free! (had a customer do that recently, willingly gave up her 10% past host discount so she could keep her free $10 spatula free. )

 

[Shawnna]

Thank you Linda and esavvymom. Appreciate the information.I'm excited about the mini mix n chop. Actually, there are several things I am excited about. I'm hoping all the samples will be open stock like last season. I didn't earn anything...BOO!!

 

[esavvymom]

I'm hoping all the samples will be open stock like last season. I didn't earn anything...BOO!!

I hope so too!! They didn't say and it wasn't written anywhere. We'll know hopefully by the 10th online I think. I saw that the Fall products are available to buy as samples until Feb 9th. (I still have to get a couple of fall product samples...I wasn't active all fall/early winter...so just now able to get them! )

 

[chefjeanine]

What's up with the amount to spend for the guest special changing each month? It is getting difficult to remember which month is which amount. Did they make an announcement that they are picking an amount and sticking with it?

Kathleen, my Director told me it will continue to fluctuate according to the value of the gift. So, it will be a higher amount when the value of the "free gift" costs more.

 

[monsen0727]

THANK YOU to "otisbg" and "esavvymom" for sharing the new product....what the SPOILER page is all about. You know, if you ask PC they recommend not subscribing to Chef Success...at least they used to....so just being hear is a "violoation" of that. LOL Thanks again for the info!

 

[Lilamyw3]

THANK YOU to "otisbg" and "esavvymom" for sharing the new product....what the SPOILER page is all about. You know, if you ask PC they recommend not subscribing to Chef Success...at least they used to....so just being hear is a "violoation" of that. LOL Thanks again for the info!

I wasn't aware that they didn't recommend it. My director and her co-team director both highly recommend CS. I think it's a great support system.

 

[esavvymom]

I wasn't aware that they didn't recommend it. My director and her co-team director both highly recommend CS. I think it's a great support system.

They (HOME OFFICE) have their own remember? or a version there-of. Individual consultants, like directors, are operating outside of that. I have an NED who is always passing out documents that I have seen on here first.

 

[monsen0727]

Back when I first joined a few years ago PC still had that useless forum and I was told by a few with various higher levels than myselef that I shouldn't be using CS. May have changed when they don't have anything for us anymore. DIdn't stop me from sharing lots of things I found on this site though and they willingly took the info.

 

[Lilamyw3]

Oh yes, I remember that forum. It never worked correctly, hardly anyone used it. I never found anything of use on there.

Side Note: Ok, So the gardening tools. A bit odd, but I see the garden to kitchen to table connection. I personally love raising a garden so I hope these are great tools.

 

[cochef]

What was mentioned about the new Beta site - is there an absolute date set when P3 is no longer working? Just wondering why Feb shows have to be in by the end of the month ???
Thanks for all the other very helpful info, too!!

 

[thehaleykitchen]

Feb shows have to be by the end of the month because the Host Program is changing - no more cooking or catalog show, they are just shows.....

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Thank you to those who have shared. I respect the hesitancy on the part of those who don't want to. As always, really cannot make a real judgement on the new products until I see them. There are a few that would be nice to have but so far, nothing that really wows me. But I may feel different once I see them.

 

[Laurie Rock]

I would at least like to know what is being discontinued. I don't belive that has come out yet. I didn't go because I threw my back out and Dr. wouldn't let me travel in the car. My director said she didn't hear anything about what was being discontinued.

 

[Lilamyw3]

I would at least like to know what is being discontinued. I don't belive that has come out yet. I didn't go because I threw my back out and Dr. wouldn't let me travel in the car. My director said she didn't hear anything about what was being discontinued.

a previous poster said the dessert sauces and the itty bitty bevs. And we already knew the suds pump was going out. I'm sure the christmas type items (the scrapers with snowflakes) and such will be leaving for now too.

 

[Kgraeca]

Does anyone know if the sample items are going to be in packages or a la carte like last season?

 

[cookscorner]

Thank you very much for posting. It is appreciated.

 

[darlinclem]

Thank you to those that have posted information!The discontinued list and samples buying list are only available in the change over boxes. NO ONE will know those until they come in those boxes. People can go through the new catalog and figure them out but that is a LOT of time and sometimes is incorrect (someone missed something). We will know soon enough- I am glad to know the new stuff and the levels (even though I didn't earn any of the January incentives). We start calving in February. If you like your beef, you want me here I did go to Omaha two years ago and came home to a bottle calf and calving that started early. Since our cattle operation (140 head that have calves) makes us a LOT more money than my PC business, I need to be here not driving 7+ hours (one way) to attend a "launch/feast".

 

[MaggieChef13]

Thanks for the list! Wish I had submitted two shows in December. Really would love the new can opener. I had 2 shows in January but didn't reach 1500. February still haven't any shows booked...
I love spoilers even though I will be going to Springfield on the 8th.
I'm a BIG gardener so I will def be promoting those garden tools at my future shows.

 

[sarahe0624]

So no new suds pump?