Spring Open House (Help W/ Recipe's)

[robochick84]

I have had the worst luck with open houses in general and also with booking show's since the end of my first 90 days. My first open house I invited over 100 people from my development, and one person showed. My second, I won't discuss because it was a total flop. I decided to reach out of my development to neighboring developments this time and invited 100, plus all past hosts and guests to my spring open house. We'll see if it goes any better this time!Where I need help....I plan on having all the new items on one table.
The three tiered stand with the new kiwi cups.
And notes on the prizes that you get if you book a show that today (some old and some new but range from $20 - $60).
The new QSP with lemonade, etc in it.
The new loaf pan with beer bread (plated).On another table....
I plan to have the chili bake in the DCB.I also have a few pieces of SA, including the trio bowl. I would like some recommendations for the trio bowl besides the dips that I could do and besides salsa, guacamole, etc. Any thoughts?Plus any other must haves at open houses or new must do recipe feel free to recommend.I am also going to have a small area with 3 or 4 pieces of stone's for the final offer of 20% off.

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

I would recommend looking in the booth fairs and festivals section of the forum, a recent thread is showing pictures of peoples booths. One person puts little yellow flags on her new items to show they are new. This gets people attention, I think.

I'm going to do a simple 2 layer round cake on my cake platter and 3 different kinds of cookies/treats on the tiered tower.
I'll be doing the cheese/ham tortellini recipe found in the new catalog in my DCB.
I would do candies in the trio bowl, m&ms and/or skittles, hot tamales, etc. (I won't be doing this because I don't have a trio bowl)

Set out some recipe cards for people to take. I'm going to do a trifold board (also found under that same thread mentioned above about booths) to highlight everything.

I'll have a few flyers out about the prizes I'm offering and the different ways to win tickets into the drawing.

I'm going to grab the link to that thread for you and post it

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

http://www.chefsuccess.com/f52/boot...-your-photos-too-58011/index2.html#post719822

That's the last page of the thread currently.

 

[NooraK]

I think what you're planning to offer sounds good.

A question about how you're inviting people: are you just sending flyers/postcards or are you actually speaking ot people. Unless someone is a real PC junkie, they probably won't come to an open house for someone they don't know. On a recent audio I listened to, the speaker told about a fellow consultant that had recently relocated. She baked bread in the bread tubes (you could use the beer bread), and cut the loaves in half and wrapped them up nicely. She then went and knocked on the doors of her neighbors, and introduced herself. She gave them the bread, told them about her party she was having to get her business started, and then gave them 5 invitations to bring their friends.

If you do go and actually talk to your neighbors, who ever you end up talking to, ask for a phone number so you can give them a reminder call.

 

[babywings76]

Thanks for sharing that story Noora--I love that idea!

 

[robochick84]

I think what you're planning to offer sounds good.

A question about how you're inviting people: are you just sending flyers/postcards or are you actually speaking ot people. Unless someone is a real PC junkie, they probably won't come to an open house for someone they don't know. On a recent audio I listened to, the speaker told about a fellow consultant that had recently relocated. She baked bread in the bread tubes (you could use the beer bread), and cut the loaves in half and wrapped them up nicely. She then went and knocked on the doors of her neighbors, and introduced herself. She gave them the bread, told them about her party she was having to get her business started, and then gave them 5 invitations to bring their friends.

If you do go and actually talk to your neighbors, who ever you end up talking to, ask for a phone number so you can give them a reminder call.

Sounds like a great idea, but I was petrified just walking to 'empty' houses and leaving the door hangers on the door! I was constantly thinking that a neighbor was going to see me and call the cops, or I was going to set an alarm system off!

 

[robochick84]

I would recommend looking in the booth fairs and festivals section of the forum, a recent thread is showing pictures of peoples booths. One person puts little yellow flags on her new items to show they are new. This gets people attention, I think.

I'm going to do a simple 2 layer round cake on my cake platter and 3 different kinds of cookies/treats on the tiered tower.
I'll be doing the cheese/ham tortellini recipe found in the new catalog in my DCB.
I would do candies in the trio bowl, m&ms and/or skittles, hot tamales, etc. (I won't be doing this because I don't have a trio bowl)

Set out some recipe cards for people to take. I'm going to do a trifold board (also found under that same thread mentioned above about booths) to highlight everything.

I'll have a few flyers out about the prizes I'm offering and the different ways to win tickets into the drawing.

I'm going to grab the link to that thread for you and post it

Thanks for the trio bowl idea, I may do that as it is simple and quick.

I also have some recipe cards I will hand out, I had done spice samples, but the recipe cards sound much better!