Uk Host and Guest Specials...are Yours Similar?

[Muppetgal]

This is also for Britishchef, who has just signed up in the UK after doing PC in the US. Hope these are helpful!

Just wondered if your host/guest specials work the same way in the US, curiosity and all that.

 

[mrssyvo]

Wow- the hostess receives the product FREE, not 60% off?

 

[jenniferknapp]

WOW is right!! that is so much better than ours (if they also receive free prod value + half off + discount)

 

[cmdtrgd]

Yeah, but what do they get if they don't reach the sales goal?

 

[nikked]

Appreciate what you've got...Okay, don't want to be a preacher, here, but...

TPC USA used to have a program where the host "earned" a specific product for free, based on sales levels ($350, $700 and $1000, I think). If they didn't want it or already had it, oh well. In addition, the amount of free product that they got to "shop" with was less, and much harder to use (it was a point system that had to be used "exactly", which was a major pain!). The booking benefit was points which basically equaled $2 or $3 dollars, instead of being an additional 60% off item later.

Under the new program, if the host doesn't want the monthly special, they don't have to get it, their "shopping spree" is much more based on their sales, and they basically get unlimited 60% off items for 6 months, as long as people book. So, our hosts have a great deal!

There may be others who sold under the old system and liked it better than the new one, but I love the new one, and so do my hosts who have been under both!

HTH!!!

 

[tlennhoff]

I wish we had the cranberry cutting board over here.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

Why dont' we all have the same products is what I don't understand!!! But I like the way PC usa works with hostess and guest specials!!

 

[janel kelly]

It looks like they are trying to get rid of extra products from last fall season with their guest special. Did you also notice their host special they get the old cutting board free with what is it 12 guests at their show? Thats interesting that our discontinued products are their specials.

 

[lisacb77]

Right, but don't forget starting in January our hosts will get a product w/15 buying guests, at least the first two months. I hope that trend continues!

 

[Chef Diane]

wow whats that gonna do to our sales?
I hope it sticks too, hostess' tend to work harder for a free product and don't allow as many piggy back orders. ( I hate when they do that)

 

[Muppetgal]

it was a point system that had to be used "exactly", which was a major pain.

This is how it works over here...it's a point system and it has to be used exactly (which is a pain in the butt!)

-Points are based on sales, hospitality, closing that week, bookings.
-Once they hit 12 orders they also get more points, then at 18 they get an addition amount of points. 12 orders sometimes (not always) gets them a free gift too.
-They can earn half price items (most I've ever had a host earn is two) which they can either use to purchase expensive things or convert to points
- Most hosts earn about a 20% discount above all of this
- 10% discount for a year afterwards
- sales have to be £125 or it doesn't count as a show...regardless of the number of orders.
- no shipping costs as it all gets sent to the host as long as the sales minimum is met (UK is quite small though so I guess it doesn't actually cost a lot to ship)

Please remember that the UK have only been up and running for 7 years...and this system has worked well over here so far. Not many people have been to loads and loads of PC parties over the years, so you don't find people saying they don't want/need the host gifts.

If they don't reach the sales of £260 they don't get the host gift, but still earn points to spend.

We also don't have all the same products as some won't sell in this country. Stoves are smaller, ovens are smaller, fridges and freezers are smaller...for example the chillzane bowl would be a silly thing to introduce over here because no one would have room to actually chill the thing!

I didn't realise that the chopping board is discontinued in the US (what do you have instead, bamboo ones?)...and the cranberry bar board is only for this seasons catalogue, there is sort of a cranberry theme going on right now for CHristmas I guess.

If they didn't want it or already had it, oh well.

I find this has actually hindered me on a few bookings this month for example, as I have a lot of leads from past parties who already have one of the knives. I've still got 7 booked though!

 

[Muppetgal]

for britishchef...here is the outside order form too.

HTH!

 

[chefann]

I didn't realise that the chopping board is discontinued in the US (what do you have instead, bamboo ones?)...and the cranberry bar board is only for this seasons catalogue, there is sort of a cranberry theme going on right now for CHristmas I guess.

The cutting board in the US (and Canada, too, right?) was just updated to include silicone on the 2 long edges. Otherwise, it's very similar to the one that's still available in the UK.

Last Fall (F/W 2005) we had 2 colored bar board and knife sets in the US, cranberry and butternut. They included a bar board and a Quickut Paring Knife with a matching handle.

I think it's interesting to see the differences in the product lines. As much as we like to think that everything is a "global community" now, there are still vast differences from region to region. It's those differences that make us unique, define culture, and, yes, determine the feasibility of products from one country to another.

 

[chefann]

I finally actually looked at the fliers, and the guest special is in fact the set that we had in the US last fall.

 

[AJPratt]

I wish we had the cranberry cutting board over here.

We had it last year's F/W.

It looks like they are a bit behind us.

 

[britishchef]

It's so weird for me to get used to the differences in the UK system! And I have so many products I can't use in shows here because they're not out here yet.

Muppetgal - make sure you get another party so you can get the sell-a-thon products!

Girls, isn't it weird that when I started here I had NO idea I would be moving back to Britain. And now I almost met Muppetgal (almost because I was too jetlagged to go to a PC meeting she was at) and then it turns out my new Director who I recruited under is her upline Sr. director! So I am sure I will be meeting her soon, and maybe we'll be in Rome together (our incentive trip).

Amber

 

[Muppetgal]

Ahem, as far as sell-a-thon goes, I'm only going for four shows for November and getting the small kit...the other three shows are all in the last week and I'm going to submit on December 1 or after because I am officially taking December off (having a baby!!) and don't want to go inactive! They will all be submitted within a week though, so I suppose I could push the hosts to go for outside orders and see if I can increase sales on the last three.

Shhh..don't tell anyone!

 

[Ginger428]

Ahem, as far as sell-a-thon goes, I'm only going for four shows for November and getting the small kit...the other three shows are all in the last week and I'm going to submit on December 1 or after because I am officially taking December off (having a baby!!) and don't want to go inactive! They will all be submitted within a week though, so I suppose I could push the hosts to go for outside orders and see if I can increase sales on the last three.

Shhh..don't tell anyone!

Thats WONDERFUL!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!

 

[tlennhoff]

Girls, isn't it weird that when I started here I had NO idea I would be moving back to Britain. And now I almost met Muppetgal (almost because I was too jetlagged to go to a PC meeting she was at) and then it turns out my new Director who I recruited under is her upline Sr. director! So I am sure I will be meeting her soon, and maybe we'll be in Rome together (our incentive trip).

Amber

That is funny/weird. The world can be such a small place.

 

[AJPratt]

Here's a small place thing: My brother's boss used to vacation with my husband's family in New Hampshire. My brother made mention at work that we went up to NH for vacation and it sparked a conversation with his boss.

Funny thing, too... I drive through the town in which PamperedHarriett lives to go see Dave's family. She knows of my husband's family's business. Weird.

 

[britishchef]

Muppetgal - I spoke to Allain today. I had no idea you were American...!

Isn't there an incentive for having four shows in Dec. too? Or is it January? I just got CN today, and I forgot already!

How much is a website in the UK?

I'm kinda down today. 2 of my 6 starter shows have cancelled! Since I just moved back I don't know a lot of people. And I'm running into a LOT of "It's just too expensive" and people refusing to even come to shows or anything.

 

[Muppetgal]

Oooh, I'll have to give Allain a smack next time I see her...I'm CANADIAN not American!!!

There is an incentive for four shows...new apron, spring product (I think) and double points for the trip for Jan 1 - 13th. I have one show booked the very beginning weekend of December, so I'll hit four if I hold off submitting those last ones from November. NOt that the double points in Jan helps me too much, I'll have had a baby a few weeks before and was going to take January off!! I do have one past host insisting on a Jan show because she knows it's double points for the hosts too, but she's told me I can take my baby with me!

I don't know about the website thing...I never got one. I may look at it next year when this is more full time for me though.

Try fundraisers...I know they don't seem that great a deal in America but in the UK there isn't really all that many options for fundraising, so try your local nurseries/playgroups and go to local churches and see if there are ladies coffee mornings etc. Hope this helps...I wish I could give you a lead or two up in Aberdeen but I don't know anyone up there. I struggled myself to get my 6 starting shows and I've lived here for 4 years!

 

[Muppetgal]

right, have just looked online and the websites are £25 for 6 months or £42 for a year.

 

[AJPratt]

Oooh, I'll have to give Allain a smack next time I see her...I'm CANADIAN not American!!!

I've been called worse! LOL

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Muppetgal,
My son went with me to a show when he was 7 days old! Basically because of the same thing - more free product value - the host was a friend of mine, and she runs a daycare....so she held my baby during the entire show, and took good care of him for me! She had an $800 show, and I did a VERY simple demo! It was the only show I did that month, if I recall......
I think my son did alot of the selling for me - just by being a baby - it put everyone in a happy mood to have him there.
Best of luck with your show schedule - and your new little one!