Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Successful Open House - Tips and Ideas"

[redsoxgirl]

I'm planning on doing an Open House in August to show off the new stuff and sell the old stuff before it's gone (someone here mentioned it.... can't remember who, but thanks for the suggestion!!)

I was wondering what a good time for that sort of thing is.
I'm planning on a Saturday or Sunday and was thinking either late morning (10 or 11ish) or evening (6 or 7ish).

What do you guys do when you have these sorts of things?

 

[missmindym]

I just did one and it bombed. I'm afraid there wasn't enough advertising, and being that it's summer and hot I don't think people wanted to go to an open house. It was during a week night. From 5p-8p.

I am doing another one in September and I'm going to advertise the heck out of it. I am going to still do it on a week night, but it will be after school has started and people will be less likely to be on vacation and it won't be so darn hot out. And maybe the gas prices will have backed off a little bit, though I'm not holding out too much hope on that.

I do an open house special where if they fill out a customer care card and get added to my newsletter the get entered into a drawing where they can win $5, $10, or $20 in free product. Then I do a small door prize (like a Season's Best or Citrus Peeler). I also did a booking special where if they booked a show within the next two months they received a coupon for $25 in free product when they held their show on the original booked date.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Many people (myself included) have better results with an actual start time, and a small demo or small "walk through the catty"

Make sure you "host coach" yourself! Personally invite, mail invites, do reminder calls....

 

[melaniepc]

I have been told by a few ppl they like things earlier or later in the day. not in the middle as it messes up your whole day. good luck. I did one a few weeks back and only had three show up out of 30. I think its just a busy time of year. maybe sept would be a better bet

 

[ltkacz]

I've done an open house 2 years in a row - both in early November just before the holiday. They both have been very successfull - first year it was $500 show - this past year it was a $900 show! WHOO HOO.

I've always done them on a Saturday morning - from 10-1. First year I did it from 10-2 - no one came between 1 & 2. This past year I thought it was perfect - 10-1. No demo. I just had everything possible on display. I had a ton of munchies for everyone. I gave recipe cards wrapped up in ribbon (the ones you get on supply order form). Anyone who placed an order got a season's best.

I always get a ton of compliments on how nice it is. So, I will of course continue to do it.

Few suggestions:

1) E-mail out the invites about a month in advance. Then e-mail again at 2 weeks before your event, then again about 2 days prior. This has worked really well for me.

2) Don't bother with mailing. The first year I mailed to everyone I didn't have an e-mail for - wasn't worth the postage nor the time.

3) Send an e-mail out the day after (to everyone you originally invited) saying thanks for coming, and you can still get in on the event by ordering within the next week.

4) Print out what's on the outlet. Have it available at your open house. You can put 1 big order in with everyone who wants to order outlet items. It saves them money - typically it works out to be $3 or $4 shipping split amoung a bunch of people. This past year I received over $100 in outlet orders for just having the sheet available. That was like icing on the cake.

 

[redsoxgirl]

I've done an open house 2 years in a row - both in early November just before the holiday. They both have been very successfull - first year it was $500 show - this past year it was a $900 show! WHOO HOO.

I've always done them on a Saturday morning - from 10-1. First year I did it from 10-2 - no one came between 1 & 2. This past year I thought it was perfect - 10-1. No demo. I just had everything possible on display. I had a ton of munchies for everyone. I gave recipe cards wrapped up in ribbon (the ones you get on supply order form). Anyone who placed an order got a season's best.

I always get a ton of compliments on how nice it is. So, I will of course continue to do it.

Few suggestions:

1) E-mail out the invites about a month in advance. Then e-mail again at 2 weeks before your event, then again about 2 days prior. This has worked really well for me.

2) Don't bother with mailing. The first year I mailed to everyone I didn't have an e-mail for - wasn't worth the postage nor the time.

3) Send an e-mail out the day after (to everyone you originally invited) saying thanks for coming, and you can still get in on the event by ordering within the next week.

4) Print out what's on the outlet. Have it available at your open house. You can put 1 big order in with everyone who wants to order outlet items. It saves them money - typically it works out to be $3 or $4 shipping split amoung a bunch of people. This past year I received over $100 in outlet orders for just having the sheet available. That was like icing on the cake.

Thanks for all the tips!
I like the outlet tip! But I've got one question....

If people are coming and going, how do you charge for shipping? Do you just charge a flat $2 or $3 for everyone or do you wait till the end and then tell them what it is?

 

[missmindym]

I've done an open house 2 years in a row - both in early November just before the holiday. They both have been very successfull - first year it was $500 show - this past year it was a $900 show! WHOO HOO.

I've always done them on a Saturday morning - from 10-1. First year I did it from 10-2 - no one came between 1 & 2. This past year I thought it was perfect - 10-1. No demo. I just had everything possible on display. I had a ton of munchies for everyone. I gave recipe cards wrapped up in ribbon (the ones you get on supply order form). Anyone who placed an order got a season's best.

I always get a ton of compliments on how nice it is. So, I will of course continue to do it.

Few suggestions:

1) E-mail out the invites about a month in advance. Then e-mail again at 2 weeks before your event, then again about 2 days prior. This has worked really well for me.

2) Don't bother with mailing. The first year I mailed to everyone I didn't have an e-mail for - wasn't worth the postage nor the time.

3) Send an e-mail out the day after (to everyone you originally invited) saying thanks for coming, and you can still get in on the event by ordering within the next week.

4) Print out what's on the outlet. Have it available at your open house. You can put 1 big order in with everyone who wants to order outlet items. It saves them money - typically it works out to be $3 or $4 shipping split amoung a bunch of people. This past year I received over $100 in outlet orders for just having the sheet available. That was like icing on the cake.

I love all these suggestions and am so totally going to use some of them!!