What Is Your 'Gift' for Bringing a Guest or Outside Order?

[TheChaoticCook]

Ann, I love the idea of using free shipping as the door prize! I know I'd LOVE to get that kind of prize! Thanks for the idea. Question: would it be unethical to put that $4 for free shipping down as a consultant gift?

 

[twinkie10]

Ann, I love the idea of using free shipping as the door prize! I know I'd LOVE to get that kind of prize! Thanks for the idea. Question: would it be unethical to put that $4 for free shipping down as a consultant gift?

I would definitely write it off for your taxes!!!

 

[chefann]

That's exactly what I do. It goes in as consultant gift, which automatically goes on the expense report when I finalize the show.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I give free shipping as my door prize also. For bringing a guest or outside order, or if this is your first PC show, I use my small SS bowl as a gift basket. I've never had anyone complain or seem unappreciative of the choices. I use past SB, qk knives, citrus peelers, recipe card collections (I tie 3-4 together), twixits.....and I let them choose from the bowl.

I've also started doing the little game that Jillian plays on the Interactive Show DVD - where I start a small item going around the room, and every time I say a certain word (I use the word incredible) the person holding the item has to pass it to the next person. Whoever has it at the end of the show gets to keep it. It really helps to keep people engaged in the show! I was using a small bamboo spoon set, but now I am trading off between that and sets of twixits that I purchased from the outlet. I have fun with this at shows.

At our Regional Meeting, a few people at my table do an On-Time drawing, but I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with that. It's just not me to do something to pressure people, although it works for others very well.

 

[chefann]

Several years ago I was in the habit of doing an on time drawing (The Booster has some cute stickers). There was one group I got into that thought it meant that everyone who was there on time got a prize. And even though they were there on time, they were never ready to start. So it obviously didn't work very well. I've been considering adding it back to my show routine, though.

 

[heather223]

I do the basket with SB, Twix It, Paring Knives, Citrus Peelers. I haven't had a complaint yet. :chef:

 

[sburnside]

I do the basket with SB, Twix It, Paring Knives, Citrus Peelers. I haven't had a complaint yet. :chef:

Ditto - I really like having PC products because they can't get them elsewhere and that's what the show's all about.

 

[dianevill]

I really wish they'd bring back the sample size spices. Those were always a hit as a door prize.

 

[baychef]

I really wish they'd bring back the sample size spices. Those were always a hit as a door prize.

I give the quikcut paring knife and have NO complaints.

One thing I did a year or so ago (but have gotten out of the habit of doing) is purchasing little clear bags that are about 1" x 2" that have a zip lock seal (think I found them in Michael's in the candy supply section). I printed off labels with the spice name put about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of spice in it for samples. If you buy the spice off the supply order that would help keep the cost down. I also thought of making a card stock package with a recipe for the spice that would resemble our spice samples. Time got away from me, but it is something I would like to do for a little change with repeat customers.

As far as dragging more things to a party, one of the things I use is the "rolling crate" thing that you can purchase at Staples. It has a pocket in the back where I throw in a few SBR and other door prizes. It velcros shut and adds virtually no weight and no bulk.

 

[PChefRenee]

I use a basket with PC scrapers, citrus peelers, twixt clips, SB, etc. I take each "tem and wrap it loosely in a sheet of brightly colored tissue, then I put it in a clear cellophane "goody bag" and close it with the twist ties that come with the bags. It is so colorful (my 2yo calls it the "happy birthday basket" and no one can see what's inside which makes it more fun. It is a small monetary investment and really gets the guests excited when they see it. If they brought and adult friend, both the guest and friend get to pick one. My very first show, I gave away the QC paring knives and felt kind of awkward just handing them a knife, so I have done this with all my subsequent shows. I think I am going to get some other dollar store items to put in there, too; that is a good idea - it doesn't always have to be from PC and most everyone loves anything that is free. I did have some people want an "exchange" for their gift because she already had one, or whatever. I happily:grumpy: took it back & let them pick again. A couple of times I forgot the basket, so I just had them add a SB to their order at my expense.

 

[Madreina]

As a guest to many Pampered Chef shows in the past, and as a new consultant I have seen that people seem to have become somewhat "jaded" to the whole citrus peeler, brown scraper gifts given. I myself have collected about a dozen citrus peelers from shows I attended as a guest! LOL I have been partial to using the supply to get door prize items, gotta say the small bamboo spoons are my favorite to give out (3 sets for $5.50---so very cost effective!). I have "signature colors" which I have received positive feedback on and use pretty ribbon in those colors to tie a cute bow on the handle of the spoon to give out--I also get the bamboo spoon set and break down into a couple prizes as well--with the bow tied on it as well. I vary the ribbon so they don't all look the same and for one "Death by Chocolate" theme show I dipped small bamboo spoon in the chocolate, drizzled with white chocolate and wrapped top of spoon with cellaphone bag tied with bow. I have sold several DOZEN mini and bamboo spoons this way.....they are so cute and when presented with the many ways they can use them (and the bigger size too), it has worked like a charm. Also, since I only give one spoon many have wanted to get the full set to "complete" their set so I don't "lose" sales--I give out Season's Best to customers who spend $50 or more...they seem to really love it!

 

[Kristina21]

I give out Season's Bests

Me too!

 

[Kristina21]

As a guest to many Pampered Chef shows in the past, and as a new consultant I have seen that people seem to have become somewhat "jaded" to the whole citrus peeler, brown scraper gifts given. I myself have collected about a dozen citrus peelers from shows I attended as a guest! LOL I have been partial to using the supply to get door prize items, gotta say the small bamboo spoons are my favorite to give out (3 sets for $5.50---so very cost effective!). I have "signature colors" which I have received positive feedback on and use pretty ribbon in those colors to tie a cute bow on the handle of the spoon to give out--I also get the bamboo spoon set and break down into a couple prizes as well--with the bow tied on it as well. I vary the ribbon so they don't all look the same and for one "Death by Chocolate" theme show I dipped small bamboo spoon in the chocolate, drizzled with white chocolate and wrapped top of spoon with cellaphone bag tied with bow. I have sold several DOZEN mini and bamboo spoons this way.....they are so cute and when presented with the many ways they can use them (and the bigger size too), it has worked like a charm. Also, since I only give one spoon many have wanted to get the full set to "complete" their set so I don't "lose" sales--I give out Season's Best to customers who spend $50 or more...they seem to really love it!

I should have read the rest of this thread...I'm going to "borrow" this idea it is very memorable! I want to make my shows fun and easy to remember, there's a few other consultants in this area and I want my name and Pampered Chef to come up simultaneous in peoples minds. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[salthechef]

I have a basket also, the idea of which I got from the consultant who recruited me, and it has the bamboo spoons, quickuts, several different SB's and Una Muestras, citrus peelers, and a few twixits. I love the variety, and watching people dig thru deciding what they want. However, I have started to question it some since several times I have told the winner to choose an item from the basket, and they act surprised, and say they thought it was the whole basket! My basket is very full, and it makes me feel bad that people don't appreciate the gift, and my effort to make it look nice and everything!

 

[salthechef]

I love the chocolate dipped spoons idea!

 

[IAmChefJ]

so... they eat the chocolate off the bamboo?

 

[jrstephens]

Paring knife. Something SA for the guest to buy, not just for the host. Mini spatula with pink handle. One of the "green" knives in pink.

I would like things that are USEFUL to my guest.

 

[pamperedthorpe]

We don't offer a gift, but having said that I don't think anyone's brought a guest to any of our 15 shows so far! It's an idea that we might do when we've accumulated a few more token items!Having said that, we've got a box of either duplicate or items we don't want costing £10-25 ($20-40) that hosts can choose an item from if they get £50 ($100) of outside orders.

 

[gailz2]

I also use the small bamboo serving spoons that come 2 to a pack, I open it and divide it up. Occasionally I'll pass the basket and let each person pick -- depends on the crowd. I also open up the twixits. Buying items from the outlet is nice as well for host gifts.

 

[Madreina]

Dear IAMCHEF J: Hope this helps....They can use the chocolate-dipped spoons to stir hot chocolate or in milk or even coffee (my girfriend loves the whole chocolate/coffee combo...LOL)--and one customer told me she used it to eat vanilla ice cream and loved it! She bought 3 sets of mini-bamboo spoons to do this for her family as a treat---OH! As a great "intro" that I am a Pampered Chef consultant, I give my kid's teachers a mug with a packet of hot chocolate with a mini-chocolate-dipped bamboo spoon in it and wrapped in cellaphone with a cute bow at the top--as a "Thanks" for being my child's teacher during the holidays....I also give these at schools for donations from local businesses etc. with my business cards attached....I proudly have 4 very loyal teachers as customers and they pass the catalog around to other teachers who order pretty regularly as well! It is a great and practical gift! And the beauty of it is they have the mini-spoon to use for salsas, dressings, jelly, whatever they want, they don't have to "re-dip" in chocolate to appreciate and enjoy!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

Diane, I'm a latecomer to this thread ... but thank you for giving me permission to dip into my "prize closet" from my pre-PC days! I have a whole bunch of stuff but it seemed to be the "unwritten rule" that I HAD to give away PC items.I have a basket with twixits, citrus peelers and knives and at the last show I had, each winner took one of each.I like the idea of a special gift for those who spend more than $50.As I was prepping my 30 minute chicken for tomorrow's show, I got out my little Midgets and put together the rub for the other 2 chickens I have in the freezer ... I think maybe I am going to transfer one of these to a ziplock bag and give it away to anyone who buys the DCB along with a Season's Best with that recipe in it.

 

[snellskitchen]

I like these ideas - and think I will add some $1 store items. I currently do the large micro-cooker full of twix-its, paring knives, nylon scrapers and citrus peelers and I agree that people sometimes seem unappreciative. I have heard comments about "when I went to ____ show I got a (scraper or mini serving spatula)." I wonder who can give away such big prizes. I do have a larger goodie basket ($5-$20) of items that people can pick from for hosting a show.