Creative Memories Party

[LisaB]

I am having my first CM party as a consultant. I have invited 39 people and only 1 person is going so far. Has anyone had a party where no one has shown up?????

 

[Honeybehr1]

Yeah I have. I invited 6 relatives to test out the waters of being a consultant and they either didnt RSVP or cancelled at the night before. So I cancelled the consultant that was coming over.

Needless to say, I decided not to further my career with CM and just be a customer.

When is your party? Find it odd that 38 people havent said one way or another if they are coming.

 

[Lisa]

Unfortunately, not everyone replies. You may want to follow up the invite with a phone call.

 

[maria34a]

Unfortunately, not everyone replies. You may want to follow up the invite with a phone call.

Excellent advice! People always forget these things, you have to be so pro-active when you are a consultant! Always make that personal phone call to make sure everyone is there and entice them with a free gift!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Oh, yes, a free gift with every guest an invite brings.

 

[Melrosgirl]

CM parties are a thing of the past I believe. I can't remember the last time I heard of someone going to a CM party.

 

[LisaB]

So if CM is the thing of the past what is the new thing

 

[desiab]

Melrosgirl, I think that right now LisaB is looking for encouragement and positive ideas. Your first party as a consultant is nerve-racking enough and negativity is not what she needs.

LisaB, my first party I ended up with only 4 adults there and about 5 children (mine included ), but it was the best show I have done to date. 3 of the ladies bought the full set-up with totes and even threw in a few extras. My total sales was over $1200. So it doesn't matter if only 2 people show up--you can still have a great party!

One of the things that I have done in the past that seem to work out well is to play Host Bingo. Host Bingo gets the host involved in calling their invited guests and doing other things to help with getting people excited about attending. The host in the process earns freebies.

I hope you have a fabulous party! Let us know how well you do.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

Good luck, Lisa! I am sure it will all turn out fine.

 

[MrsPete]

Melrosgirl, I think that right now LisaB is looking for encouragement and positive ideas. Your first party as a consultant is nerve-racking enough and negativity is not what she needs.

Negative or not, it's pretty much true. Five years ago almost all my "scrapping friends" used Creative Memories -- some used the products exclusively, some used just the albums but put whatever they wanted in them, others had different philosophies . . . but EVERYONE used some type of Creative Memories products. Furthermore, EVERYONE went to Creative Memories crops; except for special occasion crops, Creative Memories was the only regularly scheduled crop around.

Today it's different: Scrapbook stores, online options, and crops sponsered by stores, churches, and more. If a Creative Memories consultant wants to make it today, it's going to take more work than it did in the past -- the competition is greater.

That's too bad because I think the HUGE, ever-changing selection at the stores is overwhelming to a beginner. I fear that the hobby could "burn out" because it's becoming so complicated that people will fear to pick it up. I am very grateful that I went to a Creative Memories party years ago because the consultant helped me "get started" well. I'd bought some magazines, and I'd messed around with some papers prior to taking the class, but my work was far from satisfactory. That beginning class really helped me -- she helped me put togther my first pages, which were simple but GOOD -- but how do you get a potential customer to realize that when all those other options are out there?

Here's what I think could help a Creative Memories consultant do well:

-- Offer the beginner's class for free. Yes, seriously. I'd heard of Creative Memories, but I wasn't willing to spend $10 to see what I thought was going to be just more of what they had at the store. Finally I went to a half-price class on National Scrapbook Day. Once I was there, I saw that the class was well worth the fee -- but I didn't understand that until I was there. Give the class for free, and hope to hook the customer. My old CMC gave me the beginner's class for free, but I stayed with her as a customer for 5-6 years (attending her monthly crop probably 10 months out of 12, which was $10/crop, and always spending the better part of $100/crop), and the only reason I'm not still with her is that she moved across two time zones! She made back her initial investment in me hundreds of times over.
-- Forget the "only our products are safe" line. With all the other companies out there, people just aren't buying it. Instead, focus on offering the very best service -- that's where you can stand out from the crowd.
-- Offer regularly scheduled crops. My CMC moved across the country, and I miss her! Her crops weren't fancy -- just six hours of uninterrupted work time in the church basement and a couple of snacks. She didn't go overboard with dinners, themes, etc. I always enjoyed the idea newsletters, and she didn't distract us from our work with games. Everyone received a simple "gift" when they left; it was almost always a simple little make-and-take type of thing. Her crop was just a once-a-month commitment to my albums. I've been to crops with other CMCs and at the local scrapbook stores, but no one else has the right combination of convenient-for-me time and plenty of space to work.

My advice boils down to this: If you're just starting out as a CMC, recognize that you cannot compete with the LSS in terms of stock and choice. So give that up, and focus on the area where you can win: SERVICE. Teach classes and provide crops. Keep it simple, and reward your customers for their loyalty.

 

[almousefan]

I have been a CM consultant for 7 years and there has been plenty of times when I had a class that didn't make or had a crop that had a very low turnout. Don't give up. Business (any) is the toughest the first year. I know my business is somewhat seasonal. I can always expect higher attendance at certain times of the year than I do others.

There is a lot of competition out there and I agree that the best thing you can do for your customers is to provide the best customer service that you can. I wish you all the best!

 

[LisaB]

I agree with most of the comments. It is very hard to argue with you on the selection of paper--Just go to Joanne's the Disney paper is WOW. I think I need to focus on the quality of the albums--yes they are expensive but they are worth it, the cutting system and the organizing of the photos. Beginner classes are an excellent idea. I am just afraid of my inital party because 7 people have said no and only 1 person has said yes. There are still alot of people who are new to scrapbooking and I realize that CM isn't the only thing out there. I was/still am a travel agent so there is a niche market there. I realize that customer service is the thing that keeps on customers coming back.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

LisaB--I hope your party goes well! Good luck! Sending you pixie dust for a successful party!

 

[Lisa]

Lisa, you have a great idea marketing both of your businesses. Keep in mind this is your business and you can run it as it works best for you. I think that is key for you as you start up. As you know, I seldom conduct GTs, maybe four a year, my main focus is a monthly workshops. Since you are a travel agent, I would recommend getting one of the Minutes Picfolio to highlight various trips. The album is small enough to put in your bag but large enough to highlight various trips. (It is also a good album for real estate agents). You simp

On one page, you can slip in an itinerary and on the other a picture of the location (pictures and information can easily be changed). The picfolio can sit on a desk and you can flip through the various pages. If a travel client as about the album, you have the perfect introduction for your CM business. The picfolios are great album for the non traditional scrapbooker as are the digital Storybooks.

and for a fyi, my highest sales GT only had 3 attendees. I much prefer smaller GT for the customers service aspect.

Good luck with your GT, have fun with it!

 

[soccerchick]

I disagree that CM is a thing of the past. I do agree that you need to target and focus on your potential customers. Brides, new moms, moms period are my best demographic for introducing traditional scrapbooking.

As others have said, to get people started with scrapbooking, CM is wonderful. While LSS do have wonderful selections, they charge for classes and for someone to walk in and try to get started would be overwhelming. Certainly LSS serve a purpose - CM can't pay for trademarks for all those characters, etc. so yes, people will go elsewhere for paper and stickers, but I also think a lot of people who haven't seen CM paper in a while will be surprised by the cool paper they been putting out in the palettes over the last 6 months.

Focus on what customers NEED and WANT and figure out how to solve their problems. Maybe it's organization, maybe it time (Power Palettes!!). Highlight products that lots of people could use for various projects (cards makers - punches, personal trimmer, CCS), etc.

Teens and tweens are also a great demographic to serve. They may not spend as much, but around here, their moms will buy. Perhaps offer a class for them. Get them hooked on your brand and they will remain loyal to your albums for a long time.

Men in particular love the Power Sort box and digital Storybooks. Women like these too, but don't discount the men as potential clients.

Organization is relevant to EVERYONE. Again, the Power Sort box and Memory Manager can't be beat. Even if someone will never scrap, most people do like the idea of photos organized (on their computers or already printed ones) and labeled.

When is your first party? Get your Power Sort box up and running, get a Storybook made to show EVERYONE now to get them interested in the products. Make up a little coupon for a free crop to give anyone who makes a purchase - doesn't cost you anything and gets them to work with their purchases and keep their excitement going.

My shows average $560 (yes, that's with some duds in there). Even though a show may not generate many sales that day, with my worst show ($190 ~ I added some outside orders so the hostess could even get her host credit), I had two girls from that show order an additional $200 over the course of the following two weeks!

If your one person shows, do a one-on-one. If people are serious about wanting to do this, you could still get a very large sale. I've had one-on-ones where people have spent well over $100 (usually on a collection).

Good luck!

 

[Melrosgirl]

Negative? I wasn't being negative. Notice the unhappy face? I'm not happy about it either. Although I am not a CM consultant, I think it's sad that it's going this way, but yes, CM is a thing of the past. Lots of competition out there now. People like CTMH, SU, and the local Michaels store. It's new and exciting. Sad? Yes. Negative? I don't know. Reality sometimes is negative. It's how YOU perceive it.

To answer Lisa's original question, no I have never had a direct sales party where no one showed up.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

-- Forget the "only our products are safe" line. With all the other companies out there, people just aren't buying it. Instead, focus on offering the very best service -- that's where you can stand out from the crowd.

The first CM consultant I ever met (and I was so anxious to try the beautiful items!) was rude to me when I mentioned that I kept all of my photos on our hard disk. She criticized me, stating I had better be careful so I do not have a hard drive failure (we had just had one) and then starting pushing me to buy a power sorter and all sorts of items.

Then she started on the paper and adhesives. I couldn't get away fast enough. Unfortunately, I had given her my email prior to our exchange and she sent me emails weekly for 2 years. I asked to her to remove my name, but she wouldn't, so I had to block her address as a spammer. She had given it out to her friends and it was getting out of hand. (Invitations to crops where she would be, etc.)

She scared me into permanently avoiding the products except for one pack of Disney stickers I bought from a different CM 2 years later.

I know you wouldn't do that, but the insistence might be why people do not respond.


Still, I wish you the best of luck! The products are gorgeous!

 

[desiab]

Negative? I wasn't being negative. Notice the unhappy face? I'm not happy about it either. Although I am not a CM consultant, I think it's sad that it's going this way, but yes, CM is a thing of the past. Lots of competition out there now. People like CTMH, SU, and the local Michaels store. It's new and exciting. Sad? Yes. Negative? I don't know. Reality sometimes is negative. It's how YOU perceive it.

To answer Lisa's original question, no I have never had a direct sales party where no one showed up.

Melrosgirl, you are right it is how YOU percieve it and I apologize if I wrongly perceived your answer to be negative.

I have been a consultant for three years and every time I hear statements such as you made it has not been said in a positive way.

And maybe you are right and I need to just own up to the harsh realities of what you expressed. Even with trying different avenues sales just aren't what they use to be.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Sending you pixie dust! I started with Cm, then went the scrapbook store route (I have a dust quick cutz machine downstairs that I really like but don't seem to have time for...) and now I am back to pretty much exclusively CM, aside from the odd 12x12 paper that I can't resisit. I just don't have the time or energy to do the stamping and all that stuff. I think there are others like me out there. Now that CM does the Perfect Fit pages, I don't need to go anywhere else. And now that they ship from the consultant's website even better. So maybe promote those features? They work for me.

Good luck!



Beth

 

[maria34a]

I know a girl here who has monthly crops and she has over 150 in attendance every month. So no you can't tell me that CM is a thing of the past, many women like the simplicity of it. There are also alot of people out there who are not naturally creative and with the CM way of cropping, you can just about get anyone into it, it really does not take an experienced scrapper to put pages together the CM way and make it look really nice! Yes, it is simple and plain compared to some of the other methods of cropping, however the fact that it looks nice and just about anyone can do it is what brought people to CM in the first place!

Also, in my opinion, their albums are the best. I still have not found a company out there in the 10+ years that I have cropping that can even compare to the quality of their albums. I am not a CM consultant, nor do I even know a lot of them, but I know where to find them when I need my stuff! And I only purchase CM albums and pages/protectors. So even if you don't get customers who like the embellishments, you will sell them on the albums! They could potentially be your customer for life just buying albums from you! There is nothing wrong with that!

So good Luck with your party and don't fret! If you only have one person, that's OK, focus on them, have a great time and sell your product, she could be the one to bring in others to you!!!! Just make a great impression and focus on SERVICE!!!!