Does anyone do home parties???

[donaldsgirl]

I was thinking of working with Brown Bag Parties (romance parties) to replace my income or to make some extra money for my very large addiction to Disney World. Does anyone out there rep for a company that does home parties? What is your experiences with it? Just curious.

 

[bonkos6]

I do Tastefully Simple and absolutley love it!!!

 

[puffkin]

I was a rep for Tastefully Simple for 2 1/2 years. I did enjoy the work and made fairly decent money. I no longer do it for a variety of reasons. Some things to consider:

1. The only way to make really good money is to build up a down line. That takes a lot of time and "pushing".
2. You need to constantly push your product. I sold FOOD, which is a consumable product so resales are great and really helped me. But due to time restrictions, I couldn't push the product as much as I wanted and resales dried up. Unless you are constantly out there your business will dry off.
3. Will you buy the product? Most consultants will turn around and put a sizeable return back into the business therefore eating into your earnings.
4. Is there free training/help available. Many companies have expensive seminars they expect you to attend.
5. How flexible are you? Nothing is more frustrating than customers cancelling parties at the last minute or rescheduling etc. It got old quick because I was constantly having to rearrange child care arrangements.


Those are just some of the basics. I did enjoy doing it and was fairly successful (I made about $10k a year) but it was very time consuming and disruptive to our family time. I didn't make nearly enough to quit my job (I would have had to recruit a HUGE team to make that kind of $$) and it was a lot on top of working FT. You have to go all out to stay in business and I just couldn't do it anymore. When I slowed my business down from 10 parties a month to 1-2 my bookings and reorders slowly fizzled away. Doing it part time just isnt' feasible.

 

[pearlieq]

It's a great way to alienate your friends. If you go ahead with it, be very careful not to push them too hard.

Sending an email letting them know you're in business is OK. Directly asking them to host parties and buy your product is uncomfortable. Repeatedly asking them to buy/host parties or continuing to pressure after they've said no is a great way to lose friends.

I know lots and lots of people who "used to" sell x and such.

 

[Whistle]

I sell Lia Sophia jewlery and really enjoy it.

 

[gillenkl]

I personally cringe whenever I get an invitation to these types of parties. I try and tactfully let my friends know I do not attend these types of money makers.

 

[donaldsgirl]

Fair enough, Thanks everyone for your input. The company that I was looking at gives a full 50% commission, as far as I know all the training is free, there are no minimums for sales, the company pays for hostess rewards at 20% of the total sales of the party and several other things as well. I have been to a few different types of parties and the romance parties (trying to be delicate) seem to have the biggest draws as far as people "voluntarily" showing up to the get together. I have been to a few of those and over half of the people there booked parties as well not to mention the total sales were pretty impressive considering you have a 50% commission rate. I get that this type of business isnt for everyone, I am not shy by any stretch of the imagination and I am pretty open to talking with people. So hopefully..It all comes down to the fact that I have a terrible boss that I can't stand but I absolutely LOVE my job becuase I get to help people.

For those of you that had a successful business, what were some of the ways/games that you used inorder to get rebookings or new bookings. I am one of those ladies that isnt all about having a party at my house, but I have all kinds of friends that LOVE to do that. (I am a military spouse and we are a pretty tight group of wives that will support each other.)

Did you send out thank you notes or phone calls to your hostesses? What were some of the ways you said "thanks" to everyone for attending parties? Ideas are always welcome. Thanks EVERYBODY!!!

 

[prncess674]

I think romance parties used to be a great idea because the only way to buy such products was to either shop seedy stores or creepy back of Cosmo classified ads but in this day and age of the internet you can now do all your shopping online from the privacy of your own home computer screen. I have attended a few romance parties and find that the products are over priced and there is a huge selection online and usually at a 1/3 of the price AND I don't have to go into the back room with a consultant and admit to the products I would like to purchase.

The parties themselves are fun. A bunch of women get together away from their SOs and play a few slightly raunchy games (pass the "pickle") and drink cosmos but I find that you may not get as many orders as you think and especially not a bunch of repeat customers. Once an adult finds the "pleasure" of romance parties they tend to go to cheaper online vendors that they can peruse with their SO in the privacy of their own home.

 

[hinodis]

I do gold buying parrties. No one will cringe with this invitation because they are leaving the party with cash. I have been doing it for 4 months and I average $500-$800 a week. I love it! I work about 3 hours each day I have a party. I know this gold buying frenzy will not last forever, but I am earning a great income for now.

 

[starann]

I have been doing romance parties with Fantasia for about 5 years now. I must say it is a fun night of work, however party sales have declined in the past 2 years (as the economy has tanked).......I am still doing it, but not making near what I used to.

PM if you want to discuss further as I doubt this is the place to post my game ideas!!! LOL!

 

[luvintink7]

I do gold buying parrties. No one will cringe with this invitation because they are leaving the party with cash. I have been doing it for 4 months and I average $500-$800 a week. I love it! I work about 3 hours each day I have a party. I know this gold buying frenzy will not last forever, but I am earning a great income for now.

WOW that is great money!! I would love to hear more about this. Can you pm me aith the details? Is it easy to learn how to do this?

 

[hinodis]

It is the best job I have ever had. It is soooo much fun. I was trained very well so I was confident when I did my first party "solo". The company I work for is very supportive..always there if I need them. The company is very reputable, they had a person from CNN at one of our parties and the Wall Street Journal wrote a story on us.

 

[Ember]

It's a great way to alienate your friends. If you go ahead with it, be very careful not to push them too hard.

Sending an email letting them know you're in business is OK. Directly asking them to host parties and buy your product is uncomfortable. Repeatedly asking them to buy/host parties or continuing to pressure after they've said no is a great way to lose friends.

I know lots and lots of people who "used to" sell x and such.

I personally cringe whenever I get an invitation to these types of parties. I try and tactfully let my friends know I do not attend these types of money makers.

I'm another one who dislikes these sorts of parties. There is no way to politely solicit your friends and family for money. I HATE the pressure you feel when you go to these sorts of things. Even when there is no real pressure by the hostess or the seller, there still is because you were invited with the expectation of spending money...

I have one friend who is constantly hosting parties. Stampin' Up, candle parties, food parties... Every time she invites me and every time I tell her I don't do get togethers that involve buying things. I really am close to having a conversation about it with her and perhaps no longer being her friend.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, OP, but I just don't care for these types of businesses at all. Do be careful not to push your loved ones too much!

 

[Dsnymouse]

I am currently a Southern Living Consultant. I got into it because I love the items. I have also done direct sells in the past. Here is what I have found, unless you build a downline you will make very little money. The economy has flattened sales and now there is a lot of sneaky people out there. I had someone place a internet order and passed off a bad check. I think many will find more trouble with things like this in a "down economy".

On a more positive side, it never hurts to try something new. Good luck

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I sell Scentsy wickless candles and I like it. It's not going to replace my full time job but I enjoy it and it gives us extra 'play' money I really love the products too and at least I get to by them at discount

 

[hinodis]

I am currently a Southern Living Consultant. I got into it because I love the items. I have also done direct sells in the past. Here is what I have found, unless you build a downline you will make very little money. The economy has flattened sales and now there is a lot of sneaky people out there. I had someone place a internet order and passed off a bad check. I think many will find more trouble with things like this in a "down economy".

On a more positive side, it never hurts to try something new. Good luck

The economy is exactly why the gold parties have been so successful. People are happy to go to a party where they leave with money. Everyone likes cash.

 

[shelbys mommy]

I did Pampered Chef & Mary Kay....never again. I have no one in my family that will buy or book parties. I would love to be the ones who make tons of money by working at home, but I just don't see that for me.

 

[bethy]

I personally cringe whenever I get an invitation to these types of parties. I try and tactfully let my friends know I do not attend these types of money makers.

Ditto. I feel like if I participate for one friend then I have to do it for everybody. And that would cost me an absolute fortune. I also don't want to guilt my own friends and family into attending a party I'm hosting for someone.

I really believe that the true business plan for these companies is:

1. Make money on the money consultants pay to "buy in" and acquire inventory. So seed money.

2. Exploit the consultants' relationships with friends and family.

These companies don't really intend or what consultants to stay in business all that long.

 

[4Seasons]

It's a great way to alienate your friends. If you go ahead with it, be very careful not to push them too hard.

Sending an email letting them know you're in business is OK. Directly asking them to host parties and buy your product is uncomfortable. Repeatedly asking them to buy/host parties or continuing to pressure after they've said no is a great way to lose friends.

I know lots and lots of people who "used to" sell x and such.

I hate getting invitations to these parties. I love a good party but not when I have to spend money on stuff I really don't need. I used to dance around the subject when invited but finally told people who invited me that I don't want to participate in them so please don't ask me in the future.

I guess maybe it would depend on your circle of friends.

 

[bethy]

I hate getting invitations to these parties. I love a good party but not when I have to spend money on stuff I really don't need. I used to dance around the subject when invited but finally told people who invited me that I don't want to participate in them so please don't ask me in the future.

I guess maybe it would depend on your circle of friends.

I love a good party, too. And that's just the thing. When a hostess earnestly and honestly tells me that there is no pressure to buy at all and that this is just a party - a fun girls' night out I have to wonder. If that's really true then why have the selling stuff at all? Why not just have an honest-to-goodness party for the pleasure of people's company?