Party Plan?

Does anyone here do Party Plan things, doesn't matter what in. I'm looking for ideas on how and what you do to market, set up and run the parties, to see if it's worth doing please :)

baa, you have a good idea going, I hope someone can help you.

Baa, I've tried selling Tupperware, and also whats called 'Stampin Up', Stampin Up was fun, it was selling by party plan stamps and idea's and idea books for multible Stamping an/or scapbooking projects, it was hard for me to get a customer base going and I dont have much family around, If you have lots of family around to get you started it my take off for you.

I would be better holding a 'Make and Take' project type thing once a week, where I would charge a fee for my time/supplies and help people make something nice they can take home and use or display or give as gifts.

Some in Iowa are making extra $ by holding cooking classes,ect. Good luck Baa! Jill

I've been to many, signed up for a couple and ended up quitting them all. I did do the Mary Kay thing for a bit but didn't want to stock all that makeup. I was begged to do Pampered Chef and finally put my foot down (after buying a $$$ knife and something else. LOL). I also did some diet one from CA, can't even remember the name. Whenever I think about doing any of those party plan sales, I ask friends and family what they think or if they would be interested and joining and they always say "Just send me a book and I will order something. " Ugh!! I like the idea of enertaining and doing fun stuff like that but I sometimes think people just feel pressured that way. I don't want to encourage or discourage you in any way. I just thought I would share my experiences.

Thanks everyone your input is very much appreciated.

I'm looking at this as part of my current business rather than signing up with another company and selling their products, but the idea is pretty much the same. I was thinking of jewellery parties, the difference being that I sell handmade jewellery (my own and other peoples) and am looking at different avenues to expand this side. Of course, these are one off items or in very short supply so a brochure is difficult to produce.

It's very interesting to know what reactions you have had from buyers and potential buyers and I did think that parties do push people quite hard to buy, what with the various host incentives given by some companies that are dependant on how much is sold. We were thinking of a flat rate incentive such as donations to a charity or a fixed price voucher for goods.

Momof2d

I like the make and take idea, kids and adult parties making a bracelet or something, I'll definitely give some consideration to!

Thanks again everyone, it's a great help.

Hi Baa,
I did Tupperware Party Plan in the UK for some time when my kids were small.
Brits are very insular, they stick to the group they know and don't stray out, and newcomers aren't that welcome either, so it is difficult to spread the contact pool. You end up going around the same dozen people in an endless loop unless you put in some real effort and go cold calling.
I did it, but I was young and determined in those days, some of the doorstep reactions are not nice, to put it mildly!! I went on to work for DHSS later and it was an appropriate introduction!!
Carol

Thanks Okus

I don't know what part of the UK you were in so I can't speak for them. I've lived in the south most of my life and would agree that many of the southerners need to get to know you first or you need to be a friend of a friend. However, I originate from the Black Country where insular is something in the loft to keep you warm in the winter and stranger tends to be someone who doesn't join in a conversation in a queue *G*

I worked for the Dept. of Work and Pensions too (in job seekers allowance) last year!

Hi Baa,
Side tracking slightly, I was in the Chester area when I did Tupperware - on the North Wales borders. We moved around a lot, DH was in the RAF, so the comment covers Cambridgeshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire too. Bucks was the worst, 11 years in the same house and still only actually knew our immediate neighbours, others would smile and nod but that was it.
I am a born native of East Yorkshire, where of course folks are very friendly with their own - its foreigners or "furriners whot bain't wilcum 'ere' !! to quote a neighbour.
We also lived in Cornwall, where I found folk really easy to get to know, but am told that that this is very unusual.
Now here in Texas its been completely different, it takes ages to go for a walk - everyone wants to chat.

Best of luck with the Party Plan if you do go for it, but you might do better at Antique and Craft Fairs, plus Car Boot Sales of the more regular variety.

Carol

I generally find people are people everywhere eventually *G*

We do craft fairs and did car boots. Fairs are fine and I generally enjoy them although very often you need to travel a lot and most are solidly booked up so you end up in a queue in case someone drops out that morning which can be frustrating. We did build up a good regular customer base at a couple of boot sales (we don't just do jewellery) but it's often just a way of turning over stock, the preparation and petrol is quite costly, not to mention my time! I stopped going regularly this summer and the only thing the accounts showed was a big saving on petrol *G* so it doesn't seem worth it for us unless we have an overstock. I don't like the ploys some of the customers use either, especially the dealers and those who fein disabilities so you'll feel sorry for them.

We have a good couple of outlets we've been using for a long time, we're just looking at other potential ways of making ourselves known and have several irons in the fire!

I can see that party plan requires a lot more thinking before we make any decision. Thanks to everyone for your input :)

Baa - re doing a 'jewelery' home party, a few gals in a small town here in Iowa started a small business doing it, they were swamped, I think they made plenty of $. I would definetly check into it but I would ask that only 'adults' attend, the one I went to was inandated with children taking up alot of the 2 ladies time when they should have been helping the adults who wanted to get in and get out, maybe there could be 1 person to do children and another one or 2 people to help the adults. It was fun though, they had us pick out the stones that we wanted and then advised us if there were bad choices and then they strung it and put it together for you to wear home after payment. They charged by the stone or bead type per bracelet. Or a special party could be set up for children only with easier style's. I think its a great idea, good luck Baa! Jill