Great 'Party for Profit' Hunt. How to make cash from party planning

ClassicMad

A fairly new Party plan company to the UK is Stampin' Up! They have been in the US for 20 years and came to the UK about 18 months ago. It's rubber stamping and scrapbooking materials. A starter kit costs £139, and you receive 20% instant income / discount. You can order just for yourself or host craft workshops / parties. It's a good way of funding your craft habit and the products are fantastic quality. Hostesses qualify for free "hostess only" items, + money to spend in the catalogue on orders £150+, the bigger the order, the bigger the benefits. If you place an order yourself you get to keep the hostess benefits too.

There's no pressure to sell to anyone - the starter kit is fantastic value on it's own

If anyone is interested in signing up (or wants to order anything) please contact me

PampingSal

Woo woo!

My first post on the fab martin lewis site.

I think party planning is the way to go - esp if you have a full time job and want to earn extra cash or have kids and need a job that fits in around them.

I've been with The Pampered Chef for 2 /12 years and it is honestly the best thing I have ever done.

Yes I have got a team but what I love about pamping is that I don't get paid millions of pounds by having a team so there is no pressure on anyone to keep working.

All of my consultants choose when they want to work - some go out twice a week, some twice a month and some twice every other month - there is no pressure!!

I've got bookings coming out of my ears - it's really easy to smile and be friendly and people book you not the products. After all you would never invite a miserable person into your house would you?!

I'm off to Chicago next month and its all paid for by The Pampered Chef and believe me I'm nothing special - I just work consistently and am not one of these 'in your face' people.

I would recommend party planning to anyone - my only regret is that I didn't start it earlier.

Oh and one of the top sales people from Dorling Kindersley in now a top bod with The Pampered Chef and she is lovely and very down to earth and supportive.

Good luck to everyone - whatever you choose to do x x x x .

Groovychick

I have tried working for a popular Cosmetics Company (Not sure if i am allowed to mention the name?) in the past and have not been successful.
You have to be able to deliver catalogues in an area which you think you and your customers would benefit from this, in my case this was not the best thing for me as i was not getting much orders to cover my costs.
You have to be determined to stick to it otherwise its just not worth it and have many friends and family which i dont have to start off with.

p.s. you also have to pay for catalogues and samples.

PampingSal

I agree with you Groovychick.

I have known several people work for the same company as you (is it ding dong?)

They too were disheartened by the experience as they had lots to pay out as you say - catalogues etc and had to go out in all weathers to deliver and collect payment.

I think its important for a company to provide host & guest gifts, carrier bags, delivery costs, catalogues for their consultants free of charge - after all they are making just as much money out of it as you are!

JayBeeVIE

I agree with ethereal. I've recently become a VIE at home consultant - yes, it has bought Likisma for it's aromatherapy side and has also dropped the Virgin as it is no longer owned by Richard Branson and we need to get used to referring the company as VIE at home. I went to a party for the first time, loved the products and joined as a consultant. I hold down a full time job and do girlie nights to bring in a bit extra. I've had skincare, colour and bridal training and love every minute. I spend a lot of what I earn on products for my kit but it's worth it if it means that someone buys that product through being able to test it. There are different levels of earning, depending on total sales for that month and also that goes towards earning free products for ME. I came home from a meeting last week with products to the value of £56.50 and a pile of business tools, bringing the total of free stuff to over £90 - I can tell you that I was well chuffed and I have a whole new 'family'. If anyone is interested you could contact ethereal or myself to get the ball rolling - it's definitely worth it!!

Also - I forgot to mention that money is collected on the night of the party and the order can be delivered straight to the hostess so once you've done you're bit at the party and put the order through, you don't have to worry about going out to deliver it - GREAT.

Suzannah_781

Hi, I am planning to start my own jewellery parties, I have got all the stuff I need but I wanted some ideas of how I can make the evening more fun for people rather than just showing them what I have to sell - any ideas?

redl_2

Suzannah_781 wrote: »

Hi, I am planning to start my own jewellery parties, I have got all the stuff I need but I wanted some ideas of how I can make the evening more fun for people rather than just showing them what I have to sell - any ideas?

What about suggesting the guests to bring along or wear an outfit that they need to accessorize, then they arrive with buying in mind!!

redl_2

PampingSal wrote: »

I agree with you Groovychick.

I have known several people work for the same company as you (is it ding dong?)

They too were disheartened by the experience as they had lots to pay out as you say - catalogues etc and had to go out in all weathers to deliver and collect payment.

I think its important for a company to provide host & guest gifts, carrier bags, delivery costs, catalogues for their consultants free of charge - after all they are making just as much money out of it as you are!

If you weren't aware that there's be expenses at the start, then that's bad recruitment. The company should make clear when you enquire/enrol what all the set up charges could be.
:eek:

redl_2

Last words of advice if you're thinking of party plan -
Go with something you love, it makes it so much easier to sell.
Be prepared to spend time growing your business, think of it as your own shop.
Be inventive in ways of marketing yourself


Remember, it's not WHO you are, but HOW you are that keeps 'em coming back after the initial sale :cool:

ethereal

Suzannah_781 wrote: »

Hi, I am planning to start my own jewellery parties, I have got all the stuff I need but I wanted some ideas of how I can make the evening more fun for people rather than just showing them what I have to sell - any ideas?

Don't forget you need Public Liability Insurance to cover yourself if you intend visiting guests in their homes. With established direct sales companies, this is provided by a small fee which covers you for good. I'm not sure if it would be more expensive going it alone.