Party Incentives

Attendance Bonus

The attendance bonus is something I mention just before taking orders. It is ONLY for those who are AT the party. (I choose an item, ie:storzalots box, normally retails for $10.50. I describe it, demo it, pass one around until they are dying to have it). Then I say, tonight you could have stayed home, you could have given the hostess your order, but you chose to be with us, and I am having a great time! So to thank you for being here, when you place an order tonight of $25 or more, you may purchase 2 storzalots boxes for just $15.

Sales Specials

The sales special, also called cash'n carry: At the end of the party, after all orders have been collected, just as we are finishing, I add, almost as an afterthought, "OH! I almost forgot, I do have one more thing to show you. (I show something like the mix 'n store pitcher, normally retails for $14). I say that tonight I am able to let them take as many as they would like for $10 and I have them in my car. I describe it as just something that I got lucky enough to be able to offer, so I ask that they don't change any of their orders, because that would hurt the hostess, this is just a little extra goodie I had available. (This does NOT go towards the hostess' sales total. Other reps I know bring a few items, already marked with price tags, they toss it out on the floor or table and just say this is my cash 'n carry, take whatever you like, check or cash payment only). Use items you've won or gotten at a larger discount.

Basically what I do is have customers who don't want to have parties but may want to start collecting one of our pottery patterns, or anything else in the book join. It is free for them to join and what I do is keep track of their purchases. Once they accumulate $100 in purchases I give them back 20% in free merchandise. I also like to add specials for them from time to time like free shipping, etc but the catch is, they have to make a purchase at least once every 2 months. I have also been thinking of starting a shopping club where one person (the hostess) collects $10 a week for 10 weeks, from 10 customers. At the end of the 10 weeks each of them gets to go on a $100 shopping spree and the hostess just had a $1000 party! Then another person in the group gets to be hostess. Of course you can use any dollar amount, number of customers or number of weeks but what a great way to keep orders coming in! This works best with women who work so that the hostess can collect the money on payday. I have never done this but may give it a try! Judy Turner
Home & Garden Party