Home Parties - Part 3 - Happy People Spend More
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Happy People Spend More
When your customers are happy with their shopping environment, they will generally be happy to purchase more merchandise. There are several ways to help make your customers feel more comfortable buying from you.
First, get acquainted with your hostess! She is the key to future customers and hostesses! After your hostess agrees to host a home party with you, you need to give her an assignment, inviting guests. Tell your hostess that her goal is to get 10 to 12 people to come. If she meets this goal, you might offer her an incentive gift or you could offer her 1% off her total order for every person she can get to come. Another great idea is to send your hostess on a guest scavenger hunt. These are a lot of fun! You will give your hostess a list of several different individuals to invite.
This list could include:
- A lady with red hair
- A neighbor
- A doctor
- A lady with brown shoes
- A mother of all boys
- A mother of all girls
- A co-worker
And so on… Make a list of about 20 people. If she can get 12 or more of these people on the scavenger hunt to come, then she can get another great benefit! Her guests are more likely to come if she conveys that she NEEDS them to come to help her out.
Give your Hostess an Assignment
The main reason to give your hostess an assignment is so that you can check in with her a few times to see how she is doing before the party date arrives. Every time you can talk with your hostess, you will get more acquainted with her and the environment around her. If you are selling home décor, you can find out what kind of decorating style she likes and plan your floor display accordingly. If her guests see that she is excited about your products, they will feel more excited about seeing what you can offer them!
When the date of the home party arrives, go to the hostess’s house about an hour early. This will give you time to set up your display and help her out in last minute preparations. You will be able to talk about the party and what to expect. You can also ask questions about the guests she is expecting to come. Walk her through her hostess benefits again just to get her excited about the possibilities of this home party.
First Impressions are Important!
The second way to put your customers at ease is to greet them. First impressions are the most important! As the guests are arriving, introduce yourself. Try to remember names or pass out nametags. Allow about 5 or 10 minutes for the guests to talk. At this point you can ask simple get-to-know-you questions about where they live or work, and how they know your hostess.
Once all of the guests are seated, start by thanking your hostess for having a home party. Explain to everyone what her benefits are and how they could also get these same benefits for having a party. Then present her with her hostess gift so that everyone can see what she gets.
Introduce your Products
Then introduce your products. Pass some of them around so that everyone can take a close look. When customers shop, they like to use all of their senses. They want to touch it, observe it, smell it, and hear it. If you brought certain items because they interested your hostess, tell the guests so. That will convey to them that you care about your hostess and you know what she likes. The more you know about the hostess, the more her friends will trust you and what you are selling. Be open to questions about your products. Also, ask which products the guests would like to see more.
Play a game! This is a great way to keep the atmosphere light and happy. Get everyone to smile and laugh. Have a small prize for the winner. Customers love to get things for free!
Steer your Customers to Products they Like
Thirdly, you can help your customers when they are deciding what to order. Find out what are their needs or tastes. You can direct them to the products that you feel would best suit them. When the customers feel that you care about their wants and needs, they will feel comfortable with you. Offer some discounts with larger orders, such as free shipping or a percentage off an item.
Tip: Make sure that the deals you offer the guests do not trump the hostess’s benefits.
If you notice a guest having difficulty with the price of an item, remind them that they can always get it cheaper if they host their own home party! This is a great suggestion to use when trying to book more parties! Remember, you want to try to book at least two parties off every party you present. Offer an immediate benefit for everyone who books a party!
Most importantly, *you need to follow up! * When the orders are drop shipped to your hostess, find out if everything arrived and if anything was damaged. Then follow up a few days later with your customers after they received their order. Find out if they are satisfied with their purchase and if there any other items that they were interested in. Then make sure to follow up with those that booked a home party. Now is your time to get to know your future hostesses!
It’s true that happy people spend more! *Keep your customers happy and they will keep coming back to you! * Big box chain stores are not very interested in the needs of individual customers. That gives you the upper hand! You have the opportunity to see your customers face-to-face, talk with them, and help them fulfill their individual wants and needs. This service, that you alone can offer, will make your customers VERY happy!
Table of Contents
- – Home Parties – Finding a Supplier
- – Home Parties – Finding a Hostess
- – Home Parties – Happy People Spend More
- – Home Parties – Catalog Parties
- – Home Parties – The Conclusion