As a direct sales consultant, your number one goal at your home party demonstrations is to date more parties. The more parties you date, the more customers you will see, and the more orders you will take.

Dating parties is the backbone of every party plan business. So how do you date more parties? The easiest, most fun, and most effective way to date lots of parties at each and every one of your demonstrations is to offer guests the opportunity to choose a theme. You do this by placing a theme book out on your hostess’s coffee table.

Your theme book will list all of the different types of parties that you offer as a representative of your company. These themes can be based on a certain type of product or it’s use, such as microwave cooking, or on a certain type of game, such as an auction party.

You can have as many themes available as you feel comfortable with. Ideas include: auction party, the price is right, let’s make a deal, couple’s party, children’s party, Christmas cookie exchange, bring a banana, girl’s night out, ice cream social, specialty cooking class, spa or relaxation party, bridal or baby showers, margarita party, or anything else you can think of.

It’s easy to create your own party plan theme book. You’ll need a color printer, pastel cardstock, a 3-ring binder, page protectors, and a little creativity. Just print off a colorful cover and one page for each of your themes on a piece of cardstock. Your page should have a graphic, the title of the theme, and a sentence or two explaining what it is you will be doing at the party.

For example, an auction party could say, “Join us for a great night of fun! Earn auction bucks to be spent on fantastic prizes at the party! Win auction bucks for bringing a friend, answering questions, and booking a show.”

Insert each theme into a clear page protector, and place them into your binder. Instant theme book! Make sure that you include a page in your theme book about fundraisers as well. Many guests do not realize that party plan companies make excellent fundraising partners.

Bring your book with you to every party, and just leave it on the coffee table. Your guests will automatically thumb through it, and will discuss with one another their favorites. Chances are, the party you are currently giving has some sort of theme to it, so your guests will see firsthand how much fun the party is.

By the end of the party, when you mention the rewards for booking a show, your guests have already picked out their favorite theme, and are ready to date. When closing out their orders, ask each guest which theme they liked the best, and when they would be able to host a show in their home.

Rayven Perkins is a 7 year direct sales representative. Her site http://www.direct-sales-supplies.com offers game ideas, tips, and hard to find consultant supplies for all distributors in the party plan industry.

As a Direct Sales consultant, it is our job to be thoroughly prepared when doing a home party for a host. The better prepared you are, the more successful your show will be.

Here is a simple checklist of what you need to do before the party.

1. Prepare your hostess packets. You want to have a minimum of 5 hostess packets prepared and ready to go.

2. Fill out the invitations with your contact information and the host’s information. Stamp invitations and mail them out approximately 2 weeks before the party date. Call your host and let her know that the invitations are in the mail. Take this opportunity to build excitement about the upcoming party.

3. Prepare the catalogs and order forms. Stamp and label your catalogs, attach any inserts and get them ready to go. Fill out the order forms with your contact information. Pack all of your ordering supplies and make sure you have enough pens/pencils.

4. Prepare the games. Make sure you have enough games and prizes. I recommend 2-3 extra prizes just incase there is a tie or you need extra gifts.

5. Contact your host 24-48 hours before the party to confirm and get directions. This is a good time to ask your host to remind her guests about the party.

6. The day before, finish up the last minute preparations. If you are personally bringing any food or beverages, this is the time to prepare them. Before packing up your supplies and products, do a visual inspection of each item to make sure they are in perfect clean condition.

You can print out this handy pre-party checklist for your next home show. I can guarantee, when you’re organized and prepared, you will have an error-free and more successful home party.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys training other consultants to have successful home party shows. You can contact Shelly at:
Web: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
Recipe Blog: http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

The very heart of the home party plan business is dating more parties. Without parties, your business is at a virtual standstill, with no ways to generate substantial sales. With your date book filled with scheduled parties, a world of opportunity opens up for you to grow your business and experience financial rewards.

So how do you generate more parties? Here are my 5 favorite ways to get more parties dated during a home party demonstration.

#5 Offer Incentives
As you go about your demonstration, be sure you point out various dating incentives to your guests. Make sure the guests know that they can receive a gift just for dating a party, and another for holding the party. Go over your party plan companies hostess plans, and when possible, show guests the actual items they can receive.

#4 Stack Your Hostess
Play a game of Show and Tell. You can explain hostess gifts to your guests until you are blue in the face, but until the guests actually see what it is that they can receive, it doesn’t mean much to them.

Towards the end of your presentation, have your hostess sit in a chair at the front of the room. Take this opportunity to thank her for hosting the party. Then begin to stack her.

Starting with the gift of least value, hand all the items to her one by one that she has received for hosting the party. Give her the conversation starter gift, the dating gift, the hosting gift. Make sure you stack her with all the items it is possible to receive, even if the party sales are not totaled yet. Does your company offer half price items in addition to other hostess gifts? Stack her with those as well.

When guests see just how much they can receive, they are more likely to date a party themselves.

#3 The Theme Book
Your party guests want to have fun! What better way to get them excited than by offering a wide array of themed parties? Everything from the traditional Auction Party to a Banana Split Party, Couples Party, Children’s Party or Margarita with the Girls. Get creative and think of fun ways that your guests can come together with their friends.

Print out a simple information page with each of these ideas and put the pages in a 3-ring binder. Leave the binder on the coffee table before and during the party. When your guests find a theme that interests them, they will be happy to date a show with you.

#2 Dating Games
Most home party consultants offer their guests some sort of prize or trinket for coming to a show. Reserve your most sought after trinkets and prizes for a special dating game. At the end of your show, offer the best goodies to your guests for participating in the Dating Game.

Have all the trinkets in a large bowl or decorated box. On each trinket, attach a note. Half the notes should say “Host a Party” while the other half should have a variety of messages ranging from “Draw Again” to “You’ve Won a Free Item”. Tell the guests that participation in this game is optional. Explain to the guests that on each prize is a note, and whatever the note says is what is to be done. If a guest draws a “free item” prize, you will give her a specified free item, but if she draws a “Host a Party” prize, you expect her to date a party tonight.

This really helps to determine which guests are willing to hold a party. Only guests who are willing to consider the idea will draw a prize.

#1 ASK!
This might seem obvious, but the best way to date more parties at your next demonstration is to get into the habit of asking each guest. Do not feel that you are being pushy. The guests expect you to ask them to host a party! One method I have used to force myself to ask each and every guest when they place their order is this.

At the beginning of the party, I make an announcement. I hold out a $20 bill and say “At the end of the show I will be asking each and every one of you to host a party to be eligible to receive all these wonderful hostess gifts! If, however, I forget to ask you to host a show, I will give you $20 worth of product of your choice!”

This forces me to ask each guest, and makes each guest aware, prepared, and even looking forward to my question.

Did you like these ideas? See the complete Direct Sales Resources section at Direct Sales Resources

Networking is an important part of any business and Craigslist offers individuals a variety of networking opportunities. Whether you have an established business and are looking to advertise, you are looking to learn more about a particular business or you just want to meet individuals who share a particular interest, Craigslist can be an excellent resource. Craigslist offers all of these opportunities and more to those who are interested in starting to network or expanding their networking capabilities.

Using Craigslist to Organize Offline Networking Opportunities

Organizing offline networking opportunities is just one of the many ways in which individuals can use Craigslist for networking purposes. One example of when this type of opportunity may be worthwhile is for a situation where a businessperson is in the line of direct sales. Often these direct sales opportunities involve the individual hosting parties where others can sample and learn more about the products offered. These types of parties can be very lucrative for a skilled salesperson that has a passion for the products they are selling.

Examples of the types of businesses which benefit from sales parties include direct sales opportunities including cosmetics, toys, pet products, romance items, nutritional supplements and other products. Whether the products are so wonderful they literally sell themselves or they require a skilled salesperson to convince the audience of their worth, the most important part of direct sales is networking. This is where Craigslist can really help. Those who are interested in organizing sales parties can take advantage of the large number of community members reached by Craigslist to find new potential clients. Placing an advertisement in an appropriate section on Craigslist gives the salesperson the ability to reach a large target audience.

The one major caveat to using Craigslist to organize offline networking opportunities is care should be taken to ensure the safety of all of those involved. When setting up offline meetings, sales parties or other networking opportunities it is wise to arrange for these meetings to take place in a busy public place. This will help to deter the possibility of a potentially dangerous situation. It will also help to put potential clients more at ease and make them more likely to participate in your networking opportunity.

Using Craigslist to Organize Online Networking Opportunities

Craigslist can also be used to organize online networking opportunities. Examples of the ways in which Craigslist can be used to organize online network include the following:

• Directing traffic to a website
• Directing traffic to a message board
• Soliciting participation in an e-newsletter

Those who sell a product or service through an ecommerce website may be interested in using Craigslist to advertise their web address. An advertisement which is placed in an appropriate location on Craigslist can have the effect of reaching a very large audience. The appropriateness of the location on the advertisement depends on a number of factors. In general an appropriate location is anywhere on Craigslist where the advertisement is likely to be viewed by a large amount of members of the target audience.

Those who are interested in organizing online networking opportunities for likeminded individuals to share ideas can also use Craigslist to accomplish their goal. Placing an advertisement on Craigslist which directs traffic to a message board can help to create a thriving community. Again it is important to place this advertisement in a location where the target audience will be reached.

Finally, those who publish a regular e-newsletter can also use Craigslist to increase their number of subscribers. Whether the e-newsletter is published daily, weekly, monthly or according to some other schedule Craigslist can be used to solicit email addresses from those who might be interested in receiving these newsletters.

Using Craigslist to Find Networking Opportunities

Craigslist is not only useful in situations where individuals are seeking to organize networking opportunities. It can also be helpful for individuals who are looking to join pre-existing networking opportunities. These individuals would benefit from following links pointing to websites or message boards placed in advertisements throughout the community.

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Mention the words “Direct Sales” and they’re sure to conjure up nightmarish images of the last Tupperware/Jewellery/Health or Beauty Products party you were coerced into attending by one of your over enthusiastic, newly “converted” friends who was apparently on her way to making millions! Or worse, the “meeting” you attended full of seemingly brainwashed people all pressuring you to get into “the business” or “start your own pyramid” (like you’re Cleopatra or something)… it’s enough to make you run for the hills!

Unfortunately, these are both very bad impressions that are created by poorly trained consultants who have never moved beyond their comfort zones. The truth of the matter is that if you are well trained and professional, working in the direct sales field can be very rewarding for both yourself and your customer base.

While direct sales is not suitable for everyone and does require a certain measure of entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity, it has the capacity to allow for larger degrees of both personal and financial freedom unsurpassed by any other occupation.

Operating in the Direct Sales field has many benefits on a personal level which make it highly attractive, especially because it makes working from home a very viable option. It therefore affords work at home moms (or WAHMs) who desire the luxury of being there for their children whilst still earning an income, or having flexible working schedules so that their work revolves around their life instead of everything revolving around their work to do so. Others may have a disability or an illness that may impair them and prevent them from getting around and yet others are just sick of the status quo and long for something else that allows them to be themselves.

Personal freedom aside, the Financial Freedom that Direct Sales affords those who elect to work in this field is probably an equally strong motivator. Unlimited earnings is not just a buzz word and can be a very real and achievable reality if you build up and operate your business based on the infrastructure, key success factors and marketing strategies that any good supplier will provide you with. Add to those your personal touch, creative flair and the right mix of professionalism and you’re sure to succeed.

The great thing about Direct Sales is that your earnings are directly proportional to the work you put in. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work hard, just smart in order to be able to write your own cheque at the end of each month.

So if financial and personal freedom are your goals and the brief insight into Direct Sales in this article has peaked your interest, find out everything you need to know and more on DirectSalesWomen.com. This is a leading industry site which will open up a new world of opportunity to you and provides relevant resources and information on everything from Direct Selling opportunities to comparison reporting and community forums. Visit them today and get the key to both your personal and financial freedom (and no… that’s not a sales pitch… but don’t take my word for it, you be the judge).

Sam Wolfe is an expert in the field of direct sales and direct selling opportunities. Her website at http://www.DirectSalesWomen.com provides many direct sales and work at home opportunities for WAHMs. Find out more today at www.DirectSalesWomen.com.

If you are in Direct Sales, you have probably noticed how popular theme home parties have become. These days hosts are looking for something different. We have all been to those parties where a consultant just stands up there and shows you her business products, but these days, those type of parties are becoming less appealing.

Hosts now want an interactive and fun theme party. I have compiled a list of some very popular theme ideas for you to consider the next time you are demonstrating a party for your Direct Sales home business.

1. Home Organization: These days, everyone is looking to downsize and to get better organized. If you are with a company that offers products that a customer can use to get better organized, then consider using this theme.

2. Couples Cooking Class: A lot of couples enjoy cooking, baking and grilling together. If you are with one of the Kitchen or Gourmet Food company’s this is a fun theme just for couples.

3. Men Only Cooking Class: I have found that a lot of men enjoy being in the kitchen. If you can find a male party host, this would be a great theme to do, so that they can invite all of their ‘male’ friends to the cooking class.

4. Girls Night In Slumber Party: This theme idea will work for most of the direct sales home businesses. Girls are always looking for a reason to get together.

5. Home Daycare Owners: Millions of women run daycares out of their home and they make excellent hosts. They know plenty of parents to invite to their party plus they can invite other local daycare providers. This is a great theme if you sell children’s products as daycare providers are always looking for new things for their daycares so why not let them earn some free products by hosting a home show.

6. Children Only, Gift Shopping Event: This is better done with Cash and Carry Products. Invite the children over to your home to shop for a Gift for Mom and Grandma. You can get cheap wrapping paper and some crafting supplies at the dollar store and have them make a Greeting Card too!

7. Treat Your Mom: You have the guests bring their mothers with them to the show. Have your host serve appetizers and beverages.

8. Mystery Hostess Open House: I always recommend that new Direct Sales Consultants start out by hostessing their very own open house event. Every guest who attends your open house and makes a purchase will be entered into a special drawing where they will be named the host (if they are the winner) and will earn all of the free hostess goodies and gifts.

9. Bridal Shower Party: If your host is getting married soon, consider turning the home show into a Bridal Shower. This works well if you are with a home decor company or a kitchen company.

10. Baby Shower Gathering: If you know someone who is expecting a baby and you sell baby and children’s products, this would be a really nice theme to incorporate into your home show line-up.

11. Partying For Charity: Have a party to raise money for charitable organizations or donate the free items that the hostess would earn to a womens shelter, low income family, etc.

12. Open House Weekend Cash and Carry: This is a great theme if you have a lot of product on hand, especially discontinued merchandise. I like to do these type of parties twice a year to just clean out my overstock. I always discount the products and make it a cash and carry weekend shopping event.

13. Best Friends Evening Out: (works best with bath and body products, candle, skincare and cosmetic products).

14. Quick and Easy Meals Taste Great: This theme works well for those who sell gourmet food products or if you are with a kitchen and food Direct Sales company.

15. Work Place Lunch Office Parties: (can also hold them at the workplace after work too!) Works great especially for the smaller privately owned businesses.

16. Sports Themed Tailgating Bash: If your host doesn’t mind asking her guests to each bring a food dish to the home show, try this theme around some of the big sporting events such as the NBA Playoffs, The Stanley Cup and The Super Bowl.

17. Movie and a Meal Night: Have your host provide the movie. Have the demonstration before the movie then let guests mingle, eat and watch the movie together while you finish up your party.

18. Ditch the Casual Wear and Bring out the Party Wear: If you are doing an all girls theme, try having them all dress up in their favorite dresses and gowns! What girl doesn’t love a reason to get dressed up?

19. The Good Old Days: Have guests dress up in 1960s and 1970s attire. Put the ‘groove’ back into partying! Dig out those bell bottom jeans and pointy collared shirts! Bring back Flower Power!

20. Italian Pizza Night: Have your host order a few pizzas. Have guests wear red, white and green which are the colors in the Italian National Flag.

21. Rainy Day, Kids Craft Day: (great for those in scrapbooking and paper crafts Direct Sales home businesses) Moms are always looking for things to keep kids busy on snowy and rainy days.

22. For Teachers Only: If your host is a teacher and you sell educational product for children, try hostessing a Teachers Only Party.

23. Sweet 16 Build Your Hope Chest Show: If you have a host who has a daughter who will be turning 16, you can try having this type of theme party if you sell home decor, houseware or kitchenware type of products.

24. Game Night for Guys and Party Night for Girls: This is great if you have a big enough home. Do it on a day that there is a big sporting event! All the guys in one room watching the game while the girls get together in another room.

25. Food On the Go: Works well if you are with one of the Kitchen Direct Sales Companys. Adults are always looking for ways to transport their food to work and back as well as packing school lunches for the kids.

26. Make Great Treats and Sweets for Bake Sales: Busy Moms are always looking for a way to make treats for all of those bake sales! Works really well with Parents of Elementary School Aged Children. You can contact the schools PTA and see if they would be interested in having you come to the school and doing this with the moms after one of their PTA meetings.

27. Moms on the go Gym Show: Contact your local Fitness Gyms and see if you can come to the gym and do a show, set up a table or teach a class.

28. Beat the Clock: (these are fun to do on the days that we have time changes here in the USA) but you can do them any time. You can set it up that if guests order within 30 minutes of the party starting they get a 15% discount, at 45 minutes it drops down to 10%.

29. Auction Event with your Cash and Carry Products: A great way to unload all of your overstock merchandise and offer your customers a bargain at the same time.

30. A Cut Above the Rest: Great if you sell cutlery, food choppers, scissors or if you just sell stylish products.

31. Ice Cream Social: If you are holding a Ice Cream Social, make sure you have enough variety of ice cream toppings and ice cream available. Now who doesn’t love ice cream? This is a great theme during the Spring and Summer Months.

32. Kitchen Cooking and Household Solutions Party: If you are with company that offers kitchen products, household products and/or cleaning products, this might be a good theme for you to try out.

33. Pass the Catalog: Take a few catalogs and staple an order form to the backside. Have your host pass the catalog around at her church, workplace, meeting groups etc. Same concept as a catalog order party.

34. Community Work From Home Event: Use this more for recruiting, but you can also accept orders from those who attend your event. Part of growing your business is getting your business out in front of your community.

35. 5 Ingredients or Less: This would be appropriate for kitchen and food type of companies.

36. Moms on a Budget: During this type of home show you should only demo items that are $25 or less.

37. Multi-Consultant Neighborhood Event: Find other consultants who represent Non-Competing types of products in your community and hold one large event.

38. Adopt a Neighborhood Needy Family: Find a neighborhood family in need, (churches are great sources for this) and donate all of the freebie and 1/2 prices items that are earned during this event to the family.

39. Mans Best Friend: If you sell pet foods and supplies this is a great theme party for you.

40. New Moms Time Out Show: Invite all the new Mothers to attend your show. New moms need a break so giving them a few hours without the kids is something they look forward to.

41. Dieting Buddies: They say that losing weight is more successful if you have a dieting buddy. So if you sell gourmet foods, natural and healthy supplements, vitamins, or exercise equipment you can start a dieting buddies program.

Shelly Hill
Shelly has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989. Shelly is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at:
Web: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com
Recipe Blog: http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT SO MUCH I  WANT TO TELL THE WORLD!!!!

This is the way all consultants should feel about their products.  If you do want to tell the world, it will be easy for you to share your enthusiasm with others and let them experience this great product first hand.

Basics of Booking

1. B is for Booking – Booking is a win win for the hostess and the consultant.  Don’t feel someone is going you a favor for hosting a party.  Know that you are doing them a favor by allowing them to share this product with their friends and get rewarded for doing to.  Mention the bonuses of Booking a Party a minimum of 4 times during the party .
2. A is for Attitude – Make contact when you are in a positive mood.  Get your party goers excited and pump up their attitudes with games and activities during the party.  Get creative while having fun at the same time.
3. S is for Simple – Make things simple by using your tools.  Use your consultant checklist, business aids and products.
4. I is for Inspire – Use your companies mission statement to inspire others and explain why your business inspires you.
5. C is for Creativity – Get creative and use your products.  Allow your party guests to use your products at the party.  Help them see why the products are so helpful and what they can do for them.
6. S is for Substantial Benefits – Strive to book 2 parties at every party and you will see the substantial benefits as your business grows.

It can be a little intimidating to host your first home party or demonstration event for your home based direct sales business. You cross your fingers, hoping that people will be impressed with your products and make purchases, as well as being nervous about the prospects of future home party bookings. Here are seven tips which can assist you in getting bookings the next time you hold a direct sales party or demonstration.

1. Exchange shows – Perhaps you already know someone else who has a direct sales business. If you want to book future parties, you should ask them about the possibility of exchanging party bookings.

2. If your child’s school permits, why not leave a few catalogs in the teacher’s lounge? Teachers are often on the lookout for a bargain as well as items which will help their classes. Especially if your direct sales business deals with educational products, this may net you a few bookings.

3. Next time you go to your doctor or dentist, leave a few catalogs or other literature in the waiting room. You can also consider leaving some literature with the receptionist.

4. Contact your Chamber of Commerce to find whether they operate a Welcome Wagon program for new arrivals. If there is such a program, inquire about giving them some literature to include in these packages for those new to the area.

5. Try sending literature and catalogs to people chosen at random from the phone book. Keep track of who you have sent literature to so you do not repeatedly mail to them.

6. When holding your party, tell all of those in attendance that the host or hostess of the party will be receiving free gifts for having held the party in their home. Be sure to mention that the hostess is working towards a goal and needs their help to achieve that goal – it’s OK to go ahead and ask people outright to book a party to help this goal be met by the host or hostess.

7. Tell your attendees that if a second show is booked in the near future, the host or hostess will be granted the chance to see new products before they hit the market. If your host or hostess has gone a while without holding a party, this may work well as a motivational tool. You can also offer these opportunities close to holidays; people will be interested in holding these events to save on their holiday shopping.

There are of course a lot of other ways to secure more bookings next time you hold a direct sales party. Try brainstorming for a bit and you are sure to come up with plenty of other ideas to get more bookings.

Robert Paul Williams is a published author for Work At Home Business Website. Learn how you can cost effectively expand your online presence with our Free Article Marketing Course  http://www.freearticlemarketingcourse.com