How to Sell at Home Parties

Home parties are often used to increase sales for businesses selling jewelry, crafts, cookware and more. Successful home parties can lead to big sales and a big income for the sales person. Home parties are also not only benefit the seller, but the host or hostess as well. When putting on a home sales party, you will utilize not only traditional sales techniques but also some creative twists. Not only will this help increase your sales, but it can bring in future business, as well.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations
• Catalogs
• Order forms
• Pens
• Door prize
• Samples of the products
• Demonstration
• Thank you gift for the host or hostess

Instructions

1. Set goals for the home party with the host or hostess. Goals can include the number of people he or she wants to invite, how much he or she wants to earn in product and how much product needs to be sold to get the free products or discounts.

2. Encourage outside orders. Outside orders are orders received by people unable to attend the show. Provide your host or hostess with extra catalogs, order forms and a flier with the monthly special (if applicable). Collect these orders when he or she is ready to close out the show.

3. Provide the host or hostess with invitations. To increase guest numbers at the party, you might want to include, on the invitation, that door prizes will be given and the guest will receive a gift if he or she brings a friend. Encourage the host or hostess to follow up with invitees a few days prior to the party.

4. Dress for success. Wear a nice outfit with your hair and makeup neatly applied (when applicable) and teeth brushed. Smile and stand up straight. You want to appear as confident and friendly as possible so potential customers will feel comfortable around you and trust what you say about the products.

5. Create customer packets. Before the party, get an estimate from your host or hostess on how many people will be attending. Put together more customer packets than the number planning on attending. The customer packet should be a twin pocket portfolio with a catalog, order form, copy of the monthly special, pen, and business card in the pockets of the folder. Have one sitting on each chair before the guests arrive.

6. Introduce yourself. At the beginning of the party, tell the guests your name and some interesting information about you, such as where you were born and how you got started with the product line you are selling. After introducing yourself, invite the customers to introduce themselves.

7. Use your customers to sell the products. Customers increase sales when they recommend products they like to use. Have the customers introduce themselves and share what products they’ve enjoyed from the product line you’re selling. It would be appropriate at this point to give away door prizes and gifts to those guests who brought friends or family members with them to the party.

8. Display your products. Sales are increased when the customer can actually see and hold the product instead of just looking at a small picture in a catalog. Display the products around the room in which the party is held.

9. Give the demonstration. Put together a demonstration using the products you are selling. Customers want to see if and how the products work. If you are selling cookware for example, put together a recipe using the cookware, talking about each piece as you go along. If you are selling games, play a few of the games at the party.

10. Show your appreciation to the host or hostess. Give your host or hostess a gift of appreciation and thank him or her for offering his or her home and time to allow you to come in and share your products with family and friends. Encourage the guests to let you know if they’d be interested in hosting a party.

11. Set aside time for people to order. During this time, the customers will look through the catalog, look at the products and visit with one another. Offer to answer any questions the guests may have and help them fill out their order forms when needed. Thank each one for coming, even if the guest doesn’t buy anything from you at the party.

12. Help clean up and set up a future date to close the party. After the party is over and the guests have gone home, offer to help the host or hostess clean up any dishes or trash remaining from the party. Thank the host or hostess for letting you come and share your products. Set a date to follow up with the host or hostess and collect any additional orders and to go over his or her benefits and what he or she wants to order.

Tips & Warnings

• Arrive about 30 minutes prior to the start of the party so you have plenty of time to prepare and set the products up.

• Be sure to bring change in case anyone ordering is paying with cash.

• If you did a cooking show, do not attempt to hand wash all of your dishes at the host’s house. Lightly rinse heavily soiled dishes and take them home to wash. Don’t make the host wait for you to do your dishes.