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Product samples can be a great little tool for your business. They give you the opportunity to tell people about your business, they let people “try before they buy”, and so much more. If you are wondering about product samples and how they can work for you, read on!
*Product samples can be stapled to your business card and tucked into your purse. You can hand them out to random people you meet or leave them with your tip when dinning out.
*You can make up “goodie bags” with a catalog, a business card, and a sample or two and hand them out. Or give them to your hair dresser, manicurist, and so on.
*They are great to use during your presentation to make sure people are listening. You can ask questions during your demo and hand them out to whomever gives the correct answer. This really boosts participation!
*You can include a couple in mystery bags for customers to purchase. Figure out your cost per sample and double. Then add it into the total bag cost.
*Include one or two in your hostess gift. This way, she may try something she may not have bought. Think repeat sales.
*You could give a sample to everyone at a party and ask if they could try the product and get back to you about how they like it in a week or so. Then, if they liked it, offer a special on that item for their participation.
Product samples are a great way to help customers and potential customers remember you. You are giving them something more than a business card, or a chance to try before they buy, and that goes a long way, especially in this business.
Most likely in this business, you give you hostess a small gift for being kind enough to host a party for you. (Also sparks interest for others to host a party with you too!) AND if you play games at your party you most likely give prizes to the winners of these games.
There are many different gifts and prizes you can give your partygoers. Here are some ideas…
HOSTESS GIFTS- You want to give your hostess something special for hosting a party and to thank her/him for her/his hard work. You have a few different options when it comes to giving her/him a gift. You could give a product that you sell to your hostess. This increases your retail sales but also you are not making commission on buying your own products. If you would like to give the hostess a product that you sell, make it something that you can “upsell” (Upselling is adding on compatible items to the sale…) For example: A silver bullet. This way you can suggest bullet sleeves and toy cleaner for her/him to purchase. Or you could give her/him an item that has been discontinued. Another option (And this is the one I use most often) is to purchase small items that you do not sell. Candles, bath salts, and so on, and combine them with samples of your products. Look at your local Dollar Store and even Target for cute inexpensive little items that make great hostess gifts. Valentines Day is great for finding items! It is a ROMANTIC holiday and fits right in with your business! I found some really cute “love themed” Chinese take out boxes at Michaels for $1.00. I also found mini packs of bath salts there and some candles. (Again, all $1.00) At the Dollar Store I found Bath Bombs in packs of 2. (You can split them up) AND at Target I found heart shaped votive holders with a votive candle in packs of 2, for yes, $1.00! Here is an example of a hostess gift I recently gave: I presented her with a cute Chinese take out box that when she opened it up contained a heart shaped votive holder, bath salts, and 3 samples of some of my fantastic products. Now, if you think about that for a minute you may see a theme there…Seduction or Relaxation. Light the candle, draw a bath, and then try out some new products in the bedroom! It all ties in with romance. The hostess gift cost me $2.80 and she loved it! By doing this, the hostess is getting more than just one item and getting samples of products she/he may not have on their wish list! Be creative!
GAME PRIZES- The prizes you give to game winners may vary based on the game. You want these prizes to be items you sell. When I do my demo I like to ask questions and the person who answers first and is correct, receives a sample pillow of a product. I do this to keep guests paying attention and to reward them for doing so. You do not have to do this, but it is fun to do! For smaller games, give smaller prizes. An example of a smaller prize is a c-ring and a sample of lube. For bigger games (Pass the dong game) you want to give something bigger like a bullet, small vibe, or some product you got a really good deal on. (I have given vibes, bullets, massage lotion, warming oil, and so on)
Remember that the gifts and prizes you give out during your party do not have to be expensive and you can be cost effective! Keep an eye out when you are shopping and you will be amazed at what you find!
Sharon Noland
“I signed up, now what?”
First off, CONGRATULATIONS! You have now taken the first step to making more money! Lets be honest, that’s why you signed up right? (Among other reasons of course!)
Okay, so now that you have signed up, where do you go from here? Well, while you are patiently waiting for your kit to arrive you can get a jump-start on a few things.
- Tell all of your family and friends you just signed up with a Romance Home Party company. Ask them if they would host a show for you. Tell them you need the practice! Or, you could hold your own open for business party where you draw that night for a hostess, or use the credits to build your kit. Either way, tell, ask, tell, ask, and so on.
- If you decide to have an open for business party (I recommend this as well as asking family and friends to host a party for you because it gives you lots of practice before you do a “strangers” show.) decide when you want to have it. Start planning the details. (Where, when, who are you inviting, and so on.)
- Order your business cards. You have many options when it comes to your business cards. Your company probably has some you can order, you can do them yourself, or you can go with one of the may online business card places. When designing your business cards, be sure they contain the following information: Your name, your company, your e-mail, your website (If you have one) and your phone number. Those are VERY important. Some other things you may want to include on your business card are: Products you carry (Could say adult toys, romance products, what ever you want to say!) “Book a party and receive ______”, and also you could put something on the back if you wish. I keep the backs of my cards blank. Why? Because that way I can change my specials as I wish. (I simply type up a special on one of those sticky address labels, print them off, and then put it on the back.) This gives me the freedom to choose my specials.
- Start advertising. Do an Internet search of free online classifieds and submit a post about hosting a party in your area. Make up flyers.
And now the moment has come, your kit has arrived! It’s just like Christmas isn’t it? Now what? Here are some things to do next…
- OPEN IT! Take everything out. Use your packing slip and mark off all of the items in your kit to be sure everything is there!
- Put batteries in everything that uses them and make sure everything works correctly.
- Read through your consultant training manual. Do it twice! You could even have a highlighter in hand to highlight the really important parts or highlight the right hand corners of the pages you know you will refer to often.
- Go over any other additional training materials that MAY have come with your kit.
- Learn everything there is to know about all of your products.
- Make up your product demo and begin practicing. Check to see if your company has a sample party demo. Read it, modify it, and use it how you wish. Practice, practice, practice. You could even make up flash cards for your products. (Like you did way back in school!) On one side write the name of the product and on the other, the main points about the product. “Quiz” yourself.
- If you have any questions, contact your sponsor. Do NOT be afraid to do this. Remember you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
- If you are feeling over whelmed, relax. It gets easier from here. After a party or two, you will find your groove!
There are some steps for you to follow now that you have made the decision to join the romance industry. Now get ready to have A LOT OF FUN!
Sharon Noland
If you are a consultant for an in home romance party business and a mommy, there will come a day when your precious little one will be overcome with curiosity and ask, “Mommy, what do you do at these parties you always go to?” As your cheeks become flushed, hot, and you begin to mutter “Uh” relax and try this explanation.
“Well honey, I teach people about romance products and how to enhance their relationships. When adults are in love, they like to find special ways to let each other know that they love and care about each other. I show people products that allow them to express their love for each other and teach them how to do it themselves.” If you have ever given your child a foot, back, or shoulder rub, use that as an example. You demonstrate and sell products for massage, like oils, creams, and massagers.
If your child asks why aren’t they allowed to come to one of these parties that is an easy answer. Simply tell them that the parties you do are for adults only. If they ask why explain to your child that the love adults feel for each other is a different kind of love. Let them know that the love you feel for your significant other is a different love than what you feel for your child. Assure your child that the love is equally the same, but adult love is different then parent/child love and that there are different types of love. If your child asks how, explain the difference in your opinion. I say this because everyone feels love differently. Here is an example of how I would explain it. “When Mommy met Daddy, we fell in love and got married. A while later, we had you. Before I even saw you, I loved you but the love I feel for you is different than the love I feel for your Daddy. You are my child and he is my husband. You love your teddy bear right? Well, do you love your teddy bear the same way you love me? See, there are different types of love.”
This is an example of how to explain what you do without having to EXPLAIN what you do! It is an adult way to explain what you do without being too adult for your little ones.
Sharon Noland
www.brownbagparty.com/19190
