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How to Increase Number of Potential Customers to Home Parties?
I had just sent out a home party invitation to my customers who previously bought polymer clay beads from me. Date, venue, time were included. Discounts are even offered and to those who bring a friend along!
However, there are no responses at all!
Why is it so?
How do you deal with such situations? How do you actually make people come?
Could it also be a factor that Asians are not that 'open' to such home parties?
However, there are no responses at all!
Why is it so?
How do you deal with such situations? How do you actually make people come?
Could it also be a factor that Asians are not that 'open' to such home parties?
Tags: home, invitation, party
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Margo Gallinoto on -
Hi Adelin,
I don't know how you have handled your client base between the time they first purchased and sending the current invitation, but customer contact is very important.
Customers want to feel important. They want to feel you care about them, not just making a sale. It starts with a follow up note or call to thank them for coming to whatever the first event was, making sure they are happy with their purchase and offering to answer any questions they may have. This is the start of building a relationship with your client. It is essential.
I make up a client card on everyone who purchases and some who don't. I try to make personal notes about each one...likes, hobbies, favorite colors, styles,kids, etc. That way, when I follow up, it is more personal. I also let the customer know they will hear from me about every three months or so, as a SERVICE call, to make sure they are enjoying their purchase, give seasonal trends, and to let them know if there is something special coming up.. This could be a sale, a nearby show, new stones just in, in their favorite colors, etc. Stressing service, not sales is the key in establishing a relationship where your customers come to look forward to hearing from you. They will also be much more responsive to your invitations.
People are bombarded with sales offers by mail, phone, internet, etc., every day. Unless they feel some connection, most of this is ignored by potential customers. Customer service is the key to standing out from the crowd.
Hope this helps!
Margo
Making this small effort has been the key in building a loyal client base. Plain and simple, customer service is critical to success.
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Permalink Reply by Adelin on -
Dear Margo,
Yes, like what you said, I did follow ups to those who purchased from me at my online blog shop. Rest assured that customer service is the key in my business. I receive their requests with enthusiasm and complete my orders within the stated time period. =)
However, this is the first time that I'm organizing a home party and I'm not receiving any warm responses. =(
So, that's why I'm thinking, is it really cos of the culture that Asians have that they don't welcome such close contact (i.e, gatherings, home parties) activities? Just a thought though.
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Permalink Reply by Mortira on -
Hi Adelin!
I just wanted to add that if you're hoping to make home parties a large part of your business, you might want to start with friends and family, too. Make it a real party - a nice evening for people you know - with food, beverage, entertainment and maybe a theme. Make nice, detailed invitations (either email or cards you hand out, or both) and make sure that everyone on your invite list gets them within 2 weeks of the night.
Send a reminder about 3 days before to anyone who RSVP'd. It's a great idea to offer a discount or gift to everyone who brings a friend (or two friends!) - this is how you will build a larger customer base. The whole idea of the home party is to get people you know to introduce people they know to your products! If you're inviting people from your area who have bought from you before, make a separate invitation. You may want to include a coupon with their invite as well.
Just a few ideas - good luck to you!
Morti
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Permalink Reply by Adelin on
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Dear Morti,
I wanted to try out this idea of home party in my area (I've never done this before) and if it's good then I'll make it a large part of my business! Initially I had 1 single customer who wanted to come over and I prepared the table deco and food and etc, but to find out that she couldn't make it a day before!!!! =( I understand she has her reasons for not being to come. =)
I'll try another way to make my site more noticeable, to let more people know that, 'hey! there's a site that sells affordable and unique beads!' =)
Thank you so much for your kind tips!
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Permalink Reply by Linda Lafortune on -
Hello That's exactly what I'm doing now .
I organise privates parties with a bunch of friends of friends, wine and 'bouchees'.
You do'nt need to much people in the same time, but 7 to 10 for me is a good number, so you keep control of your stock.
I laid the jewelry and the hats for everyone to see and trye on, mirrors, on a white table cloth. everything nicely presented.
I will fix the price on the time it thought me do it, the stock I'm using and the fashionable piece. I also value the fact that every pieces his Unique and my name, in my home town, has a value of a art piece, because of my art work in my city. Well I hope this has been any help for you. That his good. Excuse my english, I'm a French Canadian. Lila =0)
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Permalink Reply by Teri Baskett on
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You might also try to expand the "offering" and try again. By this, I mean to find other persons who might want to work together. We are having a Valentine Show this weekend with 7 different "vendors"---non-competitive, that is. Our jewelry, a chocolate treat company, purses, spa items, candles, handmade V-Tine cards from a scrapbooking company, and an Avon rep. Everyone is sending out notices to their own customer list so our potential "customer pool" is larger. We ask that each vendor bring their own tables and displays, and they provide one appetizer. We will provide wine & soft drinks. It's at my friend and business partner's house, and she has lots of rooms.....everyone collects their own money too.
Another option may be to ask someone else to be your hostess, like a home party network would have (my sister did mine and I've booked another party from that in March).
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Permalink Reply by Linda Lafortune on
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No maybe, but don't your family are close together and are you having many members to ?
Also I would say to do Auction with the art peoples... and charity gift for special events, that will put you name out there for only making a bundle of happy friends, but they now know that is what you do ! This his who you are !
You know to make a network you have to be Up front and just go get your friends and family shopping in your house
or I believe the Tuper Ware method is a very good one. Get the nicer piece for that special person who invite all the Girls, the coussins, the boy's and your nieces, make it work...work it ...work it...Let them know that money they spend at the Shopping Mal, should be well spend in the family...loll...Good luck my dear and don't forget to make it fun with games and prices.
For me it's the season of demos and samples, so I produce and I get out there to. television shows, radio...it's fun but everything in the same time, ouff.
Nice to talk to you.
Go and have fun, stay safe
Summer is in the way to Newfoundland...Hopefully :) Lila
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