Party Planning

Eli asked:


Why aren’t other parties on the debates such as the Libertarian party or the Green party or any other political party?

Whitney

Patty asked:


All parties involved in buying a home and the roles they play?

Alexia

Jay Leisner asked:


As business consultants, we are often asked about the differences between a network marketing company and a home party plan company.  Both types of companies have independent sales representatives who earn commissions on personal sales and bonuses on the sales of others.  However, there are important differences between them in naming conventions, sales techniques, compensation, productivity, and characteristics of customers.

Naming Conventions 

Network marketing companies tend to refer to their sales representatives as distributors, associates, IBO’s, and independent agents.  These are male-sounding words with action implied.  It’s no coincidence that the average network marketing sales rep is a man.

Home party plan companies use terms like consultant, demonstrator, stylist, and counselor.  These are feminine terms.  About 98% of home party representatives are women.

In creating your company, think about the composition of your sales force.  If most will be men or most will be women, it would be wise to give the representative a name them fits them.

Sales Techniques

Network marketing representatives typically sell products and services one-to-one, whereas home party plan representatives use primarily a group selling approach.

If your products sell best when they are demonstrated or explained, a home party plan format may be a good fit for you.

However, if in an average group of potential customers less than 80% will buy at least one item, then the home party plan format may not work well for you.

Compensation

Since most of the sales of a network marketing company are made to its sales representatives, activity requirements of these companies are most commonly set using amounts appropriate for “personal consumption.”

However, since most of the sales of home party plan companies are made to others, activity requirements are usually set based on the sales volume generated by an average-sized home party.

Network marketing and home party companies each have compensation plans by which their sales representatives are compensated.  The compensation plan for either type of company should be built with consideration for the company’s margins and the types, pricing, and consumption patterns of the products.

Productivity

Annually, active network marketing representatives typically generate about $500 to $1000 in sales for an average company.

Home party plan representatives on the other hand generate between $5,000 and $10,000 in sales per head each year.

So, a home party plan company with 1,000 representatives can generate sales volume comparable to a network marketing company with 10,000 representatives.

Customer Characteristics

Within most network marketing companies, the sales representative is the customer.  In these companies, generally there is very little retailing of product to non-participants.  Instead, the sales rep is encouraged to sign-up for an AutoShip program to create residual income for upline participants.

Conversely, home party plan representatives are encouraged to sell their products and services to customers who are not representatives.  Personal consumption by reps is a very small portion of a home party plan company’s sales.

Income

Since most network marketing companies don’t have a strong base of customers who are not sales representatives, the only way to earn money as a network marketing rep is to recruit others who buy products from the company for personal use.  Simply put, without a viable retailing component, if you don’t recruit, you won’t earn any money.

Home party plan representatives can earn significant income by selling without recruiting.  In fact, the average home party plan participant who earns $300 to $500 per month earns little or nothing on the sales of others.

Conclusion

The business model you select is important, for each motivates and rewards different behaviors.

With 22 years of experience with hundreds of direct selling companies, Sylvina Consulting provides an extensive list of business development services as well as expertise in addressing software requirements to all direct selling companies, from startups at the concept stage to the largest multinational firms and to companies in between.

To request our monthly newsletter and receive a free copy of our "20 Secrets of Success for Direct Selling Companies" article, visit www.sylvina.com or contact Sylvina Consulting directly at 503.244.8787.



Nickolas

Hunter Crowell asked:


Are you planning to start a new business? Can you work under pressure? Are you an organized individual? Then a career in event and party planning might be in store for you. Starting a new business nowadays is very time consuming and difficult to start but if your creative and have the knack for smooth planning then this business would fit you just right.

Party planners help organize and plan many different types of events. Some party planners openly focus on specific events such as birthdays and weddings. If you are interested in this kind of business it is a great idea to broaden your horizon and choose to accept different kinds of events and not limit yourself to only some certain events.

It is very unusual for party planners to plan and organize just a portion of an event. The duties a party planner would depend on the needs of the clients. These could range from hiring and working with the caterers, entertainment systems, transportation and the location and decoration for the event.

Do a lot of research about the business. Know the competition in your locality. Knowing what services they provide would give you an edge and make some necessary adjustments so you would not be left behind. It is also important that you would know the rates of your competitors so you cloud price your services justly and at the same time attract customers with a rate that they would love.

It is also best that you have a background on your clients and ready estimates for their events, this way you could adjust prices depending on the quantity of guests and the amount of work to be done for the event. Always make sure what duties includes in the prices, so your clients would be informed of what you would do and they would easily understand that additional duties means another fee.

Trends are always present and living up to these trends could also determine how likable your event organizing would be. If you could convince clients that you are knowledgeable with these trends then they would prefer to have you as their planner. An example of this trends are teen-trends, some teen birthday parties have themes and would like to follow certain trends: knowing cool party spots and shindigs, newest fashion trends and theme, and the hottest music.

Generally what would make you successful in this business is how much you know your locality, clients, their needs and the ever changing trends. Keeping track of these is like keeping track of your business and adjusting to the every needs and wants of your clients. Understand them well and you will never go out of business.



Terrance

Lorna Goldsborough asked:


t for anyone is a huge milestone in life. This is something that cannot go unnoticed. If you know someone that is planning a retirement, you should do whatever you can to do the best retirement party planning that you can so that they have a great send off. It makes no difference if you are a co-worker planning a party or if you are a friend or relative, this is special occasion and you need to make it memorable.

Many retirement parties are going to have dinner that is going to honor the person that is about to retire. This something that can be simple or extravagant. It will depend on the budget that you have set for the retirement party planning idea. You will want to invite some of the co-workers that the person enjoyed working with or had a special connection with. You should also make sure that you have an invite for the friends and family members of the honored person.

Have a great cake there waiting for the person. You can find many great retiring cake ideas that will give them a little bit of laughter or sentimental feelings when they see it. You should also include some of the person’s favorite dishes to be served at the retirement party. Remember you are honoring them so you want to make this a very special occasion that is filled with their favorite things so that they have great time on their special day.

Make sure that you have a great retirement speech ready for the person. You can have something great to say about the retiring person ready so that you can share it with everyone. You may also want to have some great jokes and funny stories included in your great speech. Make this something that brings laughter and humor as well as tears and feelings of love to the party.

Giving gifts to a person that is retiring is going to be special too. You want to make sure that you get them something that will make them feel good. You should not try and be too mean about it and you defiantly do not want to make them upset. Have fun with it and use your better judgment for what you should get the person that is retiring. Think about it and you will come up with the right ideas.

There are so many possibilities for planning a great retirement party. You can have fun in giving this special person a great send off into the next chapter of their life filled with good times and lots of relaxation. They will appreciate the thought that you put into this great party no matter how inexpensive it is. Just remember that you are trying to make them feel good about life and give them a great and happy send off for retirement.

Conner

Jessica * asked:


I’ve already had a pampered chef party and I don’t want to have a toy party. I was looking for other types of parties to have my friends come over and have a little fun.

Davon

horselover2002jsl asked:


My brother is graduating this year from high school. Me and my mom were wondering what cool things we could do for his party since he wants to top of his friend’s parties. We were wondering like what are some food, decorating and just some party ideas that we could use. The school colors are green and gold. Thank you for your help!!!!!
Also we will having the party inside!!!!

Whitney

Rayven Perkins asked:


Some of the best ways to advertise your party plan company are through local, inexpensive methods of “errand advertising”.

What is errand advertising? This is advertising you do on your own, as you carry out your daily errands. Most of it is free, or costs very little to implement.

When you are involved in direct sales, most of the time, the customer is purchasing products from you because they like you, not because they desperately need the products. There are exceptions to this, of course, but I’ve found that the friendlier and more dedicated the consultant, the higher her sales.

There are many ways to advertise “you” while out and about. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.Always look your best

The first, and probably most important part of Errand Advertising is to always look your best when out and about. You don’t necessarily have to dress as though you are attending a demonstration, but make sure you clothing is neat, pressed, clean, and attractive.

Do your hair, put a little make up on, don’t appear as though you have just rolled out of bed or have been painting the house.

A little goes a long way here. With errand advertising you are representing your business. You want strangers and future customers to believe you run a neat and tidy business, so you have to appear neat and tidy as well.

2.Personality is a plus

Whether you are talking to a burned-out grocery clerk, the woman in line behind you at the bank, or even your own children in public, personality is very important when advertising you.

Having a negative or bad attitude or being cranky, unfriendly, or unapproachable will do little to further your goals. Instead, remember to smile often, make positive comments, and reprimand your children publicly in a manner that does not convey how stressed-out or frustrated you are.

People are naturally attracted to positive people. When you radiate positive confidence, others instinctively want to do business with you.

3.Tote your catalogs

The most important part of errand advertising is to actually advertise that you are a consultant for a particular direct sales company. One of the most effective ways to do this is by purchasing a clear pocket tote bag.

This clear pocket is built specifically to hold your catalogs. You place a catalog or brochure in the window of the tote, and use it as your purse. The totes come in a variety of sizes, or can be custom made to fit your particular needs.

As you go about your errands, potential customers can see that you are a representative or a consultant for a direct sales company, and if they are interested in you and your products, the customers will approach you to ask for a catalog.

While this is the exact response you are looking for, I caution you to not just give your catalogs away, but tell the customers in a cheeky way that you trade catalogs. Let them know that you will give them a catalog in exchange for their business card.

If they do not have a business card, have them write their name, email, address and phone number on the back of one of your cards instead.

This way they have what they want: a catalog, and you have what you want: a contact.

4.Leave your nametag on

Another way to advertise what direct sales company you are a distributor for is to casually leave your nametag on. This works especially well on those days when you are dressed as if you are giving a direct sales home party.

Interested people will stop you and ask if you have any catalogs available, which, of course, you do, so long as they will trade their information for it.

5.Buttons prompt action

Simple pin-back buttons can also be a great addition to your errand advertising accessories. You can place a pin-back button next to your name tag, or attach it to your clear view tote.

The button should have some sort of catchy saying on it that will entice strangers and potential customers to take action to approach you about your party plan business.

Things like, “Place an order, get a gift” or “Ask me how to earn $1000″ are examples of what you can do.

Some consultants get very creative with their pin-back buttons. They offer discounts, mention fundraising, offer their opportunity, or even offer incentives for asking for a catalog.

Keep your message short, simple, and noticeable.

6.Let your car do the talking

Probably the easiest way to advertise your home party plan business while you are running around doing errands is to purchase a vinyl decal for your vehicle.

These decals are very inexpensive, and can be custom made to advertise the information you wish.

First and foremost, you want your home party company name in big bold letters. After that, you can choose to include your telephone number and/or your website address.

Depending on your area, and your direct sales company, you may wish to omit your telephone number for safety issues. Make sure you measure your car’s back window to see how large your decal should be, and get your letters done in white.

Now everywhere you go your car will be advertising for you!



Zachary