Direct Sales: Work with Your Hostesses for Successful Parties

If you are in direct sales and do parties, you know that your hostess is an important part of your business.

I used to think of working with my hostesses before the show as secondary to actually booking shows, but now I know it's just as important. I keep the tone light and not pushy when letting them know how they stand to benefit - they deserve to know what they will get for doing a show.

I offer freebies of their choice for outside bookings before the show, and also offer

freebies for getting a certain amount in outside orders. They work harder knowing it's something beyond the hostess program that I'm going out of my way to give them. I think they take it as a challenge, and work really hard for it.

I praise them for their hard work and acknowledge when they go above and beyond.

I tell them "I want you to have the best show ever!" Then I tell them what they need to do to make that happen.

Having them over-invite is key. I tell them to "Pack the house!" Sales are more with a larger crowd. Multiple bookings are more likely with a larger crowd. If their guest list looks small I ask them to think of more people to ask. I ask them to tell their friends to each "bring a friend". I have them do reminder calls to their guests - people who don't do this have smaller shows, but those who do have $6-800 in sales at their show.

I also tell them to make invitations in person, so that each guest feels like it's important they're there.

I coach them to ask their guests beforehand: "Will you have a show so I can get the booking gift I want?" telling them what's in it for them. This is better than their saying "Do you want to have a show?", to which they may quickly say no. People are more likely to have a show to help out their friends than for themselves. Then I come in after the fact to make them glad they did it!

It's good for them to have a healthy amount of outside orders but I'd rather have warm bodies at the show, so while I do cover this I focus harder on attendance

I tell my hostess about the opportunity to join my business. I tell her because she deserves to know! Several of my hostesses are in my pool of "maybe someday", and I am just building a relationship over time. I sprinkle in talk about my opportunity over time. I also send them brochures about my business before the day of their show so I'm not just springing it on them in one day.

Doing these small things will help you have shows with higher attendance, higher sales, and higher rates of sponsorship into your business.