First jewellery party tonight!!

[raspberrybloom]

We have our first jewellery party tonight.

I am a little scared!

I don't really want to do a sales pitch but can I just sit there?!

Any advice would be fab!!

Thanks, Lou

[Seahorse]

I suggest that you wear some of your pieces.
Find a coordinating outfit and wear the best necklace/earrings to complement them.

I recently went to a V*rgin Vie party and the lady there was wearing some gorgeous earrings, later she said they were in the catalogue that we were going through!

Have a lovely display of all your goodies,Maybe pick out a couple of pieces from each section and talk about them, which stones you have used, are components allergy free.
Have tea/coffee/wine/nibbles etc ready for when your guests get there.
Have a big stand up mirror and a large portable mirror to hand round so people can get the full effect when they try things on.

Dont forget, YOU know most about your products, youve nothing to worry about.I just had a look and they are lovely and colourful, Im sure they will be snapped up.

Put an emphasis on 'they will be great for Christmas presents'.
Also say how you can be contacted for future pieces they may want you to make.

[carolinemhannon]

Seahorse has said everything i was going to say, you will need to talk to the guest, it breaks the ice, once you get going you'll be fine

[Seahorse]

Oh,and have music on quietly in the background, something fun.Wham immediately springs to mind but have a think about the ages of your customers.What will make them happy.

At the VV party I went to recently it was the only thing that bugged me.Once we'd stopped being shown stuff and was left to browse through the catalogue there was stone cold silence.

[beadsbydesign]

I am reluctant to be like a virgin vie seller. I have been to parties before and they feel like a non stop sales pitch. To me the word party sums up fun!!
I spread my items around various places in the room rather than setting out one huge display.
I introduce myself and walk around the room stopping by each display and pointing out the items and styles and the fact that "they can be made ion the following colours etc" I limit myself to five minutes floor space and then the ladies can go around and look and try in their own time and space. I have a gem quiz that i take and the winner gets a £5.00 voucher. I also have a huge bowl of beads set up and people can make their own memory wire bracelet.
I have found that this approach works really well for me. The women talk each other into buying!!
Once you have done the first two minutes you'll relax.
Just don't forget the obvious things to take eg. mirror.
Also, if people say ..."can you do ......" think carefully before answering!!

[Seahorse]

Thats such a ggod idea to have displays around the room!

[swirlyarts]

Great ideas about the quiz - it makes people interested in what you are saying and comes across as more than a sales pitch - it makes people think you have thought about them having fun rather than just sales, sales, sales! I also like the music idea - good for if you have a group of people who don't know each other very well.
Good luck for tonight - you'll have to let us know how it went
Lynsey

[euston-74]

Wow - all this advice is really good. We run party plan craft parties and I totally agree that there is nothing worse than a hard sell, we always do some kind of Make and Take which makes the evening a really good laugh and people love to feel they can get involved with what they are buying.
It might be a little late for you to organise a make and take for tonight, but you could easily take along something unfinished you are working on and give a little demonstration of techniques.
Some people do an ice breaker game, but it can make some people feel uncomfortable.
I also agree with the comment about 'letting people sell it themselves'. Try to listen in on conversations and drop hints about who a particular item might be suitable for.
Lots of luck,
Mel

[nattynetty]

Good luck Lou I'm sure you'll be fine

Agree with the others about the hard-sell, think it can really turn people off so just be yourself. I was at a craft fair the other week and there was another craft supplies stall there - they pounced on the poor lady with a card stall and really started with the hard-sell. She told me it was really doing her head in and she wouldn't buy off them in principle because of it.

Some people do an ice breaker game, but it can make some people feel uncomfortable.

That brings back horrid memories of an Ann Summers party my friend talked me into going to at his girlfriends house a few months back - uncomfortable was not the word especially with her 88 year-old granny there too

BTW Lou - I'll get the info about the monthly craft fairs in Bury to you as soon as I've found it again

[Seahorse]

I went ot an Ann Summers party once, theres nothing worse than finding things out about your friends when playing games, things you just dont want to know, then watch them as they browse through the catalogue buying their saucy time accesories!!
Im traumatised for life.

[euston-74]

You won't believe how many of my friends/acquaintances I've explained my business model to who have said;
'Oh, direct sales - like Ann Summers!'
I say 'No, not really.'

And it's hard to know where the conversation should go after that!!
Mel

[Seahorse]

How did it go Raspberry!!??

[0103media]

How did it go Raspberry!!??

Do tell

[Peter]

I'm still on the Ann Summers bit.........................

[raspberrybloom]

It went great - thank you for asking.

As soon as we set up people (the ones that were early) came to the table and so did the others as they arrived.

There was no need to say anything! The jewellery spoke for its self - hehe!!

People just asked us a few questions but generally liked to be left alone and bought!

Although, I have a few pieces to make up as the host had kept one of our old (November 2005) leaflets and her friend wanted something from that. Also the host wanted a dichoric pendant that was on the old leaflet. Needless to say I didn't have this and would she listen when I said each one is unique it is highly unlikely I am going to get another one similar (I buy these in). She thanked me and said I could drop it off on Thursday. I have spoke with my supplier and she hasn't made anything similar lately so I am going to have to give the host a call and hope she will take the blue one she liked but wasn't sure about.

I think for our next party we will probably have to say something!