Hosting Home Parties Can Be Fun and Profitable
This morning I read an article in Small Biz magazine about home parties. Apparently home parties are on the rise, and while the article did not specifically focus on home-based businesses, by thinking creatively you can design and host your own party for the service or products that you sell. .
Think about it: A spa owner can host a home party for a group of women interested in getting together, having a mini-facial or massage or pedicure, drinking a glass of champagne and eating snacks. An owner of a clothing line can set up a fashion show of sorts for a group of people who might be interested in purchasing clothes. A jewelry designer might host a party showing off her designs, while someone who owns a handbag company might host a party to sell bags, totes, and wallets. Really, the possibilities are endless as long as you take a look at your business, think creatively, and do a little planning beforehand.
So how can you go about making sure the party is successful? According to the article, you should have the host invite 20-30 people. This should ensure that you have at least 8-12 attendees, which, according to the article, is the optimal party size.
Also, the article suggests hosting activities, games, and trivia to keep the party fun. Keeping the people moving is a way to relax the guests, and relaxed guests are more receptive to buying items than those who feel uncomfortable.
If your concept is to sell products, you may not want to throw a party that requires attendees to pay an attendance fee. If they come for free, they are more apt to purchase the products that you are selling.
Some other ideas? Hand out door prizes of your product or service. Create a theme, if your product or service is one that would work well with this type of idea. Serve food and snacks, play music, and keep the party "rolling.´ You don´t want a lot of "down time´ since this can result in attendees staring at their watches and bowing out the back door. Also, make sure you have a nice area in which to display your products. Set up a table on which you can display your products, and even leave paper and a pen so that people who are interested in learning more or receiving sales flyers or brochures can sign up to do so.
What you hope to find at a home party is not only that your products or services sell, but that you get at least one other person in attendance that is interested in hosting a party at his or her house. So before the guests leave, hand out information to those in attendance. Make sure you reward the host in one way or the other; by giving her free products and services and bonuses for hosting the party and gathering the guests. And if you operate a business that is looking to recruit other salespeople and party hosts, you might be able to recruit these salespeople during the party.
Most of all, have fun! Home parties are a relaxing and entertaining way in which to get your products seen by consumers. And the more fun the party, the more chances you have that those in attendance will spread the word, thereby increasing your profits.
