Though you may choose to conduct your Vessel business in various ways, such as one-to-one selling, online or catalog parties, trade shows, etc. (or, most likely, a combination of these methods), booking Vessel parties should be the premiere way of building your business. But what happens when you have exhausted your list of personal contacts for possible hostesses?
The first thing I would challenge you to do is to really take a hard look at who you included on that list, and to be even more inclusive than you likely feel comfortable with. I can give you a personal testimony that building a business is all about taking steps beyond your comfort zone. If we each did only what we feel comfortable with, none of us would move very far in life. So look at who you may have left off that list because you think you really don't know them well enough, they might think you're strange for approaching them, or any other barrier that you set up in your mind. Remember, the worst that can happen is that they flat-out say no, and none of us will die from being told "no."
Keep in mind that you should never look at past hostesses as "one and done." If it has been awhile since they hosted a party for you, check in with them about doing another one. Encourage them to develop an invite list of people who didn't or couldn't attend the first party. For example, if their guests at their prior party was mostly neighbors, they could do an office party. Or suggest that Vessel will make marvelous and personalized Christmas gifts (because that's TRUE!), so they could have a Christmas Shopping Party.
Speaking of a Christmas Shopping Party, create a list of MEN you could approach. Guys often need and appreciate a little help finding a great gift for their S.O. (Significant Other).
Another Christmas idea is to let your contacts know that you can help them with last-minute emergency gifts. Even if the need for such a gift comes up after the official Christmas ordering deadline (since we have such a great turn-around time, we try to set that deadline as late as possible), you can always sell something from your Kit inventory and simply replenish it afterwards.
In either case, a nice touch would be to offer free gift wrapping.
One very basic piece of advise that I always give to those who want to drum up interest in Vessel is to simply WEAR the jewelry. Every day, no exceptions. Carefully coordinate your outfit with a Vessel jewelry set and ScentSpheres with your favorite fragrance, and don't forget to add some bling with charms! Keep yourself stocked with ScentSpheres in your favorite colors and fragrances so that people will be able to smell your piece, and I would also recommend that you wear the longer chains so that it is easy for them to do so. When people comment on it (and they will) make sure you have information to give to them. Hopefully you all know that we have Sample Card/Beads sets available now, which gives them your contact info, the Vessel website address, and a couple of fragranced beads. Of course this would be ideal. But, at the very least, make sure you always have a business card ready to hand out. Don't forget the most important step in this encounter - get THEIR contact information if at all possible. It's much better to be able to follow up later than hoping they will contact you again.
Be sure to create a database of EVERY contact you get, and check in with them often. You never know when someone who wasn't interested at the time you met them will become interested. We have had that happen many times here at the corporate office. Two important pieces of advise concerning your database: 1) Never list a group of email addresses in the "to" field of an email; instead use the "bcc" field. This way, each recipient sees only their own address; and 2) Always include a notation at the bottom of the email letting them know that they can opt out of receiving mail from you. Honor that request if they make it.
And here's an easy and fun way to get your name out there if, like me, you are a library patron. Simply use a business card or Sample Card with your contact information as a bookmark - and leave it in the book when you return it.
If you have all of the orders for your parties come to either you or your Hostess, you can include a business card with each order so that the guest knows who to contact for re-ordering or questions. You might want to also include a Hostess Reward Chart to encourage her to consider hosting a party of her own.
You can order Vessel business cards at a good price through us. Contact the office if you would like to do so. You can call us at 888-966-8775, or send an email to info@vesselscentsofstyle.
We will keep working to develop additional tips that will help you get those party bookings that are so critical, and of course we are always available to provide any assistance that we can. So, if you have questions, never hesitate to call us! And if you have some tips you would like to share, whether it's about booking parties or any other aspect of building a successful Vessel career, we would all appreciate it! You can send them to info@vesselscentsofstyle.com at any time.
To your continued success!
Love,
Susan
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