In this article I am going to discuss how to actually go about running a Party-Plan business. I have already written other articles with suggestions on what to offer if you are running your own Party-Plan business, however, knowing what to sell and knowing how to go about selling it are two different things. But first, let’s look at why you might choose to run a Party-Plan business over any other kind of business. Continue reading
Offering your services can work in a party environment too. If you are qualified at massage, facials, manicures and pedicures, personal styling, hairstyling etc, why not offer a mini version of your regular service? 15 minute massages or pedicures for 6 ladies at a discounted price, instead of your regular one hour session might possibly provide you with some new clients in your home based business.
You could perhaps hold massage parties where you give mini-massages AND people can purchase the organic, locally made massage oils that you use at the party.
Perhaps you offer a service like Fitness or Yoga instruction, or art, music or dance lessons. Why not offer a group session at someone’s home? Perhaps a modified version of your regular service to give people a taste of what you offer, and then sign them up for more group or one-on-one sessions.
Services like photography work too. Think of how to do a mini-session focused around a theme or event, or perhaps combine makeup and photography and do Glamour Parties, where you take Glamour shots which the ladies can order from the party. You then go away and develop the photographs and present them nicely upon returning them to the Hostess. The possibilities are endless!
Even better is to find a way to do both! For example, run jewellery parties where people can purchase hand made items from you OR a party where you bring the supplies and teach everyone how to make the jewellery, or cards, or scrapbooks, or quilts, or candles. Or even soaps!!
There are so many things that you can sell via party plan. I’ll think of some more ideas and come back later with them.
You can make your own products if you like. Candles, soaps and home-made hand-cremes do well. Using all naturalingredients you can develop your own range of items. A range of all-natural beauty products would do well with certain groups of women – usually those who are interested in all things eco-friendly. You could also produce your own range of eco-friendly cleaning products that you made yourself. This would do very well at a Party.
If you have time to produce a range of stock in readiness for your parties, and if you have a place to store them, you will do really well. Well enough to hire the help of one or more people to come and help you make some more in readiness for another lot of parties.
Making candles is messy work though. It will turn your kitchen into chaos, but if you love what you do, it’s worth it.More ideas coming in the next article……
Perhaps you could try this: you could also sell your own range of linen. If you enjoy sewing you could make up a kit of beautifully made sheets, pillow cases, doona covers, bedspreads and valances, and either sell them via party-plan or once again, advertise to the higher income bracket households that you have a personalised linen making service that will design and create bedding with matching towels and curtains especially for their home.
Think of some unique way to present your linen too. I remember going to a linen party once where there was something very unique about the way that the linen could be used. If my memory serves me correctly, the doona covers were reversible so that they had a different pattern inside than they did on the outside. Plus, you could use what might otherwise be the side that you sleep under as the topside too, so all in all there were four ways to use the doona cover. I remember thinking at the time what a great idea it was. If you know how to sew then you can get started on something like this yourself and be selling them in no time.
More great ideas coming up in the next article…….
Other party-plan products that do well are hand-made shoes of a variety of colours and styles. Simply hold shoe parties, and depending on your range you will make very good money indeed. Try to find a local shoemaker who is making their own range of shoes, and put forward the idea to them to design and supply a range of classic and fashionable ladies shoes to you for your kit. The shoemaker need only supply you with one shoe in each colour, size and style (rather than two), and some can be left foot shoes and some can be right. That way he won’t feel insecure giving you a kit. He knows you aren’t going to go out of the house wearing odd shoes! Then ask your friends to help you get started by holding a shoe party, and your business will take off in no time!
While we are on the topic of leather, you could sell handbags and belts if you prefer. Or, sell handbags, belts and matching shoes at your parties. This idea does really well.
For more ideas please read the next article…….
Over the next few articles I will give you a few ideas for running your own Party Plan business. These ideas require you to set up your own range of products, which some people would prefer to do rather than sell a range decided upon by someone else. I also include a range of services that you can sell via Party Plan too.
You may like to import your own goods from overseas. Costume jewellery or lingerie will always sell, no matter how many other people are selling the same items in your area. Women love to spend money on themselves when it comes to this, so you will always be able to sell your stock if it’s lingerie you are selling. Just phone the wholesalers and take a day off to look around at the stock of the various suppliers in the areas where they have their shops and warehouses. Go direct rather than work for someone else’s company. Hire your own party-plan sales girls, and manage a small team of about seven or eight ladies, purchasing direct from the wholesaler the items that you love. It worked for me, and after my business subsided I kept the left-over pieces (wearing what fitted me), and I gave away the rest as gifts.
Be inspired by more ideas in the next article…..