In Home Craft Parties

In Home Craft Parties!  I ran home parties myself with all my own products for 9 years. It was very successful! In fact it got away from me and I couldn't keep up. This is what I did. First I had a friend have the first party.

I had many products done and the ones I didn't I made up a catalogs of photos for clients to order from. I would allow the people at the parties to cash & carry or order with a deposit per item they were ordering.

My terms were 3 weeks before orders would be delivered. I had crates to set up like a little store in their living room. I carried all my products inside the crafts then when I got to the home I would empty them and stand them on their sides like a pyramid shelf and display everything.

They would have snacks. They were able to look at my products, ask questions, place their orders, and visit with friends and family. I almost always had cash and carry and I always had orders.

At that time I didn't have a credit card machine but if you did that would be a great asset for you and would up your sales I'm sure of that. Please Note: If you do have a credit card machine you will have to include any fees they charge you into your product price.

For the host I would give her 10% of sales and then run different special for them for example: one party I may give a special gift plus 10 percent. For each booking they booked from their party I would give them $5.00 in product.

Just remember that you always say that they will receive IN PRODUCT so they don't think you are going to give them money back. Always have something new! A MUST! People want to see new things if they have been to several of your parties and you don't have anything new for them to look at or purchase they will get bored and won't attend any more of  your parties and won't recommend you.

There are many things you can do to make your home parties unique to fit your needs, it will depend on your products. You could do it alone or with a friend that has unique products.

Open House with your Crafts

Or if you don't want to get this involved in a business, as in the home parties, get several friends together, have an open house with your  products twice a year. People will look forward to it each year and tell their friends. Make sure that you have a sign in sheet for each person that shows up with phone number, address, e-mail address etc. so that you will be able to send them a flyer for your next open house. I have seen it done several ways. In your home, rent a hall, in a barn etc. Inner mingle your products with your friends. Put up displays and make it look like a country store. Have your friends that put their products in to sell also work the show. You could have it for one day, a week-end, or a week. You can also have other crafters that you are acquainted with drop off their products and charge them a set up fee or a percentage of  their total sales.