Anyone still doing sales parties from home?
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
April 20, 2013 11:03am CST
My daughter was recently invited to a friend's home. She hadn't seen him or his family in a long while. The mom has apparently started doing home parties / demonstrations as a second income. She sells for at least two different companies, one being jewelery and the other is housewares. She offered my daughter to take home one of her hostess gifts from the jewelery line and my daughter told me, "Mom, I really appreciated her offer and I picked a necklace... but the jewelery was REALLY not pretty at all and it's expensive!"
This got me to thinking. I've been invited to many demonstrations over the years -- clothing, candles, Tupperware, Mary Kay cosmetics, even "adult" products. I also did catalogue sales for one company for a few years. I find the items a lot pricier than comparable retail products... and, of course, I always feel pressured to buy something to help out the hostess who invited me to her party. Her friend's mom, though, doesn't often do the parties at other people's homes... she has them in her OWN home and invites people to them. My question is, how many times can you invite the same friends to these sales parties and have them still be your friends?? 
I think I could sell to groups of strangers, at their homes, but I don't think I'd be successful trying to push products to my same social group all the time 
I also know that it's more common now to sell products online and many of the companies give you the option of creating your sales website through them directly. I just don't see how this helps to differentiate one sales rep from another or how you can really "stand out" service-wise. But I'm interested to hear people's success stories. Do you work in this field? Which product lines do you sell? What are your best-sellers? Do you do demonstrations in other people's homes and businesses or do you sell from your own home, catalogue or online? I'd love to discuss what is still viable and relevant today in this sales work 
I think I could sell to groups of strangers, at their homes, but I don't think I'd be successful trying to push products to my same social group all the time
I also know that it's more common now to sell products online and many of the companies give you the option of creating your sales website through them directly. I just don't see how this helps to differentiate one sales rep from another or how you can really "stand out" service-wise. But I'm interested to hear people's success stories. Do you work in this field? Which product lines do you sell? What are your best-sellers? Do you do demonstrations in other people's homes and businesses or do you sell from your own home, catalogue or online? I'd love to discuss what is still viable and relevant today in this sales work 3 people like this
6 responses
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
20 Apr 13
thinkingoutloud
You have a good point that the internet has taken over most home parties. I remember being invited to many..and I too always felt awkward and obligated that I had to buy something whether I wanted to or not.
I stopped going because even though they always said..don't feel pressured to buy..I still always felt pressured to buy...
3 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
Indeed, stary1... I, too, stopped accepting invitations to some of the demonstrations / parties because I just didn't have the extra money to spend on stuff that wasn't really a necessity. I love Tupperware, for example, but I get storage containers at Walmart that I like equally well and they are probably half the price of Tupperware. I've even found some decent ones at the dollar store! It all comes down to dollars and cents. I know someone that does candle parties... and I ADORE candles. I haven't gone to one of her parties because I know for sure the temptation will be great to buy her products and people have told me they are insanely expensive. 
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Apr 13
I know a couple of people who do that sort of stuff. I was invited to a make up party last year, and the same friend is doing a jewelry party soon.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
Do you like being invited to those parties? Or do you just feel obligated to go because it's a friend that is hosting it? I've never been able to go to one, of any type, and not buy something... even if I didn't really want it 
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Apr 13
The make up party I went to was ridiculously boring.. that was my first of this type of party, and of course I did feel obligated to buy something that I didn't want or need. I'm probably going to skip the jewelry one because I don't even wear jewelry!
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I wouldn't go to a jewelry one either, to be honest. At most, I wear a bracelet and small earrings. I didn't like the Mary Kay party I went to... like you, I found that one pretty dull. I don't wear much makeup either LOL So, outside of some of the skin care information, I really wasn't interested in the rest. Also, what I don't like about those is that, if there is one skin care product you're interested in, you can't buy it -- you have to buy the whole "care line" and the cost is outrageous.
I went to an adult products party with my ex sister-in-law, that was hosted by one of her co-workers, and that one was actually fun. I mean, for some people it would be horribly uncomfortable, I know, but there were a lot of fun games and there was a lot of respect and discretion used when it came to the actual product line. Also, it had the least pressure to buy anything. Orders were placed with the rep in a closed, private room so, if you didn't go into the room, you just didn't buy.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Apr 13
Yes, I have been to many of these type of parties. (I could tell you some funny stories too.) I wonder if this woman is finding different people around and inviting them. I doubt she would get very far inviting the same people over and over. I don't work in any selling field at all. I don't sell. I was in customer service for nearly thirty years and that was easier for me to deal with people. I know a gal that sells Avon online. I know of others who buy alot of a certain product and then sell it on different sites(yardsllr, itsy, etc.) So there are many way to sell and many companies out there that want people to sell. It just depends on what is easiest for you and what the company will allow. I think that catalogues are great and a company that has different options is wonderful.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I'd love to hear some of those stories!
Like you, I'm wondering how this woman has these parties in her own home all the time. Seems to me that we all have a limited number of friends, family and acquaintances to invite to something like that. I mean, you'll tick people off pretty quickly if you expect them to be part of your regular income stream! At least if you are hosting the parties for others, then you are selling to their guests and, generally, they would be new people that you don't already know. Does the person you know that sells Avon online do well with that? I do know of a couple of ladies that have sold Avon products for years and years and they seem to make a bit of money from that one. I guess it might help that it's a brand / company that has been around so long and people know or at least recognize it. Some of these home parties, I've never heard of the companies before, am unfamiliar with their quality and truly hesitate to plunk down hard-earned cash for things I'm not even sure I want 2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
The nice thing about Avon too is that they have seasonal items... cute gifts or stocking stuffers for Christmas, sun products for the summer... so at least, when you get a catalogue, there are some new and probably relevant items to grab your attention 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Apr 13
We all do have a limited number of friends, BUT, when you are selling Avon or whatever you hand out catalogues and I am sure she does the same thing. She tells people she meets in the grocery store, boutique, laundry, coffee shop, etc. You can meet a few people that way. The gal I know that sells Avon must be doing pretty well. She has been at it now three years or more. And the smart thing to do is sell for a company you do believe in and that has around for several years.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
27 Oct 15
they used to be common for lingerie and plastic kitchen-ware containers and jewellery but rarely see them nowadays - Never went to one - I expect internet shopping is easier
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Oct 15
Agreed, Arthur... some of those catalogue companies (AVON comes to mind) have their representatives setting up websites and selling online now - versus actually doing the home demonstrations or "door to door." I'm thinking it has to be difficult to make money as a rep when there are soooo many others doing exactly the same thing. I wonder what allows one to distinguish themselves from another and "stand out from the crowd" ... customer service, perhaps.
1 person likes this
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
20 Apr 13
I have done this before in my life and had the partys all the time but i never made much money for the money I have invested
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
That's a good point, blackrusty. Some of these home party opportunities do require people to invest money in supplies, a "starter kit" or a "demo kit," before they can earn their first dollar. I am quite sure it can be a risky venture, depending on the amount of that initial investment! What type of products did you sell and what made you choose those over another type of home party item?
1 person likes this
@joizee (502)
• Philippines
21 Apr 13
Hi there! I haven't been to a home sales party and I only see it on TV (movies or TV shows). If I would experience it, I would feel comfortable and awkward at the same time. Comfortable because it's in a home and we all know how comfy home is. But the awkwardness comes when the demo ends. As if we're expected to buy from the presentation even though the introduction says "I would ONLY introduce this product", hehe.
I'm not really good in sales so I wouldn't try sales parties or home presentations to a small group of people, especially with different group of friends. That would place each one even more awkward with others. I would opt to bring them to the company office and have the proper presentation there. I think the better way to get customers is online. Nowadays, people are more computer-users than spending time out. So I making a fanpage, sending personal messages to them inviting to "like" the page and wait until they get interested and actually buy products from the site.
Thanks for the discussion! ;)
