Would You Buy It?

[Mummabear]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking into doing a party plan business from home, but before I do I wanted to get some feedback on whether anyone out there would consider purchasing these types of products via party plan or if you would honestly just prefer to go to a shop.

I'm not seeking out orders or trying to promote the business in any way, I just want some feedback before I spend DH's hard earned cash on a starter pack.

Do you think you would buy greeting cards, gift wrap and associated accessories via party plan or is it more of an impulse, as needed type of purchase? This party plan offers (I think) single card purchase but also assorted packs, i.e. kids packs, family packs, etc. I'm still undecided on my opinion :confused:

Your comments and feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Larissa

[veve]

I personally am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to gift wrap and cards etc... I have a large plastic tub full of emergency gifts and wrap etc (which has come in remarkably handy over the years!!!) ...

I do buy cards for specific people sometimes... but it is always nice to have a few at home for quick use...

for me it would depend on - price and range... are there funny cards?? If there was something I liked I would happily buy it...

xxx

[Mummabear]

Thanks for your reply Veve.

Umm, I'm trying really carefully not to cross the line here, lol. Let's see if I can stay within the rules..... The cards are (from what I have seen) all blank on the inside. The cards are drawings done by artists - they range from funny animal themed childrens cards, to bright girly or boy type teenager cards, some more old fashioned flower cards, etc. There are no cards with photos on them. I guess they're not traditionally the types of cards that I would buy which is why I'm still a little :confused: . I usually go for the joke cards for adults and the character cards (Elmo, etc) for the kids so I'm in new territory here, lol.

[JenNT]

Hey Riss,
If is was home made cards..ie cards made at a party where i could therefore order a card making kit...yes I would do it.
If it was just cards I could ordinarily buy at Woolies then No.

I usually buy...(late mind you! oh except for Rissa's lol) cards as I need them, mainly because they are so expensive. I like to buy a nice card when i do though, I like people to know I did put some thought into it rather than picking up a cheapie card in dollars and sense.


Hope that helps:rolleyes:

J:)

[draught]

I will buy a group of 10 cards at a time if they are cheap and tasteful - I am a fan of those ones with the photos of flowers on them that are blank inside - so I always have some handy for thank you notes, letters to grandmothers etc. I also stock up on wrapping paper - especially if it is brightly coloured and cheap. I think that party plan could work if the prices are reasonable and the quality is okay - blank things are good to have stashed away for emergencies.

[the_queen]

I buy cards from either $2 shops (where they usually cost $1, strangely :laughing: ) or some other similar shop. I like the cards with a nice bright photo on the front (flowers, animals, scenery etc) and blank inside. For Vallerie's friends I usually let her choose a character one from the shop (I can't beleive how much they cost!! Like $6 or $7 sometimes!!!)
If I could get a pack of 20 nice cards for $10 from one of these parties, then I think I'd be up for it.

Or if it was a card-making kit, then yeah I'd buy a kit with every intention of actually making the cards, but it would sit in my hall cupboard forever.....:rolleyes:

[lukaelmo]

Hey mamabear,

I seem to inhabit a world of party plans (I call them all tupperware parties), my friends go nuts with them. I always end up buying something, and if you invited me to yours I would buy cards from you too.

This weekend I am going to a jewellery one.

The most amazingly successful one I went to was a bag and shoe one; the girls who did it went on buying trips to Vietnam and brought back bags and shoes of all shapes and sizes. I think they sold about $800 worth of stuff in that one night (around 10 girls were there I think). I bought three bags, two purses and a pair of shoes.

Never wear the shoes, one bag fell apart but love the little purse :p .

Good luck!

[Mummabear]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies. Upon reading the replies here and talking to other people I think I've come to the conclusion that someone somewhere will always buy party plan cr@p, lol. It's just a matter of getting your name out there and putting on great parties.

I think I'm gonna give it a go :smiliedance:

Now, I'm just going to have to auction off DH's body on Ebay to cover the cost of setting up :laughing:

[Charlie]

I'm a Tupperware Lady, and I always make a point of going and buying at other "PARTY PLAN" parties, I figure what goes around comes around.
It's the perfect job for a SAHM!! So much freedom!!:yelclap:

Just think if you don't do any good you'll have alot of card and wrappin supplies!:smiliedance:

Just don't do what I do, Buy more for yourself than your selling!!

[Kirstlea]

I'm a Tupperware Lady,

I used to be one of those - that is why I would say go the party plan idea mummabear it works well, no matter what the product.

Infact you could learn alot from a tupperware queen in the art of party plan as Tupperware invented it.

Biggest tip, relax, enjoy and if you believe in the product you are selling, it will sell itself.

I never pushed tupperware, never needed too. It was a very successful way to do business though.

Goodluck I'm sure you will have a lot of fun and you will defintely meet lots of new people.

Kirsten

[sugar n spice]

personally i wouldn't as i prefer to just buy when i need to and i hate hoarding, thats just me though, i do think i might be a hard thing to sell though especially if there not at bargain prices

I agree with charlie if you go ahead with it don't buy for yourself more as you wont make any money. I used to do nutrimetics and i was buying more stuff for myself to bump up my order so i got more product credits or i would stock up on stuff to giveaway to people who booked a party.

[Aimee'smum]

Hi mummabear,

I do "Creative Memories" album making (rather than) "scrapbooking" (in the overly "crafty" sense). (This is really hard to do without breaking the rules, so bear with me - apologies if any of this sounds wrong or unclear). I have only started recently and I would say that rather than "party plan", "Home Class" businesses probably are easier - people pay (small) fee for class, get materials and instruction and make first album page (or card or whatever) because people get something out having a hands-on lesson and taking home what they have made - it gets them motivated / enthusiastic and if you provide on-going support (like we do with "workshops") then they will keep making the whatever it happens to be, keep buying and keep enthusing to their friends... they will buy "kits" and actually use them - more positive experience.

Also, I would advise to be careful with buying extra product - if it is a good seller / popular, then you may like to hold SOME extra stock because people may purchase more if they can have it immediately, but don't buy everything to have in this way - if you have incentives or savings if you bump your order up, I advise either buying items that may have been popular but are being phased out (if you find they used to sell well) or things that are seen as "essentials" / popular / or "general" that go with everything - in your case - general occasion cards etc.

Make sure the company offers complete support and isn't just going to leave you to your own devices with out on-going training and contact from the person who "recruited" you etc.

If you want to ask me any other questions about general business tips or experiences related to this kind of home business, email me and I will help as much as I actually can. Try me at kirranic@hotmail.com

Good Luck!

Nic

[Lauz]

Another Tupperware lady here too.... :) love my tupperware, therefore didnt have a problem selling it.. however as a second job (add on to my full time) plus im studying.. well, i was overworked.. so now its just there for when people want stuff! :)

[Mummabear]

Wow Nic, thank you so much for all that info!

I'm having a bit of a dilema about all this. I really want some 'pocket money' of my own, but with having a small child, studying part time and (hopefully) soon to be pregnant again I don't want to take too much on and then not be able to follow through with it. I agree with your comment about the 'workshop' type parties, I've had several positive comments about those types of parties, so I might look a little further into that.

Thanks again for all your wonderful advice! :D

[Oscar's mum]

I am one of those ppl that will go to the party plan and then not buy a single thing!:o Party hosts must hate me lol!:p

[kiwibird27]

I buy mine from the variety store for $1!!! Try an adult toy party plan, people always buy heaps (cause it's different and not a sex shop) and incorporating wine and fun silly games always helps, Oh educational toys by party plan are always great too!!!!!!!!!