How To Get Started??

[dylsmum]

Hi, I have just started doing party plan selling toys. I hate party plan things, but when I saw this one, I liked the stuff and its not too expensive. Plus it is appealing because I can work to suit my son. The problem is I don't have many friends and the ones I do have said they would hold parties for me, just to get started, but only one of them actually has! Any ideas on how to get started or get a bit of awareness? Its not a well known company, as its based in Melbourne (I am in Sydney), but it does cater from baby right up to adult. I thought about doing up some brochures and doing a letterbox drop, but I think if I got a party plan thing in my letter box it would go straight in the bin!! I beginning to think I made a mistake taking this on, but I think it would go well once I get a bit of a network of people but thats the bit I'm having trouble with. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Foxy]

Hi dylsmum,

I agree a letterbox drop can be a bit hit & miss (more miss really), and you don't know if you are reaching your target market anyway.

I would try to focus your marketing on things that will definatley reach the people that would buy / have a party. What about childcare centres, kindys, community centres, playgroups etc around you - do they have noticeboards that you could put up some info on, or newsletters that they let you advertise in for a small fee? If you are going to make flyers, I would make the toys and how great and affordable they are the big thing, and just some very small writing down the bottom that it's a party plan. If your product is good enough, I'm sure people will be interested.

Good luck with your venture! :)

[mykidzrokk]

Just a thought....when i started doing party plan with the scrap company i am involved with, the way i started was to hold an open day...i advertised in the local rag and via word of mouth and from that day, i got one party...not much, but it was a start....i also found that i was putting pressure on myself to make money via party plan, and was stressing when i wasnt getting parties, so i decided to concentrate more on the recruiting of other consultants, got my website up and running and now i have 4 consultants under me and i let them do the parties and make the money for me...just another avenue for you.

Good luck....