We Need to Provide Better Customer Service

The reputation of Party Planning overall needs to be improved. I've just recorded a video to explain how and why. I'd love your feedback.

Make it a great day!

Be a Mum!

If you are wondering how your children got so old so fast, you should think seriously about making a change for the better.

When I grew up, my mum was at home with my brother and me. She played games with us, made us art and craft projects, and planned dinners. She took us to parks, taught the dog to sit and stay, and cleaned the clothes. She took us to soccer practice, softball practice, swimming lessons, and rehearsals.

She was a mum. We were lucky.

A Party Plan mum can do all of those things. She never needs to miss a game, a performance, a first day of school. She can walk the kids to school and be there when the kids get home. She can spend quality and quantity time with her children.

Party Plan enables distributors to work from home, schedule their appointments at times convenient to them, and spend time doing the things that are really important.

Some people think that by starting a Party Plan business that you give up your income. On the contrary. By starting a Party Plan business you only give up bosses, rosters, employee reviews, employees, and (sometimes) alarm clocks. Your target income might actually be lower than before (because you can save lots of money by being at home), or you might want to earn the same as you did before, or you might want to earn more than you did before.

The best part is that Party Plan actually enables all three of these scenarios.

So be a mum! It's the most rewarding job in the world. Party Planning is next. And you can do both!

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning
www.wlcenterprises.com

From the Guest's Perspective....

Recall the last party plan event that you attended as a guest.

Before the party

Did you get a personal invitation from your host or were you brought by a friend? Was it by SMS, by phone, by email, or in person? Was she excited to invite you or casual or indifferent? Did she tell you why she wanted to host a party? Did she invite you to invite a friend who might also like the products on offer? Did she send you a reminder? Did you want to go? Were you excited or dreading it?

At the party

Was the party fun? Did it start on time? Was the demonstrator well-groomed, on time, in control, and knowledgeable about what she was selling. Did the host have fun? Did the guests have fun? Did you learn something? Did it drag on longer than you wanted it too? Was it organised? Were you surprised by anything? Did you buy more or less than you thought you would? Did you pay then or were you allowed to order and pay later? Did you enjoy yourself so much you decided to host a party yourself? Did you talk someone else into hosting a party so you could go? Did you get a receipt? Did you keep any literature? Did you win a prize? Did you leave happy?

After the party

Did you get your product quickly? Did you call your host to ask when the products were arriving? Did you worry about products that were missing? Did you have a complaint about what you ordered? Did you get an email from the demonstrator with information about how to buy more? Did you get a phone call from the demonstrator asking you if you were happy with your purchases? Would you recommend the products to other people who weren't at the party? Would you pass on the phone number of the demonstrator? Are you 100% satisfied with the entire process?

By thinking about how you have been treated at parties, you can develop your own style and your own rules for how to run your business. Before the show it is important to work with the host, so that she is enthusiastic and informative when inviting her guests. At the show, it is important to guide the event, to listen to your host and your guests, and to be professional. It is also critical for you to set the customer expectations around what will happen once they leave the party. After the show, it is important to live up to those expectations, to inform your host and your new clients if those expectations will not be met, and to make sure your clients are all 100% satisfied.

Make a change

So, think about it, consider how your current procedures are working, and make changes if you need to. Be the best party planner that they've ever had and you will have a strong customer base, you'll develop a full diary of parties, and you'll meet lots of people who will want to do what you do.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an expert at profitable party planning.
www.wlcenterprises.com

Why did you get involved in Direct Marketing?

Was it to make a little extra money for a vacation? Was it because you had a family at home and thought you could fit it in? Was it because you loved the products and wanted to get exclusive access to discount prices and consultant specials. Was it because the company offered a reward to start that you couldn't resist? Did you just want to try something new?

No matter what your reason was for starting, I bet over the course of a few months, your reason for staying involved is different.

Both of these elements comprise your personal story and should be shared.

Your Personal Story

If you are in Party Plan, the strength of your business relies squarely on the strength of your personal story. There are three elements to cover. Tell people why you started because that is a powerful and truthful motivator. Tell people why you have stayed because it shows that the company is supportive, that you have the ability to book shows after your first few, and that you find value in what you do. And finally, let people know that they also have the opportunity to give this business a go and see if it's for them.

Make your personal commercial last 30-45 seconds. Cover all three areas. Your story will resonate with some people in your audience.

Develop Empathy Through other People's Personal Stories

Listen to other people's personal commercials. Uncover the motivations for starting that are NOT the same as your own. Then, as you meet people who have different motivations to you, you can share the personal commercials of other people. Their stories will resonate with some people in your audience.

Wendy Lloyd Curley is an Expert in Profitable Party Planning

www.wlcenterprises.com