Why should you sell from home parties? It's a fantastic outlet for crafters, and here are my top 10 reasons why.
- It's lucrative
Because guests arrive expecting to buy, when you sell from home parties it tends to result in lots of sales.
- You can charge higher prices than other outlets
People seem happier to pay more at home parties than at fairs and shows, which means you get a higher return. And the hostess only takes a small percentage of that, compared to stores which expect to pay no more than half of your retail price.
- It's almost risk free
You have no booth or table fees to pay - all you invest in each party is the time it takes to hold one and a small hostess gift. The hostess only earns commission on sales you've already made, so there's no chance you'll be out of pocket.
- You can start on a shoestring
All you need to start off with is a sample of each of your items, a tablecloth and some business cards. While you might like to add fancy displays later, and have lots of stock to sell on the spot, it's not necessary when you start off if you can't afford it. There are very few businesses that allow you to start with so little and still provide room to grow so much.
- You have no competition
Unlike craft fairs and retail stores, when you sell from home parties you'll be the only vendor competing for the guests money.
- It expands your customer base quickly
Each home party you sell at provides a new circle of guests. Provided you keep in touch with them and give great service, you'll soon build a solid base of repeat customers. And because you interact socially with the guests when you sell from home parties, there's a better chance that they'll trust you with their details in order for you to stay in contact with them.
- It fits in with your schedule
You can schedule home parties for whatever times suit you, and do them as frequently or infrequently as you need at any particular time. I don't do as many during the summer holidays, but make it up in the months leading up to Christmas. You can do whatever suits you.
- It suits almost any personality
Because there are so many different ways of doing home parties, you can adapt the style to suit your own personality. Take a look at Craft Home Party Styles to find out more about the various ways to structure home parties.
- It allows you to indulge your creativity
If you enjoy making one of a kind crafts, or just occasionally like to try something completely new and different, selling from home parties allows you to do just that - there's no obligation to produce zillions of the same product, no contracts to fulfil and your guests will probably like the idea of buying something completely unique. So you can balance productivity and creativity in the proportions that suit you.
- It's fun!
Most home parties are just two or three hours long, have drinks and snacks available, involve girly chats and allow you to talk about your favourite crafting passion. Sounds like a good time to me! And the best part is that you get paid to do it...
