Home Based Business Parties

**dianne9106** · 04-21-2008, 12:18 PM

'Tis the season for the multitude of Home Based Business Parties! At the present I am invited to at least 2-3 a week

They are all great hostess' and merchandise with the exception of Tastefully Simple which is good but has no redeeming qualities for a my grocery budget

This week I have a another kitchen gadget party and a book party that I am invited to!
So I reckon my question is: do you feel the pressure to go to these parties and buy stuff? My husband read something to me from a book outlining how at these parties women buy to make the host (which is usually a friend) happy and to please them. It's funny - the last party I went to the seller didn't even talk about what the merchandise was! They laid out a spread of food and just chatted with the guest! No selling, no demonstrating, no sales technique outside of the fact that you were going to order to make your host happy! Yes, I did order some dip mix - it was really good!
If you sell any particular items - are you feeling the economic crunch right now? Or are you thinking of hosting a home based party in the future? I think I would like to host a kitchen gadget party - but in a few months with hopes that things will be looking up a little. What are your thoughts??

Dianne

**champagnium** · 04-21-2008, 01:17 PM

My friends and I have tons of theses.....Tupperware, Epicure, Sexy Girl, Pampered Chef, Arbonne Spa products...and sometimes we buy lots, sometimes not. We mainly use it as an excuse to get together. I have gone several times and not bought anything..not because I didn't want to, but because I knew that I didn't have enough money but I always go anyway. They're fun, and we love getting together. The girls in our group come from varied financial situations, but we always seem to do pretty decent as we take turns hosting. Plus hosting as a great way to get stuff cheaper

I'm seriously considering becoming an Epicure lady myself!!

**C@rol** · 04-21-2008, 01:39 PM

do you feel the pressure to go to these parties and buy stuff? My husband read something to me from a book outlining how at these parties women buy to make the host (which is usually a friend) happy and to please them.

No I don't feel the pressure to go to these parties and
buy stuff.

I agree with what your husband read from the book.
We do want to please the host and not feel left out
so we usually buy things (sometimes) we may not
necessarily need. JMO

**Holly** · 04-21-2008, 01:43 PM

No pressure I just say sorry I can't afford it right now and I don't go.
If they get mad . Oh well ...
I don't host them either.

**yankeegal** · 04-21-2008, 02:25 PM

Funny you should post this....I am hosting a Pampered Chef party this Saturday. The woman who sells it is a good friend of mine and I use it to network with other women about their businesses and mine. I think if the product is good, it sells itself. I am expecting a good group, will do a nice food spread, have some wine and just enjoy the company. No pressure.

**Cricket1** · 04-21-2008, 02:27 PM

I really dislike these parties. IF I go to them, I sometimes will buy stuff. The last Silpada party I went to, I didn't buy a thing (and told the hostess before hand that I probably wouldn't--she didn't care). I was recently invited to an Arbonne party and just said that I had something else to do that night. I think from now on, that will be my response.

**stinkbug** · 04-21-2008, 03:07 PM

Ugh....I really dislike these *parties*. The older I get, the less I'm inclined to follow the trends of junk I don't need! The last few I've been invited to, I hardly knew the women! It's like they invited every person they had ever talked to....friend of a friend, etc. I always end up feeling awkward and not wanting to buy anything, then getting *the look* when they ask about my order....

**dianne9106** · 04-21-2008, 03:32 PM

It's like they invited every person they had ever talked to....friend of a friend, etc. I always end up feeling awkward and not wanting to buy anything, then getting *the look* when they ask about my order....
I really try to avoid going to those! I think I sometimes get invited to some as a "filler guest"! I do sometimes have to tell people ahead of time that I really don't have the money to spend at this time but that I will be happy to come and be an extra body they can feed!

Before we moved here I had only been to one Pampered Chef party - but I have managed to acquire much of my inventory through yard sales, thrift shops and hand me downs! I am thinking of having one on the condition that no matter how much is purchased at my party that I can still get what I would like a discount. This way I can truly tell me friends that come that they really don't have to spend a dime! They can come and eat my food for a change!

**Missy** · 04-21-2008, 03:45 PM

I actually love these parties. I had a tupperware one most recently and it was fun. I hosted it and didn't order anything!! I had fun, my guests had fun, and the rep did too. She did her spiel, of course. Some people ordered, others didn't. It was something different to do. It was fun.

**Megareader** · 04-21-2008, 05:00 PM

I can't stand these things. "Come to my house and buy something" is not my idea of a party.

**Missy** · 04-21-2008, 06:07 PM

It's not your pineapple my mom would say. what she means is some people love pineapple. Other people loathe it. It's nothing to do with the pineapple. There's nothing wrong with the pineapple, or with the people that dis/like the pineapple. People like different things. Home parties is the pineapple in this thread.

I love em. I enjoy seeing new things, getting to try them, being shown how they work. etc. I gotta admit, after my first tupperware party, i hosted a second one. I ordered this chopper thing that is awesome. the kids use it, i feel comfortable letting them use it too. Gives them the opportunity to help me more in the kitchen too. Very cool.

It all depends on what you and your buddies like to do when you get together.

And what's neat about this site, is that we all have such different likes and dislikes that it's fun to see what everyone enjoys.

**Athena31** · 04-21-2008, 10:00 PM

I love these parties but never feel pressured to buy anything. My friends and I say buy if you want to and if not no biggie. We enjoy getting together to chat and catch up

**McD** · 04-21-2008, 10:59 PM

I usually host a party about once every 6 months, whether it's Pampered Chef (next month actually!) Lia Sophia or whatever.

I invite a ton of people, if they can't ocme that's alright, if they come that's alright, if they don't buy anything it's alright. It gives me an excuse to have all my gals over without hubby griping.

**Pemberleyan** · 04-22-2008, 08:33 AM

I really dislike these parties. I have a thing about making people feel obligated in any way, and didn't have a bridal shower when I married. DH made me go to a Tupperware party of his co-worker's wife and I felt obligated to go to one at my co-worker's house. I've heard the absolute worst ones are Southern Living, as far as exhorbitantly priced items.

**C@rol** · 04-22-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

Ugh....I really dislike these *parties*. The older I get, the less I'm inclined to follow the trends of junk I don't need! The last few I've been invited to, I hardly knew the women! It's like they invited every person they had ever talked to....friend of a friend, etc. I always end up feeling awkward and not wanting to buy anything, then getting *the look* when they ask about my order....

I couldn't agree more.