Contacting Out of State Family ...

[Intrepid_Chef]

I am going on a family vacation. My dad and my director both suggested I do a cooking show for them while I am there.

I am willing to take the DCB and sautee pan and some small tools with me ...but I'm getting nervous about the "just ask" part.

I talked to my aunt who said she wasn't sure her girls would want to do that .. she said they'd both had those kind of shows in the past. She made it sound recent.

I should probably explain that my aunt and her girls have lived out of state most of my life ... I really don't know them all that well .... I did see my aunt three years ago but have not seen my cousins very much.

And frankly ... I will be traveling with my parents, my aunt and my cousin who is about my age and we were close growing up ... there is a lot of family drama and a lot of catching up to do ... and frankly, I'm not sure I WANT to deal with PC. I wouldn't even CONSIDER it if it weren't Sell-A-Thon.

What would you do?

 

[Kitchen2u]

Why not? If you do, you can write off the travel expenses ~ free vacation! How about this: "Hey Suzy, you know I've recently started this biz, I'm in real need of practice ~ would you like to get some of these awesome products for FREE"

The last word you say is FREE...that's what she/he will get out of this conversation...focus on FREE and THEM...

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I'm just not sure I want my first adult impression on them to be that I'm selling something ...

Anyway ... I think I'm just going to bring the stuff along and bring it up when we're there ...sometime between the day at the casino and the drive home ...

 

[Grandmarita]

Ditto on what Ginny said, almost word for word. We had a late family Christmas Cabin party that we drove to. I took along my large PC pots
for pasta, and rectangle chillzane server and easy accent decorator for
the deviled eggs. Everyone wanted to play with that when I was making
two trays of the eggs. Two of the family members on our daughter-in-laws
side, whom I had never met, ended up doing parties for me because of
the February incentives. I had the same thing happen with my daughter
and her new inlaws, who wanted to get the two items for 60% off in Feb.
They had come to my home for the rehearsal dinner before my daughter's
wedding. So, yes, family gatherings can count as a party without your
doing the center stage presentation. Just have a few catalogs to let they
look at, and take order forms for the month you have the most to offer them
in incentives, or that you want to reach certain goals for yourself, in. You will know if it fits with the dynamics or not. It just helps to be prepared.

I know for example, that my brother and sister are not open to my promoting
Pampered Chef with them. It makes me very sad that they have let me know
it is an off limits when I am with them. I gave my brother and his wife an 8"
Executive skillet as a hostess gift a year ago. It was an entire year before
he told me know much he loved it. I then bought the 10", intending to give
it to him for a big birthday. Then the chance to offer it to him for 60% came
along and I mentioned it to him. (They had just bought a new glass top stove
and talked about buying new cookware). When he turned down the opportunity to get the cookware at 60% off in Jan. or Feb., I kept the 10"
for another family member. He does not know what he missed out on. We
gave him a bottle of wine instead!!! So, there you have two opposite situations with family members.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

What do you suggest I bring along? I was thinking the DCB and saute pan so I can do garlic bites ... I don't have a decorator or I would do what you suggested with the eggs ... I DO have the chilzanne tray ... space is limited because we're filling a minivan with 5 adults, their luggage and a rototiller for one of the cousins (from her dad's estate) so space will be tight ... if I'm going to make something for the fam I want it to be something that makes them think, "OH, that is cool ..."

 

[kspry]

I'm just not sure I want my first adult impression on them to be that I'm selling something ...

That's what dads are for ~ I miss mine, ask your dad to bring it up. He'll know the right time.

 

[BethCooks4U]

When I visit my family my time is very short and most of them, while some are somewhat supportive, don't want to deal with a PC party. Fortunately, one of my DIL's does have one while I am there so I can write off that part of my trip (it's an extension to my trip to conference). I bring enough catalogs to give out to everyone but frankly most of them could care less and don't do anything for me.

Family is the hardest. In fact last summer's show at DIL's was the hardest ever for me. My DIL invited my ex's too including my ex's current wife. They were all really nice and she even booked a show but it was hard to do the show because you want to be perfect because you know they will be critical and talk about you later - at least that's me.

 

[legacypc46]

That's what dads are for ~ I miss mine, ask your dad to bring it up. He'll know the right time.

good advice...especially if your dad is at all close to his sister

 

[vwpamperedchef]

Personally if I were in your situation I would NOT ask to do a show. You may want to bring it up in conversation---maybe they will do a future online/catalog show.

I think it is tacky to bring out the PC products and do a demo. JMHO

 

[BethCooks4U]

Personally if I were in your situation I would NOT ask to do a show. You may want to bring it up in conversation---maybe they will do a future online/catalog show.

I think it is tacky to bring out the PC products and do a demo. JMHO

I think it is only tacky if you assume that it's okay or tell them you are doing it. There is absoluetly nothing wrong with it if you talk to them ahead of time and they agree to do it to help you out. ALWAYS ask. That's how we build our business around the country.

We visited my inlaws in TX and my niece was thrilled to do a show. From that her friend did a catalog show (over $800) and ended up signing. She is VERY close to director now. Pray that she gets #5 qualified by June 30 please!

 

[MORFIA]

I have a goal to share Pampered Chef while I am away-(if you do)Can I show you what I have learned- In hopes it can help you too!!

 

[legacypc46]

She is VERY close to director now. Pray that she gets #5 qualified by June 30 please!

Exciting!

I agree with Beth. If you don't like 'asking' to do a show, 'offer' to do one instead.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I don't know about a whole demo ... I think it is more fitting to cook them all dinner. :angel:

That's why I'm thinking of not taking anything but my DCB, garlic press, prep bowls and a few scrapers ...

 

[Kitchen2u]

Are you "pre-judging" they don't want to have one? I was always taught not to pre-judge, let THEM make the choice to say no thanks. You are OFFERING them an opportunity to get these products for FREE.

With gas prices, food prices, entertainment outings ~ everything going up ~ it means even MORE to me to offer them something for FREE.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I don't know about a whole demo ... I think it is more fitting to cook them all dinner. :angel:

That's why I'm thinking of not taking anything but my DCB, garlic press, prep bowls and a few scrapers ...

Sounds like you don't want to do a show while there. So don't. If they express an interest in Pampered Chef have catalogs to give them and work the benefits that they can get into conversations as comfortable.

 

[pampchefsarah]

When I visit my family my time is very short and most of them, while some are somewhat supportive, don't want to deal with a PC party. Fortunately, one of my DIL's does have one while I am there so I can write off that part of my trip (it's an extension to my trip to conference). I bring enough catalogs to give out to everyone but frankly most of them could care less and don't do anything for me.

Family is the hardest. In fact last summer's show at DIL's was the hardest ever for me. My DIL invited my ex's too including my ex's current wife. They were all really nice and she even booked a show but it was hard to do the show because you want to be perfect because you know they will be critical and talk about you later - at least that's me.

I certainly hope they talk about me later!! That's how they keep me in mind to book a show later.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I certainly hope they talk about me later!! That's how they keep me in mind to book a show later.

Usually I would agree and want them to remember me but this was family (and ex's) so they won't forget me... but they wouldn't be kind - they find all the mistakes. And they won't book a show later anyway. lol

 

[pampchefsarah]

Di-
At Christmas my family and I went to my sister's for dinner. I made appetizers and dessert and the (non-alcoholic) Mojitos - using all PC tools. This was not a cooking show, but I did have my sister, who is morally against direct sales, use the tools. Last month she ordered the FC, and a serving spoon!!

In September our Women's Ministry is having our annual Ladies' Retreat. I'm in charge of food (of course! ;-}). Dinner Friday, lunch Saturday, and dinner Saturday will all be PC recipes (and I might use my large bar pans for pancakes and bacon for Sunday's breakfast). Since the planning committee is trying to have partipants at the retreat involved as much as possible, I'll have some of them help in the kitchen, which means they'll be using PC tools, naturally. Do I feel guilty? Nope. I think everyone who knows I'm a PC Consultant would be surprised (and a little confused) if I didn't bring PC tools. I bet your Aunt and cousins would feel the same way. If you're so excited about your business, why didn't you bring samples to show off? It could actually cost you some credibility in their eyes.

JMO

Sarah

 

[merego]

That is a tough one b/c I am going to DH family reunion and DH told me I should try to get some sales while I am there, but I am not 100% comfortable with that. The last training session we were told like Ginny don't "pre-judge", how do you know if you don't ask, by assuming, you are making up their mind for them. I still have a problem with asking people and am slowly getting over it. We have to cook a meal one night and we are bringing the DCB and it will show how easy you can make a whole chicken, I am hoping they will say WOW, we all want one of those~ ha ha) That's a tough one, maybe in casual converstion you could talk about some great recipes you have made with your PC stuff nad how easy it is, start a conversation about your business and see how people react and if they take an interest, that is what I am going to do.
Goo luck, let us know how it goes