What freebies can you find at a conference in Chi-Town?

[pcchris]

Okay, so I was talking to some people in my cluster today, and they were talking about the freebies you get a conference. What kind of cool freebies do you get when you go to conference? Thank you all for putting up with me and all of my dumb questions about national conference!!!

 

[rebeccastt]

Let's see if I can remember. Last year:
*Messenger Bag
*Coffee Travel Mug
*Pen
*Empowering Women magazine
*Lemon Cake Mixes

I can't think of anymore right now. Last year was my first year going to conference and I LOVED IT!!! I had so much fun (even though I was 7-1/2 months pregnant) and I'm looking forward to going again this year.

 

[rebeccastt]

By the way, they are not dumb questions. How would you know unless you've been there? I remember I felt the EXACT same way as you before going last year.

 

[DebbieJ]

Yep, usually a bag and other assorted goodies along the way!

Fun fun!

I *LOVE* my travel mug from last year. I use it daily! It keeps my coffee hot for so long!

 

[pcchris]

Debbie & rebecca...thanks for the info! I'm in wave 3...this will be my first conference...I'm excited, but nervous, I guess I don't really know what to expect. Will find out when I get there, I guess!!! Woo-hoo! I love going to Chicago! Don't get there too often, but I sure have fun while I'm there!

 

[rebeccastt]

Ask more questions! My director was a little aloof about it since she has been going for years, but I needed more info! Feel free to ask any questions you have now so that you won't feel uncomfortable or uneasy. I'll be glad to share whatever knowledge I have.

I'm in Wave 1, by the way.

 

[rebeccastt]

Duh....already says that in my signature!!!

 

[pcchris]

OKAY! I'm guessing that they have workshops and stuff? My director is very enthusiastic when discussing conference..she wants all of us to go! I know she said that they have so much fun and learn so much...but nothing specific. I think she does that so we are intrigued enough to go to see what it's all about!

 

[rebeccastt]

Yes, once HO sends out info on conference, you will be able to choose several workshops to attend (If I remember right, there are 5 time slots for workshops). You'll go through the listings and decide which workshops sound good to you. This was all guess work to me last year since I had no idea which ones were good. My director steered me to a few of them. Cooking Show Live is a good one, also Belinda Ellsworth if she is there. Check ChefSuccess when the time comes and ask for advice on which ones to take.

 

[pcchris]

Cool! Thank you so much for the info...I really appreciate it!

 

[rebeccastt]

Sure! That's what we're here for!

 

[CAmomCookin4U]

Okay, so I was talking to some people in my cluster today, and they were talking about the freebies you get a conference. What kind of cool freebies do you get when you go to conference? Thank you all for putting up with me and all of my dumb questions about national conference!!!

Not to mention some great site seeing that is totally Free

 

[SillyChef]

Debbie & rebecca...thanks for the info! I'm in wave 3...this will be my first conference...I'm excited, but nervous, I guess I don't really know what to expect. Will find out when I get there, I guess!!! Woo-hoo! I love going to Chicago! Don't get there too often, but I sure have fun while I'm there!

I am going to be in wave 3 too.

 

[DebbieJ]

My NED is organizing a group dinner cruise on the lake this year. Even though I live here, I've never been on one, so I am SO excited!!!! We're doing it the night before conference starts.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Let's see if I can remember. Last year:
*Messenger Bag
*Coffee Travel Mug
*Pen
*Empowering Women magazine
*Lemon Cake Mixes

I can't think of anymore right now. Last year was my first year going to conference and I LOVED IT!!! I had so much fun (even though I was 7-1/2 months pregnant) and I'm looking forward to going again this year.

*Empowering Women magazine
*Lemon Cake Mixes

Um, those weren't free, but they were pretty reasonably priced. I love my travel mug, too.

There's an invitational breakfast (if you qualify) based on your fundraising activities and lots of seminars.

Just remember, they all fill up fast so register as soon as it opens.

 

[pcchris]

I know that there's no way I qualified for the breakfast...did no fundraising, and not a lot of RUFTH...but thanks again for the heads up with registering right away...I'll be on line the day registration opens...you betcha!!!!

 

[cmdtrgd]

The Lemon Cake Mixes were free...not the magazine.You also get a sample catalog and invitation and recipe cards.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Also - bring money. Nancy is there.
VIP is there - they have some conference-only deals and conference t-shirts.
Merrill Corp is there.
Darby SHOULD be there. They also have surprise boxes for you to purchase, and speaking of Merrill, if you would like your mug on business cards, they'll take you photo right there.

 

[pcchris]

I think if I put my pic on my business cards, i'd never have business again!!! LOL!!!!! I'll bring LOTS of money if all of the vendors are going to be there!

 

[DebbieJ]

Oh, but be aware that Merrill does not accept cash!!! WTF?!?!?!?!!?

(Can you tell that's a sore spot for me?)

 

[DebbieJ]

Oh, and be sure to meet Nancy. She is SOOOOO sweet. I wish she had a better selection of products for us--then she'd get ALL my business and I wouldn't have to deal with those Merrill jerks ever again.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Don't sugar coat it, Deb. Tell us what you REALLY think of Merrill.

 

[pcchris]

WTF is right!!! Merrill won't take cash? Hmmm....wonder what's up with that?
I can't say I've ever heard of any business that won't take cash...maybe they're afraid someone might steal it! We are going to be in Chicago, after all...LOL!!! Some people's kids.....geesh!! I do a lot of business with Nancy...actually talked to her one time about a problem I had. Can't wait to meet her. DARBY - are you going to be there????

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Have you ever worked a trade show? Handling cash is a major PITA, espcially if you are not an organization that is set up as a retailer with a POS infrastructure. If I ran an organization like Merrill, I would be hard pressed to purchase registers and train operators for one show per year. Like it or not, TPC is a very small percentage of Merrill's overall business.VIP, OTOH, was set up specifically to retail to TPC consultants, and they've got a line of cash registers like Florida voting booths.I'm not saying either one is right or wrong - it's just the way it appears to me.

 

[mrssyvo]

Could it be that VIP is a local company (Out of Naperville) so bringing the cash registers is not that big of deal?

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

You're on the right track but there is FAR more to that story. The old timers probably know it, too.

 

[DebbieJ]

I understand that it does not make sense for Merrill to accept cash, but they could have been more gracious about it. The woman I dealt with at conference was quite witchy.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

That's one way to keep the CS auto-censor from wiping out your word.

 

[raebates]

Don't forget the opportunity to purchase mystery boxes--boxes of discontinued items. Then again, with the new outlet, maybe that won't be available this year.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I mentioned those before, but you can be pretty sure that they'll be filled with all kinds of stuff that didn't sell in the outlet, too! I imagine there are quantity guidelines for what they put in the outlet, and items that don't meet those thresholds will end up in mystery boxes anyway.

 

[pcchris]

Are the mystery boxes inexpensive? Are there different sizes of boxes? Don't know what the mystery boxes are all about...except for what I've read on here...I guess I need to know how much extra room I'm going to need in my car to come home after conference!!! I'm fortunate - we're driving, so I don'r have to worry about suitcase space on a plane!! Are you completely on your own for all meals, or are some included? Sorry for all the questions, my SD is not home today...and I know you are all so good at answering questions! I LOVE this website!

 

[raebates]

When I went in 2005, the boxes were $20 and $40, with a "guarantee" that the products would be worth much more than that.

Some meals are included. Some aren't.

 

[chefann]

I hope Merrill has better reps there this year. The man I dealt with last year at conference was a real donkey. He saw "Michigan" on my name badge and started bad-mouthing me, assuming that I went to UofM (he was an Ohio State fan). I told him that I lived in Michigan, but didn't attend Michigan. Didn't work - he kept being a real PITA. And he didn't know how to write up the freebies that they were offering for conference attendees. Told me they'd be added automatically. I had to call customer service to have them shipped because, you guessed it, they weren't in the order.

Merrill's set-up at Leadership was poor as well. They had separate lines for personalized and non-personalized items. The lines weren't well marked, and if you wanted both types of products, you had to wait in both lines. And then if you were trying to get the free tote bag (with an order minimum) there was much confusion, because your orders were counted separately. Ugh!

Sorry.... end of rant.
If there's a special workshop presenter, they'll usually have a booth, too, with products for sale. Last year it was Belinda Ellsworth, and in 2005, Christie Northrup was there.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Are the mystery boxes inexpensive? Are there different sizes of boxes? Don't know what the mystery boxes are all about...except for what I've read on here...I guess I need to know how much extra room I'm going to need in my car to come home after conference!!! I'm fortunate - we're driving, so I don'r have to worry about suitcase space on a plane!! Are you completely on your own for all meals, or are some included? Sorry for all the questions, my SD is not home today...and I know you are all so good at answering questions! I LOVE this website!

DON'T DRIVE!

Take the Hiawatha out of Milwaukee. It's about 40 bucks round trip (cheaper if you have a AAA membereship) and you not only don't have to drive and pay tolls, but you don't have to pay 30 bucks a night to store the car you can't use anyway.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I hope Merrill has better reps there this year. The man I dealt with last year at conference was a real donkey. He saw "Michigan" on my name badge and started bad-mouthing me, assuming that I went to UofM (he was an Ohio State fan). I told him that I lived in Michigan, but didn't attend Michigan. Didn't work - he kept being a real PITA. And he didn't know how to write up the freebies that they were offering for conference attendees. Told me they'd be added automatically. I had to call customer service to have them shipped because, you guessed it, they weren't in the order.

Merrill's set-up at Leadership was poor as well. They had separate lines for personalized and non-personalized items. The lines weren't well marked, and if you wanted both types of products, you had to wait in both lines. And then if you were trying to get the free tote bag (with an order minimum) there was much confusion, because your orders were counted separately. Ugh!

Sorry.... end of rant.
If there's a special workshop presenter, they'll usually have a booth, too, with products for sale. Last year it was Belinda Ellsworth, and in 2005, Christie Northrup was there.

You're right - Merrill's set-up was rotton. If you happen to see a time at VIP when there aren't many people around, GO FOR IT. They get swamped between sessions and when they get busy, they have a serpentine line like Space Mountain at Wally World. They move 'em through pretty fast but it's easier when it's quiet there.

 

[rebeccastt]

You can also have the mystery boxes shipped out for you. FedEx will be there. You just take your mystery box (after you have opened it to check out all the goodies!), go over to the FedEx area (right near the mystery box area) and they will ship it out to you and charge your TPC Debit Card. It works great and although you have to pay for shipping, IMHO it was worth it not having to schlep it all home!

 

[chefann]

You can also have the mystery boxes shipped out for you. FedEx will be there. You just take your mystery box (after you have opened it to check out all the goodies!), go over to the FedEx area (right near the mystery box area) and they will ship it out to you and charge your TPC Debit Card. It works great and although you have to pay for shipping, IMHO it was worth it not having to schlep it all home!

Here's a tip my SD shared at a pre-conference meeting last year. She gets one mystery box, not for the products, but for the box. Then the puts the other stuff that she bought (invites, mini cats, stuff from VIP, etc.) into the box and ships it home.

 

[PamperedMelanie]

Here's a tip my SD shared at a pre-conference meeting last year. She gets one mystery box, not for the products, but for the box. Then the puts the other stuff that she bought (invites, mini cats, stuff from VIP, etc.) into the box and ships it home.

Good tip, Thanks!

 

[Stampaholic1961]

Everyone talked about all the free stuff we would get when we went (25th anniversary year) but I don't remember getting much of anything other than the bag and a charm for the bracelets we could earn that year. I was kind of disappointed after all the hype about how anniversary years were so special.

 

[PampMomof3]

Everyone talked about all the free stuff we would get when we went (25th anniversary year) but I don't remember getting much of anything other than the bag and a charm for the bracelets we could earn that year. I was kind of disappointed after all the hype about how anniversary years were so special.

I agree Bev but I have a really bad memory! Oh wait, I know we got a free poster of Doris.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Darby needs to make us a t-shirt that says, "I spent a grand to go to conference and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and a coffee mug."Of course, no one will buy it, let alone, wear it, anyway.

 

[DebbieJ]

Oh, I remember that dumb poster!!! I have no idea where mine is.

 

[PampMomof3]

yeah, I don't know where mine is either!

 

[Shawnna]

We got a silver book mark to go with Doris' book on the 25th anniversary. I don't have a clue where mine is. The poster is pretty much useless. I loved the bag. I used it for college.

The first time I went we got a "purse" type bag and the pocket on the inside of mine ripped out the first day. We also got another smaller bag with a zipper on one side, a mesh pocket on the other side, and the middle was also a pocket. That year we also received a key chain.

I don't remember the "freebies" being that great either of the years I went. And, other than the executive banquet, the food was a salad or a sandwich. Not much food included in the conference price.

All that being said, the conference experience is wonderful. You learn a lot, get to meet a lot of people and get a lot of new ideas. I try to go every other year. This is my year to go. I quit my job at the end of December and I am now doing all the bookwork for my husband's restaurant. So, I was wondering how I was going to pay for conference. One salary lost and business has not picked up enough yet to make up for it...we have been open about 8 months. I really want to go!! But, every once in awhile...probably about 4 time in a month...we will have a waitress call at the last minute and not come to work. When that happens, I have to go and wait tables...which I am not fond of. But, the tips are great and so I put my tip money into my bank at home and by the time conference rolls around I will have enough to go. I am really getting excited about being able to go. I can't wait until our paperwork gets here. My biggest problem now is working around the employees vacations to be able to go. I am going to conference...may not be the wave I am suppose to go in, but I am going...so they better get their requests in early...LOL

 

[DebbieJ]

I have my bookmark!

That year we also got a special namebadge holder. I still have mine too and I'm going to pull it out to use at conference this year. I saw someone with theirs at Leadership and I thought it was genius. I hate those elastic cords. Mine got WAY too weighed down last year and bounced all over.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Oh, I remember that dumb poster!!!

Hey! I resemble that remark.

 

[dannyzmom]

I have my bookmark!

That year we also got a special namebadge holder. I still have mine too and I'm going to pull it out to use at conference this year. I saw someone with theirs at Leadership and I thought it was genius. I hate those elastic cords. Mine got WAY too weighed down last year and bounced all over.

Yup - I love mine!! I even put my cellphone in it at NC. I love the briefcases the have given us, too!

 

[PampMomof3]

I do have my bookmark and Oh what about the MEDIUM WOVEN BASKET!! THat was a good year!!!

 

[Shawnna]

I loved the name badge holder from the 25th anniversary year. What did you get last year? Did they go back to the plain cord? I have no clue where my good one is. I better find it before conference. I carried it in my purse for awhile and would pull it out instead of carrying my big purse at the mall. The basket was/is awesome. Right now mine is sitting on my desk filled with all of my valentines day candy. I saw that basket sell for 100s of dollars on ebay...too funny. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

 

[DebbieJ]

The name badges are back to the plain cord. I don't like them.

I had just started before Conference 2005, so I didn't have a chance to earn the medium woven. I really covet it.