ENJOY YOURSELF AND MAKE MONEY TOO
YOU OWN THE COMPANY
One of the biggest businesses to offer easy extra cash to the
'ordinary' person has been party plan. A great opportunity
to have fun and make money too. Many party plan companies
have grown into multi million dollar affairs! True!
But - that's just the problem. The companies have grown into
huge, lucrative concerns. While those that hold the parties
and do all the selling have only made a fairly meagre income
- nothing at all in some cases.
So, if you're tempted by the idea of party plan, but don't
want to make money for someone else the answer is simple.
Don't be just an agent - start your own party plan organising
company. Then, you can have hundreds of people all working
for you - while you just sit back and do a little
organisation. A great way to make money!
Surprisingly enough, running a party plan company is no more
difficult than being just an agent. And, there are thousands
of people who'll gladly make money for you, while making a
bit for themselves at the same time.
A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE FOR PROFIT
The idea for party plan is very simple. It has worked for
many years, making many rich in the process - and it will
work again and again. Best not to deviate too much from the
proven and accepted course.
With party plan you take an interesting and attractive
product. Something people enjoy buying. Something that
sells well in a social atmosphere. Then, you get willing
planners to hold parties in their homes, for neighbours,
friends, etc. The products are displayed at the party and
sales made. You pay the planner a commission - and make
considerable profit for yourself!
Party plan works so well because sales are virtually
guaranteed in such an environment. Your commission
arrangements boosts this further. Margins are often sky
high. However, the most important factor is that you can
magnify party success dozens of times over, for very little
extra work. The result - a small business to start but a
possible enormous one - and very quickly.
Just imagine you promote a product that sells readily for
$20. Imagine the profit margin is 80%. Of that, 20% goes to
the planner. You keep 60% - that's $12 clear profit.
At one party it would not be unreasonable to sell 3 such
items - $36 for you. That's not a great deal of money. But
- when you consider 10 weekly parties would be easy, with
virtually no work for you, it's even better. What if you
could build a circuit of several hundred weekly parties
nationwide?
The whole key to success in party plan is not large
individual takings. It's a multiplication of small, almost
insignificant sums that can be achieved quickly and easily.
A way of magnifying money that you should always adhere to
carefully.
A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT
The first stage in successful party plan is choosing a
successful product - it's essential. Most successful
companies thrive on the right product - they don't sell a
product because it happens to be to hand, or they think there
is a demand for it.
If possible, try to keep within one product area. And, it's
quite possible to succeed with just one item. Lots of other
party planners have done just that!
Your product should be ideally suited to sell at a party.
Usually it should be something non essential, but something
people like to 'treat' themselves to - perhaps a small curio
or trinket. Bearing in mind most party planners are women it
should be selected accordingly. Make it something bright and
attractive, something that stimulates the senses.
You can select a new line. But, to 'play safe' you can
choose an existing party plan success. 'Tupperware' is one
great success story, and could easily be duplicated with
similar lines. Or, clothes are the ideal product. Gifts and
crafts are a novel line - and paintings or prints are good
for 'up market' parties. The choice is yours, and there are
lots of imaginative ideas. You can even try to find several
to find which is most profitable.
When you have selected a line you will need to track down
sources - and find out as much about the product as possible.
Buy as cheaply as possible direct from manufacturers,
wholesalers or even consider direct import. Allow for a huge
mark up!
The easiest way to trade is to take in stocks. However,
there are still great chances if you do not have sufficient
capital or storage space. Just buy samples to send to
parties for which orders (and payment) are taken. This way
you don't actually buy the goods until you have been paid for
them.
No matter what product or source you choose, do ensure it is
reliable. Nothing could be worse than having several hundred
lucrative orders to fill and not being able to get continuity
of supply.
Finally, always be on the look out for cheaper or bulk
supplies. With a thriving organisation built you can be in a
strong position to get cut prices from suppliers.
BUILDING A NETWORK
The next step is to build a network of party planners holding
profitable parties for you. It is possible to start with a
couple a week - and possibly end up with many hundreds!
Never hold the parties yourself because the profits are in
volume. It is cheaper to employ others.
Many, many people would be interested in holding your parties
nationwide. It's extra cash, but also a pleasant social
evening. Treat your planners fairly and they will do great
things for you. The companies that pay planners poorly gain
in the short term, but soon lose.
Press advertising is the most effective way of getting
planners. Or, you could try shop window cars. Just put in a
short, catchy line and a telephone number. Interested people
then call you - and it's up to you to 'sell' them the idea
and suggest how much money they might make!
When business develops, the secret is to employ organisers as
well as planners. Their job is not only to hold parties, but
appoint planners too. This way a chain develops and you have
very little work to do at all!
When you receive an interested planner, agree with them the
time and date of their party. Then, send them a supply of
your product (could be demonstration stock only). A deposit
could be charged for this. It is also usual to 'throw in'
some attractive invitation forms they can use to invite their
friends. And, some organisers send a free bottle of wine
etc, to act as a buying incentive from their ample profits.
You should aim to appoint as many planners as possible. For
just a little organisation on your part, each will hold a
party that will make you money!
A PROFITABLE PARTY
One great business advantage is that you have very little to
do with parties. Money while you do nothing! But, it is
useful to give planners some guidance as to attaining best
results.
Ideally, parties should be held on weekdays, Tuesday to
Thursday being best. It is best if friends are invited,
though club and group parties can mean huge takings!
The host should do what they can to induce a pleasant party
atmosphere, perhaps providing music, food and demonstrations.
The parties can be enjoyable as well as profitable!
If the atmosphere is right, sales will almost certainly
result. Impulse plays a great part in selling, and pressure
is usually unnecessary and unwanted. Most people like to buy
a little something - and those little somethings add up to a
lot!
The planner should take written orders for goods, as well as
full payment - or at least a substantial deposit. The
following day, the planner forwards the orders and payments
on to you. This is less their commission - the level of
which is up to you - but might vary between 20 and 50%.
You can take a reasonable time (say 14 days) to fill orders
and then forward them to the planner (not to customers) for
distribution. Indeed, if you get your supplier to complete
the orders you will have even less work to do. Following
completion just make sure all customers are satisfied - this
bodes well for repeat parties!
Indeed, once you have completed a successful party, keep in
touch with the planner and get them to repeat from time to
time. Also approach their customers with a view to them
holding parties. By this method you ever increase the chain
of custom and literally multiply your profits. You've really
got the chance to let profits run out of control!
BIGGER AND BETTER
Once you have held your first party, the sky is really the
limit. It'll be obvious why owning the party plan company
can be just as easy as being an agent for someone else - only
thousands of times more rewarding!
Just keep going, adding extra parties here and extra parties
there. Each takes only minutes of your time to plan - but
together they add hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to
your income.
Really, party plan scope is unlimited. Just about every
street in the country can bear several parties per year.
And, even with 1% of that business, you'll be inundated.
You're sure to find out that, although party plan is nothing
new, there's as much scope to do well as ever!
Perhaps the secret behind party planning can be applied to
success in many businesses. Never think that because other
people seem to have cornered the market, you can't too.
Never think something is too difficult or risky to try - when
the outlay is so low.
And, above all, the sheer power of party plan takes little
beating. How else could you genuinely have others working
for you while you do nothing?
