SuPeaNatural
Full Member
AUSTRALIA
Posts: 424
Jun 27, 2014 8:49:11 GMT
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Post by SuPeaNatural on Aug 3, 2014 21:29:09 GMT
I want to start monthly scrapbook\papercraft workshops in my small town. It will be a basic workshop - come along and do your own thing. The cost will be $5 per person per session which will cover the hall hire.
There are no LSS within cooee of us so a lot of local paper crafters rely on direct selling reps - SU, CTMH and Kaszazz (an Australian owned company).
Here's my dilemma. Which way should I go?
1) Join a company and have any and all sales for myself. I would go with Kaszazz as there are no other local reps as far as I know, and I love their products. Other reps would be asked not to mention their company (although I'm sure they would when I'm out of earshot).
2) Stay free and let all reps tout their wares, and in return for them being allowed to freely talk about their company and set up a small display, they give me their consultant discount (20%) off my own personal order. I would suggest a monthly limit of say $50 per rep to keep it fair for them. If you were a rep, would that sound 'rude' to you, or would you be pleased to have another selling outlet? A captive audience so to speak.
3) Join Kaszazz but still allow other reps as well. I would not have them set up a display, that would be my privilege as the organizer, but they can freely talk about what they sell. This gives the attendees a wider choice, but I risk losing sales to other companies. Which could still happen in [HASH]1 anyway.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. |
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oaksong
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,167 
Location: LA Suburbia
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 6:24:29 GMT
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Post by oaksong on Aug 3, 2014 23:43:46 GMT
Since you are the organizer, it looks like a great opportunity to make sales for yourself. I say scenario [HASH]1. If you do offer the venue to reps of other companies, your agreement should be very specific and in writing. Taking a percentage of their sales would be reasonable, subject to audit at the end of the event. Try to imagine every possibility ahead of time, so that no misunderstandings or disagreements occur in the future. That will help ensure the continued success of the venture. Good for you, stepping up to create something for your community.
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LisaDorothy
Full Member
"Do it now 'cuz tomorrow ain't promised today"
Posts: 237
Jun 30, 2014 15:47:18 GMT
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Post by LisaDorothy on Aug 3, 2014 23:57:20 GMT
I like [HASH]2. I don't like the pressure of feeling like I have to buy from my crop hostess, I feel like they only want my $$. But I do like the option to buy from reps, and the more the merrier! Plus, you can ask for the discount as the hostess. And the reps you invite won't feel you are their competition as a rep.
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Post by myboysnme on Aug 4, 2014 0:38:56 GMT
I would not want to be locked into being a rep for a company if my workshops don't take off. I'd rather let other people take that risk and offer me a fee for selling that day, like $10 or so depending if the sales your venue provides are lucrative for them.
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Post by txdancermom on Aug 4, 2014 1:43:50 GMT
If it were me, I would go with [HASH]2 - let the other reps do the selling, giving you a discount (get in writing).
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Post by penny on Aug 4, 2014 6:07:19 GMT
I don't know much about this sort of thing, but is there a way for you to host a couple workshops with some reps there, and then evaluate if continuing that way or becoming a rep yourself would be a better option? If you're not a rep in the beginning, people attending might feel more comfortable giving feedback about having reps there, what they like/don't like, etc... If it works out best for you to become a rep (either the only one there or along with others), then you can just say how there wasn't a Kaszazz rep in the area so you thought you'd become one to bring in more selection for everyone... Kind of gives you the chance to do some 'market research' before signing up to be a rep...
As far as either being the only rep or allowing other reps, if direct selling is the main way people in the area shop, I'd think that you could get more flies with honey - letting other reps attend... There'd be something for everyone so there wouldn't be a reason for other crops/groups to start up and be 'competition'... As someone attending, I wouldn't mind if you always had your/Kaszazz products available and invited one other rep a month (rotating between other companies), or a schedule where other reps could come in once a season, for special events, or something like that... Guess I just mean that it wouldn't bother me that as the organizer you always had your products on display and then were more selective with other reps, but I'd also be aware that if you did allow other reps all of the time that it was a show of your character and I'd feel treated well and feel loyal and appreciative...
Not sure if that helps... It's 0206 here and I've got insomnia - if any of those sentences make sense I'll be proud of myself in the morning...lol
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SuPeaNatural
Full Member
AUSTRALIA
Posts: 424
Jun 27, 2014 8:49:11 GMT
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Post by SuPeaNatural on Aug 4, 2014 11:11:42 GMT
Thanks for the replies girls, I really appreciate it. There are some good ideas that I hadn't considered, and I'm going to make a list and think on it some more. Your feedback has been really helpful.  |
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Post by craftsbycarolyn on Aug 4, 2014 14:51:17 GMT
I think [HASH]2...but I would take a percentage of the sales...or charge them a table fee to set up
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Post by anniefb on Aug 4, 2014 20:13:43 GMT
You've had some good comments there. I think my main concern would be tying myself into something that might not work longterm. So perhaps option 2 would let you suss out whether the sessions are likely to continue, how many demos are likely to attend etc. Let us know what you decide!
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SuPeaNatural
Full Member
AUSTRALIA
Posts: 424
Jun 27, 2014 8:49:11 GMT
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Post by SuPeaNatural on Aug 4, 2014 23:24:01 GMT
Yes Anniefb, that's one of the main reasons I'm hesitant about joining the company myself. That, and making sales quotas, even though Kaszazz has the lowest requirement of them all. I've done direct selling on and off over the past 35 years and know it can be a pain to meet requirements. With all these ideas, I'll be pondering for a few more days I think.  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 5, 2014 3:03:17 GMT
I like Penny's idea best, host a few events with other reps to gauge the interest and if there are enough people coming and interested in buying you could pull the trigger and sign up.
Something else you could consider once you get the classes up and going would be to roll a monthly hostess club into it for anyone who is interested. A lot of demos do that here to help them meet their monthly minimums and everybody who participates benefits because no one has to clean their house, bug their friends who don't scrap or stamp and host a party in their home but they still get the hostess benefits for one party. Just something else to think about that might make it a little easier.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 23, 2024 23:19:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 15:27:38 GMT
I want to start monthly scrapbook\papercraft workshops in my small town. It will be a basic workshop - come along and do your own thing. The cost will be $5 per person per session which will cover the hall hire.
There are no LSS within cooee of us so a lot of local paper crafters rely on direct selling reps - SU, CTMH and Kaszazz (an Australian owned company).
Here's my dilemma. Which way should I go?
1) Join a company and have any and all sales for myself. I would go with Kaszazz as there are no other local reps as far as I know, and I love their products. Other reps would be asked not to mention their company (although I'm sure they would when I'm out of earshot).
2) Stay free and let all reps tout their wares, and in return for them being allowed to freely talk about their company and set up a small display, they give me their consultant discount (20%) off my own personal order. I would suggest a monthly limit of say $50 per rep to keep it fair for them. If you were a rep, would that sound 'rude' to you, or would you be pleased to have another selling outlet? A captive audience so to speak.
3) Join Kaszazz but still allow other reps as well. I would not have them set up a display, that would be my privilege as the organizer, but they can freely talk about what they sell. This gives the attendees a wider choice, but I risk losing sales to other companies. Which could still happen in [HASH]1 anyway.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. I think you may be way overthinking. Scrapbookers buy what appeals to them and generally do not respond well to being told what they can or can't use/talk about/shop from. If you offer a good selection of product at a fair price and treat customers well, you won't have to worry about all that other nonsense. |
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