My belief is that everything you say and do at your party plan selling demonstration should be said and done to promote higher sales, more bookings and interest in recruiting.  Have you ever had to sit down and explain to a sister consultant how and where her demonstration fell apart?  This happened to me and it was a very uncomfortable situation.

I had a party where the consultant was selling sleep-wear,  She had flannel, stunningly beautiful lingerie and everything in-between.  Everyone was having fun and trying things on.  Some guests were even modeling.  

Two of my guests indicated serious interest in booking.  Another friend said, “I just might” when I asked her if she’d like to have a show.  I was even thinking about re-booking for the new catalog because my friends were having so much fun.

The consultant had three or four potential bookings, and although I can’t prove it, I do think one of my friends was seriously thinking about taking some information home with her that night.  All the consultant had to do was show a couple more items and do her close.  Then disaster struck.

She held up a beautiful, but extremely sexy, piece of lingerie.  We giggled over the item and several people made comments about what their husbands would say.  Let’s just say, there was a lot of comments and a lot of laughter.  

That’s when the consultant decided to join the fun and take it to another level by saying, “One guest at another show said ….”

Then the consultant told us who made the comment.  The woman quoted was a well-known and highly respected business person in our community.  It was a crude comment made in front of trusted friends, and, probably after a couple glasses of wine.  Several of my friends squirmed in their seats with discomfort.  People were thinking, “What did I say tonight that she might quote at another party?”

The comment made by the consultant had the effect of throwing a bucket of water on a campfire.  Everyone in the room went from party atmosphere to “time-to-go” attitude.  There was silence in the room as people started paging through the catalog and writing out their orders.

Later, as we closed the show, I realized people hadn’t purchased near what I thought they would.  One guest who was loving four different items purchased one.  Several guests had been talking Christmas gift lists, but it was obvious they hadn’t followed through on that.  What I thought was going to be a $1000, or more, show was just a little over $300.  Did anyone book?  Not a one!  Neither did I.

The consultant commented that she thought so-and-so would book and was surprised that she didn’t.  It was then I explained “What Not To Say At A Party 101″ to her.

It’s fine to share stories from one party to another.  That can add a lot of humor and fun to your presentation.  Crude remarks are seldom funny.  That’s what happened at my party.  The consultant made a crude and vulgar comment and then told us who said it.  Her sales and bookings plummeted, and no one was interested in recruiting.

Basically, no one wanted anything to do with her.  Why?  Because there was a breach of trust, and a display of unprofessionalism.

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