Several years ago, 1986 to be exact, I joined a company (which shall remain nameless) that promoted using the party plan method, flea markets, craft fairs, Christmas bazaars, etc. for distributors to sell their products. They required a small monthly payment for training and materials until paid in full.

The first thing I did was to have a home party. I had to purchase products (at wholesale prices) to put on display. I was authorized to charge any amount I wanted for these products or use the prices given in their retail catalog. Invitations were mailed and a good sized crowd showed up. Everyone liked the products and bought accordingly. My next foray was at a flea market in the local mall parking lot. That didn't go over so well so was, more or less, a waste of my time. A few months later, I decided to set up at a Christmas bazaar. I ended up selling the products for what my cost was just to sell them. Bad news! End of this story.

Update to the year 1999 and my next experience with a different company starts. This bug of selling just keeps me entangled in its web even though 13 years have elapsed.

What made it happen was this notion that I needed (just had to have) some crystal that my mom bought way back when I was in high school through a home party. I already owned one piece given to me by a friend and just fell in love with it.

While going through some old clippings from magazines I saved, I happened to find a flyer for this company. It had an 800 number listed so I called. I was put in touch with a distributor within driving distance of my house. She came to my home and conducted a party to get me started.

The startup requirements to even be considered a distributor were to have six parties and fax in the orders and paperwork to prove you had these parties. Finding six people to convince to have a party was the hard part. Thank goodness for relatives! Having another party at my house proved to be a waste of my time and money but was a learning lesson. I mailed out 40 invitations and 4 people showed up. Can you relate? The sales made up for the lack of guests so ended up worthwhile after all. One person who agreed to have a party kept stalling so it was a very upsetting beginning.

Finally, my six parties were done and what a relief it was. Following next was setting up at the local county fair. I managed to sign up a lady to have a party and several parties evolved from that one with her relatives. My sales that December were the highest in my upline so that made me feel good. In February, I set up at a local motel where distributors from other companies were also set up. A newspaper ad was ran to draw in prospects. What a total waste of time! I said I would never do that again. End of story.

What I learned from this experience is that very few people want to have a home party because it involves too much work. They have to clean their home, decide on refreshments to serve, and make out a guest list to send invitations to. Then, only 3 or 4 people show up and the distributor ends up with very few sales and more work than was worth it. Never mind having to drive all over the place with bad directions to their house!