• Food and friends make for a great home demonstration party.party food image by Bartlomiej Nowak from Fotolia.com
  
  Direct selling through home party demonstrations has been a popular and practical way for women and stay-at-home moms to earn an income for nearly 100 years. The basic idea uses private home get-togethers of friends and acquaintances to introduce and demonstrate products in a warm, non-threatening environment. It encourages a personal touch that third-party advertising and marketing cannot provide and can help a consultant develop a clientele network. There are some hints to use to make these parties easier and more successful.
  
  

Dress for Success

• You don't want to be overly formal or in a suit, but dressing professionally makes a difference in how you are perceived. Flip-flops and shorts or sweats do not convey a presence of authority that allows you to be an "expert" on a product. Find an outfit that is pulled together but appropriate. Capris and a button-down during the summer, or slacks and a cardigan in the winter could hit just the right note between professional and casual.
  
  

Be Organized

• Have extra copies of all your forms, brochures, catalogs and recruiting information and keep them in an easy, reach-and-find format. An accordion file purchased from a local office supply store is an ideal tool for this. It can be easily labeled with stickup tabs so you can see and easily retrieve anything, and everything stays nice and neat.
  
  

Have a Plan

• Have a theme or a plan in place other than just the demonstration and some food so that it is fun and festive. It is a get-together, not a sales meeting, so make sure that you have a few activities that let everyone enjoy themselves. This will also make it more attractive for anyone looking to join the organization.
  
  

Be Prepared

• Practice your presentation, be familiar with possible objections and questions and have a number of "what's in it for me" points ready to go. The more comfortable you are with your presentation, the more natural and conversational it will sound. This will automatically make you sound less like you are giving a "sales pitch" and more like you are sharing with friends.
  
  

Be Prompt

• That does not only mean on time for the start of the party, but to be early enough to allow for setup. You need to be ready before the first guests arrive. Being there to greet the guests and mingle in an unhurried way beforehand is important and creates the warm, friendly feeling you want.