Ideas for Open House

[Kar]

I am looking for new ideas for an open house that I want to do toward the middle or end of February (need to wait because of property taxes due!!) I want something that will WOW them... I know QC mentioned the crayon resist technique so will do that, but need something else... also what do you all do for your open houses?? I do have a SU calendar to give as a door prize and any hostess sets that I might earn from sales will also be door prizes. Thanks for any ideas in advance ;)

[jdmeeks]

My demo usually uses current stamp sets as door prizes at open houses and that goes over very well. Another idea would be to have tickets (receive so many for X $ in purchases that day) and drawing for a hostess of the days ~ that way some lucky soul would receive hostess benefits from the days sales too!

[lweller]

i run my open house like an open house - come between 10 and 3 at a time that is convenient for you. i usually do 4 projects that are relatively simple so people can do them on their own. i charge $.25 per card (i know - cheap), and they can make as many of that card as they want. as a result, i have had on average 15 people at each open house. i do them every other month, and 'advertise' using evite. sales have been anywhere from $300 to $600. i do not do door prizes, or give away the hostess benefits. At $.25 a card, that in itself seems to be incentive to come - i advertise that this is a great opportunity to come try a new technique and stock up on cards, without having to buy ALL the materials.

i invite every customer on my customer list, and invite them to bring a friend. i have found that these have been very relaxed - i don't demo a technique, i don't give my shpeel. there is no pressure - i find that the cards i choose and the techniques sell themselves and the products.

a WOW card that i did at open house that was easy and impressive was using heat & stick. Fun With Shapes is great for this - using the squares, stamp in silver, sprinkle with heat & stick, heat with gun, sprinkle with dazzling diamonds. add the bow on top of each square, and you have a sparkly birthday card. my friends and customers loved this.

i hope this helps!
good luck,
lori

[darkstamper]

I did an open house when the new catty came out that was very succesful! It was billed as a "mystery Hostess" evening. I gave tickets to everyone who came, also x-tra tickets for other incentives like bringing a friend, bringing an outside order, booking a party, placing a $50 order, things like that, then at the end of the evening had adrawing to see who would get the hostess benefits, everyone loved it! We also played the left/right game and demo'd 2 cards (very simple, don't remeber what they were now, but some thing using a new set) it was a fun evening, I would definatly do it again! HTH

[Motherof6]

I plan on having my first open house the first weekend of February (1-5). I have lots of door prizes made up (Coasters, Journals, post-its etc.) I will have a drawing every half hour. I plan on having a table with sets set out and samples next to them. I will have an accessory table too. I want to have some sets uncut so I can show them how easy it is to cut and mount. I plan on booking parties more than taking orders but will take anything :lol: I have gifts for those who book a party that day along with their hostess package.

I hope we both have sucessful first open houses!