Handmade Holiday Cards

Selling handmade cards via home parties? What do you think?

I want to sell my handmade cards by booking home parties. This would work similar to an avon or tupperware party: A hostess would recieve a free gift just for hosting the party. She would invite all her friends out for about an hour or so and i would give a short presentation on my products, especially the custom options, and then give them some time to sit and look through binders filled with samples of my handmade cards. There would be games and a free draw. There would be many cards and packages of cards available for take home purchase, or they could order custom cards, invitations and stationary. The hostess then recieves a commission from what has been sold...either 10% cash or 20% merchandise. (so, if i sell 200$ worth, she can choose 20$ cash or 40 worth of merch) What do you think? Has anybody seen this done? Do you have any tips or tricks for me? Do you think 18$ is too pricey for a 6 pack of luxury handmade cards? I'd like any feedback i can get. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. My sister in law tried and and just wasted money. And, they were really nice. People these days are all Hallmark snobs. Dont you ever notice the type of people that look at the back of the card to see how much it was?
2. I think that if you live in an area where everyone is very, very well off financially, then go for it. Personally, I get the box of Christmas cards...40 for a dollar. I buy boxes of cards at yard sales. I'm not being negative, just I don't make enough money to pay $18 for half a dozen cards. Just my opinion. Like I said, if you live near very snotty rich folks who wouldn't be caught dead buying from walmart or hallmark, then go for it. Would YOU pay $18 for six cards??
3. wouldn't work. not many people send cards out anymore.
4. Yes, 18 is alittle expensive as if you are new to this business you want to start with low cost and selling more until you get to know alot of people and your sale will go up... then you can go ahead and put your price the way u wants... I think it is a good idea but add something more besides cards.. I dont know what are your specialities but you can add something like ballons, food items I dont know there must be something that can be add to the party... Like for example if you have 10 items for sale... you definitly going to sell atleast 5 items... I hope you get my point... good luck!
5. Yes, I think $18 is too pricey for a 6-pack of luxury handmade cards FOR MOST PEOPLE. And yet it's too cheap for party plan. You need to be thinking about 5 people showing up, and selling $500 worth of product. There are *very* few people who would buy $100 worth of cards. Now, if you had paintings for on the wall, that ranged from $89 to $1289, and they were really compelling, people would come to the parties just to see the pictures. You might sell one or two paintings per party. (More realistically, you might get a really hot prospect who agrees to hold a party or two in order to earn a chunk of that painting she really wants.) And with the good stuff going for $89 to $1289, you would find some who would buy a six-pack of cards for $18 or a single card in a Brooks of Boston frame for $25. But you will need to get across the idea that this is really high quality, and the miniatures are a compromise for people who don't have the wall space for the full-size art. Don't suggest that people buy them because they're cheap. The reason for selling six-packs is because people want to hunt for their own frame, not because it's cheaper. But if it's just the cards or nothing, I suspect too many will choose nothing.
6. I think that price point is going to be the big issue. I can go down to my local dollar store and get some really great looking handmade style cards for about $1.50 - $2.00 each. If they are kitted up really nicely, that will help sell them. Just make sure you are not going overboard with the expense of doing it. I haven't heard of card parties, just candle parties, craft pariies and tupperware parties. It is a unique idea.