Biltmore Inspirations Closing: Is the Home Decor Party Plan aturated ...

Another sad day for the party plan home decor business for all direct sales consultants. This sweet lady on a WAHM forum was so sad that Willow House recently announced they?re closing the home decor division by next year. So she signed up with Biltmore Inspirations this month and just received noticed they?re closing December 15, 2012!

Unlike At Home America that recently closed, Biltmore Inspirations is refunding her kit so she hasn?t lost any money but the heartache can be equally disappointing. ?But more importantly, this would shake up someone?s belief in the industry, wouldn?t it? Why has there been several home decor companies closing recently? Is it because it?s a ground floor business? Not necessarily because At Home America closed after decades in business. And the same for Private Quarters which sold beautiful decor and home linens which closed this year after 20+ years in business.

Here are my thoughts on perhaps why the home decor market can be difficult to sustain growth, long-term.

Depending on your circle of warm contacts, the party plan relies initially on friends, family, and people you know to host parties for you to get your business off the ground. This was how the party plan business model started decades ago (think Tupperware). The stark contrast is that there are more working women today than decades ago. And even for stay at home moms, they are busier than ever, with volunteering, and after school activities for their kids. There really is a limited amount of time to host parties.

Again, this isn?t across the board for everyone and as I said, it depends on the consultant?s network of contacts. If a consultant has a wide network of friends and family willing to host at your grand opening or business launch, you can quickly sell products and potentially book additional parties.

The idea is simple: your business launch is the start to get bookings, and those bookings will garner additional bookings, etc. And this method work at the beginning and if you have a large network of friends, it?s a great start, but it?s not enough.

Based on the number of party planners that quit just a few months into the business, it?s evident that this?method is not enough.?It puzzles me why these companies aren?t preparing their new consultants with the right marketing skills to give them the right tools to succeed.

The second problem I see with the party plan home decor business is that it?s non-consumable and as much as I love home decor products, my home is fully furnished. For me, there?s no incentive to host parties because I?m not motivated by the ?hostess gifts?.

That said, if a good friend asked me to host a party to help her out, I?m more likely to oblige but it?s not because of the hostess free products. It?s simply to help a friend out. Your biggest hurdle as a consultant in a business that relies on new customers because home decor isn?t a business that often gets repeat sales, your best chance at success is having a large warm market to start with, and if you don?t, start networking and marketing your business locally right away.

There are thriving home decor party plan companies, or at least it appears that way and the successful consultants are the ones that are hustling, networking locally, selling at local small boutiques, doing catalog parties, and being creative in attracting new customers.

In a non-consumable business you will need to work a bit harder to attract new customers. Your average customer isn?t likely to re-order home decor parties on a monthly basis.

Best,

Janette Stoll
Direct to company Top Leader
campopfan@gmail.com
805.712.0840

P.S. Want to learn my secrets for being #1 Sponsor for my company using social media and internet marketing? Email me.

Source: http://janettestoll.com/2012/10/biltmoreinspirationsclosinghomedecorpartyplans/

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