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The Home & Garden Party Auction Game
The Home & Garden Party Auction Game is a FUN and interactive Party presentation format. The Auction Game dollars provide you with a purpose to involve the Guests. When Guests are involved and having fun, they are more likely to want to be a part of this experience again. The choice of how they experience it again is theirs; in the near and/or distant future they may be a Hostess, a Designer or a repeat Customer!
• The chance to purchase fabulous products. • The opportunity to receive free products for hosting a Party. • The opportunity to have a Home & Garden Party Fundraiser. • The best opportunity of all…the chance to do what you do!
Preparation:
Decide which products/topics you want to include in your presentation.
Plan groupings and visuals to add value to the Bingo words. - Include current Customer and Hostess specials. - Prepare at least one “WOW” grouping for booking and up selling opportunities. - Always try to involve the Guests.
Include basic Party information Customers and Hostesses need to know. - Guarantee Policy - Payment Options - Delivery and distribution of products - Future services
Obtain Auction Dollars - Home & Garden Party web site (on the Important Forms page in the Forms and Documents section) Note: We recommend that you print the different denominations in different colors and print booking and sponsoring seeds on the back of your Auction Dollars (located on the web site with the Auction Dollars) = The Print Shop - Pre-printed Auction Dollars are available for purchase at
Bright Ideas!
-For more information on Booking and Sponsoring Seeds, go to page 12 of the Let’s Have a Party section of the Designer Training Manual and go the Tele-Course page in the Training section of the Home & Garden Party web site. -For more information on creating groupings, go to the Simple Designs page in the Training section of the Home & Garden Party web site.
Auction Dollar Incentives and Questions
There are many ways to interact and reward your Guests with Auction Dollars. Sprinkle these questions and incentives among your “Products Information and Tips” as often as possible. They can be a great way to open or end any product line presentation or service you share with your Customers!
Prior to the Party you can send the following Auction incentives along with the invitation: • Bring a friend with you to the Party • Bring an order from a friend not attending the Party • Book a Party before we get started
During the Party ask questions to interact and involve the Guests with your products, decorating/product assistance, sponsoring benefits, booking rewards and the fun! There is no set rule. Engage and reward your Guests for their involvement with Auction Dollars as often as possible. Here are some suggestions to get you started. • Which stoneware collection is your favorite? • Who can make my mouth water with a bean pot recipe? • Who knows what HGP stands for? • Where in your home would you place this HGP item? • Who loves to decorate with flowers? • Who can tell me what our $500 Hostesses receive? • Who can tell me what Designers earn on a $500 Party? • First one to show me a check book!” (or cash or CC) • Who are our bargain shoppers? • Who brought her list for holiday shopping with her? • Who loves hanging a seasonal wreath on her front door? • Who loves watching home decorating/improvement shows? • In your home, which wall or table could use a new look? • Which print appeals to you? • Which Booking Gifts does our Hostess want? • How long has HGP been in business? • How long have I been with HGP? • What is my name? • Who owns HGP? • Where is our home office located? • Who’s having a birthday this month? • Who’s celebrating an anniversary this month? • Who’s been married the longest? • For every Master Card, Visa or Discover card • To anyone with past or present Party plan experience • For placing the highest order tonight • For bringing an outside order to the Party • For the most unusual item from their purses • For booking your own Party • For signing an agreement to become an HGP Designer!
Bright Idea!
There are several Theme Party invitations to use with your Auction presentation on the Theme Parties page in the Training section of the Home & Garden Party web site and posted in the Garden of Roses Web pages.
Let’s Have an Auction Party!
1. Warmly greet Guests at the door as they arrive. Introduce yourself and thank them for attending the Party.
2. Hand them Auction Dollars for the invitation incentives that they have accomplished and invite them to do some window shopping. Remind them that you will be starting at __________ (on-time).
3. Make sure to explain the Auction Game to the Guests. Remind them of the importance of paying attention during your presentation so they may earn as many Auction Dollars as possible. The more dollars they earn the better Auction Gift they may win later in the Party!
4. Let’s get started! Hand out Auction Dollars throughout your presentation each time a Guest or your Hostess interacts with you. Begin your presentation by simply relaying the information on the “Product Information and Topics” sheet.
Auctioning the gifts!
Offer your first item up for bid and say, “I will give extra Auction Dollars to the first person who bids on this item,” or “Who will give me $500 for this wonderful votive candle?” At the same time look directly at one person. Customers want to bid, but sometimes they aren’t sure what you want them to do or they may be waiting on another Auction gift.
Make sure to show all of the Auction gifts before the Auction begins.
As one person raises her hand and says $100, increase the dollar amounts by saying, “Do I hear $200? I have $200, how about $300?”
When the bids no longer advance say, “Going once, going twice, SOLD for $_______!”
Continue auctioning off the items until all of the Auction gifts have been won. We suggest auctioning off three Auction gifts.
Bright Idea!
Many successful Designers use note cards when playing the Home & Garden Party Auction. Simply create one card for each word and number each card. You can use these cards as your script during your presentation!
Sample Card: • “What do our $500 Hostesses receive?” Watch for booking “Green Flags.” • “What would you do with an extra $500 a month?” Watch for sponsoring “Green Flags” and talk with them individually.
Auction Game Product Information and Topics
There are many words you can use. Select the words that work best for you. Here are some suggestions:
Hostess • Share your Hostess’ “wish list” • Identify Hostess’ top two booking gifts
Home & Garden Party (filled in) • Founded in 1996 by Penny and Steve Carlile, Home & Garden Party is a home based party plan business featuring home decor items such as stoneware pottery, framed prints, candles, figurines, brass accessories and more. Home & Garden Party offers a ground floor opportunity with an exciting company that is based on Christian principles.
Pottery • Dishwasher, oven and microwave safe • 1 year warranty • Up sell/grouping suggestions/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Perfect Mix • Delicious, scrumptious, and easy to prepare Perfect for family, entertaining and gift giving • Appetizers, soups, and desserts
Candles • Natural fiber hand-centered wicks • Fundraisers – jar candles • Up sell/grouping suggestions/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Framed Art • All real wood frames with real glass • Gallery wrapped to protect the art from moisture and can be used for personalizing the item as a gift • Up sell/grouping suggestions/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Bakeware • Distributes heat and absorbs moisture for superior baking • 3 year warranty • Up sell/grouping suggestion/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Garden Items • Versatile items for indoor and outdoor use • Up sell/grouping suggestion/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Florals • Add a feeling of life and warmth to a room • Poly/silk blend – wonderful detailing and variety • Up sell/grouping suggestion/Guest participation • Testimonial/use
Bonus Buys! • Bonus Buys – place in gift bag for added excitement • “Available for just $7.75 with a $35 qualifying purchase.” • Share other Customer specials and your personal special offers if any
Fundraisers • Briefly explain the service • Get referrals: “Whom do you know…?” • Share a testimonial, if available
$500 • “What do our $500 Hostesses receive?” o Watch for booking “Green Flags” • “What would you do with an extra $500 a month?” o Watch for sponsoring “Green Flags” and talk with them individually
Hostess Benefits • Bring Hostess Benefits to life • 20% Free Merchandise • Half Price Bonus Discounts o Groupings • Free Merchandise or Two Booking Gift
C C C • We accept cash, checks (made out to the Designer) and credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and Discover) • Your items will be delivered in 2 – 3 weeks to the Hostess
Guarantee • All Home & Garden Party products are guaranteed for at least 30 days from the date of delivery to the Hostess
Opportunity • Play the “Ask Me” Game • Watch for sponsoring “Green Flags” • Invite them to consider the HGP Opportunity
Specials • Current sales promotion • Current booking promotion • Current sponsoring promotion • Current contest
Frequently Asked Questions about the HGP Auction Game
When should I show my auction gifts, and what should I give as auction gifts? It is best to let them see the auction gifts in the beginning. You want the auction to be a fun experience and you don’t want them to be disappointed in the gifts later. We suggest offering (3) three gifts. Some suggestions are a votive wrapped in cellophane with a curly ribbon or a Home & Garden Party jar candle. You may also choose to tailor your Auction gifts to the theme of your Party. There are also several other inexpensive Home & Garden Party products that work well as Auction gifts.
The Auction is a lot of fun, but how do I keep control of the Party when all of my Guests are talking while I’m talking? When Guests are having a good time, your Party is a success, but when they are distracting other Guests who want to listen to your presentation this is where the auction can help. Say, “The first person to show me a set of keys will get $100!” Do this several times with different examples like this and pretty soon you will see that the Party Guests don’t want to get left behind when it comes to getting Auction Dollars.
How can playing the Auction increase my Party sales? Use Auction Dollars for most things but increase the amounts of Auction Dollars to the Guest who places the largest order. Also, give every Guest Auction Dollars for every outside order brought to the Party. Repeat Guests rarely come empty handed. They usually have at least one outside order (the amount does not matter) which thrills the Guest and also helps the Hostess reach her goal for outside orders. You can also offer Auction Dollars for each item purchased. Remember to save the big bucks for the big accomplishments.
How can playing the Auction help my booking line-up? When Guests are involved and having fun, they are more likely to want to be a part of this experience again. The choice of how they experience it is theirs, and an invitation from you added to the fun can be just what was needed to say “yes.” You can also use Auction Dollars to encourage your Guests to book in close dates. For example: “Book a Party and receive $1000 in Auction Dollars” or “Book a Party within the next 3 weeks and receive $2000” or “Book a fundraiser and receive $3000.”
How can the Auction help me to sponsor? When you show Guests a fun Party format that they feel they can do too, you will give Guests the confidence and comfort to consider your invitation to look into the Home & Garden Party opportunity. One of the reasons people don’t want to take advantage of the business opportunity is because they are afraid to get up in front of people. The Auction may be the answer they need, because as they already know Guests aren’t concentrating on the Designer; they are focused on the fun! Also, using a script sheet or index cards makes your job look easy and duplicatable.
My Parties are too long and I’m afraid a little boring, what should I do? First, talk with other successful Designers. You probably only need a little fine tuning. The Auction will add life and laughter to your Parties because you involve your Guests. They stay interested and will listen closely to avoid missing out on Auction Dollars. If you find your presentation is too long, save some of the information for the next Party booked in the chain of friends.
Sometimes Guests need to leave early and want me to play the Auction, what should I do? Apologize to her, but explain it wouldn’t be fair to all of the other Guests. Let her know that you truly enjoyed meeting her and hopefully she will stay longer next time or book a Party of her own.
What should I do when I have the same Guests at my Parties? Sometimes we may get bored but Guests like knowing some of the answers in advance; they feel that they have an “edge” over the other Guests. Also, you are in charge of what questions you ask, so the Auction can be different every time or when you need it to be. Example: You could always pay Auction Dollars to anyone wearing your favorite color. You might be surprised how many past Guests will wear your favorite color because they know you will ask. Here is another idea: Ask your Hostess to leave the room. Then give Auction Dollars for every correct answer to questions asked about her. For example, what color of blouse was she wearing, did she have a watch on, belt, earrings, etc.
What should I do to get my Guests to bid on the items? When you offer your first item up for bid say, “I will give extra Auction Dollars to the first person who bids on this item,” or “who will give me $500 for this wonderful votive candle?” At the same time look directly at a person. Customers want to bid, but sometimes they aren’t sure what you want them to do or they may be waiting on another Auction gift. If after this nobody bids, move on and offer the next item.
When will my Guests start bidding with their Auction Dollars? You decide when your auction will take place; either before or after your order taking. Remind everyone that she can only win once.
Can the auction be played at a Theme Party? Yes, you can tie Auction Dollar rewards into the theme of your Party. For example: if your Party is a Valentine’s Day Theme Party you might offer Auction Dollars to all of your Guests who wear pink, hearts or to those who bring a Valentine. You then can use the list of questions as you would for any type of Party. For theme party ideas visit our Garden of Roses Web page.
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