Home parties for selling products?

[Delightful Suds]

Has anyone done any house jewellery parties or other products? Do you have any tips on how to get one started?
thanks!

[Jewelry by Kat]

Every year my daughter has a jewelry party.  It is an open house type.  We are open for a three hour span and people can stop in for as long as they want, when they want and we have wine, cheese and crackers and a door prize.  No pressure.  It is fun and we do well but never successful at booking parties.  But it is one way to get things started......................Kat

[Delightful Suds]

Thanks Kat! I think I'd want to do just once in a while in my own house. How do you invite people? Is it just friends or do you advertise somewhere?

[Jewelry by Kat]

Just friends and family of both me and my daughter and tell them to bring a friend, hopefully someone will book a party when they see they are not pressured and can choose their own time during that 3 hour span........Kat

[Red Rock Designs]

I've had a few home parties. I basically just sent out an email to all my friends and told them to either forward the email to anyone interested in attending or bring someone along.  They weren't very successful overall but I think it was the time of year I chose - summer & everyone was either on vacation or had plans.  Fall & before the holidays are probably the best times. 
Just remember don't put out a fruit tray.....you don't want sticky fingers touching your products!

[Ahkriti]

I have never done a home party before and I cringe if I have to do one. I should plan for one next year. This year round I will be away on vacation.  But some great ideas from Kat. Like the 3 hour span and door prize. The only thing is how to advertise such events. Do you big scale or just shoot out emails and keep it simple?

[Delightful Suds]

Thanks all for your input. Yeah, my worry is also how to advertise it. I worry that if I just invite friends, half of them won't show up and I won't have a big turnout. I cringe at the thought too, but everyone keeps telling me I should do one, so that's why I'm gathering information and other people's experiences first. 

[Jewelry by Kat]

Booked a wine & cheese party -uh- jewelry party on Nov 25th .  Ill let you know how it goes...............Kat

[Delightful Suds]

Sounds good, and good luck!

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Once upon a time, I bookmarked this home party checklist.

http://www.craft-selling-parties.com/party-checklist.html

Down the left side is a menu of everything-you-you-need-to-know-about-home-parties, including, finding your first hostess under the getting started part.

[If you guys want to do swag bags, I have small handful of promo items I could donate to them.]