Most of us have just returned from conventions and conferences, excited about our company's new holiday product line and ready to get our catalogs into the hands of everyone we know. Well, before you do a costly mass mailing, stop and think about the best ways to "get the word out" about your exciting new holiday products and promotions, and how to maximize your success. Here are some ideas:

Why not plan something special... something big... something different... to introduce to your customers and hostesses just what you have in store for them in the upcoming season? Do it up big! Make it a gala event! How about an exciting Hostess and Customer Appreciation Night, a Christmas in September event, multiple hostess bingo, fashion show or interior design workshop? Make it an event not to be missed! Invite everyone - consultants, hostesses, customers, friends, relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. With just a little foresight and planning, these events can dramatically increase your fall bookings, sales volume and recruiting activity during the upcoming holiday season.

* Ladies' Night Out

A Ladies Night Out is a gala affair for past hostesses and customers (to compile guest list, refer to customer order forms and/or door prize slips from your shows). This event can be held in a hotel ballroom and is an excellent way to generate sales, obtain new bookings and share your opportunity.

Place throughout the room several dazzling product displays, spotlighting different decorating or gift-giving ideas. Do a fun and exciting demonstration of your hostess program by showing what he/she will receive for having a holiday show, and those who book can be entered in a special drawing. Catalogs can be handed out and orders taken. To help cover costs, sell raffle tickets for items from the new line.
* Christmas in September

These events are the perfect opportunity to honor and appreciate your special hostesses and customers. Much like the Ladies Night Out, the evening is filled with fun, awards, excitement, raffles, door prizes, lots of recognition and giveaways. Every hostess in attendance is given a small gift and/or free raffle tickets for lots of special drawings. Top hostesses are recognized for show sales and bookings. The new holiday product line is unveiled, along with any hostess specials for the month/season.

To encourage guests to rebook that evening, try this great idea: put several beautifully wrapped gift bags on the table and announce that tucked inside each is a special gift and a bonus date card. Invite those who are interested in dating a show to come up to the table, grab a bag and take it to the person who invited them. That person then secures the date and holds their special gift until the night of their show. This creates an atmosphere of fun, celebration and enthusiasm throughout the room, and guests in attendance are usually more receptive to joining the business because they are exposed to others expressing interest, as well.
* Restaurant Shows

These are cost-effective ways to hold three or four shows in one evening. Find a restaurant with a large banquet room or separate meeting-room area and speak with the manager to address your needs. Contact anyone who is unable to book a home show at this time, and give her/him the opportunity to be included in a restaurant show. When these shows are done on a regular basis (once a week or twice a month), they can be very successful, as people tend to book restaurant shows from restaurant shows.
* "Holiday Extravaganza"

To get your customers/clients in the holiday spirit, transform a hotel ballroom or hall into a "winter wonderland" simply by adding a few touches such as Christmas music, hot apple cider and beautiful holiday decorations. Set up festive gift-giving displays with various themes (gifts for men, teens, kids, mom, aunt, sweetheart, etc.) For added convenience, supply handy little "Christmas lists" (or gift prompters) with a predetermined list of those you wish to buy for, i.e., husband, son, daughter, mother, father, etc.