Getting bookings and holding workshops will help you gain customers and increase your sales all while having fun with the hobby you love-stamping. We want to help you reach your booking goals and get those workshops going.

Weekly Bookings Action Items
We've put together a few tips to help you meet your bookings goals. Try a new one every week, and if you reach your goal early on, evaluate whether or not you want to try for even more bookings. If not, save the rest of the ideas for a time when you need more workshops on your calendar.

Week One

• Set a goal for how many bookings you want to get.
• Pull out your calendar and decide what dates you are free to hold workshops or other stamp events. When a customer shows interest in booking, you can offer her a specific date on the spot.
• Set a date to host your own workshop and begin planning.

Week Two

• Attach a few project photos to an e-mail inviting customers to host a workshop where you'll show them how to make those projects.

Week Three

• Call two customers each day and ask if they want to host a workshop at their house (or you can offer your home).

Week Four

• Ask someone from your work, church, or a social group (such as a book club) if they are interested in booking a workshop. As they are already in an organization, they'll have no trouble with a guest list. Consider offering the workshop during the group's normal meeting time, or hold a lunchtime workshop at your customer's workplace.

Week Five

• At your next workshop make sure to give the hostess the projects you demonstrate. Talk about all the benefits she receives (exclusive hostess sets, free product, etc.) and ask the guests to come talk to you if they are interested in earning these benefits.
• Let customers know about the current hostess promotion.
• Consider giving the hostess a small incentive for any bookings you get at her workshop. This may encourage her to talk to her friends about booking their own workshops.

Week Six

• Call two customers from your most recent workshop or other stamping event and ask them if they'd like to host a workshop.

Booking Quick Tips

To get bookings when you don't have any workshops scheduled:

• Host your own workshop.
• Partner with hostess-related promotions.
• Just ask: Beginning with former hostesses, make phone calls or send e-mails asking if they are willing to host again.
• Use the e-tools on the DBWS.
• Market workshops with projects.
  • When making phone calls to invite customers to host a workshop, tell them about a project you'd like to share.
    • Choose a project on the Customer Web Site or in the online catalog that you can share with customers to get them excited about hosting a workshop.
    • If you have a DBWS, direct them there.
  • Attach a few project photos to an e-mail inviting customers to host a workshop where you'll show them how to make those projects.
  • Visit one-on-one with friends or contacts and share project or technique ideas that inspire them to book.
  • Try to anticipate project ideas that will appeal to customers based on the time of year (Christmas, New Year, etc.).
• Market workshops as a "class in your home." For some, it may be easier to host a workshop at your home versus their own.

To get bookings during a workshop:

• Have your customers fill out a wish list and invite them to host a workshop, where they can earn the products on their wish list for free.
• Make at least two booking statements at each workshop.
• Use door prize forms and follow-up with guests who show interest in hosting a workshop.
• Let guests know about everything that the hostess receives (catalog, product, etc.) and tell them that they can receive the same benefits when they host their own workshop.
• Get customers excited about a project or technique.
• Use the hostess brochure.
• Make sure guests have fun so they want to host their own workshop.
• Market workshops with projects.
  • Show projects you are planning to demonstrate at upcoming workshops.
  • Anticipate customer needs (Christmas cards) and show projects that will encourage them to host a workshop.

Bookings Training

• Listen to the "Getting Bookings--How You Can Fill Your Calendar with Bookings" audio training with demonstrators Dawn Rapsas and Deb Valder.
• Read these Stampin' Success articles for booking ideas and tips:
  • October 2008 "'Tis the Season to Be Booking"
  • June 2008 "Book to Build"
  • June 2008 "Easy Booking Activities"
  • February 2008 "Bookings Galore"
• Browse through the bookings training we have in our online training section:
  • Get Bookings page
  • In the Workshop page
  • Outside the Workshop page
  • Demonstrator Ideas page
• Read these From the Home Office messages:
  • "Try Something New and Turn Your Bookings Around" message (July 23, 2007)
  • "Share Your Enthusiasm" message (April 30, 2007)

Bookings Resources

• Take advantage of the current promotions:
  • Plan a November workshop focused on the Country Living offer.
  • Let your customers know about the sales promotion and ask if they want to book a workshop to help their friends take advantage of this great deal.
• Make a project using Workshop Wizard and e-mail a photo to your contacts with an invitation to book a workshop:
• Use the 40 Guests in 4 Minutes flyer to brainstorm potential hostesses.
• Give the hostess brochure to people who may be interested in booking a workshop.
• Use a door prize form at your workshops to gauge guests' interest in hosting a workshop.
• During your workshops have customers fill out a wish list. If they don't buy everything on their list, suggest they host a workshop to earn some of the product for free.

Labels: Sales Boosters