Here are some ideas......
Your open house, you should invite EVERYONE! I would be sad if I had a friend with a new business & she invited almost everyone except me! You can simplye start with FRANK (Friends, Relatives, Aquaintences, Neighbors and Kids - friends/moms/coaches/teachers etc)
Also.... I know it is hard to get over this at first with "harrassing" your friends. You need to think of it this way.... you are helping them! Do they love the products you are selling? If so, you are helping them get the products for free. It isn't about you, it's about them. You need to present it that way and believe it yourself! Not, "Will you have a party for me", it is "If you're interested, I would love to come by and do a party for you and your friends", see the difference?
The men idea is great. I strongly believe in Holiday Wish lists. I would suggest you have everyone you know, friends, family, guests at your open house, guests at upcoming events fill out a wish list. The wish list would include... their name, address, phone #, all items they would LOVE to have for the holidays and 3-4 names, addresses, emails & phone numbers of people who may be purchasing for them this holiday season. The absolute KEY to this is for YOU to FOLLOW UP with the gift buyers, it doesn't work unless you do this!
Hope this helps, good luck & keep us posted
Mary
