3-2-1, Launch!

My launch has approached! So so excited to have thrown myself a jewelry party! I picked out something from my inventory just for myself too and wore it. I feel like since I have less of a selection I don't want to take too much right away so I have a headband and a necklace for now, and some things my sponsor shipped to me, such a sweetie (we have a good team)!

For my launch party I kept it very simple. Here was my process. I decided to pick the date on a Sunday because my husband works at a church and a lot of my potential initial customer base could be from there. Since I live directly across the street from there, it would make it very easy to ask them to stop in after the first service or before or after the second. I planned to have my Keurig on and loaded and homemade cookies, simple easy and cheap.

Next, invite invite invite! I invited everyone I could think of from facebook to an event under my Accessorize With Five page. Then I went to my email and sent one to anyone I missed or who would appreciate it. But I don't suggest relying solely on digital invitations. Every time I talked to a friend or family member I reminded them. I texted my 3 sisters about it and asked them to invite their friends too. The Sunday before my party I spread it around church as well. 

To prepare, I had to set up. I wrote in a previous post that I had merch racks available to me as displays. I found the most central open space in my house (my dining room with table pushed on the wall) with no other clutter around, and set them up. I hung all of my necklaces on bent over paperclips one per hook. Always use one per hook, if you wonder why then check out this video from one of the Paparazzi founders (this is also a great series of videos so keep clickin'!). I have also since changed the display from the picture and color blocked the necklaces. It makes more sense that way (another great video on that too). I then took my rings as is in the boxes and laid them out. My headbands wer displayed in a little pail with their designs facing out. I used my current jewelry display from my room for the remaining bracelets and earrings. Then I took a ribbon and clipped the hair accessories to it flanking each side of the display. I've posted this picture before but here it is again: 

Now I just had to wait for people to show up the day of! I had decent traffic and I was happy with my end result, selling $181 worth of product while my son napped, and had 2 "orders" for things they had seen of Paparazzi that I didn't have. I did get to fulfill them both (8 pieces total) the next order as well. The best part was that I met my goal which was to be able to purchase 50 more items to supplement my slight disappointment in the kit. Unfortunately out of the 20 necklaces that were 2 different designs only one was sold. I hope that those aren't the ones that will hang forever and that my friends are just the type of crowd I predicted. 

The best part of this experience was that now the word is out and I can start getting more drop ins along with pushing for parties and maybe try my hand at an event!

Sorry this post wasn't that entertaining, see you next time with some helpful information about ordering as I walk through making my first real order with Paparazzi!