July 2, 2009 | Random Thoughts
I don’t like to go shopping for clothes. Even when I was younger and my mother picked up the tab.
I don’t wear make-up unless it’s a special occasion (wedding, anniversary, etc), an event (booksigning, networking, etc), or I’m going to be out of the house all day doing errands.
And I only wear three pieces of jewelry: my silver wedding ring, my gold/mother of pearl college class ring, and a gold filigree ring. I used to wear a watch, but it needs to be fixed.
So last night, I found myself at a Lia Sophia jewelry party hosted by my niece’s boyfriend’s mother. I was specifically looking for jewelry for the wedding I’ll be in in October.
And I found some. But I had to buy two other pieces to get to it because there was no way in hell I was going to pay $78 for a piece of jewelry I may only wear once. Twice if I’m lucky. They had a buy-one-full-price-get-two-expensive-pieces-for-half-off type of deal so I got the Traditional Silver stud earrings for full price, Wallflower and Fixation for half price. Daisies are my favorite flowers and I really do miss wearing necklaces. The silver earrings and the black necklace are for the wedding.
One thing I like about these type of parties: the games and the prizes. On a piece of paper, we had to write down 4 things: first name, movie star who you’d love to go on a dream date with, a body part, a piece of clothing and something you say all the time.
And then you have to put it all in a sentence.
Mine was: “Hi, my name is Celise and I’m going on a dream date with Pierce Brosnan. I’m going to stick my hand down his pajama bottoms and say fabtastic.” Never played that game before but the responses were hysterical. And of course, we did a version of What’s in your Purse? But it was a little different. Had to start with the letter of the alphabet she called out and it was in reference to the Lia Sophia business model. Which brings me around to the reason I don’t like these kinds of parties:
The pressure to host your own party.
I understand that I could get great hostess prizes, blah, blah, blah, but I don’t like to be pressured into hosting parties. Lydia (the boyfriend’s mother) is very nice. I met her for the first time last weekend. She was telling me that this party was a no-pressure event. If you want to buy something, buy something. If not, so be it.
I’d planned to buy something anyway—if I found something I liked—but there were two women there who were getting into the business. So, during the course of the “advisor’s” spiel (the person who talks about the jewelry), she kept referring to hosting parties, “no pressure”, blah, blah, blah. At the end of the night, when I paid for my pieces, I was pressured yet again to host a party so that “I could help one of the ladies starting the business.”
I told her I would think about it, but I already know my answer if she harasses calls me: No, no, and did I mention, no? I’ll attend the one my niece booked next month, but I’m not going to host. I tried doing the whole house party thing with Barefoot Parties and it didn’t work out well. I know only so many people. And even though I loved the merchandise, it didn’t change very often. It’s different with jewelry, I’m sure, but I don’t have the time to deal with finding people to host parties, trying to make quota, creating a downline…it’s too much work and it would take away from what I really want to do anyway. Surprisingly enough, the advisor does it full time. Selling Lia Sophia jewelry is her full time job. Talk about pressure.
So, are you a buyer or a seller?
Technorati Tags: Lia Sophia , Traditional Silver, Wallflower, Fixation, Barefoot Parties
Suzy :) says:
I buy when I go and I sell (The Pampered Chef). I truly am a Casual Consultant though. I know that’s why I don’t have a “Business” with it. Actually, I just restarted as a Consultant because so many of my former customers were calling ME and wanting to buy things. I put it all together and it paid for me to restart. So, for a few more months, I’m a consultant. I’ve only done one party in, like six months. What am I saying? I like the products, but not the pressure. I’d love to win prizes / go on trips, but I can’t pump myself up to harass everyone I meet.
By the way, I still love the Motivational Bracelet I bought from you when you started Bare Foot Parties, and I think about you all the time.