Book to Look Boxes

I don't know about you, but when I'm setting up my table for shows, I always had a problem figuring out what goes in the middle of my table.  I don't want there to be anything that obstructs guests' views of each other, but I also hate the look of a bare centre.  When I heard about the idea I'm going to present to you today, it solved my problem!  This is an idea that can be transformed for any month/holiday/season, and you can use it over and over again!
First off, let's start with what my November/December tables looked like:

See that pile of presents in the middle?  Well, those are my Book-to-Look boxes.  They're pretty, they're unobtrusive, and they're going to get you a party!These are jewellery gift boxes that I picked up at Dollar Tree for 3 for $1.25 (that's how Dollar Tree works here).  I got cheap ribbon and tiny bows and decorated them.
Inside each of those little boxes is a slip of paper with a prize on it.  There are 12 of them.  3 of the prizes are "big;" 3 are small, and the rest are just a set of nails:

• 1 has an Indulgence Set (8% chance)
• 1 has a heater (8% chance)
• 1 has a manicure set (8% chance)
• 1 has a nail oil (8% chance)
• 1 has a "grab bag" (8% chance)
• 1 has a half sheet of nails (8% chance)
• 6 have free nail sets (50% chance)

When I start my parties, I recognize my hostess, do introductions, all that stuff, then I say, "Now, you might have noticed the gifts in the middle of the table.  Those are for you!  Inside each of those gifts is a different prize, up to and including an Indulgence hand set!  Here's how it works - if at any point during this party you think, 'My friends would love this!' I want you to reach out and grab a gift and put it under your chair.  When we're all done, you bring your gift with you to my private sales room, and you get to find out what you've won!"

So, you have these pretty boxes in the middle of your table that your guests have to look at when they're sitting around and they keep hearing about all the fun free stuff they could earn when they have their own party?  There's a good chance someone's going to pick one up and put it under her chair before you're at the sales part.  Even if they don't, when someone says, "I think I could book a party," it's almost always followed by "wait, does that mean I get to pick a present?!?"

When you give your hostess her packet, make sure she understands that she only gets her gift at her party and when her party reaches $150 in sales.  Write what she got free on the front of the packet.  Remind her about her prize when you follow up on her booking.  Keep driving it home that she's getting something in addition to all of her hostess prizes.  People love free stuff!!  If you make your own look to book boxes and they all have things you can buy at the Dollar store, no one cares because she's excited to get something for free!

Now, I've only shown you my Christmas setup, but I promised that you could customize this for whenever you were having your party, so here are a few years to get you through the year:

• January - buy snowflakes or hinged disco balls
• February - Find some heart-shaped boxes
• March/April - Easter Eggs!
• May - Put the prize at the bottom of a floral stem and put them in a vase.
• June - Glue them to the bottom of flip-flops
• July - Same thing as May, but use American or Canadian flags
• August/September - Apples, pencil boxes, school stuff
• October - Plastic jack-o-lanterns

Homework:  Tell us what you'll be using for your book to looks and what your prizes will be! Due tomorrow.