Vendor FAQ
Relax, and remember this is supposed to be fun. Every ‘newbie’ so far has done a fantastic job - and so will you 
Scheduling & Time Zones
I cannot guarantee you will get the exact time slot you want/need. I do my best to accomodate everyone and so far we’ve not had any problems. However, please know, I cannot guarantee a certain time. You will have the opportunity to make any special requests you may have when you sign up as a vendor. If you give me a time span rather than a certain time slot, I can work with you much easier.
Make sure you check the vendor schedule once it is up. It is very important to know that the time slots are show in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Make sure you convert to your own time zone. We had four no shows at our first vendor fair. Three out of four were because of time zone misunderstandings.
There will be no refunds. So please be sure to check the vendor schedule, find your time slot and convert to your own time zone if you need to.
Example:
12:00 EST = 11 CST = 9 PST
If your time zone is not listed in the above example, make sure you find out what time your time slot is in your time zone.
Vendor Pages
You will be sent step by step instructions on how to set up your vendor page once you join as a vendor.
During Your Time Slot
The following are some tips and ideas to help keep things flowing nicely during your time slot …
All of our events are held at http://www.MomChats.com These events are held in a chat room. You do not need any special software and is not a teleconference. I do not recommend playing videos. Unfortunately, you will find that many still cannot view these or have a problem loading them. You don’t want to let anyone out.
Normally I would tell you to arrive a little early so you can greet each customer as they come in. However, chances are, most customers are already going to be there for the person before. However, I still say you should join in on the vendor fair at least 10 minutes before your time slot. Hopefully the person before you will be heading towards the end of their game.
Please keep an eye on the time during your event. I personally recommend taking 30 minutes for your presentation and then 15 minutes for your game. This will of course depend on what you choose to do during your presentation and for your game. This is not a must - simply a recommendation.
However, please try to make sure you are finished at the end of your 45 minute time slot.
Once it is time for your party, you’ll want to try to get your guests as organized as quickly as possible … Often during “shift change”, idle chit chat starts going on as you switch from one vendor to the next.
One good way to get them quickly in mode for you is to right away start with a “Hi, my name is So and So and I’m with Such and Such company” … and start in with your little speech. I suggest you start your speech with a company history and your history with them as well.
Be sure to give your website address.
One thing you might really want to consider is to type up your presentation, games etc into a word program before the party. This will help save time by copying and pasting your presentation into the chat room (especially if you’re a slow typist).
You may even consider typing up yourself a frequently asked questions list about some of your more popular products and/or your business opportunity so you can refer to it throughout the party.
Of course, you’re not going to be able to think of every possible question but it might help save a little time and give yourself a more “professional look” by being able to answer questions quickly.
Make sure when you’re copying and pasting, you allow enough time for people to read each thing you paste up. I suggest pasting something, read it to yourself and then paste the next statement. Then you know you’ve given some extra time.
Big no no - asking customers to hold questions till the end. I know you want things to run smoothly … BUT, that does nothing but turn your presentation into a lecture. Chances are - you’re going to get tuned out. I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.
You want to include information about your company, products and business opportunity but don’t turn it into a long speech. You’ll want short, easy to read paragraphs. Your customers are not going to sit and read paragraph after paragraph of information. They are there to have fun and enjoy themselves.
DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS! This is a form of yelling and I’m sure you don’t want to yell at your customers.
If anyone does show up in the middle of your presentation … do try to say a quick hello or welcome but continue with your presentation. Sometimes when someone new comes in the room … people start getting sidetracked and move away from the presentation. During a regular online party this isn’t so bad … but a vendor fair where each vendor is smack dab after eachother, you don’t really have the time to “play”.
You’ll also want to take this time to type in your website address. Otherwise, they will ask and then a bunch of your customers will start answering and then you’ll get a bunch of thank yous and then you’ll be getting a bunch of your welcomes. See how this saves time by simply typing it in?
Example:
Hi Jolene! Welcome to the party! I’m telling everyone a little bit about Jerky Direct. My site is located at http://www.mommyshelper.jerkydirect.com
When typing your website address in, you MUST include http:// before the www. or the link will not work. For example:
www.onlineshoppingparty.com (Does NOT work.)
http://www.onlineshoppingparty.com (Will work.)
Now when you switch from “presentation mode” to “game mode” … again, you tend to get a little bit of idle conversation going … especially if you’ve been talking about any particular aspect of your company (products or business opportunity, etc.) So, I highly recommend when you have about 20 minutes left, you give your guests a 5 minute warning that’ll you’ll be playing a game in about 5 minutes.
Example :
I have about 20 minutes left so that means we’ll be playing a game in about 5 minutes. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask now. If we don’t get to everyone’s questions, please make sure you email me at enter@youremailaddress.com
Then, in 5 minutes, make sure you start right in with the name of the game, the instructions and the prize. You may want to give a quick “is everyone here” because some might still be at your site. However, I wouldn’t wait too long for risk of not getting finished.
When your presentation is over, do remember to say a quick “thanks everyone for coming!” or whatever you’d like plus give your website and email address once again. You always want to start and end your time slot with your website address as well as several times throughout your time slot.
Example:
Well ladies, it appears as though my time is up. Thank you all for joining me! I hope you had as much of a good time as me. Once again, my website is located at http://www.mommyshelper.jerkydirect.com and my email address is enter@youremailaddress.com If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
One very big question I’ve had many, many times …
Your shoppers will be shopping from your website.
I know some of you can’t take orders directly through your site. This is fine. I guess I should say:
Your shoppers will shop with you however you need them to.
If they can’t order from your site … I highly recommend putting this on your vendor page AND make sure you mention it a few times throughout your party.
More Questions & Answers
Q: At these fairs is any shopping really going on or is the purpose more to introduce them to your product?
A: Both. The main idea though is shopping.
Q: Is there time for both?
A: Usually what happens is people “shop” while you “talk” and go back and forth … which is why I suggest “warning” everyone before your game starts.
Q: Where can I find more information about Online Parties?
A: One very good thing to do is attend a chat yourself. If you go to www.momchats.com, check out the chat schedule and visit an online party. If you sign up to their newsletter, you will get weekly updates of everything going on.
Another great idea is to go http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/online-parties.html and purchase Online Parties Success. You will find lots of ideas in there as well as games to use for your time slot. You have to scale down for a quicker vendor fair, but not much with our 45 minute time spots.
Q: Is it ok that some of our games will be the same? Because I was hoping to use one that comes in your ebook … will that be ok?
A: Absolutely! I’m sure games will be duplicated 
And please feel free to edit any of the games in the ebook to fit your needs - you have my permission to do so.
Q: Do we ask the winner of the party prize to email us there address so we can send their prize to them?
A: Ask them to email you their address. OR you can choose to send them a private message in the chat room. You will be given instructions on how to do this when you join as a vendor. This is not an opportunity for you to simply add them to your mailing list or newsletter. You MUST ask for permission otherwise, anything you send them other than what’s involved with their prize is spam.
Q: Can I save the transcripts from my time slot?
A: You sure can. You will be given instructions on how to do this when you join as a vendor.
Example Game
Example of an actual party game being played
(Transcripts from a vendor chat preparing for a past vendor fair):
[Anita] 9:19 pm: Alrighty … we’re going to play a little game here.
[Anita] 9:20 pm: I hope everyone likes Jerky cause … as I’m sure many don’t know .. I am an Independent Distributor with JD Premium Products
[amygourmet] 9:20 pm: Love jerky
[Cindy Pomi] 9:20 pm: Oh yeah!
[stacey porritt] 9:21 pm: I don’t but my husband and children LOVE it!
[Anita] 9:21 pm: I wouldn’t be a very good distributor if I didn’t at least give you this: http://mommyshelper.jerkydirect.com/
[Shana] 9:21 pm: My hubby loves it too
[Anita] 9:21 pm: But, I’m not here to promote my biz so that’s all you’re really going to hear about that
[Anita] 9:21 pm: Myself and my whole family LOVE jerky. I have to hide my autoship if I want any for myself!!
[Anita] 9:22 pm: Okie dokie …
[Anita] 9:22 pm: Let’s
[Anita] 9:22 pm: get
[Anita] 9:22 pm: started …
[Anita] 9:22 pm: We are going to play one of the games right out of the Online Party ebook
[Anita] 9:22 pm: It’s called:
[Anita] 9:23 pm: The Point System
[Anita] 9:23 pm: You all are going to be on the “honor system” and required to keep track of your own points 
[Cindy Pomi] 9:23 pm: Now Anita are you cutting and pasting with your game?
[Anita] 9:23 pm: Yep
[Anita] 9:24 pm: Everyone ready ….
[amygourmet] 9:24 pm: Lets go
[Cindy Pomi] 9:24 pm: Go for it!
[Anita] 9:24 pm: Give yourself ….
[Anita] 9:24 pm: 25 Points if you live in the State where you were born.
[Anita] 9:25 pm: 10 Points for every child you have.
[Anita] 9:25 pm: 100 Points if you are pregnant.
[Anita] 9:26 pm: 50 Points if you got up before 7:00 AM this morning.
(Pfft … I’m out of that one!! ROFL!)
[amygourmet] 9:26 pm: how about 4:30am
[Anita] 9:26 pm: 100 Additional Points if you got up before 6:00 AM this morning.
(Yeah right!! LOL! School hasn’t started here yet!!)
[Anita] 9:27 pm: there ya go amy
[Shana] 9:27 pm: I am out of the 100 pregnant points..thank goodness.
[Anita] 9:27 pm: rofl !! m too!
[amygourmet] 9:27 pm: puts me in the running because I am not pregnant
[Anita] 9:27 pm: 50 Points if you’ve ever been a hostess for an online party before.
[Anita] 9:28 pm: 10 Points for every button you are wearing.
[amygourmet] 9:28 pm: I have my jammies on
[Anita] 9:28 pm: everyone checking out those buttons? rofl! Any hidden ones on the inside of any blouses for “spares” lol!!
[Anita] 9:29 pm: ugh - i want my jammies on! i meant to put them on before this chat but hubby had me ordering biz cards for him … rofl! I will be right after this though!!
[Cindy Pomi] 9:29 pm: I forgot about those, will have to remember that!
[Anita] 9:29 pm:
[Anita] 9:29 pm: 10 Points for each item of jewelry you are wearing. (Earrings count as 1 Pair)
[Anita] 9:30 pm: LOL!! Hey Amy … check it out:
[Anita] 9:30 pm: 100 Points if you are wearing your pajamas.
[Anita] 9:30 pm: Forgot about that one!! lol!
[amygourmet] 9:30 pm: Rats, hosted a jewelry party last night. Does that count? Had tons of it on then.
[amygourmet] 9:30 pm: Yeah for jammies
[Anita] 9:30 pm: lol … hmm .. .don’t think so! lol!
[Anita] 9:31 pm: 50 Points if you are wearing shoes.
[stacey porritt] 9:31 pm: I sell jewelry so that was a good one for me
[Anita] 9:31 pm: 15 Points for every browser windo you have open.
[Anita] 9:31 pm: Gee! I’m such a multi-tasker … I could win with just that one!! lol!
[val] 9:32 pm: or browser tab if you are not in the dark ages ROFLMBO
[Anita] 9:32 pm: 200 Points if you own your own home business.
[amygourmet] 9:32 pm: don’t ask a man that question - they don’t have the multi-tasking gene
[Anita] 9:32 pm: yep!
[Anita] 9:32 pm: NO THEY DON’T!!!
[Anita] 9:33 pm: And last but not least …
[Anita] 9:33 pm: 100 Points if you can’t wait for the vendor fair!!!
[amygourmet] 9:34 pm: let me get my calculator lol
[Anita] 9:34 pm: Now … tally up all your points … and type in your total
[Anita] 9:34 pm: ROFL amy
[Loretta] 9:34 pm: :whistle: 465
[stacey porritt] 9:34 pm: 455
[Shana] 9:34 pm: I only have 550
[amygourmet] 9:34 pm: 645
[Cindy Pomi] 9:34 pm: 575
[stacey porritt] 9:35 pm: Amy…you did need your calculator!
[amygourmet] 9:35 pm: its that getting up at 4:30am and wearing jammies now that did it
[Anita] 9:35 pm: k …. last call
[Anita] 9:36 pm: Alrighty ….
[Anita] 9:37 pm: Amy - You’re our grand prize winner for having the most points. You can go to: http://mommyshelper.jerkydirect.com/?page=prod&pageaction=1&prodcat=1 And choose a flavor of Jerky or Fruit Stix … email me at mommyshelperonline@yahoo.com with your flavor and mailing address - CONGRATS!
[Anita] 9:38 pm: And …………….
[Anita] 9:38 pm: Stacey Porritt …
[Anita] 9:38 pm: for having the least amount of points …
[amygourmet] 9:38 pm: thank you so much. I absolutely love jerkey. It is my mainstay at multiday events.
[Anita] 9:38 pm: you’re a winner too! You’ve won a free text ad at MommysHelperOnline.com - home page - congrats!!
One last note …
Just remember … everyone is there to have fun! If you goof, they’re going to laugh with you, not at you. They’re not to judge you. They’re there to have a good time, play some games and get some awesome deals. It’s a relaxed environment designed to make the whole thing enjoyable. You will do fine!
