Usborne Books at Home - Boosting Home Show Attendance by Nancy Ann Wartman, Executive Supervisor

I tell the hostess something like this, depending on how chummy we've become , "Let's make this a really great show! The most important thing you can do to make a big difference here is to let people know how excited you are about these books!"

"Call people right away and tell them to mark this date on their calendar and they'll be getting an official invitation in the mail/dropped off/whatever, but that you really want them to come. It's fine to leave that as a message on their machine."

"Mail the invitations so they get there about a week before the show. As you're addressing them, you'll probably think of even more people who'd benefit from coming, i.e., grandmas, teachers, neighbors, soccer moms, church friends - invite them all!"

"Give them a call a day or two before the show to get a final count - one nice hostess told me that it was a little uncomfortable for her to make that call but I assured her that it's the most important contact of all! They want to come but sometimes they simply forget. She mentioned several things she's forgotten to go to and felt better about calling after that. She made her calls and had 15 people attending her show and she got over $250 in free books!"