It happened again. A woman’s whose daughter went to preschool with my son way back when, who I haven’t spoken to in more than a year, sent me an invitation to her Partylites Party. You know, I tried to keep in touch with all the kids and moms for my son’s sake, and everyone is always oh so busy. Come time for the party plan, and all of a sudden they remember my name. Here’s a clue, if I’m not on your Christmas card list, don’t invite me to join your party plan party. If I’m not good enough for the occasional email, phone call, or holiday greeting, I’m certainly not going to spend money for you.

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Post from: She Knows Parties

Warning: The blog post you are about to read is completely one-sided. I’m sure there are people who enjoy attending party plan parties. I am not one of them. I am also sure there are plenty of lovely people earning a living through party plans. I harbor no ill-will and mean no offense.

I’m not a fan of party plans. Mind you, I don’t know anything about the selling part. I’m only speaking on behalf of a person asked to attend party plans. I’m sure a lot of work goes into the behind the scenes of the party plan party, and I don’t wish to minimize what the salesperson goes through. I kind of resent home party plan parties and here’s why.

I enjoy going to parties. I like to socialize and talk with my friends and meet people. I enjoy making and trying new foods and learning new things. What I resent is when people who barely say hello to me in the real world all of a sudden send me an invitation to attend their home party plan party. Hello? I barely know you. You didn’t invite me to your Christmas gathering or backyard barbecue, but I’m good enough for a sales pitch? And what was your name again, anyway?

My other issue with the home party plan is that I can’t always buy things. My hostess will always say, “just come for the fun, you don’t need to buy anything.” I always feel obligated.

My idea of a good time is not listening to someone go on about the joys of reuseable plastic containers or overpriced candles. The last home party plan party I attended to was for jewelry. The guests were all about my age – mid 40’s. The jewelry was all funky and hip. I liked some of it, but most of it was appropriate for teens and those in their early twenties. When the hostess passed around the “high end jewelry” catalog, she mentioned how all the celebrities like that particular line. I asked which celebrities. The hostess named a few, “Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton…” I asked if any 40-something celebrities wore the jewelry and she said “not that I know of but I’m sure there are some.” I wasn’t trying to be difficult, but what ever happened to knowing your audience? As a forty-something work at home mom whose idea of a night out is coffee with some friends, why would I want to buy products geared towards twenty something poster children for bad behavior?

If you’re having the girls over for some wine and cheese, or coffee and cake, I’m in. Indeed my friends are always welcome to sit on my back deck and eat some of my husband’s smoked ribs and other mouth-watering barbecue fare, but I promise to never invite you to my home to sell you something.

Now…I know this is a completely one-sided post. If there are any home party plan sellers or attenders who would like to guest post and give the other side of the story, please contact me and I’ll be happy to give you a sounding board.

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Post from: She Knows Parties