Hi Joslyn, thanks for talking to Insight. What’s been your best experience as a Tupperware Demonstrator/Manager? 

Getting my keys to my Territory. I worked really hard and my Directors planned it with my hubby to surprise me at the sales meeting with flowers and the car full of balloons. My team went nuts and so did I! Also being asked to speak at Kiwi Summit (though I was terrified) and now being in the catalogue, which is such a huge honour.

What have you gained most from your Tupperware experience so far?
Confidence. I’m a naturally shy person, I don’t like crowds or speaking to people I don’t know, but somehow that disappears when I’m in ‘Tupperware mode’ I get on with it and just love the people.

Have you had any funny experiences while in Tupperware?
Yes all the time! Once I burnt a hole through the bottom of my TupperWave 1 Litre Jug at a party! I had the copha under the chocolate instead of on top and I filled my Host’s brand new kitchen with smoke! She later started selling and that party was $2000 with three dates (I think they felt sorry for me!) so despite the rocky road being a disaster we laughed all afternoon. That Host has become a great friend and an excellent Demonstrator too! Then there was the Announcement Party where we used salt instead of sugar. It’s a good way to sell Modular Mates though!

What's the strangest use for Tupperware you've come across?
Keeping Dentures in Forget-me-Nots, using FridgeSmart for baking storage instead of vegies (ALL THE TIME) plus the there’s the washing of ‘delicates’ in the Salad Spinner when camping!

What are your tips for dating parties?
ASK EVERYONE but by starting a conversation, not just hitting them with the “will you have a party?” question.

What are your tips on dating parties within 14 days?
It’s amazing what happens when you offer certain dates instead of “when would you like your party”. Try offering three dates in seemingly random order – put the last one first, then the one you want (the closest) then the next one last. People are funny they often go for the middle option which is of course the one you want them to take!

Have you got any tips for dating AT parties?
What are the benefits of doing so? At parties you have a captive audience already in the mood for Tupperware. If you paint word pictures with your Demonstration you can then watch for reactions – this gives you a lead in to starting a conversation and a chance to reel them in. Parties booked there and then mean you can give them a party planning pack and they can get started straight away; it’s less work for you down the track and you will have a better party from it.

Can you give us some tips on party planning success at your parties?
Once you’ve had one confirmation, get it in the diary and then let her/him know you’ll be back shortly (provided they can wait of course) with a party planning pack filled with goodies to help them make their party a success. Then once you have helped everybody and gained other dates, you can get everyone together to go through the pack and plan their parties. This saves you time and the Hosts can feed off each other’s enthusiasm too.

How much contact do you have after party planning?
What form does this contact take? Ideally, I follow up a party booked at a party with a confirmation card, and included any recipe details too. I make a phone call 3-4 days out and another the day before. For parties booked nice and close it might just be a phone call or two - it really depends on the circumstances.

Do you have any hints or tips for other Demonstrators/Managers?
It’s funny, after six years I am still learning and looking for tips from others! But it’s always a good idea to look around your manager team; you have so much knowledge there and its ok to use others ideas. We’re a sharing company, and all the managers I know are happy to help Demonstrators. We have our teams, but we support the Distributorship as a whole too, so never be afraid to ask for help or ideas.

What product do you use the most at your place and why?
I have a serious Tupperware addiction. It’s painful for me at the moment, as we’re renting for seven weeks and so much of my product is boxed up it’s driving me mad! My top faves would have to be FridgeSmart and the TupperWave 1 Litre Jug, though I could name a dozen more too!

How do you sell this product at your parties?
By talking about how I use them and getting people at the parties to talk about them. If they don’t believe me on the FridgeSmart, I challenge them to prove me wrong – I haven’t lost a challenge yet!

What are the popular themes that Hosts date for?
I love Auctions and Taste of Tupperware parties, particularly the Garlic Aioli and a Pine Nut Pesto recipe – it’s divine. I’ve been doing more Kids Kitchen lately which are a tad chaotic at times, but so much fun for the mums and kids.

What is the importance of having a personal program as a Demonstrator?
The difference is motivation. When you have parties in your Diary, you look for more. When you have none, you tend to be unfocused and it’s hard to get motivated. With no parties comes no income, no gifts, no recognition and no recruits, so why do it to yourself when the alternative is so much better?

What is the importance of having a personal program as a Manager?
I’ve recently been through a sad diary time with selling the house and moving and sick kids; everyone knows the drill. When a Manager loses focus, the team often does too over time. Your party plan directly shows your team how many you have dated - How can you badger them to go find a party if you have none? Besides, the most efficient place to recruit is at parties.You can bulk interview and you’re working smarter not harder that way.

What’s been your highest personal sales in a month?
Around $11500. I’m hanging out for the Record Breaker Week – I won’t be pregnant or breastfeeding! Yay!

What’s been your highest united sales in a month?
Around $112,000. I promised hubby a 32 inch flat screen when my team earned over the $100K mark. He got his TV in January!

What are your business/personal goals?
I got back from Wellington last night, so it has to be Sydney for the Executive Manager trip, then Queenstown (my husband is coming too). I have a fantastic team to work with and develop, and I want to get better at managing them and their needs. On a personal level, we move house next week, so that’s goal number one. Then we’ll start renovations paid for with Tupperware income, so that should keep Glenn and I focused!

If you had one piece of advice for a new Demonstrator what would it be?
Read your training guides and attend training at your Distributorship. You have to know that this is your own business and take ownership of your success. Grab the opportunity with both hands, it’s all there for you, just follow the steps, ring your Manager with every question (though check your watch first). But most of all HAVE FUN! The rest will come.

Anything else special that you’d like to add?
I just want to say thank you. Thank you to my fantastic team that have supported me through having a baby last year and continue to be the best bunch of girls I could ask for. Thank you to my three wonderful Promoted Managers, Paula from Team Edge, Rachelle from Kiwi Gold and Rowena from Fanplastic. And last but not least, thank you to my Directors Marilyn and Geoff for unwavering support and nagging.

Work smarter not harder and have fun doing it. Cheers.