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Karri Peifer
Richmond.com
Thursday, January 03, 2008

I'll never forget my first Tupperware party.

I was seven years old and my siblings and I were instructed to stay in the basement den and keep it down. My mother and a dozen or so women were gathered in the formal living room – the one we never used – for a presentation on food storage. From my seat on the staircase I could hear them passing around plastic bowls in assorted sizes and laughing at the containers' signature burp.

Periodically, my mother wandered into the kitchen to pull Chex mix out of the oven and refill glasses from the green jug of wine she kept hidden behind the pots and pans. I watched her smile and maybe hum a little as she poured because, I know now, she was delighted for a night off.

For my mother, a Tupperware party was an excuse to hang out with adult women and, best of all, get a break from her children. To me, a Tupperware party was the essence of adulthood. And I couldn't wait to host my own.

Twenty-plus years later, Tupperware parties are out. But the concept isn't.

Wanna host your own home party? Try one of these:

Avon – makeup
avon.com

Mary Kay – makeup
marykay.com

Pampered Chef – kitchen tools
pamperedchef.com

Partylite – candles
partylite.com

Passion Parties – um, massagers
passionparties.com

Premier Designs – jewelry
premierdesigns.com

Purse Party – purses
purseparty.com

Silpada – jewelry
silpada.com

Southern Living – home accessories
southernlivingathome.com

Tupperware – the original kitchen storage
tupperware.com



My generation seems to have about as much interest in storing food as we do in cooking it. That is to say, we have very little interest in both. In place of Tupperware, though, a whole host of other "home parties" have cropped up.

Makeup, jewelry, purses, candles, serving dishes, cooking utensils (we may not cook, but that doesn't mean we don't accessorize the kitchen) and … um, massagers, are the wares for sale at the new generation of home parties.

The product list for home parties is endless. But it's the party, not the product, that's the point of the event. Which is why, regardless of what you're selling, a home party can make a terrific Girls Night Out … or in, as the case may be.

Home parties are a fantastic excuse to gather the girls, test out some new products and, if you're the host, maybe make a little money in the process.

Of course, home parties, or direct sales parties, do get their fair share of criticism.

Frankly, most of the women I know treat an invitation to a home party like a summons for jury duty. "Can't I just give you $20 and stay home?" is the general reaction, from my friends anyway. This is partially because invitees feel required to purchase something, even though, technically, etiquette does not require it. Not buying something usually goes over as well as showing up empty handed at someone's third wedding shower. (Again, technically, no gift is necessary; though the other shower guests will you treat you as though you set fire to the wedding gown).

And plenty of women have fallen victim to the pyramid schemes that often make up direct sales commission charts. The Internet is filled with message boards postings of women who lost their life savings "investing" in what they thought was their future career and turned out to be a trunk full of junk.

Then there are the parties' champions. A life in home party sales may not be the wisest full-time career move for some, but occasionally attending a party – or hosting one for supplemental income (or free stuff) is just innocent fun – whether its Tupperware, makeup, cookware or, um, massagers.

The products may have changed, but the party is the same today as it was 20-plus years ago in my childhood home: a community of women together, laughing, relaxing and, perhaps, indulging just a little too much. And that's priceless.

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7 comments.
Malissia Alexander - Email this User
6/20/2008 at 11:21:41 AM Flag Flag Comment
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I love this article because it really explains what a inhome party really is. I am a Passion Parties consultant I have ultimate fun when I conduct a party and educate women ( 18 & over) about their sexuality and they have fun viewing and tasting all the different products. If you would like to host your party or become a consultant please call me at (804) 497-6573. I would love to have FUN with you and your friends!


Isabel Pak - Email this User
6/13/2008 at 12:25:18 AM Flag Flag Comment
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I jusy love this article...
I would like to add that Tupperware celebrated Sixty years of parties!
I have a great memories of my family using tupperware at home.
MY mom got used to host parties and I guess she ended up with a lots of gifts.
Later My mom joined to the party lifestyle.
Now I have my own family and I work with Tupperware In Midlothian.


Sandy Bigham - Email this User
2/18/2008 at 10:38:37 PM Flag Flag Comment
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I would love to be added to your list of Party companies! I love having FUN parties and spoiling my good hostesses with $500+ in Jewelry! I also LOVE to do Fundraisers donating my time and giving the organization ALL of my profit (40+%). Jewels by Park Lane has been in business since 1955 and offers FUN, High-Quality Fashion Jewelry! I was just at Richmond Magazine today donating my Jewelry for the Artful Wedding event.

Sandy Bigham
Senior Division Manager
Jewels by Park Lane
804-370-1502
www.jewelrybyparklane.info


Rhonda Edwards - Email this User
1/7/2008 at 2:29:42 PM Flag Flag Comment
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Karri,Tupperware is alive and well. I have been selling Tupperware for 15 years starting out in Newport News VA. Moving to CA and then to NH. My husband was in the USMC thus the moving. Tupperware fit into my life style. I can tell you the Tupperware party is still around and still growing. And many young women are trying to go green. Using Tupperware instead of plastic bags foils, Ect.. I have them showning up at my parties saying "My Mom had this and I want it Or My grandmother had __. I don't want to fill up the land fields and I want products that will last a life time. I am sick of throwing away cheaper plastic items"
Rhonda Edwards


Paula Quick
1/4/2008 at 8:35:08 AM Flag Flag Comment
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Home parties are just a lot of fun, especially when they incorporate something new and different. I went to a spa party that featured an in-home wine tasting. Next thing I know I'm volunteering to host a wine-tasting as a Customer Appreciation. Direct sales is the way to the top for many people. The key is to find a reliable company and do your due diligence, which surprisingly a lot of people don't really do before they sign the dotted line.
Now ... back to that glass of wine ...


Karri Peifer - Email this User
1/3/2008 at 9:24:24 AM Flag Flag Comment
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And I would love to hear it ... I think.


Kathy Spivack
1/3/2008 at 8:15:02 AM Flag Flag Comment
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I would love the opportunity to offer my opinion on Karri's Article



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