How to Host a Home Jewellery Trunk Show or Kitty Party Sale

Updated October 2026

Not every seller has a shop, and not every buyer wants to come to one. A trunk show brings a curated set of pieces to a group of women in a friendly setting: a kitty party, a housing society get-together or a family function. It suits boutique owners who want to meet customers directly and home-based resellers who want more than a phone screen. This guide covers the planning, the day and the follow-up. For bigger public events, see our guide on selling at festival pop-ups and exhibitions.

How do you find a host and a guest list?

Start with someone who already likes your work: a regular customer, a friend or a relative who belongs to a kitty group. Offer to bring the pieces and make the evening easy. Agree a date and a rough number of guests, and ask the host to invite people herself, since a personal invitation works better than a forwarded poster. Confirm the day before. If the group meets often, ask whether you can come for a short slot rather than the whole event. Do not promise the host anything you have not thought through; decide any thank-you gesture in advance, and keep it modest.

What should you carry to a trunk show?

Bring a focused range, not your whole stock. Choose a spread that suits the guests and the season: a few earrings, some necklace sets, lighter pieces from lightweight daily wear and a small selection of kundan jewellery for occasions. Add combos from combo sets as easy gift buys. Pack each piece in a pouch with a design code tag. Also bring a hand mirror, a soft cloth, a notebook, pens, a few extra pouches and your phone with the WhatsApp catalogue. Our guide on setting up a WhatsApp catalogue shows how to have the rest of your range ready on screen.

How should you set up the table?

Ask for a clean table near good light and a mirror at standing height. Lay pieces on a plain cloth in groups by category, with earrings at the front where guests will pick them up first. Keep tags visible and prices readable. Leave a little space so guests can move around the table. Display ideas from our guide on displaying fashion jewellery in a small shop carry over directly. Put a few of the most photographable pieces in the middle so guests can take pictures and post them to their friends.

How do you sell without pressure?

Let guests try things on. Ask what outfit or function they are shopping for, then suggest one or two pieces instead of showing everything. Be honest about the material and care; our guide on helping customers choose jewellery has useful questions to ask. If someone bargains, stay friendly and offer a combo instead of a cut; see handling bargaining at a jewellery counter. If something is not in your bag, note the design code and offer to send photographs afterwards. Do not push guests to decide on the spot.

How do you record orders and money?

Use a notebook or one sheet with the guest name, phone number with her permission, the design code, quantity and amount. Read the order back to her before she leaves. Decide how you take payment and say it clearly: pay now for pieces in hand, and an agreed arrangement for items you must order later. Write down anything you promise, including delivery time, and do not promise a date you cannot meet. Keep a separate bag for pieces that have been tried on so they can be wiped and re-pouched.

What do you do after the event?

Send a thank-you message to the host that evening and to each guest the next day with her order summary. Ask whether she would like to see anything else. Share a few photos from the evening only if the guests agreed. Count what sold, what was picked up but not bought and what people asked for, then update your sheet. Those notes tell you what to reorder; see how to keep sales going in slow months for ways to use the time between events.

If you are planning a trunk show and want designs and rates matched to your shop type, message us on WhatsApp at +91 98705 89560 with the categories you need. The wholesale page explains how ordering works, and our pages for boutiques, online sellers, resellers and gift shops and wedding and festival season go further. Photographs are available, we ship across India, and you are welcome to visit our Santacruz showroom. Also read where small sellers can sell jewellery, storing stock for resale and the Saloni blog.

Common questions

How many pieces should I carry to a trunk show?

Enough to give variety without overwhelming the table. A focused range of your best categories is better than every design you own.

Should I give the host something?

It is a good idea to thank her, but decide what you can afford before you agree, and keep it modest.

What if guests only look and do not buy?

That is normal. Collect names for follow-up with permission and send the catalogue the next day.

Can I take advance orders at the event?

Yes, if you write down design codes and delivery timing clearly and promise only what your supplier can meet.