What do you think of this....

For all you mums there. me and a friend are thinking of starting up a new buisness in childrens partys. We would organize themed partys from fairies to pirates. With backdrops and toadstools to eat at. Serving home cooked child friendly food thats good for you, party bags co-ordinated to the theme, ballons, cake and music and entertainment (a kids party planner) and we'd even supply the venue. for around £350. What do you guys think of the idea just so i can get a parents consensous.

Lihra

I think it sounds like a great idea... I hope it takes off for you guys if you go for it!

WOW sounds like a good idea. Good luck to you.

Thanks eberyone if you have any more ideas to include let me know.

i think its a great idea but i wouldnt pay 350. But it also depends on the venue you choose and how much they require for the hire of the hall.

I have catered for a themed party inclding entertainment, food and venue for less than that.

Good idea - but I wouldn't pay that much

I echo whats been said, for a kids party £350 is way too much in my opinion. Most partys will be held at the home or a cheap venue anyway with parents of the children supplying food and drinks ( 9 times out of 10 people will chip in to help out ). With todays prices on things too, people are looking to save money and to see a price of £350 would turn alot of people away. If it was for an 18th Birthday or 21st I could see the price being a little more on the fair side if it included the DJ booking fee. For kids...I would re-think the pricing structure, unless you can give us a complete break down of costs involved - maybe our community can come up with a way to still make a profit but cut down the costs so it's more attractive for the average family to afford. ( Take into account the families on benefits as well as the money earners )...

I dont know if £350 is alot for a party- how many people go about and oick up pieces here and there for the kids party? I know I do.


My friend recently hired the Town hall £75 for 3 hours, a bouncy castle £50, prizes for games, food for 25children and 15 adults (Approx) and party bags for all the kids. It mounts up really quickly

See above, cost spreading, not lump summing.

other than Joseph's 1st and 2nd birthday(when we had a little thing at home) no-one has ever offered to chip in and even then it was only my parents who offered, not anyone coming to the party. I also wouldnt offer to supply anything for a friends child party- I would offer help setting/clearing up.

I was using the £350 price for a larger party- like my pals 1 when she had 35 people.

Maybe a price per head would be a better option.

You can have a party at a local play centre for 2 hours - food included for £7 per head - minimum of 10 people. If you want something a bit more fancy - ie face painters then it's £15 per head - I find that steep - and I'm not a 'stingy' person when it comes to parties, but after all they are only 2 hours out of the year. I would rather spend the money on swimming lessons or the like!
As was pointed out this isn't an 18th or 21st!
I'm sure there's 'money in them there hills', but a bit more may be made by catering for everyday people who like the ideas, but don't have/don't want to fork out that sort of money

i think a price per head is a better idea, perhaps you can so something maybe in their own home.

you can be party planners rather, organising entertainment and food but on a head to head basis some people only like to have maybe 10 kids not a large party.

Price per head, very nice idea.

Alex, I ask people to bring things, if you don't ask, you don't know. The worst they can say is - no. It's my 32nd Birthday party tomorrow ( My Birthday is'nt until next weekend, but my best friend is getting married on my Birthday so we had to bring my party forward a week ) and I have asked everyone to provide as we are on a very low income ( Incapacity benefit does'nt stretch so far ). So far nobody has told me they won't or can't help out. So the same for kids partys IMO, if you don't ask, you don't get the help, simple as that really. ( even if it's just a pack of 25p cakes, it helps ) Don't need to go expensive to ensure a good time is had by all. ( you could book a swimming pool for less, picnic etc ) does'nt have to be venue driven if you don't want it to be.

Sorry, have completly hijacked this thread sorry about that

Prices by head are easier to work out if it's worth it or not, lump sums are scary to look at.

I agree that £350 is really expensive. I personally couldn't afford that and don't know anyone who would be able in my social circle.

I think the idea is great though hun. I like the home cooked food idea, maybe you could offer a range of organic foods etc?

The price per head idea is probably best and maybe have a minimum amount of people i.e. £6 per head with a minimum of 10 children?

Maybe have different menus too, for basic sandwiches and nibbles and buns be the cheaper option - to more of a fancier menu being more per head?? If you see what I mean?

I looked into it,
We would supply the venue that we own for £80 without anything or add on food around £4 a head for children £5 per adult Cake not a normal one homemade by a prefesional baker £20. Party bags £1 a person. Bouncy castle £15 hire of us
Extra's music / disco £75- £100
Magician £50
Designed ballons (i.e arches) £30

Obviously we can cut down costs when we are up and running as we would own our own dj decks and have our own magician and dj.

We would also be doing fairly low budget weddings as the venue is massive would be able to have 2 rooms set up at any 1 time (depending on type of party) 18th bdays 21st and anything else.

All prices would be to suit and we can add and change anything that we need to add or opt-
out.

How much would you pay???

I would first find out prior to the party IF they actually want the Disco/Magician/DJ etc as thats extra cost, people will be looking into penny saving, epecially during the Recession. People like to have the choice, not just this is what you are having wether you like it or not - if you see what I mean.

well itwould be a more tailored to suit thing they give us a price and we tell them wht they can get or they say what they want and we tell them how much

Even better

sounds good!
MIL just paid £190 for our DD's party which was in a play gym and also included food for 20 children. dont know if that helps at all with prices - wouldnt of paid that much personally but as we have DD and DS' birthday a day after eachother then 2 parties in 1 was a bargain LOL! had it been just DD i wouldnt of paid that much!

i spent between £400 and £600 on a joint party for charlys 1st and my nans 69th all i paid for was the venue, food, party bags and cake and soft drink. alcohol was bring your own we done our own music. if we wanted a dj it was gonna cost us an extra 200-300 on top.