Original/ Unique party bags

[Scaryskribble]

I am looking for ideas for original/ unique party bags that you have either bought or made yourself. Everywhere sells the same boring character ones, I want to do something different for my business. What do americans call party bags? Is it loot bags (I hate that name)?

Yes I know some of you detest the party bags and the whole idea of them, thats one of the reason I want to sell ones that are better quality than the usual dross.
TIA

[hoppybird]

I made my own ones up, they just had a couple of standard things - party blower, bubbles, slice of cake and a mini tub of play-dough, nothing special really, but the difference was I used recycleable paper bags to attempt to be a bit more environmentally friendly. I know it's just a drop in the ocean, but every little helps, to use but two cliches!

Most of the party bags out there seem to be plastic, and it does get you thinking how 'un-green' lots of disposable party items are. Maybe you could think about a 'green' slant on things? HTH

[Enid]

urchin do them

plain bright coloured paper sacks

I bought them ages ago, they have done about 3 parties so far and still some left.

[cod]

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[Enid]

nah

they last for ages

[cod]

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[SoupDragon]

I just wrap stuff up in cheap Ikea paper.

[Enid]

yy but you get loads in a pack I mean

[cod]

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[SoupDragon]

Once we did a joint party between 5 friends so there were 50 children. One of the mothers went to McDs, flashed her Disney Stopre ID badge and claimed they were running a promotion nearby and had run out of goody bags - that year all the food and party bags were in McDs boxes

[zippitippitoes]

I've been down this route and concluded that

yes people want something different

and if it's green and unique even better

but best of all it must be very very cheap

[Scaryskribble]

Hoppybird I like the idea of a green slant, I need something unique and different from the horrible plastic ones.

Enid I had a look at the Urchin ones very simple and nice style.

Soupdragon love that idea but i don't think McD's is the way I want to go .

zippitippitoes have you tried this as part of your business?

Think I will have to track down some nice recycled paper and bags then.

So how much would you pay either making up your own or buying in pre filled ones.? Personally when I have made them for my kids parties I aim for under £1. My cheapest at the moment is £1.20 so maybe I will have to look at a bargin £1 one. Do you care about the content or quite happy with tatt . I am trying to fill with slightly better quality than most.

[hornbag]

For dds party I bought some "cello bags" (clear cellophane bags printed with choice of designs), filled these with bits and pieces and tied with gift ribbon. Looks effective and a bit different from the norm.
The bags were from ebay (do a search under party bags for "cello bags")-cost about £1.40 for 12 I think. Also got some great gel/glitter kaliedoscopes from ebay -loads of partybag fillers on there but most of it is the usual crap, you have to look carefully for more unusual or better stuff

[Scaryskribble]

Thanks Hornag that sounds similar to one of the style i do, I line with tissue to keep the contents a surprise.

[zippitippitoes]

Skribble

I sell the same stuff as you

I don't fill the bags

I spent about 18 months trying to find something I liked and eventually went with the plastic stuff but quite nice ones and party ware but it's not particularly popular and most people just buy the contents. I would esign some myself but I need to find more time in the day as it is.

And overwhelmingly customers want cheap rather than green (and don't always believe what they tell you because they will say one thing and do another)


Good luck by the way.

[Scaryskribble]

Thanks zippitippitoes I have found that too, everyone wants a bargain. They like the idea of green and wholesome but don't really want to pay more. I think I might stick with the cellophane bags and cones I do already and perhaps offer discounts for bulk buying for people who want to make up their own. I wasn't even going to bother with party bags but it seemed obvious as the toys I am selling are ideal for that. Have you got a website? Can I have a nose?

[Rarrie]

I couldn't find the party bags I wanted for love nor money, so i made them myself... I'm doing a teletubbies party (for a two year old) and would have loved to have TT ideas... so instead I bought plain paper bags (in TT colours) and DH printed out images of the TTs which I stuck on to the outside with the name of the child. Then I wanted TT themed bits inside, so I printed off some TT plain black and white images to colour in and stuck them inside with a pack ofcrayons, and addded other TT themed ideas such as stickers, a mini windmill etc. Oh and DH made TT choccie bars to give away - simply by taking ordinary milky bars, taking off the wrappers and he designed a wrapper with a TT image and happy birthday message to go in it. All very cheap to do, but has made the party very personalised, and dare I be smug and say looks pretty darned cool too (especially considering the cost!) The bags were about 22p each, and images about 30p to print off.

Why I post this is because I think there are lots of party bags that do the bog standard and that would be difficult to compete against in terms of being cheap, but it is difficult to find something a bit more 'bespoke' and I'm sure there are parents out there who would pay the extra to have everything matching a 'theme' etc and in fact it is dead easy to do / cheap if you're a dab hand at the computer!!

[Scaryskribble]

Thanks Rarrie some great ideas there. I was thinking about offering themed bags. Not so much the Cartoon/ TV characters as I would have to watch with copyright, but more like princess, pirate, football etc. I have looked at the chocolate wrappers too but I think I would need a much better printer to do that professionally. I might have a go though.

[motheroftwoboys]

Remember one of my hideously talented friends (with equally talented husband) one year gave gorgeous little hand made boxes, can't remember what they were filled with but we still have them about 10 years later! Another year she did wooden stars and planets, all painted and glittery, strung on ribbon. (we still have those too) Mine were always v. ordinary. Teenagers don't do party bags thank God.

[hana]

you could sew some party bags v cheaply

[Skribble]

I was actually considering making little material bags with some gorgeous printed cotton and fabric ribbons. I will have to get a machine that works though, i don't fancy hand sewing 20+ bags at a time.

[Skribble]

LOL my DH doesn't have those sorts of talents his idea of creativity is farting in different tones .