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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

private members' club for families

474 replies

pippiLS · 20/04/2014 11:32

So do you think £10 per week for access to a stylish child-friendly club (with tasteful soft play areas etc) is a big ask?

DH thinks it's too much and no none would pay it whereas I think £520 for annual membership of a place where people with babies/toddlers go and meet other mums/dads/nannies, have a decent coffee (maybe even a tasty, healthy lunch), relax in comfort and attend classes with their little ones is an OK price to pay.

Am I being unreasonable to be considering opening such a place as a business venture?

OP posts:
JennySense · 21/04/2014 18:19

I know the person who created - and has just sold - www.shopthehaven.com/index.html It's a bricks and mortar shop, a community, runs classes AND has an online store. It's in LA [so may not work in the UK] and is a kind of hybrid of many of the ideas you've mentioned.

Look at the amount of income streams developed for this one business to be a success.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 18:33

Jenny, that is one comprehensive site. I only read a bit about the Mommy and Me classes and I really like the tone of it and the concept. What does the person who has sold it do now?

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 18:34

'Do the same. Start by hiring a room in your community and create a brand - you'd have the flexibility to test ideas without the massive outlay. See if there's a market and a demand before you jump straight in.'

This is the direction I'm heading in Jenny.

OP posts:
FreeWee · 21/04/2014 18:41

A friend of mine is a member at this club www.family-tree-club.co.uk

I don't know if you live in an area similar to Leamington Spa in terms of yummy mummys? Not read full thread yet if you've said where you are.

whatever5 · 21/04/2014 18:54

I think people might pay £5 a week for the kind of thing you are suggesting in your OP but not £10 outside of London. It may only work out at £2 a day but most people don't want to do the same thing every day. They are only likely to use it once or maybe twice a week.

The family-tree-club looks good but I note that it's only £19.50 a month not £40 for basic membership.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 18:55

Pippi, I think that's a good idea.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 18:55

... To hire a room, I mean.

ICanSmellSummerComing · 21/04/2014 19:00

There is def a need for things like this, buts its the cost, I always prefer pay as you go because little ones get ill so much, or you are, and then older sibs are....i went to only 50% of paid in advance classes last year due to this or being away etc.

However I know many parents floating around desperate for somewhere decent to go..and to sit and chat to a friend without having to 100% supervise....

zeezeek · 21/04/2014 19:09

How on earth can you not know the demographics of a town where you live?!! Especially as a) you were a teacher and so should have an idea of what background the kids came from, b) you still work in education whatever that means and c) you are looking to open a business in the town.

FFS look up the IMD scores for the area: Index of Multiple Deprivation.

LittleBearPad · 21/04/2014 19:53

And to add to zeezeek's list you're a SAHM of three. You must know who you see out and about during the week, what the cars are like, what type of shops and cafes there are in BSE.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 20:02

I'm sure there is money (there are also pockets of rural deprivation) but what I am not sure of is how much money.

OP posts:
TalkinPeace · 21/04/2014 20:16

www.lafitness.co.uk/gym/bury-st-edmunds/families/classes-and-facilities/
none of the really posh chains have a club in BSE = no money for it

you need to do a LOT more walking around research
if you've not used a creche or visited a sure start you are WAY out of touch with your market

JohnnyBarthes · 21/04/2014 20:23

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy? The Bombay Stock Exchange? Confused

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 20:23

Bury St Edmunds, Johnny!

JohnnyBarthes · 21/04/2014 20:24

Oh, oh I have it. Relates to a famous Noel - he of Swap Shop fame.

JohnnyBarthes · 21/04/2014 20:24

Ha, x-post Doctrine :)

EvenBetter · 21/04/2014 20:27

Hundreds of posts detailing exactly why this just wouldn't work, OP have you considered a child friendly cafe?
I work in one that has 'quirky' decor which appeals to all ages and has Perspex in certain areas to stop grubby little hands ruining the wallpaper.
A proper children's menu (not a chicken nugget in sight), small play area and also does stitch n bitch classes once a week.
It's recently started doing monthly evening sessions for dining in order to make more money.
It's in a good location, has tonnes of regular customers, superb healthy tasty food, excellent attention to small details and it's still struggling.
Owner has to pay for baristas/waiting staff (who must be excellent, as it's them who the customers deal with), rent, electricity, insurance, music fee, wages, tax etc.
having worked in this industry for 13 years there's not a snowballs chance in hell of me ever even momentarily considering opening my own variant.
It's hell. Long, gruelling, stressful as fuck hours, constant arseholes, no money, high risk of complete failure...... Just no.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 21/04/2014 20:29

Hoofer-doofer, Johnny?

Easter Grin
zeezeek · 21/04/2014 20:56

LittleBearPad - I did consider that one too - but wimped out of adding it because I'm often flamed on here for being unsympathetic to SAHMs!

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 21:05

Alright then all you know it alls betters, what are your great business ideas for mums and DCs that would also allow a person to make a living.

OP posts:
Dinosaurporn · 21/04/2014 21:15

Start by getting a job...

Caitlin17 · 21/04/2014 21:19

Is the property you have fallen in love with for sale? If it was formerly commercial but has had change of use to residential the Council , not to mention the neighbours, are probably not going to be thrilled to lose the residential status.

Plus if you buy it the contract will either have to be conditional on your getting consent or you take the risk you will get it. If conditional your solicitor is going to want to include a minimum of 6 months for you to get the change of use and might try for longer if you wanted to appeal a refusal. As the property is currently a house then unless no one else is remotely interested in buying it as a house I can't see why the sellers would agree to a conditional sale- unless you offer more than it is worth and they are willing to take a chance that you don't get change of use and their sale falls.

If they don't agree a conditional sale you are taking a chance on not getting change of use.

It might be different in England but in Scotland councils are not keen on change of use from residential to commercial unless say it's something like a very large/old house which is no longer economically feasible as a single house.

Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 21:22

BSE has a Medieval grid where commercial properties and residential properties sit comfortably side by side.

OP posts:
Original poster
pippiLS · 21/04/2014 21:23

Dinosaur, I do have a job.

OP posts:
Caitlin17 · 21/04/2014 21:36

OP that doesn't address my point. You will need a change of use; you will have to apply for planning consent. Are you going to buy it and run the risk of not getting consent ; or are you going to make an offer conditional on getting planning consent? If the latter you will probably have to pay a premium over the value.

Do you know what applying for consent for change of use entails?