???? Craft sessions for kids ????

[Skribble]

Ok its another one of my mad market research questions.

There is a shop come up for let and i want to open a pocket money toy shop. The thing iss the shop is quite big for what I need so i am thinking about what other things I could do in it to boost takings.

So far it all seems to revolve around crafts and science sessions icluding parties, there is a seperate side room ideal for parties.

The question is how often would you bring your under 5 to a craft / story/ science session in a week?
Would you happliy pay £1/£2 to cover materials.
Would you bring your older kids along after school or at the weekends for informal craft/ science workshops.
Again would you pay £1/£2 and a bit more if it was for pottery painting etc where the materials cost a bit more?
Would you rather you could come along anytime and pick an activity for yourself?

Do you go to anywhere like this already for yourself or kids? What is the set up and does it work? What would you really like to be able to take kids to?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree, is this stuff you prefer to do at home with your kids? Have you seen similar things come and go on your high street? Have you been to places like this that just don't seem to hit the mark?

Also with regards to craft parties is this something you would pay for? What about messy science volcano exploding type parties for older boys perhaps?

Go on give me your crafty wisdom and help me dream a bit more.

great idea!! would bring kiddies to something like this and would happily pay £1/£2 very reasonable price.

another idea is, you could use the side room for crops/craft groups and workshops you could run them yourself and even rent it out

Skribble....great idea.
Will mail you.

Ooh I like the idea of renting it out for other people to do sessions. Ugh just had a horrible visual of the quilting group from Titty Titty Bang Bang using it .

I pay £7 for a 2 hour art class in a low income city nearby, where all they seem to do is let them make rubbish. I would love this option: especially if I could involve all my three boys (5, 6 and 2.5) istead of just leave the one and come back later.

RE: the parties, absolutely. it's really hard to know what to do with boys above 5 / 6- and I think they'd love that sort of thing!

So yes, very positive from me. And having run similar (non fee paying for the local council) I think it would work, and you'd have fun

I have run a session with singing, story, craft activity, drink and biscuit and free play for £1.50 first child, 50p for extras - formal session about 40 - 50 minutes, free play another 40 mins. This was in our church building, so was non-profit making and parents and carers happily paid this. I would expect to pay more for a structured craft session if it was a business. Think this is a brilliant idea - craft and science parties could be tailored for all sorts of age groups and my kids would love it. Fired Earth (paint your own pottery company) definitely charge per item you paint, and do parties for about £8 including one item to paint. These seem quite popular with the 6+ market. As a childminder I probably wouldn't bring mindees to a craft session regularly, as do a lot at home, but science sessions would be great. Ds (6) would love craft or science sessions at w-ends or holidays as a treat. Have you thought of selling tea/coffee etc. to occupy waiting parents if they didn't want to join in? Also I would come myself to a craft club or course for adults in the evening - or maybe for taster sessions to try a different craft.

We go to The Ceramic Experience in East Kilbride and we pay per item. We tend to go more at Christmas time when we are thinking about making gifts although we do go occasionally at other times of the year. Distance is a factor more than anything there though. It's got a play area and a cafe as well which is good. My DS is going to birthday party there soon and is really excited about it.
I love the idea of science sessions my DS would love them. If there was crafts in eve. for adults too that would be good. The price you suggested sounds really reasonable though. Sounds like you could be onto a winner. Do you have any other crafty type things near you, shops, crops activity centres?

Their is one other craft place in town, mainly pottery painting. No offense to anyone but it seems to be full of carers and their clients through the day and not somewhere I would ever consider going with a toddler. I have been in and had a look but wasn't welcomed or offered any assistance, as a novice it would be hard to know how it all works and what to do.

Coffee is obviously a big thing then . Not sure what I would need to comply with to offers drinks, tea room opposite would probably be up in arms.

Would be happy to hire out side room to crafters who want to teach and hold regular work shops.

Its looking like the major gap is for boys over 5/6 years. Girls have nail painting, fake tattoos, discos etc. The only appealing option for boys here is the soft play place, they are trying really hard and have put in playstations and a dance floor.
I am thinking yucky science, balloon power, rocket construction, monster crafts, juggling, circus skills, dino digging. oh I am on a roll.

Yes - boys stuff - making things like rockets, masks etc. Great idea Skribble

(ELC have loads of craft stuff on sale at the mo for your stocks!)

Piccy of shop .

It is up a cobbled lane opposite a tearoom, great summer tourist potential. Just 20m off the high street, lane is between Next and Monsoon.

at having shop & it being in between Next & Monsoon!!

Think it might be handy for all the yummy mummys that are quite happy to fork out a fortune to keep DD/DS in the manor they try to portray .

Yes - drop the kids off in you pocket money / craft thingy while they nip next door for a quick mooch !

Hey I am not providing child care while you lot go and spend silly amounts on clothes you will hardly wear .

BUMP

Message withdrawn

Thanks Dior, DS has come up with the great idea of Mad Scientist parties. Everyone wears white lab coats and goggles and they get to do experiments. Room would have giant test tubes and vials with coloured water bubbling away for effect. (DS suggest fish tank airiator for safety not heat to get bubbles, bless him).

Space parties with a star cloth on the cieling and loads of glow in the dark stuff.

Crafty Creep Crawleys, making spiders webs, giant bugs, studying real ones etc.

He is full of great ideas.

Glad to hear that everyone seems to think £1/2 pound is reasonable and would actually pay for these kind of activities.

Skribble can I have a job !

Mad scientist - I can think of loads of good stuff to do. Paper chromatography with Smarties is a classic - separates out the colours used in the sweets. And giant bubbles, optical illusions, pin hole cameras.......I want a job in your shop !!!

Skribble any chance you can have this done by April? I'm really stuck for ideas for DS party and I don't think you're TOO far away from me? Sounds like a fab idea hope it works out for you!

at the mad scientist party: I had a carnival float design all done with the theme but DH said no. Grr. Bubbling test tubes, rope lighting going between, Basement Jaxx Red Alert for music, even had a name (meltdown. Ah well. Maybe I'll do it next year.

I know both my DS's would love it, there's a thing you can do to make pretend volcanoes isn't there- orangeade poured on a floury mountain with a well of bicarb in it, was that it? Have to try that with DS over half term.

Thanks for the encouraging vibes, I am starting to think I really have to do something.

OK who can work 1pm to 4pm Mon to Fri then .

(btw, where are you located??)

SW Scotland.

ahhh!! lol