What next - a few market research type questions for my fellow childminders

[NotMaryP0ppins]

I've been minding for almost ten years and I'm starting to feel ready to move on from this. The hours are a killer, my dd is getting older and I want my home back.

I just need to decide what to do next. I've had a few ideas and I'd love some independent thoughts on them. Ideally I'd stay self employed as I love the flexibility and not answering to anyone 😁

Retrain as a dog groomer / walker. There are a couple of dog walkers in the area I could link up with regards grooming and I love animals. I could convert my garage so as to have my house back.

Virtual PA / administration. I was a PA for many years before I had my daughter and could go back to doing some of that.

Event organiser. Part of my previous role was organising events for the department. I also organise events as part of my volunteer role for the PTA.

Work freelance / as a contractor for a charity writing bids and fundraising etc, again something I do for the PTA with quite a bit of success.

And this is the bit I need the market research input ...

The other idea I had was hiring resources and project boxes to childcare settings. So for example, this month we are looking at autumn. I have a box with stories, masks, craft bits, toys etc which I'll use with the children. I was wondering if this is something that I could hire to other minders. So they have access to many resources without having to store them. Consumables such as colouring pages could also be provided.

Alongside this I could offer a paperwork service, so policies and branding for a setting, parent notice boards etc and a book keeping service especially for minders.

What do childminders think? Is this something that they would use?

I would love the craft boxes, I would definitely love this! feel free to PM me and we could talk about this?

The paper lower side of things I have got covered, but perhaps others would be interested?

Thank you

Oh dear so many mistakes. Apologies!

I meant to say I would use these boxes, and that I have the paper work covered.

Fantastic, thanks for the reply! I'll message you later if that's ok

Excellent I'll keep an eye on my inbox, thank you

For me, it would very much depend on cost. With being self employed, I am keen to keep expenses down as much as I can, so wouldn’t want to be hiring stuff out if they cost too much. Also, (and maybe I’m lucky) the cms round here are quite good at lending stuff out anyway, eg, someone wanted to do ladybirds, so I lent her my ladybird box, for free. She lent me her gruffalo stuff in return.
Are there lots of cms in your area? Or would you end up having to post the boxes out, this would add extra costs. I’d also factor in that the items would have to be quite robust. Some children are less careful than others with resources and if something got broken, who would be liable to replace it.

Also, presumably all the cms would want the same boxes at the same time, so everyone would want autumn now, the Chinese New Year box in January, holiday box in July, spring in March etc. How would you deal with that? Would you have multiple boxes of the same thing?
The printable are easily accessible from twinkl if you have a membership and you get a variety of resources, available all year round.

Sorry to be negative, I don’t think this is something that many cms I know would be interested in.

Not negative, realistic!

Yes multiple boxes with crafts all prepped and outline planning done.

Lots of childminders in the area with almost zero support to be honest.

We did have a flourishing toy library, which is what made me think of this.

Story sacks?
Hungry caterpillar, Going on a bear hunt, Zoo, etc?