Soft play facilities that support local independent craft makers

[JCM777]

Hello
I’m trying to gauge if there is support for children’s soft play facilities in church halls whereby local craft makers can sell their wares (covid restrictions aside).

Products would include children’s books, clothes, toys and blankets etc.
There would also be products like candles and face creams.
The entrance fee would be nominal and there would be a 10% discount to hire the soft play.
Would would you think if there was pottery painting and photography available too?
I’m really interested in your opinions.

So, someone puts out some pieces of softplay equipment in the Church hall, like a limited activity toddler group, and as you pass through you could browse through a craft fare ?

I can't see it running as an on-going thing.

If you had regular footfall for a toddler group, then I can see the point of a pop up craft market as a one off or maybe twice in the run up to Christmas, although , from a safeguarding perspective, the toddler group might not want lots of other people in and out of the building whilst the were running their group ?

Or have I misunderstood ?

Hi
Thank you for responding.
It would be geared towards young children really, not billed as a craft fair and there would be a few stalls with things to buy.
It would also be a weekly event rather than just a random thing.
Appreciate your views so please say if it's something you think would appeal to people.

Not really, sorry. I went to soft play things for play not to buy random craft.

Too many things going on, expectation to buy stuff. Also I can't see craft sellers turning up every week, there's not going to be adequate demand to cover their costs.

Hi
Thank you , I appreciate the feedback.
The theme is that it's a soft play with an option to buy local craft, the craft sellers won't be there so there's no pressure to buy, you could just have a browse.
The idea comes from supporting carers of young children who may not be able to afforded private soft play on a regular basis, then I thought it would be great to support local crafts people as well but it looks like it's not a very popular idea.
What support ideas do you think would appeal to carers and parents of children please?

What do you mean by 'support ideas'v supporting who, the families of the businesses? The families that need support won't be looking for crafts to buy.

Hi,
Supporting local communities by providing low cost soft play to alleviate isolation and encourage social interaction with other people.
If you've got any ideas I'd really like to hear them

A book and toy swap would be nice if you are trying to support those who may not afford new.

Thank you, that's a great idea

I'd enjoy it if it were independent sellers selling their own merchandise. It would really put me off if it were Usborne/Body Shop and the like.

I remember going to something like this as a child. Sort of toddler group in the middle, with stalls around the edge, but it was more of a bring and buy sale type thing that artisan crafts. Mostly mums selling on outgrown clothes and toys....

Thank you for the last 2 posts. I appreciate what you mean about mass market products, the intention here is purely local crafts people who make handmade items. There may only be a couple of stalls nothing to detract from the soft play, just there if you fancy a browse and certainly no hard sell!

Feel free to still post

To be honest if its a free for all for local craft sellers within the same environment of a soft play area I'd think you'd be opening yourself up to a lot of potential issues? Are the 'sellers/stall holders dbs checked? Will they have open access to the soft play area? Who will be monitoring this? Yes, it's lovely to have community spirit and a bit of a free for all in getting local artists/community together. But I think you do have to carefully consider who'll be sharing a space with who? And the potential for that being possibly misused?

A few play cafes I've been to have items for sale too, I've seen things like homemade Christmas baby bibs and jewellery too. I must admit that I don't really pay attention to them when I go in, because I'm not going there to shop. I'd also hate MLMs being involved and it would put me off going.

I think I'd expect to receive the type of items you seem to be talking about as gifts from others rather than buying them myself for my own children. I might pay extra at a venue to do an activity with my older child, e.g. crafts, ceramic painting but I'd expect to book those in advance.

Thank you, appreciate your views. The soft play session would be staffed by people who were CRB checked, not the craft sellers. Are there any products that you would be interested in like reduced cost children's books or children's clothes for instance?