Stocking filler parties, your thoughts please.

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I know I have asked before but it's getting to that time of year. What would you think about hosting a stocking filler party (tupperware style), the host would get a percentage. Could be through the day while kids at school or evening.
I would be selling good quality toys all under £5 mostly under £1.50. Wooden stuff, science kits, unusual and traditional. The kind of stuff you get in museum shops not high street.
Interested in your feedback. TIA

Bumped but probably a bit late at night again.

i would be interested

Not sure how early to start promoting them, I don't mind if I only do a couple as i do christmas fairs anyway so i will have the stock anyway. Trying to get orgainised to do the local Sunday market too.

Any suggestions for games to play or other ways of breaking up the selling bit of the parties, only ones I can think of are a bit to Ann summers.

Bump for the day shift, please note i am not trying to get anyone on Mums net to host a party just wanting some feedback on the ideas before i promote it locally starting with friends.

I don't plan on traveling the length and breadth of Britain flogging stocking fillers. Maybe next year I will be looking for people who want to do it as a business and franchise it out . I will stick with my market trailer for a bit I think.

I think it's a great idea. I would go if i was invited to one.

Definitely think it's a good idea.

When I did Avon parties, I used to do a kind of "bingo" - give each person a piece of paper (ie from a telephone noteblock, that size), and get them to make a noughts and crosses grid on it, and put nine random numbers in from 1 to 50. Then call out numbers randomly (but write them down!) until you get a winner (all numbers called) - they get a prize of one of your stock items.

Think it's a good idea but HATE those games you're forced to play at these things. Let people browse, demonstrate toys where necessary and leave them to it!

I think it's a really good idea - I'd go. I am not sure the ice-breaker games are needed though, are they? It's not as if anyone's got any inhibitions about the product that they've got to be helped to lose ... ?!

Would be good too (and a year-round proposition) if wasn't just "stocking fillers" but included multi-packs of really cheap things for party bags, too. Like the edible giant banknotes I found in Cornwall last month - wish I'd bought the shop's whole stock. They were only 30p a pack - but presumably if you get wholesale amounts they'd be about 10p.

Soryy thats me back from visiting DH in hospital. Thanks for the replies.

I think you are right about the games being icebreakers which is more for Ann Summers type things when you want to get everyone relaxed. Maybe a simple raffle £1 a ticket and the money going to a childrens charity.

Never really thought about doing it all year round, but the stuff i do is ideal for party bags and prizes and i could easily do discounts for multi packs. I do sweets as well and always get in special Christmas stuff thats a bit different to the high street as well as the compulsory chocolate coins although i put them in cellophane bags with ribbon on.

it sounds like a good idea to me - a lot of these type of parties I get invited are for clothes/make up/jewelly that's always a bit expensive and I would never use anyway! I would definitely come along.
Agree with the others re ice breakers - if there's a group of women and a couple of bottles of wine, the ice normally gets broken pretty quickly IME

Thanks tommy, I'm going to print off a draft leaflet and show it to some mums tomorrow. I'll see how they receive the idea and maybe I can get one of them to host a party. If I get any takers then it will be action stations .

Oh I meant to say I know what you mean about the cost of some of the products, I went to a make up one and tried to find something under £5 it was all to much. I like to think you could spend under £10 and get at least 8-10 items.

wow, i'd go, have many stocking to fill and am tired of each thing costing so much. I only get invited to ann summers/candles/body shop/virgin vie type parties and never go or cant find anything to buy if I do. can you do one near me please! or can you sell online?

Sounds good - a lot of online places (Letterbox) stock stuff like this but until you actually see the stuff its hard to know if its decent quality.

Thats what I was hoping would appeal no P&P and the chance to see and feel the quality and size of things ( just like Ann Summers ).

I am based in SW Scotland and not set up for website yet even though I did a college course .

SW Scotland?
Bit of a long way for you to come to Southampton to do a party then?

aw! not fair......go on then add P&P (still sounds reasonable prices to me) and tell me all about it.

Pay my petrol and invite about 100+ guests and I'm sure it would be worth my while oh and i need 5* acommodation.
I'm not really set up to do mail order yet so I will direct you to Hawkins Bazaar just now which has a lot of the stuff i do. There are 3 stocking filler sections. P&P is 3.99 which is not bad if your getting a pile of stuff.

Anyway I asked a few Mums I know today and they think its great, I'm going to print up a leaflet and get one of them to host a party, they think its a great excuse for a night out and like the fact that most of my stuff is under a £1. I suggested an afternoon with tea and cakes but they liked the idea of an evening with booze, crisps and dips . I'm sure they will buy more once thay are suitably under the influence . Might do the raffle idea prize will be £5 off their order.

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Hawkins Bazaar sorry this is the link.

Any one want to help me pick my christmas stock not sure what else to buy, any suggestions for other suppliers.
How much do you spend?

Hawkins Bazaar is great, but I would guess many of your target buyers already get the catalogue (I do, eg) so there wouldn't be the novelty appeal - the only way you'd be able to improve on the catalogue is by offering cheaper - by buying from Hawkins in bulk & splitting the margin. As some shops do, I notice.

(Isn't that sad of me, to go round "knowing" the catalogue price and spotting bargains?)

This site does the edible giant banknotes I mentioned below.

Oh, separate idea: strongly recommend you include a "line" in fairtrade products. Even better if you have all chocolate be fairtrade ...

And last, further idea: how about you start a thread under products asking what is the best stocking filler/party bag present people have ever had? Should give you tons of ideas.

Can I host one of your dos?

I buy my stock wholesale not from hawkins, they just have a lot of the stuff i have. My prices are much the same and I don't charge P&P. I am hoping what appeals is that you get to see and handle stuff before buying so you know waht you are getting. I try my best to get stuff that isn't in every high street shop and not cr*p like most of the pound shop stuff.

I do sell sweets and chocolate but mostly kids stuff and i haven't found a fair trade supplier that will do the small quantities i need, any suggestions for suppliers? I will be selling christmas sweets and perhaps a wee goody bag with lovely ribbons.