Redundancy and trying to make my side hustle work

[hairyunicorn]

So, I’m being made redundant from my job after 18 months with the company. I’ve got my consultation meeting this afternoon and, honestly, I’m feeling pretty gutted and anxious about it all.

I’m already applying for every job I can find, but in the meantime, I’m trying to think practically about other income streams too.

I’ve got a little side business doing children's parties. I’ve got the website, branding, equipment, and everyone who sees the idea seems to love it (I teach them to make soaps and bath bombs). The problem is… I have no idea how to actually reach parents and get bookings consistently!

I’m not naturally salesy and I feel a bit awkward posting everywhere. I’ve tried a bit of Instagram/Facebook, but it’s hard to know where the right audience is.

For those of you who’ve run small businesses aimed at parents/kids, where did your bookings actually come from? Facebook groups? Schools? PTAs? Word of mouth? Paid ads? Something else?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice from parents about where you discover local party companies and what makes you actually book them.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed today, so any practical tips would mean a lot

I think it’s a great idea. No, some kids may not ASK for a bath bombs party but only because they might not know they exist!

My DDs would have loved it, and you will always have an ever-replenishing market of tween girls. You would probably only need to do one or two a week to make a nice little profit.

Facebook Local, Instagram, flyers in local community halls and leisure centres where Ballet, Brownies, Gymnastics etc take place would be a good start. And don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth; it would only take one child in a year group to host one and you’ll probably drum up further business each time you run a party.

Good luck with your meeting today.. perhaps this could be the start of something positive 😊

The riches are in the niches, OP! I think your idea is fabulous and if my kids were younger, I’d be knocking on your door!

I agree a Facebook site would work well. Advertise on the Next Door app too as it’s local. Yes to the flyers in party bags idea

You have to realise tho that kids only have a birthday once a year and often they are deciding between lots of activities. Its also really easy to get kits for making bath bombs and soap cheaply in the works - my kids love lush and love bath bombs but have never asked for a party doing this because they've had the kits loads of times and its something mine would just do with a friend on a playdate, so i wouldnt pay a premium price for an organised party doing it. If they wanted a party doing that id just buy some kits and run it myself, jazzing it up a bit with dried flower petals from the garden etc.

Sorry OP but i cant see this replacing a proper salaried income, not even close.

The one off putting thing imo is the need presumably to host at home. And cater. And have my house littered with craft stuff and glitter! And kids 😂😂

Apologies if I’ve got that wrong though…..
Hiwever, if I’m right and you can address those issues, you will widen your appeal considerably

What about doing workshops aimed at adults instead? The profit margins might be higher, especially if you prepare a pdf with instructions and sell it too.

Coming on to say make contact with people doing ladies afternoon teas or something. A bit of bubbly and a few ladies and you will be away.

Yes! Especially in the run up to Christmas. Christmas-themed soaps can make a fab present and it’s something fun to do with friends.

Dance comps - my daughter is a competitive dancer and they have all kinds of stalls. The kids would love to make their own bath bombs etc.
There is one that comes and they make their own lip gloss and slime and they absolutely love it.

good luck with the redundancy meeting

I personally would love to learn to make soaps. Could you cater for adults? Hen weekends that kind of thing

I have 2 daughters at primary and teach 7-9 year olds and can imagine it being a great success, not too niche at all. Just about all parties here are one thing only - art, football, pamper etc - and are booked up far in advance.

OP round us most business is word of mouth, copying other children's parties, so you need to find a way to get your foot in the door. Perhaps some free stalls at events like school summer fairs or Brownies.

Another thing to think about - someone came into my child's school and did bath bombs with them as part of science week. It was KS1 so incredibly basic - think the learning was solids, liquids and gases. If you can get in with schools, that's another income stream and also fills up school hours.

Hope your meeting was okay.

The last three parties I’ve organised for my kids have been with entertainers they’ve loved at a friends party. Each one offered a discount with the party bags (two had leaflets and one very cleverly had a QR code on the bag, so you couldn’t lose a leaflet)

You could extend this to offer vintage teas. Get some vintage cups, saucers and teapots from eBay. They have some lovely bone china pretty ones for reasonable prices. Learn how to make good scones. Sell a package of cream tea in a box with vintage china. Make small crust less sandwiches, add a scone, cream and little pot of jam, and a cupcake. Provide a bone china tea set place setting including cup, saucer, sugar bowl, milk jug, teapot and small plate for each person along with a silver spreader and sugar tongs and 2 or 3 tier cake stand. Drop off set up and collect later. Lots of older people have them for birthdays or anniversaries. There is not too much work involved. You could advertise in libraries, shops and little as in newspaper. Plus pop it on nextdoor neighbour sites. Also you could offer face painting at Childs parties. That is always popular.

Also if you're in London or the South East at all, could you send me a DM? I'd love to have a chat as I'm setting up a party planning marketplace where you can book parties easily and I'll need to onboard some party entertainers and people running businesses exactly like yours first

All the people saying kids need to ask for the party and it won’t happen, that’s simply not true. I’ve raised 4 kids and I LOVE hosting parties and have always gone all out. Often the kids have asked for a theme ( Alice in wonderland, Moana, Ben 10, Jurassic park etc) but I then searched for entertainment and activities that would fit in. So for my DDs dinosaur party I hired an animal events company and the kids got to spend 2 hours meeting the real rocket raccoon, Meerkats, foxes, reptiles etc. then another one we have a giant inflatable assault course and a bouncy castle. Then for Alice in wonderland we had a mini disco with a Cheshire Cat waitress serving cup cakes on Miss Match China and all different milk shakes from vintage teapots. Plenty of flamingo garden statues etc and some croquet and flower painting . For my grandsons party this year we’re are hiring two beautiful Shetland ponies that are dressed up as unicorns and the kids all get to groom them and ride them. He didn’t say he wanted unicorns, I said “how about this” and he said YES!!!

I would look at expanding your business. Contact local WI groups and offer to do sessions with them.

Just thought of another idea. How about finding local parallel businesses like a cake baker or approaching venues and doing some joint marketing?

This is a great idea! I did a party like this for my Dd when she was 9 or 10 and other mums asked me to run them for their daughters. I declined but did one for my niece a couple of years back. They all loved Lush but the party was different enough.

A couple of friends who ran craft parties together teamed up with a birthday cake lady and a local balloon maker, and all 3 offered discounts for each other. Also, she ran entertainment for kids at weddings & for kids at adult parties. Look at advertising with party bags people. If I liked kids enough, I’d love to run something like this!

I agree with this. Bath bombs and soaps are fun but not super trendy atm. LUSH was very popular with girls about 10 years ago, and possibly the reason your business was successful. They've since fallen off a bit and many people feel the products have become very expensive and now seem to be targeted mostly at neurodivergent adults.

Going by Instagram, current birthday DIYs are making squishy dumplings, customising makeup bags, lip gloss charms, slime, fake cream decor etc. Too much choice is also a big issue. Most craft parties can be thrown together very cheaply by ordering things from Temu or Tiktokshop. The majority of parties we've been to with DIYs were just things the mum ordered online. Given the choice between paying someone to run a soapmaking workshop or buying a bunch of charms and letting kids make friendship bracelets for 1/10 of the price, most people would probably opt to save money.

It also feels like parents tend to fall into two camps. Some prefer to go for destination parties (soft play, trampoline hall, museum, zoo etc) with everything included and they will pay extra just for the full package. The other half prefer to throw their own party at home or at a hall and source everything separately. DIY decor, food, cake, party bags etc. Having a party in a private location but paying extra for someone to come run a workshop is very rare, since it involves the budget or a fancy location but with all the work of a home party.

Though agreeing with PP that there's broader potential for making bath bombs as corporate workshops, craft fairs, village fetes etc.

For my grandsons party this year we’re are hiring two beautiful Shetland ponies that are dressed up as unicorns and the kids all get to groom them and ride them.

Can I please be your grandson too 😆

I’ll throw a party for anybody so why not!! I’ll add some photos so you know what to expect 🥰

to be fair to this party company that does the unicorns, they have also massively diversified and they also do gaming parties and other activities too.

Most villages near me have a village residents group on Facebook or similar. Apply to join each of them and post about your services on there.

Have some flyers printed and pin them up in all the local village halls.

Thank you all so much for your responses. I’m reading through them now with a notepad at hand!

The redundancy meeting went as well as could be expected. To be honest, my mental health hasn’t been at its best in this job, so the idea of working for myself is becoming more and more appealing. Even if it means taking a drop in income, I think it could be worth it for a better quality of life.

Based on all the advice here, these are my goals for this week:

• Set up Google Reviews
• Join as many local parenting and party-related Facebook groups as possible
• Start leaving flyers in places where my target parents are likely to visit (coffee shops, hairdressers, children's activity centres, youth groups, etc.)
• Contact local Brownie and Guide groups to see if I can run some free taster sessions
• Keep applying for jobs while building the business

There have been some fantastic suggestions on this thread, and I’m genuinely grateful for everyone who has taken the time to reply. It's given me a bit of hope and a practical plan

@LinkedinLovely This sounds great! I'm based in London, will send you a DM now :)

I think this sounds great. My DD (Y1) and her mates would love this.

Could you also do slime parties? We’ve been to a few of these and 4/5 year olds have loved them too.

coulditbeme2323
Honestly it sounds way too niche.

Nothing is too niche nowadays, yes it’s harder to make money at the start but I know a lot of people who started businesses because they couldn’t find work and are now staying out in their new venture. None making what they made but actually earning enough to live and loving it ! it’s all about consistency and quality op, and with kids, being seen as reliable and trustworthy

And good luck!