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

The absolute main thing is Google reviews. This will get you listed at the top of the search reviews for children's parties. You'll need to verify your address with Google, but then make sure everyone who books you is asked to leave a review if they enjoyed the party. Ask party bookers to put a leaflet in the party bags. Run mini sessions at soft plays or other venues so people can do a twenty min taster session and remember you for the future.

Honestly it sounds way too niche.

Run a stall at some local school fayres etc? Have a fun mini activity on offer plus leaflets etc etc

Is that your idea of helpful? 🙄

Honestly? Yes

It's far too niche. I have used kids party planners a lot and they usually offer a variety of services unless they are absurdly mainstream like a brilliant Elsa lookalike.

The OP is relying on kids saying "Mum I want a party where we learn how to make bath bombs."

It is way too niche and will unlikely to be a business, the OP is going to have to branch out to other crafts as well if she wants to make it success.

So yes, I was being helpful.

@Jellyofftheplate , thank you. I will set up Google reviews now, and I already put leaflets in bags.

@Dunnocantthinkofone I'm gonna make a list of schools and maybe contact the PTA's

The redundancy meeting is at 1:30. im bricking it :(

Ok well now it’s helpful! With one fairly blunt sentence and no explanation, it just looked rude and giving the OP a kicking for no good reason

Yes in hindsight I can see that, but I really do hope OP takes my advice.

It's a nice idea, but too niche to be booked up more than once a month or so.

@coulditbeme2323 I don't think it's niche at all.
We make the same types of products that Lush sells, and kids absolutely love Lush. I actually ran this business when my son was young and it was successful. The challenge this time isn't the concept—it's starting from scratch again over 10 years later and trying to figuring out how to reach parents in a completely different world.

i had 3 parties last weekend! one for £375.
Again, people love the idea, it;s just how to get in in front of more people

Kids do love Lush - but I still think the amount of kids that will ask for that as a party will be niche.

If you are good at this, you are obviously good at crafts so why not branch out a bit.

I mean for a start you have lost 50% of the market, because boys are not going to go for this.

Is it just children's parties or could you have different target audiences too? I'm sure there's a place for adult attended events where they could do this socially with friends etc.

For children's parties, a Facebook or Instagram page is pretty key to be able to post pictures of the offering and makes it easy for people to find you quickly. Google reviews are really helpful too. Find local Facebook groups to post and share what you offer with the right target market e.g. there's a local mum group near to me which lets businesses advertise once a week.
Flyers in party bags and in well placed locations like school and local notice boards.

If your area has a free local booklet/magazine that goes through people’s doors that would be worth advertising in. Or leaflets through doors (not sure if there’s any rules around that) or asking to leave leaflets or posters at places like softplay centres, cafes, village halls, local notice boards etc.

Can you offer sessions for groups of adults in the evening and for parents and children together at the weekend? Or sessions in the summer holidays? This might create more word of mouth effect, plus buying a ticket is less of a commitment than throwing a whole party.

Tiktok most people in the age group you are advertising towards are on tiktok

I think it’s good idea and the type of party my dd and her friends like. We’ve been to a lush party before. That would be your main competition really, do you have a Lush close to you? If so look at what they offer and their prices. They are expensive but the parties are brilliant.

Agree with others that Google, local Facebook groups and flyers are good. Have you got any local magazines or communities? Where are you based?

The trick is to keep in consistent and manageable, as timing is key when people see you. So if you do a big push, don't get many sales and give up that will be a waste, but smaller regular pushes will reach more people at the right time and you won't burn out. Good luck!

I agree with the PP who said it was too niche. Realistically your target market is what, 8-12 year old girls and their parents? And only the ones into smellies. That's not remotely sustainable as a business.

I don't think it's that niche, there's a lot of children that fit the criteria. My daughter would have absolutely loved this when she was young. You've had some good ideas. A bit late for this year but I would recommend a stall at the local school summer fairs. A free taster and lots of leaflets to hand out. I don't what kind of area you live in but my town the schools have all been posting on the local Facebook pages for the last couple of months to see if anyone is interested in having a stall at their fair.

Also as well as parties could you look at running some activity sessions over the 6 week holiday? Parents are always looking for different things for DC to do

I'd put leaflets and posters in locations that kids go to classes/activities. So community centres, dance studios, libraries, family friendly cafes.

If there are any 'Mums in' Facebook groups near you, then start advertising there. E.g. Mums in Swansea, Mums in Cambridge.

I agree that running sessions over the school holidays would be great if you can. You could theme them - so a K Pop Demon Hunters session etc - just using the relevant colors and bags with stickers on or whatever.

It's coming up to School Fayre season - could you ask if any local schools/your DC's old schools are looking for stall holders and set up a demo?

Thank you so much for all of these ideas. I just prepping for this Redundancy meeting, but im going to come back and slow read all the replies later this afternoon

• Does your website make it easy to see availability and book?
• people tend to look at this stuff at 4am (I used to run a b2c biz like yours) so they need ALL the info at their fingertips, and to be able to commit and pay in as few steps as possible
• do you offer packages with transparent pricing, optional extras
• do you have LOADS of google reviews and do you flag these up on your website
• are your photos amazing quality and show clearly what to expect
• Do you offer boy-friendly parties (swamp mix? Science focus? Animal/dinosaur theme etc?)
• do you clearly show where you will and won’t travel to?

Have you used google analytics on your website to see trends of how many people are looking at it?

just a quick brainstorm of stuff to consider! X

I would find a local freelance online marketing consultant. Pay them a fee to do a SEO makeover on your website and socials, then work out a deal for a targeted social media ad campaign - you can hit ads to targeted locals. Could offer them a one time fee or a commission for each booking (or more likely a mix of the two).

I would think about where the mums go where they’ll spot it with friends. Village halls and notice boards, sports halls, anywhere they have clubs etc.

I’ve not heard of these businesses before but my colleague yesterday showed me photos of something similar. The kids love it but what struck me is the mums all looked like they were having a great time socially, together. They were having a glass of wine I think!

Best of luck with your redundancy- how did the meeting go? Been there, applied for loads of jobs. It was only when I used AI effectively with applications and targeted to the position (rather than a scatter gun approach) that’s I was successful

Children much younger than 8 and much older than 12 are into bath bombs and smelly stuff - and boys love it too, I'm not sure why you think that girls would be the only target market?

It's also something that could be popular for adults too - themed workshops for Christmas scents for example, or something for hen do's or even baby showers.