Q. We are doing ok on sale but we want more sales..Does anyone know any ideas/events that we could do to help get it going more?
A. It's good that sales are ok. My question is, do you know who your customers are?
Having a system in place to capture your customers' names and addresses is vital in any business and this is one aspect that a lot of people overlook. When you know who your current customers are, it's easier to sell them more stuff. Too many times in business we spend our time chasing the new customer and not pay attention ot our current ones that are keeping the doors open. So the first idea is to start a mailing list and mail your promotions to these customers. Could be a VIP sale. Special discounts for your special customers or whatever. Just give them something that the regular Joe off the street isn't getting.
Another idea to build a mailing list is to have a contest for some toy prize package. People sign up for a drawing, and these forms are placed in restaurants and other local businesses...of course with their permission. You can get a heckuva mailing list for just the cost of a few toys that you're buying wholesale anyway. The form should also ask for the child's age and birthdate.
A few weeks before the child's birthday, send them a postcard good for $5 (or whatever) off anything in the store, and to also pick up their special birthday gift from you. Thsi could be anything...I'm sure a quick glance through yoru catalogs will give you plenty of ideas. The strategy here is to get kid, mom, and dad in your store to pick up the gift, the kid has the coupon, and they'll probably buy something else from ya while they're there.
Also as you build your mailing list, you can let your customers know when you are planning a special event. You'll get a much bigger response from mailing to your own list telling them about the magician that will be in your toy store on Saturday, doing shows at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM than you would placing an expensive ad in the newspaper to the masses...most of whom couldn't care less about your store.
Customer appreciation days are also great events, as are your anniversary and holidays.
My main idea though si to begin a mailing list if you haven't done so. Your customers are your most valuable asset, know who they are. Good luck.
For those parents who have kids in daycare/preschool have you ever held a party there instead of home?
Q. I am planning on just having a party for my soon to be 4 year old son at his daycare which he is now in the pre-k room. I don't have any kids in my family and his father has just a few. So I thought since there are many children there this would be a good idea. Has anyone done this if so how was it? Any ideas? His daycare isn't real tight on certain rules.
A. LOL, no. There are so many reasons why I wouldn't.
I would not want other parents to feel obligated to buy my child a birthday gift just by virtue of being in the same daycare room.
I would never expect or ask staff at our daycare to offer such a service, they are so busy already, I couldn't imagine asking them to host a birthday party.
Daycares often have a fairly structured routine to follow so children get fed on time, get outside, have circle, etc. that I don't know how throwing a birthday party would even fit into that.
I would much prefer to have their birthday party other than somewhere they have to go every day. They would be much more comfortable at home, with family and close friends.
We don't have any family nearby. We have a few friends with children their age, but we keep our parties fairly small. My girls are 3 and 5.
What are some good ideas for my daughters first birthday party?
Q. She likes to watch Yo Gabba Gabba. What are some ideas for a Yo Gabba Gabba themed party for a one year old, or just some ideas for a one year old's birthday party in general? She is my first and I would like to have a big celebration, but I'm not sure where to go with this. Thanks!
A. A 1st bday really IS for the adults, not the kids. For a child that age, that many people & that much attention focused on them is often over stimulating. My 1st child did okay, but really could have cared less to open more than one gift & my 2nd actually slept through the majority of his party. LOL
We did Yo Gabba Gabba for my 1st. I bought him all the train set figures (not sure they are still out - but those are STILL a hit in my house 5 yrs later). I hooked those together in a loop around his cake & the cake he ate was just round & had the Yo Gabba Gabba logo on top. He loved that. You can get LOTS of various party supplies depending on your budget. Sites like these carry tons of things: http://www.partycity.com/product/yo+gabba+gabba+party+supplies.do
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A165793011%2Ck%3Ayo%20gabba%20gabba%20party%20supplies&page=1
http://www.birthdayexpress.com/Yo-Gabba-Gabba-1st-Birthday-Party-Supplies/64754/PartyKitDetail.aspx
Personally, I would skip too much stuff that is themed. You pay more & sometimes it gets a little visually overstimulating to too busy looking. I tend to stick to solid colors for plates, napkins & cups & do theme things for hats, table covers & centerpieces & the like. I might do a couple of mylar balloons that are the theme, but do the rest in solid colors. You get the idea.
Another thing I always do when looking for inspiration is just do an internet search for images of what others have done like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=yo+gabba+gabba+birthday&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=lwKVT42jENOf6QHUt5C2BA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CGcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=741&sei=mQKVT7ikAqee6QHgv4GUBA
No matter what you do, don't throw a ton of money away on the party & don't worry too much about anything. One year olds are pretty oblivious as to the fact it is their bday & mostly you just want to get together & celebrate a milestone for her as well as for you with the people that matter in your life. As long as you keep that in mind, then you are fine, because that IS all that really matters in the end.
Congrats on hitting that year - it is an accomplishment & an enormous year in both your lives. It also went too fast I am sure - it ALWAYS does in the end. When it is hard & they aren't sleeping you think a year is so far off & then poof - you are planning a party. :)
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