Talking Shop: Retailing Party Supplies
It cannot be denied that one of the best sources of extra income for party planners is a shop (a boutique) of in demand party supplies. It can be a small operation in a corner of your garage, with your neighbors as your main clientele. Or, it can be a medium-large scale one in a teeming busy street with passers by and shoppers all around.
The key to both small scale and large scale operations is insight. You must know what looks cute to anyone, or what anyone will pick up on a whim and buy for someone’s birthday, their weekend poker matches at home or their own daily tea party. For instance, fancy centerpieces, colorful banners, easy to set up indoor lights and confetti.
You must also have larger pieces that people can order in advance for, like pinatas, personalized decorations, special birthday balloons, theme costumes and theme accessories.
Catering to Different Markets
Your market won’t always be moms looking for nicer party supplies for their kids’ parties. You will also have some who are looking for more creative stuff to spruce up their simple wedding receptions. You have to choose which market you will cater for specifically, without disregarding the more pressing demands of the other party. It’s a stretch, but with shrewd planning and marketing, you can do it.
For instance, you advertise that you’re selling party candles in bulk. You can accommodate those who are looking for “made” party candles, then you can also market a few items that would appeal to those who are looking for more personal candles. In fact, you can go ahead and sell candle kits for those who want to DIY.
Of course, to someone who harbors dreams of saving more cash by creating her own party candles, the whole process seems simple enough while she’s holding the candle kit in her hands, in your store. When the going gets tough, however (and she needs the most perfect candles ever for her party, but she couldn’t come up with candles that are perfect enough), she will remember your store and finally give in to the convenience of simply buying from your store.
The thing is, you’re selling party supplies, as well as the convenience of throwing a party without thinking too much of what favors to give, where to order those favors and the like. You only need to have a good cashier you can trust and some store implements like a cash drawer (see mmf drawer), a cash register, storefront demo personnel and some people around to show clients the merchandise.