Family fun day without the remortgage?

paulwf

casbah wrote: »

hey Paul
Thanks for your post, the teabag thing was just an example of how they inflate the prices etc. I don't see the need to charge an 8,000% mark up.

The cost price and markup is irrelevant. No decent business sells an item based on what it costs, you sell purely on what you think you can get for it. There's also a huge difference between gross profit and net profit, but cafe profit & losses is getting off topic

Here's a horror story for you, a certain,very well known, country fair sells trade space at £18.50 per square metre and a minimum of 6m2 m. tatal £112.00
A certain event organiser sells trade space at that very event at £185.43+ vat minimum 2 metres.
is there really a need for that?
cas

Why not? Again as a business if they can sell an item at a certain price and maximise profit then why would they sell it any cheaper? You sell at what the market will bear, the cost price is irrelevant.

If you are doing this purely for community, not for profit or charitable reasons then that's fine and I'm sorry if I've got my wires crossed. However if you want to run this as a business you need to have the confidence to be a salesperson and that means not being afraid to as make as much money as possible. That doesn't mean ripping people off, but it does mean getting as much money as you can for a quality product. Selling effectively is hard, I struggle getting my staff to have the confidence to maximise every single sale.

Horace

casbah wrote: »

hey Paul
Thanks for your post, the teabag thing was just an example of how they inflate the prices etc. I don't see the need to charge an 8,000% mark up.
Here's a horror story for you, a certain,very well known, country fair sells trade space at £18.50 per square metre and a minimum of 6m2 m. tatal £112.00
A certain event organiser sells trade space at that very event at £185.43+ vat minimum 2 metres.
is there really a need for that?
cas

Event organisers need to make a profit, they also have overheads, tax, insurances, paying the venue etc. etc. it is not just a case of pitching up in a farmer's field or on some car park or other..venues need to be paid for. I know that at the NEC they charge stands out at £3K plus VAT and that one business networking show charges £250 plus VAT for a tiny round table and no chair with space for one small banner.

I organise loads of events and I am looking at organising a trade show in Birmingham because I have noticed that all the shows for my industry now take place in London, the main Birmingham show having been cancelled. I know that I will have to source the venue, sort out my marketing etc. etc and it all costs - I do not work for free and only work to make a profit otherwise there is no point in being in business.

paddyrg

One further thought - themed events sound self-defeating to me. All that advertising and word of mouth will be for nothing where a regular crowd could build with a (say) kids day.

casbah

paddyrg wrote: »

One further thought - themed events sound self-defeating to me. All that advertising and word of mouth will be for nothing where a regular crowd could build with a (say) kids day.

Sorry I've left my brain in bed this morning what are you saying? a kids day is a good idea or isn't?

Cas

paddyrg

I just mean a kids day is great, but a different audience from a horse day is a different audience from a classic aeroplanes day - so no word of mouth to build your crowds, just lots of primary advertising and promotional costs! Personally I would look at the kids event and trying to grow it so you can then charge more for stalls etc once the market is proven.

casbah

Aw ok I see now, sorry having a senior moment day.
I wonder if I approached a venus owner and offer to rent the venue for every sunday for a 26 week period, they might be more inclined to agree, but the down side would be, how would I fill every sunday? wouldn't the same theme each week becoma stagnant and boring?

Cas

jexygirl

Hi Cas
How about organising just one "village fete" or "funday" and see exactly whats involved first rather than trying to go straight for weekly or whatever.

I think the idea is good, but off the top of my head, i would probably do one, then, once I learned lol, I would do another one, "due to popular demand" perhaps 3 months later, then as the "brand" builds and grows and people know they can get a really good day out, diversify to more stalls, more things of interest.

It would take masses of advertising, and there is definitely outlay / risk and alot of organisation, but given time you may be able to build it into a great event.

I do think weekly is too often, at most I would go 3 monthly - and to organise a good one, it would take that long in between otherwise you dilute the idea and it wont perhaps be so professionally done.

If you really put the effort in to the first one, and the turnout is good, the stall holders will be happy, parents happy etc.

Michael Eavis started small and look at him now!

Jex

davehills

Hi

In Totton, there's an annual family fun day and almost everything is free. Admission is free. Bouncy castles are free. Entertainment is free. Burgers/hotdogs are free. Drinks are free. There's even a free park and ride.

From memory the only things that are charged for are ice creams and these are something silly like 50p.

It's organised by the town council/local churches/local businesses (Such as Asda) providing things for free.

It really is a great family day out and brings the community together. It proves that such events are entirely possible, with a bit of thought and a lot of community co-operation.

Godd luck!

stephenni1971

How much have you got to invest in the idea?

casbah

Hi Stephenni.
Enough to hire the pitch, buy the gazebos, fund the food stall (and staff) and pay for the PLI plus a little bit for advertising