Advice PLEASE for new party plan idea

Corelli

Hello, I would really appreciate some advice on this. I am hoping to start making childrens' dressing up clothes with a very particular theme.

To market them, my plan is to give an outfit to the host's child and then for the other children and parents to look at that one (on child if child is willing) photographs and fabric etc options and choose an individual style for their child.

But how to charge is the question. I'm thinking of asking for a deposit on the night and then collecting the balance on delivery of the costume. Does that sound about right? 50% perhaps?

And of course, to make it legal .... I do realise I need to inform the tax people. But I doubt I'll make very much at all, a few hundred if I'm lucky ..... so wouldn't be taxed on it. at what stage do I need to tell them? I don't want the hassle of going self employed and then find I sell nothing and having to de-register.

Thanks

cte1111

You need to register as self employed as soon as you start doing any work, there is no limit under which you are allowed to not bother telling them.

Savvy_Sue

Without knowing what the theme is, I'm wondering if you'd need to clear it for copyright? And how sure are you that this theme will not be just a passing phase ...

Corelli

How can anyone be sure about anything? It may not work at all but it's connected with the re-enactment world and doesn't need copyright. Thanks for pointing it out though.

AliceJenkins

Sounds a great idea, kids would love.

heretolearn_2

re-enactments eh? Now you've got my interest up :-)

If it is something along the lines of tudor/Victorian stuff for the school activity days take a long look at the cheap costumes being sold on line for this - you'd have to be competitive on price. From what I've seen the parents don't give a fig about the quality (fair enough, it's only one day) apart from the odd little hired princess outfit.

Colin2511

Hi, it sounds a good idea..but I would check about the Toy Safety Directive 2011 (this link says some bits) as this affects all kids toys, and fancy dress costumes are classed as toys, I know that someone making sock monkeys from ladies socks to sell at a craft fair was told to stop selling until they could prove its all compliant. http://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk/safety

Nothing may ever happen wiht the costumes, but if the material has not been checked for fire resistance etc, then if something tragic ever happens, you could be in trouble.

ukclare

It sounds interesting Corelli and I am sure you have put a lot of thought into your plan but it does seem to me that a party plan system seems a lot of work for fairly little pay-off. Have you done your figures realistically, after making an outfit for the host how many will you need to sell. I guess your expenses need not be too high but you need some form of "takeaway" like brochures, etc. and flyers to get more hosts down the line (which is always the difficult bit after a while!) It may not be worth the time investment.

Is there an additional product you can sell - eg. if it re-enactment - wooden shields or themed sweets or goodie bags, (for about £5) as guest often feel that they "should" buy something and if they don't want to spring for the whole costume you should pick them up on subsidiary goods.
Have you considered selling though Ebay or particularly ETSY for a while to see how you like it - with less commitment and overhead?
I would not worry too much about (de)registering here and there just keep good records so that you have a realistic idea about your actual costs for the time you go from a hobby to a business.

Just a few thoughts but hope they help!

Savvy_Sue

Another obvious thought is that your work may come in fits and starts, which will mean hugely busy times followed by next to nothing. And you may not have much control over that.

If you can have the basic model 'ready to go' in various sizes, as it were, this may not matter, but if you have to start from scratch for each costume in each size after each party, will you cope if there are two or more parties in quick succession? You've probably thought about this already, but I can see time being of the essence with these.

Of course what you really asked about was payment methods. I agree you should ask for something up front, although the regular 'party plan' model seems to be payment on delivery. So how much people would be prepared to pay up front is uncertain to me, but I'd happily pay 50% if I were in this market. Agree with clare though: I might not shell out on a costume but might be tempted by accessories.

Corelli

heretolearn wrote: »

re-enactments eh? Now you've got my interest up :-)

If it is something along the lines of tudor/Victorian stuff for the school activity days take a long look at the cheap costumes being sold on line for this - you'd have to be competitive on price. From what I've seen the parents don't give a fig about the quality (fair enough, it's only one day) apart from the odd little hired princess outfit.

You are quite right about this, I can't expect many parents to share my passion. I'm not going to get much at all from this but I can compete with the upper end of what is on ebay pricewise at a much better quality. Its not so much of a business I've sadly realised but possibly I'll make enough to pay for my own music lessons which will be good for me. And I care about the quality of the childrens' experience. Which is stupid. I doubt very many of them care either,

Corelli

Colin2511 wrote: »

Hi, it sounds a good idea..but I would check about the Toy Safety Directive 2011 (this link says some bits) as this affects all kids toys, and fancy dress costumes are classed as toys, I know that someone making sock monkeys from ladies socks to sell at a craft fair was told to stop selling until they could prove its all compliant. http://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk/safety

Nothing may ever happen wiht the costumes, but if the material has not been checked for fire resistance etc, then if something tragic ever happens, you could be in trouble.

Eeek, really? I'd never thought of that. Thanks.