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Ideas For Profiting In A Baby Boom?
Posted By: sales on 6/8/2006 11:35 PM (CST) 125 Points
I live in a small but booming city in NJ. What I have noticed over the past five years is the enormous increase of babies and young parents. I can't walk two blocks without encountering 10 strollers.

I wanted to get some ideas on how I can capitalize on this mini "baby boom" in my town. We have a few day care places and a couple of children's clothing stores already. Aside from these, what are some other options that I can explore?

I was thinking about a children's party place, but commercial real estate prices are out of control here. Looking forward to your ideas!

Thanks.

Posted by: darcy.moen Member Response
6/9/2006 3:25 AM (CST)
A sick kids daycare. Yes, really, it would be nice if someone could open up a place to send kids while they are sick and both parents are working. You could sell the service to employers as part of the employee benifit program. Everyone wins!

If you franchise the idea, remember be for 2 percent, okay?!

Darcy Moen
Customer Loyalty Network
 
Posted by: W.M.M.A. Member Response
6/9/2006 7:56 AM (CST)
Plaster Fun House:
Kids love to play in plaster and paint their creations. There is one in our neighborhood, and you wouldn't believe how packed they are, every single day.

They bought a lot of fun molds that kids would like to have. Space Rangers, Clowns, placques, of all kinds, trains...etc and, put in some adult stuff, as well. When asked, they said that the costs were very low, and the went and solicited Girl Scout/Boy Scout, High School and MIddle School teams, and day care centers for children and elders...their place is very busy most days, and they had to move into different quarters within the same center because there was too much business.


Good Luck
Randall
WMMA
 
Posted by: ShannonD* Accepted Answer
6/9/2006 9:51 AM (CST)
I was thinking more of a mulitpurpose gaming center. They have them all over the south. Something similar to the Fun Factory or Fun Depot, like the big two in North Carolina. I've seen one in Gulfshores, and I've also seen a couple in Flordia. There is another in Jackson Mississippi.

The one in jackson is called "The Park" and it has a lazar tag building, putt-putt outside, snack shop, go carts, batting cages, about 100 games inside, and then it has ice skating. It also allows for groups to use the ice skating for broom hockey with tennis shoes. Fun, but carry lots of insurance!

The Fun Depot and Fun Factory in North Carolina are really, really nice. They have 3 restaraunts inside, an expensive seafood and steak place, a pizza/bar style place/ and then a snack food place. They have rock climbing, a huge 12 and under play area, indoor and outdoor putt-putt. The insides are really nice with waterfalls, characters, etc. They have over 400 games, 2 story lazar tag, Indoor batting cages, go carts, and one of them have an indoor 10 lane bowling alley.They also have large party rooms and usually can host up to 4 to 5 parties a piece. They are really neet and make a large amounts of money. But it takes money to make money right?

Of course you have the chain that kids love and parents fear. Chunky Cheese and friends. Pizza, salad, bad shows, and more games than you can afford. LOL I think there is another one called Mr. Gattio's or something similar.




Another idea would be an after school program at the school (s) where you could watch the children until the parents come to pick them up. You could play or supervise different activities and hirer senior high students to help you keep up with them. The last school I worked at had an after school program that lasted from 3 until 6 p.m. The only problem you tend to face is after school sports, unless you are at a elementary school only. Private schools have a lot going on in their gyms so you tend to have to keep the kids outside a lot when the sport seasons that use the gym are rolling. You could also use crafts, movies, or even field trips to make it interesting, considering you can get the parents to chaparone occasionally.
The also had the same program for a Elementary/Middle school program in North carolina that was very popular just because it gave parents time to grocery shop or cook before they picked up children for the day.
-This way you are using the school property if they will let you!

Another idea would be to start a messy game center. I know some groups that do that in my old hometown. They would play messy, nasty games, and the kids all payed so much to come, and then another allotment for the messy stuff used. Usually they would let all the kids mingle with regular stuff like basketball or other gym games, then they would do a couple group games to get them worked up, then they would start the mess. They would also do a lot of water games in the summer time. All you need is a gym and some large sheets of plastic, or a building to work from with a field close by. The only problem with the nasty stuff outside is the flys!

This is an off the wall idea that probably won't work, but I'm going to mention it. Adults have starbucks, kids need a alternative like a juice shop (kinda like a smoothy king), but you could also specialize in certain childrens juices and milks so that mom's don't have to run to the store if they don't need to. You could have different kind of baby formulas prepared so that mom's could come get them .You should get a paper cub chain to make sippy cup lids or bottle tops so you could sell drinks that are kid safe. Or even have your own company cups and bottles. Well, what ya think?

Last but not least would be an evening service for children. When parents want to go out and need somewhere for their children to socialize and interact with other children, but also a safe place to leave children even if they are coming home late in the evening. I don't know of any service like that other than baby sitters. Or even start a baby sitters network.

Hope you like the ideas!

Shannon D
 
Posted by: Frank Hurtte Member Response
6/9/2006 10:16 AM (CST)
I suggest you combine the interest in Bartering with the interest in babys.

Maybe an organized baby crap barter society. Where you make money from organizing parents with strollers for infants with those who need strollers, etc.

Another idea is a baby consignment shop.
 
Posted by: sales Author Response
6/9/2006 10:32 AM (CST)
Thanks for all the great responses!

DARCY.MOEN:
This is a good idea in theory. But a "sick kids daycare" would create a cesspool of bacteria and viruses. If a kid has a simple cold that's one thing, but imagine if a kid comes in with something more serious? Who knows what the kids will come in with, and then everyone will be exposed. I would rather they stay home:)

W.M.M.A:
We had a plaster and craft place at one point on the main street, and it looked very popular. But it closed down for some reason. Could have been because of the rent. There is only so much money a place like that can make, and a $4000/month rent bill can kill it.

SHANNON:
Starting a gaming center needs a huge influx of money for decor and equipment. They also need to be big. This is why places like this are usually in neighborhoods with very cheap rent, like industrial/commercial areas. It just not possible on a small scale.

Your afterschool daycare idea has been talked about for a very long time in different circles. Parents seem interested but yet it has never been done on a large scale. I wonder why? Why can't the flourishing daycares offer their services in the evening?

The babysitting network is a good idea! Maybe have a service where a parent can reserve a babysitter online. But do you really want some stranger you got off a website coming to your house watching your kids? There would have to be a strict babysitter evaluation process.

FRANK HURTTE:
How would I make money by organizing two sets of parents to trade free goods in a barter process?

Thanks everyone!
 
Posted by: harzkek Accepted Answer
6/9/2006 12:49 PM (CST)
What is the one thing parents, especially new parents, do not have enough of? Free Time.

What about a concierge service for parents? Some one to run errands, pick up dry cleaning, grocery shop, etc. giving them more "valuable" time to spend with their families.

You may also consider a "parents night out" event planning service, that provides fun social activites for Moms and Dads who frequently fall out of social circles due to family constraints. It could provide "Mom's night out" events, "Dad days" and "Romantic Rondevous" to allow Mom and Dad to reconnect as Husband and wife.

Child-care could be a part of the package, but not necessarily. Sometimes new parents are just looking for something to do.

Just a thought.
 
Posted by: rbauman* Accepted Answer
6/9/2006 4:04 PM (CST)
Think about what busy NJ parents need and kids want. If you can combine these factors you will have a hit.

Many of the ideas given above have potential - you seem to be bringing up all the negatives instead of looking at how to overcome the issues. If it were that easy, someone else would already have done it!

My vote, if I get one, goes for:
- A parent's concierge service. This is a broad enough idea that it doesn't limit the specific services you can provide. It allows flexibility to start small and expand as your loyal clients tell you what else they need.
- Babysitting Network. You can use older sitters who provide their own transportation and have them "certified" (in my town on LI the local Y gives babysitting courses). You can also go one step further and provide your own baby-cams that can provide parents with a DVD of the evening's events. These type of things will allow you to cahrge a little more than the kid up the street who is not always available.
 
Posted by: virago* Member Response
6/10/2006 7:35 AM (CST)
What is the first and foremost you think about your new born child?

To me it's being healthy and the be safe.

Sorry, that's 2!

How about something when toddlers start of crawl and then walk. You want to create a safe house for them. There are many many safety products. What about a service that helps protect a home against toddlers doing the wrong thing.

For the health part I'm still thinking about it.
 
Posted by: JudyJudyJudy Member Response
6/12/2006 12:57 PM (CST)
The "safe" part of Virago's suggestion got me thinking....
How about performing a service like a "baby safety inspection"? You could check homes and make recommendations (some of which you could even sell) on items like safety gates, outlet protectors, etc. Some recommendations may be simple, like making sure blinds strings are too short for baby; pointing pan handles toward the back of the stove, etc.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
 
Posted by: xavier.bartholome* Member Response
6/14/2006 7:16 AM (CST)
I'm a new Daddy (my boy is 6 months old), and frankly speaking harzkek has a point.

I can fairly say that I haven't had a minute for me in these last 6 months (and Nathan is a really calm and easy-going baby-boy), so indeed, it would be great to have someone pick up some chores, or propose me with some activities
 
Posted by: sales Author Response
6/14/2006 10:03 PM (CST)
Thank you all for the great ideas and responses. There is much here to think about.
 


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