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I'm looking to find a very small wading pool for the kids to stand in. Oh, and I need a big enough "wand"... which I see that many people use coat hangers.

Wand = Small hulahoop. I've always been lucky at Wal-mart getting these smaller sizes. Also Toys R Us.
Pool = Small plastic or blow-up pool just slightly bigger than the circumfrence of the hulahoop.

There is also a 48 inch blow up pool at Toys R Us. I think 60+ inches is too big. I believe blow up is better because those plastic ones have scratched/cut my kids. You don't want to deal with that risk.

I've posted this before on another site: http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html. My friend in SF makes them clear, too.
 
Well...here we go...

Got my postcards from the printer yesterday and, of course, once I saw them I thought of several things I would change. I'll save those thoughts for next time. I went with the one with the smiling girl (choices were posted earlier in this thread).

So I got my mailing lists ready (sourced as per the plan, thanks again John) and I'm about to send 300 postcards out. Much later then I wanted to send them out, but hopefully still in time for the rest of the summer and early fall. We shall see what happens...keep ya posted.
 
Good Luck, Wayde! :sqbiggrin:

I've got someone coming to work up a brochure tomorrow then the printer says he can have them done in about 3-4 days once I get the files to him. Hoping to get them dropped off before I leave for Mobile Beat.

Trying to get the mail list together now. Virginia didn't seem to have the online resource, so I'm doing it the old fashioned way. Much later than I wanted as well, but what can you do. These things take time...and money!

See you at Mobile Beat next Thursday! Guess no other bubble people except Rob Peters are gonna be there. My cell is 434-960-2705.

Rick
 
I know the question was posed about contracts. Anyone care to share how they modified it? I sent out about 100 postcards on Thursday and am already receiving phone calls today.

Any ideas? I haven't really sat down and thought about it, but I'll try in the next day or 2 and share what I come up with.

Thanks!

kev
 
I sent out about 100 postcards on Thursday and am already receiving phone calls today.
Congratulations, Kevin! Knock 'em out and you've got customers for as long as you want them!
 
Changed your company name...did you get a new DBA for the bubble parties?


No, though I probably should have, and may. My bubble party checks are made out to me.
 
Finally, the girl who's putting together my bubble party mailer for me is coming tomorrow (Monday) night. Hate to put it out this late, but there's always August and September.

I did a little of the letter and flyer combination with business cards, like Papa. I scrambled to send out 25 to addresses and daycares that I knew were good prospects. Mailed near the end of June and zero response, which I attribute to very lousy design on my part and bad timing, thus I'm now willing to pay someone else.

The question is brochures vs. postcards. I know most of the people posting here have done postcards, including Wayde and, Kevin, I think you just got yours out also.

What kind of response did the postcards get? If you had it to do over again, would you still do the cards or do brochures? Finally, are there any people running the bubble parties here who have used brochures and how did you do?

Trying to make some decisions. I know it's probably cheaper to print and mail the postcards, but i just want to do the BEST thing to make the most of my investment so far, so I'll go brochure if someone convinces me it's better.

Thanks! :sqbiggrin:

Rick H
 
Rick:

Do the full brochure. It will look better, it will give the reader a much more in-depth look at the program and will likely get a better response than the postcards.
 
Thanks for chiming in, John. I was originally leaning that way because I'm so fortunate to have so many good pictures.

Also, the young girl who's helping me is very motivated to put together a great brochure, so I think she'll knock it out of the park!

If you have time, John, I would love it if you checked out my site and told me what pictures you think I should use. You're certainly the only one of us who qualifies as an expert! :sqbiggrin:

www.DJBubbleParties.com

Thanks, John. Would love to hear from the postcard folks as well.

Rick H
 
Rick:

About the only thing I would add is perhaps a testimonial or two.

I'd rethink making the ADJA and NAME logos so prominent. It's not a bad thing, it's just that it really doesn't add much to the feel of the website.

On the HTML side, I'd change the title at the top of the page to something more easy to index with a search engine. Currently, you have the URL as the title. Something like "Children's Entertainment Bubble Parties Charlottesville Albemarle" is more likely to appear in a Google search than a URL.

Other than that, it's a good looking site.
 
I have some comments on the contract discussion, post cards vs brochure and the merits of my marketing so far...which I'll get to one of these days, been kinda busy this week. My daughters first birthday is coming up and tomorrow is my first official bubble party! Yea!

One thought I wanted to throw out there for John Allo...
No offense to the fine folks running this board, but John...have you considered adding a members only chat board to the bubble parties site? There many program specific things I'd love to discuss with the other "Bubble Men" (why does that make me think of the movie Mystery Men), without giving away details of your business plan on a public forum. It would certainly be a nice additional incentive for those that purchased your plan to renew their listing on the bubble parties site each year...which in turn helps you to maintain a revenue stream on this thing.
 
What is the average setup cost to start in the bubble party business?
 
John...have you considered adding a members only chat board to the bubble parties site? There many program specific things I'd love to discuss with the other "Bubble Men" (why does that make me think of the movie Mystery Men), without giving away details of your business plan on a public forum. It would certainly be a nice additional incentive for those that purchased your plan to renew their listing on the bubble parties site each year...which in turn helps you to maintain a revenue stream on this thing.
That's a great idea, Wayde.

It would certainly cut down on the number of people who haven't purchased the business plan trying to pick the brains of people who already purchased the business plan.

Wayde, I will persue this. If and when I have such a board, I'll email all the bubble people with the URL and access info.
 
Anyone who purchased a business plan will be receiving an email later today with the URL of an invite only board that will provide Bubble Parties DJs a chance to freely discuss any issue related to Bubble Parties.

Good idea, Wayde.