“MAGIC” is the buzz word that usually describes what this business offers.

No – the Party Planning business we’re talking about has very little to do with Goof-Doop The Clown or serving cake and ice cream to 6-year old kids.

CORPORATE SCENE

For a Party Planner, this is where the money is. And if you have the knack for organizing fun things for grown ups, you’re in for a big – $100 Million – surprise. And it’s a business worth celebrating.

BROKER MENTALITY

This is a business you can virtually start with little or no capital. All you need is a great idea and a client who wants to have fun.

The best way to implement this business is to act as the broker for all services entailed in any given event.

You do not prepare the food, you hire a caterer. You do not sing or dance, you hire entertainers. In fact, in some real big parties, you can negotiate with talent agencies to have celebrities attend your party.

For example, you can have named stars “drop by” your party for around $10,000 or better. If your budget cannot afford the real celebs at $10,000 a piece, then you can hire look-alikes for $200 a night. Do not introduce them in the party, just let them roam around and mingle with the guests.

THEME PARTIES

You can also plan an event around a theme, depending on the reason for the party and the number of people attending.

You can build festivals around parties. If the party is an extension of a convention, work around ideas that are conducive to people in that trade or industry.

START-UP

To get started, line up businesses that are involved in parties: florists, videographers, caterers, hotel managers, equipment rental companies, and others.

Set your rates based on the price lists of these related businesses. These tie-in companies will dictate the way you structure your prices.

Once ready, compile a mailing list of potential corporate accounts in your area. If you live in a city with a convention center, it would be ideal to do some networking and get referral business.

Here’s a pleasant home based business that will challenge your creative as well as your managerial skills. It’s a fun business for those who have the flare for creating appetizing gift packages.

A FUN PRODUCT

Gourmet gift baskets have become popular in recent years. They are a collection of desirable items and in such a variety that they appeal to all. By determining the markets you want to target and the type of baskets you want to produce, you can set your income goals for as little or as much as you like.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS

From the very large and the very small, businesses have needs for gift giving on a pretty constant basis.

By targeting corporate accounts, you protect yourself from potential sales fluctuations common to what are generally considered seasonal items. Business love gift baskets because they are “safe” compared to other gifts like chocolate (many people now carefully watch their fat intake) or wine & spirits (many people don’t drink). Of course, other possible clients for your gift baskets include associations, retail outlets, fund raisers, and individual customers who purchase for themselves or as a gift.

CREATIVE DESIGNS

Gourmet gift baskets are fundamentally a few nice items placed in a unique arrangement and presented to look extravagant. Use your imagination and keep an eye for unusual and appealing products.

To keep unit price low, inventory most commonly used items by purchasing direct from the manufacturer or main distributor. Look for large pretty items; they will give your product “size”.

THEME MARKETING

Focus on a theme and build around it. From a corporate perspective, create presentations that communicate the corporate perspective, create presentations that communicate the corporate or marketing slogan.

Do not limit yourself by just using baskets as your main vehicle. For example, a basket with an Italian theme can use (as its basket) a large pasta bowl to hold a small bottle of vinegar, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and kitchen utensils.

Raffia or “grass” can be used to cushion the items, sealed together with shrink wrap.

Finish your basket with a bow or medal, and you’ve got a product that can be retailed for around $39. Your cost: as low as $12.

The Road to Big Profits

Maps serve a purpose. People use it for directions. They trust it and depend on it to get them where they want to go. It tells them where the local attractions are, and other places if interest, particularly among tourists – the people who use maps the most.

Considering the credibility and the power of maps as a printed medium, it takes an entrepreneur 2 seconds to realize that there’s money in maps… as an advertising vehicle.

You can design your city map to be as large as 28″ x 40″ which can be printed by commercial print houses with large format presses. Or you can use the 11″ x 17″ format and bring it to your neighborhood quick printer.

The Map

What you’re going to make a map of is as critical as deciding about how you’re going to do it. These are the two questions that will make the foundation of your business.

Big cities are very seldom a great market for City Maps. However, if you break them apart and make maps for selected business districts, even down to selected neighborhoods, the taking is plenty.

Focus on dense retail districts. Target those with neighboring restaurant row, historical spots or other tourist attractions.

Purchase reprint rights of already existing maps as this would prove significantly easier and more cost efficient than producing one yourself.

Cartoon styled maps may be visually entertaining, but they are seldom useful. You will probably attract more advertisers if you can equate your advertising rates with potential use.

Advertisers

Position advertising blocks on the outer edge of the map area. Depending of the size of your map and the paper you plan to print it in, you can have as many or as few “blocks” to offer for advertising. Encourage your advertisers to buy more than one block of advertising. This will not only make your map look more exclusive, it will also make your selling ad spaces get done a lot sooner.