Latest Plan B

[TestMangler]

Forget soft-play, child care is where it's at. Nursery and other prices have risen 25% in the last four years alone. I don't see that trend changing.
If you are Ofsted outstanding in a non-price sensitive place like Nappy Valley, you could charge top whack and you'd be beating parents off with a stick.

Goddamn it to hell, I can't believe I'm saying this but.......

I agree with SAS

Ex neighbour of mine bought a big old house about six years ago and converted/opened it as a private nursery. He expanded pretty quickly and ended up with about 12 nurseries, some purpose built in grounds near large primary schools. Ended up selling out to some small group who already owned a couple of dozen places.

[BrilloPad]

Does anyone use Soft Play sites with their kids? Does anyone know of a good chain, franchise of Soft Plays??

I'm fairly convinced that each soft play is pretty much a 'standalone' business and that there aren't any well known franchises in the UK?

Anyone use them?

We use them alot - occasional visits and sometimes parties.

I do wonder how much expense is involved in staff - you need a few of them!

Though I reckon selling drinks/snacks to adults makes quite alot.

When use Gambados in Beckenham - just down the road from Xeno.

[MarillionFan]

Thinking about it I do wander what a franchisor would bring to the party apart from additional costs.

Its not exactly difficult to find providers of soft play equipment and many will install and maintain it for you.

Only thing I can think of is shared Marketing

That's why you don't come up with ideas.

[SantaClaus]

I had my child's birthday at the local soft-play in the Leisure Centre.

It's run by the council, so entrance is cheap at £3.50. Adults are free. Parties are £10 a kid which includes food.

There's at least 3 other soft plays within a few miles, so not exactly a shortage of these places, in North London anyway.

[MarillionFan]

I had my child's birthday at the local soft-play in the Leisure Centre.

It's run by the council, so entrance is cheap at £3.50. Adults are free. Parties are £10 a kid which includes food.

There's at least 3 other soft plays within a few miles, so not exactly a shortage of these places, in North London anyway.

Only just had a chance to look at this tonight (been so busy at work 'haven't flounced though' ) I'm working out the figures for out of town versus a shopping centre style model & how the concept of a chain would work. (not just shared marketing costs of course )

[AtW]

Only just had a chance to look at this tonight (been so busy at work 'haven't flounced though' ) I'm working out the figures for out of town versus a shopping centre style model & how the concept of a chain would work. (not just shared marketing costs of course )

Have you worked out yet how many viable Plan Bs you'd invent if you did not waste your time posting on CUK using your many sockie accounts?

I've run some draft numbers for myself and it did not look good

[MarillionFan]

Have you worked out yet how many viable Plan Bs you'd invent if you did not waste your time posting on CUK using your many sockie accounts?

I've run some draft numbers for myself and it did not look good

I get paid extremely well thank you very much modelling businesses for clients. Thanks for asking.

[AtW]

I get paid extremely well thank you very much modelling businesses for clients. Thanks for asking.

The only model you can be in my head is a very bad one

Have you decided yet whether to buy sledges this year or not?

[Fishface]

Monkey Bizness in Braehead, Glasgow is a really good one - huge. they are in a chain.

And it rains all time, so they are quids in - expensive.

There are plenty of grim ones - e.g Linwood in a disused industrial estate next to a derelict scheme.

I go to ones where adults (with children) are allowed on the frame - they are the most popular.

Wacky, pub/burger joint ones are grrrrim filthy holes.

[lukemg]

Not feeling the 'goldmine' in this. Setup and running costs are going to sting and lots of uncertainty about turnover. I reckon the food and drink will provide most of the profit with the kids covering the costs + setup loan payments if you are lucky - bit like a petrol station, all the profit is pasties ! Competition from pubs using them as loss leaders + councils starting to chuck them in next to pools etc Plus - the park is free and any spend is discretionary.
Nurseries is different, big, growing and steady demand for these as parents both have to work. Expensive to setup and run but these are a good earner I reckon.
Not worth the grief in either case for me.....