Monthly Archives: March 2021

Are Promotional Products Worth the Cost for Your Small Business?

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Promotional products are everywhere these days – no doubt, you even own a few of your own, picked up from business fairs, markets, and promotional giveaways.
Whether it’s a tote bag, mug, fridge magnet or umbrella flaunting your company’s logo, promotional products are perfect for both attracting new customers, and keeping your business fresh in the minds of existing and past clients.

Not only are promotional products effective for larger companies, they’re also perfect for improving brand awareness and recognition for small and medium-sized businesses. But of course, you have to allocate funds within your advertising budget to order these products before you’ll start to see a return on your investment. And it’s also important that you know how to use such products effectively, so that they’ll make the biggest impact on your customer base and sales.

This guide will talk you through what exactly promotional products are, and give you some examples of how to use them. We’ll discuss how much promotional products cost, the benefits they may bring, and discuss whether the rewards are worth the investment.

What Are Promotional Products?

A promotional product is, in essence, any physical item that bears your company’s name, logo, or slogan. This could be a pen, a keyring, a flyer, a t-shirt – anything, really. It might be a one-use-only item, like a paper cup, or something that’s designed to last for years, such as a ceramic mug. The merchandise itself doesn’t have to bear any relation to the service or product that your company actually sells.

You might have seen businesses handing out promotional products at trade shows or conventions, giving them away as freebies to customers with their order, or using them as giveaway prizes.

Many people think that promotional products are something of a gimmick, or simply used as a token gesture of kindness – but that’s not the case. Multiple studies have shown that promotional products are an invaluable form of advertising that can help to draw in new customers, and retain the existing ones. They can even help to boost morale among employees of a company, and improve employee loyalty.

Examples of Promotional Products and How to Use Them

As you might have guessed, there are many different kinds of promotional products, available at a number of price points. For example:

• Flyers, leaflets and postcards are some of the cheapest promotional products. They’re so affordable that you can hand them out to passers-by, or hire a company to deliver them directly to homes as part of a local advertising campaign.

• Magnets and keyrings are a step up in terms of price, but also durability. They won’t be discarded as quickly, and are perfect handed out as freebies with an order, or at trade shows and business fairs.

• Drinkware such as glasses and mugs are designed to be used for many years, and make great gifts of thanks to longstanding clients and employees. While they may be on the costlier side, they’ll be used by your customers and employees regularly, increasing your exposure and brand awareness. One marketing study found drinkware to be one of the most influential kinds of promotional product – a famous example being the iconic Sports Direct mugs.

• Clothing, bags and umbrellas are some of the longest-lasting and most effective promotional wares. They make great corporate gifts – the big benefit being that they’ll be taken outside, and be seen by the public!
The more hardwearing and high-quality the product, the longer it will last, and therefore the more expensive it will be to buy. But though these products may be pricier, they have the most usability and the longest lifespan – so they also have the most potential to help grow your business.

What Are the Benefits of Using Promotional Products?

The use of promotional products, gifts and merchandise will result in many tangible benefits for your business. Multiple marketing studies have shown that promotional products can:

• Increase brand awareness and identification. Your name and logo will be more easily recognised and remembered.

• Help improve brand image – change the way that people feel about your company. A study by the Advertising Specialties Institute found that people view companies who give them promotional items in an overwhelmingly positive light.

• Increase your company’s sales. A customer is more likely to do business with a company if they own their merchandise, rather than a competitor who sells a similar product or service.

• Increase employee morale, if your promotional products are given away to employees as a thank-you for their hard work.

• Keep your business fresh in the minds of past customers. A potential customer will look at a branded mug and see your logo every single time they drink from it. This is much more effective than, say, passing a billboard.

Don’t forget that your promotional products won’t just have an effect on those who own them, but also anyone who sees the product being used. For example, if someone is carrying around a tote bag bearing your company’s name, this might be seen by anyone who passes them in the street.

Will My Customers Actually Use or Keep the Product?

In short – yes. Obviously, not every (potential) customer will be interested in keeping a branded product in their home; they may have no use for it, or no room to store it. But studies show that the average consumer will keep a promotional product for an average of 7 months.

For more durable and practical products, such as umbrellas, this average increases to 14 months. All this time, not only will your potential customer be looking at your logo every time they use the product – but they’ll also be seen using it, either inside or outside the home.

Furthermore, over 50% of people who own a promotional product will give it away to someone else when they’re finished with it, rather than throwing it in the bin. This will further spread brand awareness!

To increase the likelihood that your customers will actually use your promotional products, take into account your target market. Try to offer the kinds of products that your particular audience will be most likely to use. For example, if your company is popular with the over-70s, USB drives and tech gadgets may not be a sensible choice – but things and mugs and umbrellas might be perfect.

How Much Do Promotional Products Cost?

The cost of any promotional product will vary depending, of course, on what kind of product it is. For example, our magnets start at £15.95 for a pack of 20 small magnets – that’s less than 80p each.

Our personalised mugs vary in price depending on whether you want a single image or a wraparound-style image, and how many mugs you order. The more you order, the more you’ll save – a pack of 200 single image mugs comes to just £4.26 per mug.

In general, products which cost more to purchase are:
• Larger
• Higher quality
• More durable
• Reusable
• Multi-purpose
• Designed to be used for a long period of time (months or years)

Though a personalised coffee mug might be more expensive than a branded paper cup, for example, it will have a more lasting impression on the owner (whether that’s a customer or an employee), and will therefore generate more sales and interest in your company.

How Do I Know I’m Getting a Good Return on Investment?

Promotional products offer a greater return on investment than traditional types of advertising (such as newspaper ads and billboards). In terms of cost per impression (CPI), promotional merchandise is the most cost-effective form of advertising, at around 0.5p per impression.

A 2014 study by the British Promotional Merchandise Association also found that:

• 96% of marketers who had tried promotional products thought they were worth the money, in terms of increasing brand awareness
• 73% of the public said that they would purchase from a company that had given them a promotional gift

Data also shows that many customers will also remember the brand on their promotional product for many years after they have thrown or given the item away.
In terms of your own business, the most direct way to monitor whether you’re getting a return on your investment is to closely monitor your sales, website views, searches and clicks, both before and after you roll out your new promotional merchandise.

How Do I Factor Promotional Products into My Advertising Budget?

As excited you may be at the prospect of rolling out your new promotional merchandise to your employees and customers, don’t go overboard. Make sure to factor in your spend on promotional products into your current advertising budget, to avoid overspending.
You may need to make some reductions in other methods of advertising, such as targeted online ads and promoted Facebook posts, in order to make room for your new ad specialties.
Think carefully about which promotional products you’ll need over the next 12 months when you begin your annual advertising budget. Start with products at a lower price point if you’re unsure.
Plan for a year’s worth of upcoming events, such as new product rollouts and seasonal sales. And be aware that it might take a while before you notice any additional revenue from your new products – but it will be worth it in the end.
Where Can I Order Personalised Promotional Products?

At 123Print, we offer a range of personalised promotional products including:
• Flyers
• Postcards
• Keyrings
• Magnets
• Mugs
• Stationery such as notepads, letterheads and rubber stamps

 

All of our products are fully customisable. You can select one of our templates to edit as you please, or create your own design entirely from scratch using our editor. Upload your own artwork (such as your company’s logo) for free, and choose a colour scheme and font that matches your business’s aesthetic.

You can order your promotional products in quantities of up to 2,000, and the more you order, the more you’ll save. With fast shipping, competitive prices and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose!

Save the Dates vs. Wedding Invitations: What’s the Difference and Do You Need Both?

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If you’ve recently got engaged, you’re probably being hounded by friends and relatives asking you questions like “have you picked a date yet?” and “when are you going to send out save the dates?”
If you’ve not been invited to many weddings before, you’re probably wondering: what exactly is a “save the date”, and is it the same thing as a wedding invitation? Are they both necessary?

A save the date is a standalone (and very important) piece of wedding stationery which is completely separate to a wedding invitation. It’s sent out several months before the invitation, and its sole purpose is to inform your future wedding guests of the wedding date. It doesn’t contain any other details about your wedding day celebration, and it’s not meant to be replied to. Formal invitations are then sent out closer to the big day, along with a reply card.

This guide will further explain exactly what the difference is between a save the date and a wedding invitation, what information you should include on each, and whether you truly need to send out both.

What Is a Save the Date?

A wedding save the date is, essentially, like a formal “heads up” about your upcoming wedding. Its purpose is to act as an engagement announcement, and let your potential guests know when the wedding date will be. That’s it!

A save the date is not the same thing as an invitation (there’s no reply card, so the recipients aren’t expected to RSVP at this stage). However, anyone who receives a save the date should receive an invitation eventually. So, only send them out once you’ve decided exactly who you want to invite, and confirmed that the venue will be big enough to hold them all (if everyone says yes).

The purpose of a save the date is to inform your invitees of the wedding date well in advance, so that they can book time off work and avoid making any other arrangements on the day in question.
Once you’ve organised all the little details, such as what food you’ll be serving and what time the ceremony will start, then you can send out the formal invitations.

What Information Goes On a Save the Date?

A traditional wedding save the date contains the following information:
1) The names of who’s invited (usually on the outer envelope, not on the card itself)
2) The names of the couple getting married
3) The wedding date

You don’t need to include the wedding venue. However, if you’re tying the knot more than an hour away from where your invitees live, it’s a good idea to include the name of the town at least. This will give your invitees some forewarning that they’ll need to travel.
A save the date usually ends with “invitation to follow”, to let guests know to expect a formal invite later on.

How Far In Advance Do You Send Save the Dates?

Because the only purpose of a save the date is to spread word of your wedding date, you can send them out practically as early as you’d like. The only thing you need to do before sending save the dates is to book your venue. You don’t need to have finalised any other details.

Save the dates are usually sent out 4-6 months before the wedding. You can go earlier than this for destination weddings.
However, we wouldn’t recommend sending them any earlier 12 months out. Otherwise, you run the risk of the recipient thinking “that’s ages away – I’ll deal with this later” and then completely forgetting about it.

What Is a Wedding Invitation?

A save the date isn’t the same thing as a formal wedding invitation – although everyone who receives a save the date must also receive an invitation, according to traditional wedding etiquette.

Think of the save the date card as a pre-invitation – something that tells the recipient that they will soon be invited to a wedding, and to keep the date free. The formal invitation is what actually invites them. Wedding invitations are typically bigger than save the dates, and may be folded, or come with several inserts containing all the important details.

The key difference between a save the date and an invitation is that you have to reply to an invitation, whereas you don’t have to respond to a save the date. Invitations come with reply cards to fill out and send back to the host.

What Information Goes On a Wedding Invitation?

Unlike a save the date, whose only purpose is to inform the invitee of the date of the wedding, there are many parts to a wedding invitation. The invitation is sent once you’ve finalised all the details of the big day, and need to communicate these details with your guests.

As well as the date, your wedding invitation should include:
1) The wedding date
2) Name and address of the ceremony venue (and reception venue, if it’s different)
3) Directions to the venue(s)
4) The ceremony start time (and reception start time, if it’s being held at a different location)
5) Accommodation details for guests that need to stay overnight (names and numbers of local hotels)
6) Menu card (if you’re allowing your guests to choose between different meal options)
7) Some way for the guests to RSVP (such as a reply card or an e-mail address)
8) The RSVP deadline

If you have a wedding website, you can use this to provide additional details (such as nearby parking, public transport routes, and gift registry information). Include a link to your wedding website on the paper invitation.

How Far In Advance Do You Send Wedding Invitations?

If you’ve sent save the dates, your invitees will already know the date of your wedding long before they receive the invitation. This means they’ll already have had a chance to book time off work, or make other necessary arrangements so that they can attend your wedding.

You can send your invitations out anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks before the wedding. This will give your guests ample time to organise travel arrangements, return the RSVP card, and inform you of any dietary requirements (if applicable).

Do You Have to Send Save the Dates and Invitations?

Sending both save the dates and wedding invitations is the “done thing”. It’s part of traditional wedding etiquette, and therefore it’s what your wedding guests will be expecting you to do. Not sending save the dates may cause some confusion.

There are two main reasons why it’s useful to send save the dates.

1) They give guests a heads-up on when the wedding will be, long before you’ve sorted out the fine details that you’ll need to put on the wedding invitation.
2) Guests will know for sure that they’re going to be invited. Even if they’ve heard the date of your wedding through the grapevine, they might not know whether they’ll be included.

Receiving a save the date will put their minds at ease.
Save the dates give guests the go-ahead to book time off work, childcare, and so on. But if you’re willing to send your wedding invitations early, you don’t strictly need to send save the dates.

When Save the Dates Might Not Be Necessary

Depending on what kind of wedding you’re having, it doesn’t always make sense to send save the dates. Save the dates may not be necessary if you are:

1) Having a very small wedding, and you’ve told your guests the date personally (via phone call, for instance)
2) Spreading word of your wedding date another way e.g. through Facebook
3) Having an impromptu wedding that has been arranged at the last minute
4) Working with a small budget, and can’t afford to send both save the dates and wedding invitations

If you aren’t sending save the dates, you must send your invitations well in advance of the big day. We’d recommending posting your invitations 4-6 months out – around the same time that you would normally send save the dates. Otherwise, by the time the invitations arrive, you may find that your invitees have already made plans, or can’t book the time off work.

Of course, this does mean that you’ll need to finalise all of the little details of your wedding much earlier than you’d have to if you sent save the dates. This can be stressful. We’d still recommend sending save the dates, if possible – then you’ll have more time to put together your invitations.

promotional mugs

Personalised Mugs: How Much They Cost and How to Use Them

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When you think of ways to advertise your business to potential clients and customers, personalised mugs might not be at the very top of the list. But company mugs are surprisingly versatile, long-lasting and universally loved as a gift or as part of a welcome pack.

Mugs (and other such products bearing your business’s logo) form a type of advertising known as promotional products, promotional merchandise, or ‘advertising specialties’. They are incredibly effective at keeping customers loyal, and drawing in new clients.
So, what can you use them for, and why do they provide such good value for money from a business perspective? Let’s find out.

What Are Personalised Mugs For?

For a nice brew, obviously!
But in all seriousness, there are many reasons why your business could benefit from personalised mugs. It might sound silly, but something as cheap and cheerful as a mug can have a real effect on your business in lots of different ways…

1) For the Big Opening Day

A mug may seem like an odd choice for a promotional product. If you want to promote something, fliers make sense: you can post them through letterboxes or hand them out, and they’re cheap to design and print. So, what’s the idea with mugs?

The point is that mugs are built to last. A good, solid mug can last for years or even decades. And what’s even better is that they see actual use, because, well, they’re for drinking from. A flier or a business card might get straight to the point, but both end up in the recycling, whereas a mug can sit on somebody’s mug tree for years.

The kicker, of course, is that a mug is more expensive than a flier! That’s why they’re best used for special events, like your big opening day, or when you’re networking. An opening day has a special ‘buzz’ about it, and customers that are there for your opening night are probably going to be good customers down the line, too. You can build up a special relationship with these customers with mugs, coupons and other goodies.

2) For Promoting a Sale, Advertising a New Product, as a Prize…

Beyond just the opening day, there are lots of ways to use personalised mugs to build up a loyal customer base. The prime example is definitely Sports Direct. Sports Direct mugs are famous for being huge, a neat tie-in that gives customers the impression of value for money. They’ve been given away for free and included as automatic add-ins to online orders, and being so cheap, they’re good for customers who need to add just a little to their basket to qualify for free shipping or a discount.

This is a great example of how versatile personalised mugs are. You could give them away as prizes, sell them cheap through your online store, use them to advertise something specific, or sell them straight to the customer!

3) For Building Good Client Relationships

Personalised mugs are even better if you work with clients rather than customers. Building up good client relationships is crucial, both in terms of ensuring that current business goes smoothly, and snagging repeat business.

While they obviously aren’t the ‘be all and end all’ of generating a positive working relationship with a client, personalised mugs can help. Again, a mug is like a permanent advert, a reminder to the client of the work you did together and the service they received. You can give them out as part of a ‘welcome pack’ to every client—while the other things you give depend on the trade you’re in, a mug will always be welcome! And if just one of these mugs helps drum up repeat business from a client, they’ll pay for themselves.

4) For Around the Workplace

Personalised mugs aren’t just good for building relationships with customers or clients, though. You can also get some for the office.
On the one hand, everyone likes to have their own ‘work mug’. This might be their favourite that they brought from home. But as you’re probably intimately familiar with, somebody might use your mug or even break it.

Having business-branded mugs can work here for a couple of reasons. First, you can have stock ready for if/when somebody breaks their mug. That way they can have a cup of tea without having to use someone else’s mug, perpetuating the vicious cycle of mug theft. Or, you could go the heavy-handed route and say t

hat everybody should use a branded mug and leave their own crockery at home.
This can look good to any customers or clients who come to the office: everybody has a slick-looking branded mug. And if your employees choose to take their mugs home with them, they’ll also be showing off your company’s logo to the other members of their household – and anyone who comes round for a visit.

5) For Proud Business Owners

If you own your own business, you don’t need a reason to have a branded mug—you call the shots, and don’t have to answer to anyone! So, whether you want to show your pride in your business, create a consistent branding image in everything you do (and everything you drink), or you just really love your business’ logo, a personalised mug would make the perfect ‘self-gift’. You could also gift them to friends and family – it might even encourage them to try your products!

What’s a Good Price for a Personalised Mug?

Personalised mugs don’t have to be expensive. We offer high-quality white ceramic mugs with personalised printed designs from just £3.87! The price-per-mug depends on two main things: the style of printing you’d like, and how many you’re going to order.

Personalised Mugs in Different Styles

123Print.co.uk offer two different styles of personalised mug: single image and wraparound image. Single image mugs have your logo printed on one side of the mug along with any details you want to add on. Wraparound mugs have an image that covers the entire outside of the mug, which can be anything you like: a photograph, a big logo, artwork—anything. Wraparound mugs are slightly more expensive than single image mugs because there’s more printed on them.

Single Order vs. Bulk Order

Depending on the size of your team, or how many mugs you plan on handing out, you could want anywhere from one or two mugs to one or two hundred. As is the case for any kind of bulk order, ordering personalised mugs in bulk means that you pay less ‘per mug’ than if you only order a couple. So, at 123Print.co.uk, the cost per mug for orders of 200+ is almost half what you pay for just one on its own! The more you order, the more you save.

Is It Easy to Design Your Own Personalised Mug?

Designing your own mug is very, very easy. In fact, it only takes a few minutes. All you have to do is upload the artwork of your choice, or choose from one of the many professionally-made preset designs available. You can upload directly from your computer, or if it’s more convenient, from your Instagram or Facebook account.

You can also add any text you like: an email address or the address of the business, for example. You can save designs for later, too, if you’d want to spend a while coming up with something perfect just for you!

Our mugs are British made and we offer 2-day turnaround. If you need support, we offer a chat feature, or you can call 01772 625179. You can also request a free sample of our printing if you’d like to try out the quality before you buy.
With all those reasons to order, why not try personalising your own mugs today?

How to Throw the Perfect Kids’ Birthday Party

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Ask anyone about their happiest childhood memories, and they’ll probably mention their birthday parties. A child’s birthday is a whole day that’s purely their own, and one that only comes once per year. Cake, presents, party games, dancing and of course, the all-important goody-bags – what could be better?
If you’re looking to throw the perfect birthday party for your little one, but you don’t know where to start, look no further than this guide. We’ll talk you through the entire process of organising a brilliant kid’s birthday bash. We’ll offer you plenty of handy hints and ideas for making your child’s special day fun, memorable, and run smoothly from start to finish.
1. Examine Your Budget

The first step to throwing a successful kids’ birthday bash is to assess your budget. Do this before you make any promises to your child about what kind of party you’ll throw. You don’t want to guarantee something that you won’t be able to deliver, or to end up having to borrow money to cover the costs. It’s easy for seemingly small expenses to add up without you really noticing.
Start by deciding upon the total amount you’re willing to dedicate to this celebration. Then, break this budget down into what you can afford to spend on each individual element.
• Venue hire
• Transport to and from the venue
• Decorations (e.g. banners and balloons)
• Entertainment (e.g. magician, clown, balloon artist, bouncy castle hire)
• Food and drink
• Napkins, tablecloths, plates and cutlery (hire or purchase)
• The birthday cake
• Party invitations and thank-you cards (including postage)
• Goody bags, crafts, and party game prizes
You might need to cut costs in some areas if you want to splurge on others. For example, if your kiddo has their heart set on a party at an expensive trampoline park, you might consider making the cake yourself, rather than hiring a professional baker.
2. Find a Theme

All great birthday parties have a theme of some sort. This can be anything from a colour, to a TV programme, to a mythical creature or character. Some great ideas for kids’ birthday party themes include:
• Pirates
• Unicorns
• Medieval (knights and princesses)
• Under the sea
• Rainbow
• Soft play
• Disney
• Outer space
• The jungle
Obviously, you’ll want to tailor this to your child’s special interests. The theme will influence everything from the decorations to the entertainment. You could even ask the party guests to dress up accordingly!
3. Decide on Guest Numbers

Next, you’ll going to decide on how many guests to invite your child’s party. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
• How many guests can my child handle without getting overwhelmed? For younger kids, the child’s age plus one is a good rule of thumb. For example, invite 5 kids to a 4-year-old’s party.
• Will family members attend (grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins) or should this be a kids-only party, with family visiting on a different day?
• Should parents drop their kids off and go home again, or should they stay for the party? (Generally, parents stay at parties until their child is around 6-7 years old. This may differ for children with additional needs, or venues that require extra supervision.)
• How many guests can my budget afford? (Remember you’ll have to feed everyone, and provide goody-bags for the kids.)
Deciding on your guest list before choosing the venue will allow you to filter suitable party locations based on their capacity. Don’t forget to count caterers, venue staff, entertainers and the parents of young guests (if they’ll be staying for the party).
If the venue is already decided (because your child has requested a party at a specific place), find out their capacity before you compose your guest list.
4. Choose a Venue

Certain themes naturally lend themselves to particular venues. For example, if your child loves princes and princesses, an ancient castle might be an excellent location. Or if you’re planning an under-the-sea themed bash, why not see if your local aquarium offers group discounts?
If your theme could work anywhere, search around for hireable halls and function rooms. These venues are like blank slates, ready for you to decorate to suit your theme. Make sure it’s somewhere that is easy to get to, and has ample on-site parking. The venue should be no more than a 30-minute drive away from wherever your guests live.
Before booking the venue, ensure the capacity is large enough for your needs, that it’s available on your chosen day, and that it’s within your budget. Alternatively, you can always host the party at your home, to save on costs.
5. Create a Party Timeline

Now you can decide on a rough timeline for the party. The most important thing is to settle on a start time and end time. Your guests will need to know when they should arrive, and when they should expect to leave. This way, the parents of attending children can plan their day around the party.
To begin with, have a rough idea of how long you want the party to go on for. For toddlers and pre-school children, an hour to an hour and a half is appropriate. Avoid the hours of 1pm to 3pm, as this is prime nap time.
School-aged children do well with 2-3 hour long parties. Ideally, hold it on a weekend or school holiday. A party on a school night may clash with after school clubs, parents’ work schedules and bedtime routines.
6. Design the Perfect Party Invitations

Once you’ve booked the venue, finalised your guest list and decided the start and end times, you’re ready to design and send out your party invitations! Make sure to include:
• The birthday child’s name and age
• The full address of the venue
• Start and end times
• A way for your guests to RSVP (phone number, email address, or reply slip that they can fill out and give back to you) and a clear deadline for replying
• Gift ideas (optional)
Warn parents if the party will be fancy-dress, held outdoors, or involve crafts/messy play (so that they can dress their child appropriately). And if the party is outdoors, be sure to have a plan in place for bad weather. Will the party still go on if it’s raining? If not, will you move the celebration indoors, or reschedule it? (Mention this on the invitation.)
To make a real impression on your guests and get them excited for the party, we’d recommend ordering custom party invitations from 123Print. You can edit one of our pre-existing templates, or create your own design to perfectly match your theme. Your invitations will be printed on high-quality cardstock and sent to you complete with envelopes.
7. Organise the Catering

Food of some kind is expected at any child’s birthday party. A brilliant way to save money here is to make or prepare it yourself. Traditional children’s party fayre, such as sandwiches, mini sausage rolls, crisps and biscuits are cheap and easy to throw together. Finger buffets also go down well with fussy kids, as they can choose what to eat.
If you’d rather go all-out, you could book a catering service, order in, or take the children to a restaurant or diner. Make sure that whatever you choose is within your budget.
Don’t forget the birthday cake! Are you going to make your own, buy one from a shop, or have a custom cake made by a professional baker? The choice is yours. Making your own is the cheapest option, but also the most time-consuming.
Remember that a lot of children have food allergies and intolerances. Their parents should inform you of this in advance. If you’re worried, include a note on the invitation asking anyone with dietary requirements to get in touch.
8. Book Entertainment

The most important part of any kid’s party is the entertainment. If you’re hosting the celebration at a soft play centre or a laser tag arena, for example, then the entertainment speaks for itself. But if you’re hosting the party at your house or a ‘blank slate venue’, you can choose whether to make your own fun, or hire a professional. Here are some popular ideas:
• Hire a bouncy castle
• Book a balloon artist, clown, magician, puppeteer, etc
• Face painting (hire a professional face painter, or buy some paints and do it yourself)
• Karaoke
• Slime making
• Crafts, such as painting, tie-dying shirts, or making your own bracelet or keyring
• Retro party games, such as “pass the parcel”, “musical chairs” and “pin the tail on the donkey”
Whatever you choose, ensure it’s age-appropriate (not only for the birthday child, but for the other guests, too).
9. Make, Purchase or Hire Decorations

If you’re hosting your child’s party at home or at a hired hall, you’ll need to think about decorations. This, of course, doesn’t apply if the party will be held at somewhere like a paintballing centre or an aquarium.
You can hire a professional to decorate the venue for you, if you have the spare cash. If not, you can make or purchase the décor yourself, and have a family member or friend help you decorate.
Balloons, banners and buntings are the classic birthday party decorations. Really, they’re all that’s needed for a basic celebration. However, if your party is going to have a theme, try to tie in the décor with it. Pink and purple sparkly buntings, for example, would suit a princess party – but may not work well for a safari or pirate-themed bash.
10. Build the Goody Bags

Any great kids’ birthday party has goody bags (also known as party bags). These are small bags (made of paper or plastic) that contain a small number of treats and toys. Every child who attends the party gets to keep a goody bag and bring it home, including the birthday child.
Prepare your party bags in advance, choosing a few treats and toys to go inside each one. Foam aeroplanes, candy necklaces, plastic animal figurines, crayons, bubble blowers and stickers are great go-to goodies. On the day, don’t forget to add the obligatory slice of birthday cake wrapped in foil!
If you’ll be having retro party games, such as pin the tail on the donkey, don’t forget to organise prizes for these, too.
11. Send Thank You Cards

After the party is over and your guests have all gone home, you’ll probably be completely worn out. But don’t relax quite yet! There’s still one last thing to do, and it’s one of the most important tasks of all: sending out thank you cards.
Everyone who attended the party deserves a card or a letter thanking them for attending, and for bringing a gift for the birthday child (if applicable). If any of the attending children’s parents helped you out with the celebration, it’s polite to thank them, too.
123Print offers a wide selection of thank you cards that would be suitable for any event. All of our cards are fully customisable – and you can even design your own, to match your theme. Aim to have your cards sent out within a week of the party, so that you don’t forget who gave what!