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Module: 7

How to make the Experience Memorable

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Intended Learning Outcomes:

To learn about different ways of impressing your clients

To understand the importance of creativity in your business

To learn about different methods of improving creativity in your business

To understand how to keep clients happy

To learn how to keep guests happy

To learn what it means to go above and beyond for the client

To understand different ways that you can go above and beyond for the client

To learn about great alternatives to traditional party favours

Module Index:

7.1 Impressing the Client

7.2 Keeping It Creative

7.1 Impressing the Client

The importance of impressing your client goes without saying. The client begins their first perception of

your business from your first interaction. Whether you meet through your website, social media,

through a friend or through an advertisement, a client will already have a preconceived notion of what

your business is.

In order to make your business stand out, you need to begin impressing your client from your first

interaction and finish with your good-bye.

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But impressing them does not mean that you need to juggle chainsaws while you cut the cake.

Sometimes little things can go a long way with a client and set you apart from other children’s party

planners.

Here are some things you can do to leave a great impression on your clients:

Make Meaningful Small Talk

Small talk is a part of most business interactions. Whether you love it or hate it, small talk is important

for establishing rapport with your customers. Since you work with kids, it is especially important to

market yourself as a personable, kid-friendly business.

However, don’t just ask a long list of standard questions to every client you interact with. Make sure that

your small talk is meaningful. To ask more meaningful questions, you should absorb the information you

get and ask friendly follow up questions.

Meaningful small talk will set you apart from other businesses because you can demonstrate your

interest in the client without taking up a lot their valuable time.

Send Lightening Responses

Clients love a fast response. No one wants to sit around wondering whether someone has received their

email or if they will get back to them.

If you receive an email, you should respond as quickly as possible to the client with the information they

ask for. If the information they ask for is not available, drop them a quick email to say that you received

their message and that you are working to find a solution for them. Quick communication will go a long

away with a client.

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This does not mean that you need to respond to standard emails at midnight. In fact, it is better to avoid

this if the email is just a general enquiry. This will demonstrate that you have a work/life balance and

clients like to see this in small businesses.

Promise to Be Brilliant – Not Perfect

Do not promise to be perfect. It is not possible to be perfect. No one is perfect, not even your

competitors. Instead, make promises to be brilliant. Brilliance is not only achievable but it makes you

shine.

Under Promise and Over-Deliver

In any kind of business, promising a client the world and failing to deliver can result in you losing clients.

Not making good on promises, no matter how over-the-top they were, is bad for business no matter how

you look at it.

Expectations management in one of the greatest tricks you have for creating happy customers. It is hard

to please clients fully if you have promised them that you will throw the best party in birthday party

history. The history of parties is pretty long and you don’t know what kind of expectations you are

suggesting when you make these promises.

Instead, you should under-promise and over-deliver. That does not mean that you should sell yourself

short, just be realistic when you are describing your services to clients. This gives you plenty of room to

create one or more “Wow!” moments for you customers. These moments are even more special if they

are not anticipated.

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Listen to, Identify and Anticipate Their Needs

One of the biggest things that any customer complains about when dealing with any business is that the

business does not listen to their needs. If you can listen to, identify and even anticipate your client’s

needs, you will impress them a great deal.

Being able to anticipate needs is something that takes practice and it may not happen when you are

putting together your first few parties. However, it is a skill that should be honed with every interaction

you have.

Take Notes

Note taking is a forgotten art. Children’s party planning is an industry that is full of details. If you can

catch the details the first time, this will save everyone time later because no one will have to repeat

themselves.

Pay Attention to Detail

The little details can take a party from an average day out to a heart-warming, experience that leaves an

impression on a child and their parents. Paying attention to little details will help you create these

experiences.

For example, if a child wants a certain theme, spend some time doing research into the theme if you are

unfamiliar with it.

You may find that there are little pieces of the theme that could really contribute to the party and

surprise your clients with how much you have engaged with their child’s interests!

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7.2 Keeping It Creative

Creativity is the heart and soul of your kids’ party planning business.

But creativity is hard. It takes a lot of work and there are days where even Steven Spielberg does not feel

like he has a creative bone in his body.

Creativity isn’t a totally natural process. Of course, it comes easier to some people than to others;

however, it is a learned skill that can be developed over time.

You cannot force yourself to be creative all the time; however, you can gently encourage your creative

side to come out. Here are some great ways to support your creative side so that you can build bigger

and better children’s birthday parties.

Creativity through Playing

There is a reason that kids love playing so much. Playing is a great way to relax and move into a different

mind-set.

As people grow older and start taking on more responsibilities and more stress, people often turn to

leisure activities that allow them to just switch off in front of the TV or the computer.

Instead, you might try to schedule time to play. Whether you are playing a board game, sports or chasing

the kids, carving out sometime where you actively engage in play time will help you relieve stress,

improve brain function and help boost creativity.

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Play time can be incorporated into your business as well! If you have no ideas for games, activities or

schedules for a party, offer to host a just-because-gathering for your friends and their children.

Experimentation through play time is fun for everyone and you can test out your new ideas without the

pressure of pleasing a client.

As a children’s party planner, your ability to take part in, understand and facilitate play time will only

spill over into your business both in planning parties and running them.

Sparking Your Imagination

Most great ideas do not just appear but are sparked by a completely different idea or catalyst.

That spark may feel like a moment of pure brilliance that can never be recreated but that is not true. You

just need import methods of creating these moments of brilliance more regularly.

Brainstorming is one of the best ways to set sparks flying in your mind. A great brainstorm session can

lead to more productive ideas. However, you have to let go of your pre-conceived notions about what is

‘realistic’ to have a truly productive brainstorming session.

For your next brainstorm session, forget about criticizing or analysing any of your ideas. Write down the

wildest things that pop into your head. Whether the craziest thing you think of is a bat mitzvah in space

or adding a fish pond to a party, you may be surprised where your imagination takes you.

Brainstorming gets easier the more you practice. Just like flexing your creative muscle, working on your

brainstorming capabilities will only help free your mind and take full advantage of imagination!

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Giving Yourself Space to Be Creative

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How often have you sat down at your computer and decided that you were going to be creative today?

How many of your most creative ideas have come when you’re forced yourself to sit down at your desk?

If you’re like most people, very few creative ideas come from force.

Instead of getting down to business, try to think generally and first distance yourself from the problem

you are trying to solve.

You also need to give yourself space and time to be creative. For many people, creativity comes during

periods where they are relaxed or focused on something else. Some of your best ideas might come when

you are driving, eating, jogging or taking a shower.