Growing demand sees party hire firm establish first base, with the help of John Truslove
After just a year in business a former child-minder’s party hire firm is so busy she has been able to move into her first set of premises, aided by commercial property agents John Truslove.
Heather Arnold launched Little Party Animals Party Hire in September last year after growing demand for the soft-play equipment she leases out.
With more and more parents of young children looking to host parties with that special something extra, Heather had to start looking for premises after running out of room at home to store her growing range of equipment.
Her experience of what little people like comes from the fact that she is also mother to four children of her own – a nine-year-old, six-year-old twins and a 19-month-old.
Ben Truslove, joint managing director at John Truslove, helped Heather seal a three-year lease on a 551 sq ft unit at 32 Enfield Industrial Estate in Redditch.
Heather, from Astwood Bank, said: “I started off with just a set of soft play equipment that I used as a child minder, but more and more people started asking if I hired it out. It just grew from there. As I started acquiring more equipment more people started asking to hire it.
“I now have several sets of neutral coloured soft play equipment, including bouncy castles, so I can cater for themed children’s parties, as well as offering balloons. It just took over so I quit working as a child minder to do this full time.
“Most of my clients have children aged up to five years-old and the soft play retro cars have proved particularly popular. Fortunately my husband Sam is able to help me with transport at weekends, when most of the parties take place, as we are now covering most of the Midlands, from Coventry to Tewksbury. We have a strong presence online, both on Facebook and on Instagram – lots of parents like to put up photos from their children’s parties.
“I was running out of space and was looking for a small unit. Ben from John Truslove was very helpful and the unit at the Enfield Industrial Estate is ideal, with storage space for all my equipment and a small office where I can do admin.”
Ben Truslove said: “Helping fledgling businesses find their first home is a crucial part of our work. Matching them with the right landlords and helping them secure the right size of premises gives firms like Little Party Animals the ideal launching platform as they grow in the future.
“Heather is clearly catering for a strong and growing market and we wish her every success.”
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