Hire and Rental News - November 2018

50 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • EVENTS in FOCUS • NOVEMBER 2018 EVENTS in FOCUS The evolution of the children’s party market Themed kid parties are an emerging market for hire and rental companies with parents using party planners and hiring equipment to make their little one’s dreams a reality. ”Ensuring hire inventory includes versatile and adaptable furniture for the pint-sized guests is a must to keep up with constantly changing kid trends,” Chris Shute, Alloyfold National Sales Manager for Australia said. “Gone are the simple days of pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey and a sugary feast of fairy bread and home– made cake. Children’s parties are bigger, brighter and simply – stunning. Mums and Dads are now outsourcing these magical moments for a more stress- free approach to Instagram-worthy parties,”Chris said. “Think miniature high-teas, woodland parties, mermaids, emojis, fairies, superheroes, and think big. Themed parties are trending now and the attention to detail is next level. “Kid-sized furniture plays a key role in any successful party with strong tables supporting all of that magical food, and comfortable seats holding the children safely. Parents remember the party where the table legs buckled and cake tumbled to the floor, so party planners are looking for quality chairs and tables designed for children,” Chris said. “There are some key features hire companies should look for when deciding which children’s chairs and tables you should carry. Stylish and easy to theme “An elegant and classic chair style will ensure you keep up with the current trends whether the theme is fairies or emojis. With bright colours trending for 2018, white children’s chairs that go with any colour are a sure-fire hit for any inventory. Gold seating is a popular choice in room ‘dressing’ giving a sophisticated look to any magical, enchanting or royal party, and you can’t go past the classic pretty pink or blue children’s seat to suit most other themes. Safe and sturdy “Safety is paramount and seating that has no dangerous parts or sharp edges is a must. Children’s chairs need to be sturdy enough to handle the paces that children put them through. The right sized furniture “Appropriately-sized furniture signals to children this is for them. They don’t have to struggle with climbing up onto an adult- sized chair, or attempt to eat their meal with their head barely above the table. Child-sized seating ensures guests can sit properly, and safely, at the table. Child- Themed kid parties are an emerging market for hire companies sized table settings are a great addition to any grown up party, as planners can keep the theme running seamlessly. Easy to clean “Let’s face it, kids aren’t clean. The furniture they use is bound to get very dirty, so when selecting children’s chairs for your inventory, ensure you choose a fuss-free design (no grooves, nooks or crannies) that is super-fast and easy to clean to avoid hidden surprises for the next customer. Durable yet lightweight “Children are tough, so their furniture needs to be even tougher. This strength needs to be built into a lightweight design that ensures small guests can easily move their seat. Getting ‘back to nature’ is another emerging trend which sees furniture settings regularly used outdoors, so UV-resistant seating will help protect your investment. Stackable and foldable “This goes for any rental furniture, but children’s event seating must be easy and efficient to transport and simple to set up. Kids tables and chairs must also be stackable or foldable to maximise space during transportation and storage. Alloyfold offers a range of children’s event chairs and tables including the popular Junior Chiavari (or Tiffany) seats, Junior Bella seats, both available in adult-sizes, and Junior Tables. Contact: 1800 287 025 or visit: www.alloyfold.com.au