'They'll spend tens of thousands of dollars': Children's parties boom

Susie Kazda has seen it all in her time running children's party business Little Party Faces.

"We've got a birthday party for a three-year-old coming up at the zoo," Kazda says. "They have the carousel booked, a puppet show, an entertainer, a professional face painter, a professional balloon twister and a host from the zoo."

Kazda says she is only expecting five children to attend, with entertainers likely to outnumber children at the animal-themed event.

Lavish parties

Extravagant parties with a big budget are increasingly normal for children's birthdays with industry analysts Ibisworld valuing the party supply rental sector at $459.8 million.

Annual growth of 3 per cent is predicted in the sector over the next five years.

"For birthdays, parents are increasingly spending more on lavish parties for their children, incorporating marquee and furniture rental and other industry products," Ibisworld analyst Alen Allday said in his report on the sector.

Mood boards

Kazda started Little Party Faces six years ago in Melbourne and says the business has grown "very organically" to a turnover of more than $100,000 a year, and a team of 20 performers who are mainly employed on a casual basis. Read more

Cara Waters - Brisbane Times - 11 Nov 2018