However, remember that if you decide to offer all-day clubs, it falls under childcare, which would require involvement from Ofsted and a lot of additional admin.
Katie advises, “If you have a majority of full-time working parents, offering a camp from twelve till three won’t work as childcare for them.” You want to differentiate between who’s wanting childcare and who’s wanting a camp because they’re two different things.”
If you have an equal mix of working and not working parents, then consider offering half-days or extended-day options so that everyone is catered for. Also, try to gather as much information about their holiday plans so you can plan around real schedules.
What activities does your child enjoy?
Are you planning a summer holiday?
How long will you be away?
What type of camp would you consider?
Would you book a full-day camp?
Are you interested in booking for five consecutive days, or do you prefer one-day, half-day, or three-day camp options?
What would you expect to pay for a five-day camp?
With this detailed feedback, you’ll have a clearer picture of your customer’s preferences, increasing your chances of filling all the spots in your camp. But remember, this is just feedback. You’re obliged to cater to every demand, instead, it gives you a better idea of what will be most appealing to your audience.
Market smart, not hard
Katie recommends kicking off your campaign about six to eight weeks before the camps begin. She advises, “Tailor your ads to cater to different age groups.” After all, what appeals to a four-year-old and a fourteen-year-old can vary drastically, so make sure you create age-specific campaigns.