Our ghost chairs and six foot tables for this construction themed second birthday party.
Source It:
Styling + Party Concept: @Clafoutisny
Illustrations + Paperie: @fromthebear
Photography: @hollyhaffner
Cake + Treats: @mariencarolyn2013
2017 Business Lessons
Petite Seats only operated ten months this year because of my family moving from Essex County to Sussex County, New Jersey. We moved in the middle of August and I decided to take off September and October to get used to the commute and the family settled.
This is the end of my third year in business and each year I am growing wiser and working smarter. Below are the 2017 business lessons I’ve realized through the year.
I’m an over-achiever, I’ll admit I do before I think most times, leading to exhaustion and a short fuse. I realized I could not continue to work as I was with Petite Seats and grow my brand at the same time. My ambition was leading to massive burnout which manifested itself in a case of acne I cannot get rid of and an erratic sleeping pattern. My ambition has lead to total adrenal fatigue!
Late in the third quarter, I made the decision to outsource all my deliveries. It has truly shifted the balance in my life. I have time! Time to grow my business and not work it (well drive it😆). The month of December was my test run. All went well so I will continue outsourcing deliveries. Sam of SLG Services has been a Godsent in changing my Work-Home-Business dynamics🙌🏾.
I will be launching an eboutique store with partyware in the spring.
PayPal has expanded their business analytics and I’m loving it!
My adolescence acne has flared up with a vengeance! I believe it’s a result of the stressful situations of my day jobs and the lack of truly nurturing my body.
This year I will work on blogging on my personal page more, www.onidacruz.com
No more hesitation, I’m moving steadfast towards my goals in 2018.
Crowdfunding Efforts
Thank you to my supports who contributed $350 to Petite Seats' first crowdfunding campaign.
Little Celebrations Rentals
One7Events
Neffi Walker
Orlett Torrence
Krissy Chic Boutique + Events
Jennifer Rodriguez
Catherine Manino
I truly appreciate your support and plan to use the funds to secure more premium advertisement space. I decided to use the INDIEGOGO platform for my campaign, mainly because of the ease of use and receiving the donated funds. Below are the details of my campaign:
"Crowdfunding will help in purchasing a delivery truck and allow me to service more clients. Below is a breakdown of the funding amount:
- $10,000 Delivery Truck
- $6000 Inventory {New Petite Seats}
- $4000 Advertising Campaign {Photo Shoot + Website Adverts + Local Magazines}
- $1000 Driver Training + Insurance + License
- $2000 Custom Vehicle Wrap
- $2000 PR Campaign"
Skateboarding Party
I'm in love with this unique skateboarding themed party from Fox Event and Design. They rented our pink metal industrial chairs and rustic wooden tables. Check out the details below.
Trollstice Second Birthday
Who doesn’t love Trolls, Keren of Simply Perfect Events planned and designed a Trollstice themed birthday party for a sweet little two year old. Complete with colorful troll headbands and tablescape, this event was a hit for the toddlers in attendance who were able to sit on our pink Chiavari chairs. Mommy of the little princess, Sara Jane Mercer shared several pictures of the festivities on her blog Mercer + Green here.
Source It:
Planning + Design: @simply_perfect_events
Vegan Cake: @semadargo
Venue: @estancia460
Kids Entertainment: @jamwithjamie
Fairy Princess Party
Anne of Clafoutis, designed and produced a Once Upon A Time Princess party using our crossback chairs. Complete with a lace overlayed tablescape and a princess castle cake this party was fit for petite knights and princesses.
Now for pictures of the stylish Mommy-Daughter duo.
Source It:
Styling + Party Concept: @Clafoutisny
Once Upon A Time Partyware: @Clafoutisny EPetiteBoutique
Photography: @MonikaSaturPhotography
Flowers: @crownsbychristy
Princess Castle Cake + Sweets: @mariencarolyn2013
Cinco De Mayo
Keren, Simply Perfect Events, and her team produced a Cinco de Mayo party in the courtyard of a Manhattan apartment building that was colorful and festive. She debuted our new rustic wooden tables paired with our raw tinted crossback chairs.
Our Rustic Wood Table + Crossback Chairs
I’m in love with this honeycomb ball arch!
Our Current Inventory
in Products
Check out our current inventory. We’re purchased 5 new chair types this year. To receive a quote complete the form in the Contact Us section.
1) Gold Chiavari $7
2) White Chiavari $5
3) Clair Chiavari $7
4) Pink Chiavari $7
5) White Metal Industrial $8
6) Pink Metal Industrial $8
7) Bow + Heart Back Chair $6
8) White Panton $5
9) Mahogany Crossback $8
10) Raw Tint Crossback $8
11) Yellow Bistro $7
12) Ghost $8
13) Adult Napoleon $8.50
14) Throne $75
15) Slipper $60
New Table: Wooden Rustic
About three months ago D designed and constructed two wooden tables to add to our inventory. They came out nicely, BUT were heavy AF and I was not happy with how they looked. We went back to the drawing board and decided to improve the design, making it lighter and more esthetically pleasing.
Version 1.0: For Sale Now! $275 each we have 2.
In the new design we sourced spindle like table legs and instead of individual planks of wood we stuck to one piece of plywood. Check it out!
The table dimensions are similar to the first version. The table is seven foot long, 27 inches wide, and 22 inches y’all. I plan to stain it to match our cross back chairs.
Petite Seats Brand Storyteller Intern
in Photo Shoots
Do you know what it takes to grow an online community? We're looking for a social media and videography intern to engage our social media followers using vide. PETITE SEATS is a boutique children’s party rental company based in Northern New Jersey. Our clients are high end children’s party planners and parents looking to plan special events for their little ones.
We are currently searching for interns to begin in early May, preferably high school Seniors and college students. An intern’s duties include, but are not limited to:
· Visual Storyteller of the Brand {Excellent communication skills and the ability to inform and entertain via written, oral and visual media.}
· Must know how to shoot and edit
· Must Have Own Equipment {Experience with DSLR, audio, and video camera equipment and file formats}
· Have one year experience with web video production and video editing
· Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, etc.) and/or Final Cut Pro or comparable programs
· Experience in Marketing, Video Creative and Graphic Design with strong skills in video editing, graphic design, and both written and oral communication
· Incorporate music, sound effects, text, and motion graphics to support and give context to the story
· Have the ability to contribute to the strategy and process-development level
· Available to film and edit up to 2 vlog videos per week
· Experience running a YouTube/Facebook channel
· Build video content and film our Founder through her days to bring content to Youtube.
· In-depth knowledge of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
· Produce short-form promotional video content for Facebook and Instagram
· Must have an eye for visuals, be flexible, accurate, attentive to detail, and deadline-oriented
· An innovative self-starter with problem-solving skills, creativity, ambition, and a strong work ethic
PR Intern will work closely with the Creative Director and Founder, Onida Cruz. Applicants should be highly personable, detail oriented, and available at least two full days per week. Excellent opportunity to gain experience and insight into niche rental company. The ideal candidate is someone with both skills and passion for video production; skilled in videography, editing, some graphic design; not afraid to interact with and interview others while operating the camera; understands and enjoys the challenge of providing value to our audience. Upon completion of the internship, we will provide a letter of recommendation that details the specifics of your role as well as your performance as an intern.
Servicing The Hamptons
Last spring I received several inquiries for servicing the Hamptons. Since partnering with SLG Services for my delivery needs I’ve decided to include the Hamptons in my delivery area.
I love this part of Long Island, it’s picturesque and the homes along the beach are jaw-dropping beautiful. I can not wait to see the styling and pictures from these summer events🤗.
Gemma’s Second Minnie + Mickie Mouse
Meisha of Chef’s Table NYC and Valerie of Konfetti Boutik produced a fun Minnie + Mickey Mouse second birthday celebration in TriBeCa this past December. For this event they used our clear + pink chiavaris + petite tables.
Our Seven Foot Wooden Table
I “commissioned” my husband {D} to create a rustic wooden table to add to my collection of children’s tables. I have been receiving inquiring for a rustic wooden table from several clients. After getting three quotes from carpenters I decided to visit YouTube University to see how easy it would be to DIY. I researched the design I wanted, using video tutorials as reference. After settling on a design D got to work built two seven foot tables.
The table dimensions are 7ft long by 27” wide by 21” high. D put a coat of clear epoxy on the table to give it a harder finish.
Before most events I prep the layout to ensure I have enough tables for the chair count.
LOL Surprise! 5th Birthday
Yvelle of Make It Happen Events used our pink chiavaris for a one-of-kind LOL Surprise! themed 5th Birthday in Harlem. Check out the deets below:
The tablescape designs were super cute with custom place mats.
The “5” donut standee was so nice created by @penny5563
Source It:
Guest Of Honor: @HarlemUptownDoll
Event Styling + Design: @Makeit_Happen_Events
Backdrop: @TheDesignShoppeBySie
Photography: @Kenofoto
Custom Place Mats + Standees + Donut Stand: @Penny5563
Letter Name Table: @JustDreamEvents
Cotton Candy + Face Painting: @SayCheeeze_NYC
Balloons: @Makeit_Happen_Events
Donuts: @Nikkid720
Wall + LOL Props: @Eric_Tejada_Events
Cake: @CakePopsbyEve
Desserts: @LittleTreatsByJanna +
@Blessed_Confections + @JustDeliciousTreats
Favor Box: @Tendi_Design_House
Personalized Treats {Chip bags, Sticker Labels, Rice Krispies, Airheads}: @SprinkledCrafts
Sage’s Wooden Party
Chef’s Table NYC partnered with Valerie of Konfetti Boutik to style and produce a rustic second birthday party. Check out the details below.
Our cross back chairs
Source It:
Party Concept: Meisha of Chef’s Table NYC (CTNYC)
Event Styling: CTNYC + Valerie of Konfetti Boutik
Catering: CTNYC
Photography: Aida Malik Photography
A Nutcracker Birthday
Source It
Showroom: LoveShackFancy | @loveshackfancy
Photography: Aletiza Photo
Flowers: Missi Flowers | @missiflowers
Party supplies and styling: Clafoutis | @clafoutis
Face paint: Face Art by Melissa
Balloons: Brooklyn Balloon Company | @brooklynballooncompany
Chairs: Petite Seats | @petiteseats
Ballerina: SHIEN Artists & Event Creative | @shienartists
Dessert: Mayra's Cakepops, Bakes by Marie & The Meringue Bakeshop
Cake: CakeHeroNYC
Vintage Minnie Mouse
Chamique of Chique Design + Events produced a super sophisticated vintage Minnie Mouse themed 5th and 6th birthday soirée. Check out the fabulousness below:
Chamique commissioned the creation of this gorgeous black lace tablecloth
Source It:
Event Styling + Stationery: @chiquedesignandevents
Photography: @bufotos
Cookies + Cakepops: @tonilynsbakery
Cakes: @kedbyskreationscakes
Kids Tables + Chairs: @petiteseats
Petite Seats is CROWDFUNDING! Check out our Press Release!
PETITE SEATS LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN FOR FUNDING TO EXPAND, TAKING PETITE SEATS FROM AN ONE WOMAN SHOW TO A FULL PRODUCTION
Newton, NJ — On October 8, 2017, Petite Seats launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund the expansion of the company. The campaign aims to bring a broader delivery route and an exclusive line of new Petite Seats. Petite Seats is solving the problem of securing attractive children sized chair rentals for every special event. A broader delivery route and new inventory will ensure no shortage of children's chair rentals for everyone in the NJ-NYC-CT Tristate area. Petite Seats is accomplishing this by purchasing a second, larger delivery vehicle. As well, the funds raised from their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign will go towards a public relations campaign aimed at expanding their brand awareness in the Tristate area. “I have poured my life savings into Petite Seats. When that wasn’t enough, I borrowed from my pension and maxed out my credit cards. The expansion is inevitable for the continuance of our company, I can feel it in my bones. I am confident that my fellow kids' party enthusiasts will find it in their hearts to fund this campaign so that we can get the job done.” - Onida Cruz, founder and CEO at Petite Seats plans to demonstrate their game-changing child-sized specialty chair rentals by hosting a rebranding event to introduce all the new changes at Petite Seats. See the Petite Seats Crowdfunding Campaign on Indiegogo here.
Safari First Birthday
Valerie of the Konfetti Boutik designed a super cute safari themed first birthday party with our wooden cross back chairs.
In Valerie's words...
ROAR! 🦁 to this modern and chic first birthday #safaritheme party I had the pleasure of styling for Teddy's big day! The color scheme was elegant white, mint and gold
. #safaritheme #safaribirthdayparty #kidspartyplanner #kidsparty #mintwhiteandgold #babyshower #babygirl #babyboy #kidspartiesnj #kidspartynyc #kidschairrental #custompartydecor #custompartyhats #custombanner #monsteraleaf #goldanimals #hydrangeas
Golden Safari Animals are the Win!
Valerie relaxing after a mission accomplished🤗
SOURCE IT:
event stylist @konfetti_boutik
mommy+catering @chefstablenyc
custom party hats + placemats + banner @konfetti_boutik
the crossback chairs @petiteseats
photographer @aidamalikphotography
Willy Wonka from The Party Muse
The Party Muse has amazed us again with a Willy Wonka themed birthday party hosted at Chocolate Works Scarsdale.
Custom favor boxes created by @noirstyle
Amazingly cute sweet treats from @sugarsuckle
Mini Donuts!!💕
This candy cake fit perfectly with the Willy Wonka theme
Check out our mini ghost chairs with these super cute decals
Source It:
Design + Styling: @thepartymuse
Photography: @clybymatthew
Venue: Chocolate Works Scarsdale
Custom Favor Boxes: @noirstyle
Cake: @everythinglulu
Invitation: @houseofcreativedesigns
Balloons: @uptownballoons
Custom Mirrored Sign + Calligraphy: @mintedfeather
