Former NHS Nurse, Lydia Welsh, left the health sector five years ago to open Snow Princess Parties: a franchised party entertainment business now delivering over 60 parties each month with ambitions to host many more.
In 2016, Lydia Welsh left her role in the NHS due to burnout and exhaustion and set up Snow Princess Parties. The business was inspired by colleagues and patients repeatedly telling her she resembled a certain princess, made famous by a popular princess film. Five years on, and having adapted to online parties during the lockdowns of 2020, Lydia now has five franchisees across the South East with plans to be UK-wide by the end of 2022.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I remember that the thought of going to work would make me cry. That I would be so crippled with anxiety about doing a job I believed was going to be my career forever, that I couldn’t face most days. I pinch myself because 5 years on, and having left nursing behind me, I get to do something I not only love – bringing smiles to faces of children as I make their celebrations even more special – but something that challenges me. Creating a successful franchised business out of people dressing up in magical costumes has been the best decision I ever made.
It was whilst I was still working as a nurse, when a friend asked if I would dress up as a princess for a village fete as a bit of a favour, that I first realized the huge potential for the business. I stood amazed as a queue of children grew and grew, just to meet me and have a chance to get a photo with a ‘real princess’. After this, I put some pictures on social media and within hours I had parents asking me if I would appear at their child’s party. I realised that without even offering this service, people were asking me to do it, which proved demand was there.
After a few informal attendances, I soon realised that entertainment as well as the princess costumes would be key to the success of the business. I got better at entertaining, thinking of new party games, improving my equipment and charging a little more each time. It was not long before I was earning more at a weekend as a princess than I was at the hospital. This allowed me to finally leave Nursing: a profession that was making me unwell. It is daunting explaining to friends and family you are quitting your job as a nurse to be a professional full time princess with the faith it will pay your mortgage!
The business didn’t just grow without any work though. Truthfully, turning it into what the business is now took a lot of hard word. I even took my laptop on my honeymoon. I became obsessed with building the brand and working on every aspect of running a children’s party to make it a stress-free experience for parents. I soon got to the point where I was turning away work and needed to train a team of entertainers to meet demand. In 2019 I established a franchise model for the business and I now have 6 franchise locations across the South of the UK delivering over 60 parties a month to hundreds of children. In fact becoming a franchised business also helped reduce my feelings of loneliness as an entrepreneur and I now love having a strong team of regional directors all pulling in the same direction with me.
I certainly plan to be at the helm of Snow Princess Parties forever, with this next year set to be another challenge and adventure as I turn it into a nation-wide brand, with a franchisee in every corner of the UK. I’m really passionate about continuing to build a team of creative, entrepreneurial women who collaborate with the central goal of making totally magical and memorable moments for children. I know this mission and the satisfaction of seeing the business grow will sustain me for many years to come.
