The Complete Handbook of Party Favors

I've been a wedding planner for eight years and have wasted more money than I'd like to admit on favors that melted, broke, or were just wrong for the crowd. This book finally gives you a framework instead of a catalog. I immediately recalculated my per-head favor budget using their specs on unit weight and shelf life, and I'm shifting one of my standard packages to a different material. The chapter on maintenance is practical, not theoretical. Minor complaint: the glossary felt a little basic for someone in the industry, but it's fine for clients.

As a buyer for a regional grocery chain that does event supplies, I'm used to vendor docs that assume you know what you're doing. This handbook fills in the gaps. I found the specifications chapter particularly useful for comparing wholesale offerings—it made me realize I was paying a premium for 'novelty' that had no functional benefit. Kept it on my desk all week. Took off a star only because I think the troubleshooting section could have been twice as long; the repair advice for 3D printed stuff was thin.

Decent reference, and I'll keep it on the shelf. But honestly, a lot of this felt like common sense if you've been in the event business for more than a season. The chapters on business opportunities are very US-centric and assume you have capital to play with. The section on 'experiential favors' was the most interesting part; it's the only time the book felt current. If you're brand new to this, it's a solid 5 stars. For a veteran, it's just okay.

I bought this thinking it would help with my small Etsy shop where I make custom laser-cut favors. The materials science specifics (what glues hold, which woods split) were helpful. The rest of the book, however, was clearly written for people moving pallets, not for small-volume artisans. I was annoyed that the 'private labeling' section barely mentioned the legal paperwork for small sellers. It's a well-written book, but it's for a bigger operation than mine. Took off two stars for the lack of scope diversity.

I coordinate resale for a charity auction house and we receive a lot of unopened event favors. This gave me the vocabulary to describe them accurately to buyers and to set realistic values. The sections on material degradation were immediate value: I stopped listing old chocolate bundles. The writing style is dry but that is what I wanted. I just wish there were a few more real-world photos or diagrams instead of just text and the one table. Still, would buy again as a gift for a colleague entering the field.

This is the resource I have been looking for since I started my party supply rental company. The breakdown of the category into consumables vs. keepsakes vs. throwables was the first time a book explained why I have so much leftover inventory. Their guidance on unit cost and how to raise the 'perceived value' without increasing actual cost has directly improved my margins. Highly recommended for any business owner. Ignore the one-star reviews from people who expected a picture book.

A few useful sections, but it reads too much like a textbook. I get it, it's a 'reference handbook,' but I was hoping for a bit more story or anecdote to illustrate the points. The chapter on choosing the right favor is full of checklist logic that doesn't account for irrational clients, which is a huge part of my job. It's dense and accurate, but it was something of a slog. The quiz in the back of the FAQ chapter was a nice touch though, corny but helpful.

There's a lot of good info here, but I have some reservations about the 'expert' advice. The section on rental models didn't really cover the insurance nightmare that comes with rented items. Also, I felt the book could have tightened up a lot—some of the chapters seemed to repeat the same points about cost per unit. That said, the troubleshooting chart at the end of chapter 5 is pure gold and saved me last Saturday when a batch of candles cracked. 3 stars it is.