When friends Tammy Cusack and Rachel Stokes were preparing for their babies' first birthdays, they were taken aback by the high costs involved. Both having over ten years of experience working in education and special schools, they collaborated to develop a solution that would benefit not only themselves but other parents as well.
The result was Kiddies' Kits, a soft play and toy hire business tailored to meet individual family needs, all while being very affordable.
“We started the business last year while organising our own babies' first birthdays and struggled to find suitable hire options at reasonable prices,” says Tammy, a part-time teacher based in Castle Vale. “We realised there was a gap in the market.”
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Tammy and Rachel work closely with parents to understand their child’s preferences. They then provide items such as play tents, ball pits, tunnels, ride-on cars and slides that children can enjoy at home, offering a cost-effective alternative to hiring soft play centres for large groups.
Rachel, a care manager from Coleshill, also personalises the equipment with vinyl stickers featuring the child’s name, age or special messages for occasions like christenings and celebrations. Rachel’s own children are aged three and nearly two.
“What we love most about our business is its uniqueness,” Tammy explains. “No other party provider offers setups like ours – from XL foam bricks to our large crawl and climb monkey tunnels, and the popular ride-along toys.
“We also enjoy creating themed and personalised kits, which allows us to be really creative.
“There’s nothing better than setting up and seeing the delight on the faces of the children and their families.
“We’ve received wonderfully positive feedback and are always told how much everyone enjoys the setups, which is very rewarding.”
Since launching in September 2025, Kiddies' Kits has expanded beyond parties to supplying equipment for playgroups as well. The service caters to children from birth to five years old across Birmingham, Solihull, Staffordshire, Lichfield and Warwickshire.
Balancing childcare, party planning and their day jobs, Tammy and Rachel manage to fit the business around their families’ schedules. “Most bookings are on weekends,” Tammy notes, “so we usually arrange childcare with the dads while we do the setups. We also prepare equipment in the evenings when the children are asleep.”
Clients have praised the service generously. One parent, who runs a sensory group for babies, commented: “The kit was lovely and both babies and mums had so much fun. Tammy and Rachel are lovely, helpful, and accommodating. It’s great that two mums have created something special.”
Another shared their experience of the Halloween event: “Kiddies' Kit Hire provided a unique setup that was a refreshing alternative to typical soft play sessions, enhancing the experience for children and adults alike.”
A third customer added, “Reasonable pricing and fantastic service-I would definitely use them again.”
For more information or to follow their latest offerings, visit Kiddies' Kits Instagram page.
This story is featured as part of the Brummie Mummies Kitchen Table Business series. To share your own business story, please contact us via the Brummie Mummies Facebook or Instagram pages, or email [email protected].
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