RIVER NORTH — With the holiday season comes an onslaught of parties, and sometimes the stress of planning, cooking and decorating can be overwhelming: that's where a new local startup hopes to step in.
Paris312, a River North-based online party planning company, lets users choose a custom collection of party essentials based on the occasion and celebrant, then ships the bundle of pre-sorted items directly to the party planner. The company officially launched Dec. 14 and is offering a limited-edition New Year’s Eve collection to kick things off, said founder and creative director Niku Ghalkhani.
“We’re all about simplicity,” Ghalkhani said. “We take the guesswork out. We design everything to be a complete product.”
The Paris312 design team creates its own party tableware, accessories and decor, including purse hooks, custom straws, cupcake toppers and custom balloons, providing a one-stop shop for polished, cohesively-designed party supplies and decor, Ghalkhani said. Named after one of her favorite cities and area code of the city she now calls home, the style behind Paris312’s party supplies is inspired by Paris’ modern, trendy yet feminine aesthetic.
The prices for individual items range from $5 to $32, which can bring the overall cost up to several hundred dollars depending on the number of guests. In 2016, the company will also begin offering party games.
Ghalkhani said the company is not out to replace event planners for large-scale shindigs. Instead it aims to make preparing for smaller events between significant occasions more affordable, both in terms of money and time.
“Most people don’t hire event planners for birthdays and bachelorette [parties], [though] it’s nice to have someone taking care of it for you. But it’s costly, and sometimes the budget doesn’t fit the event,” Ghalkhani said.
The company offers supplies for bachelorette parties and birthday parties, as well as bridal and baby showers, targeting a customer base of women ages 23 to 35 years old. If consumers request bachelor or children’s parties, Ghalkhani said she would be open to designing for those occasions, too.
After studying biology at Concordia University and realizing she didn’t want to pursue it further, the Montreal native noticed that many of her friends were having issues planning special events. She went on to complete event planning internships and started the site in order to streamline the party planning process.
“Not everybody has an eye for design,” Ghalkhani said. “But if it’s an important moment, you still want it to look good and polished. The idea is that the party and excitement begins from the moment you receive the package.”
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