Business Q&A: The Lanyard Ladies

The Lanyard Ladies want to provide your kids with some alternative entertainment.

Started in September by Heidi Schectman and Colleen Demas, the ladies specialize in friendship bracelet and lanyard construction. The idea has seen so much success that the team has decided to release a DVD and craft kit, due out in time for summer vacation.

Here, Schectman describes what has made her business such a smash. 

Why did you decide to start The Lanyard Ladies?

My partner and I worked together at a camp (making) friendship bracelets and lanyard bracelets. It was very popular and, as we saw how popular it was, we said ‘this is a good way to start a new career and we should start doing birthday parties.‘ We started doing birthday parties in September and it took off like crazy. We’ve been very busy.  

What do kids do at your birthday parties?

We come with everything. We set up tables, benches, and bring 26 colors of string and lanyards. We first started off with a lanyard pen project, where they made a pen - but with lanyards. We also do a lanyard bookmarks with them, where they weave in and out and can make different designs. We give private instruction to each child. This way, they can make as many as they want. We usually leave there and they’ve made about five to six bracelets. When we’re gone, they can still make bracelets. We also provide all the goodie bags for the kids. They are huge hits. 

What makes your business unique?

There’s nothing else like it. No one is doing birthday parties, or even selling friendship bracelet and lanyard kits. There’s not even an instructional DVD. That’s why we’re having that done right now. It’s a unique idea. A lot of people love it because they’re always looking for something different for their kids. They don’t want to keep doing the same old parties. When they find out about us, and we’ve had a lot of word of mouth business, everyone just goes crazy.

What kind of activities will you be offering at the Robbie Levine Foundation Run on April 29 (held at in Merrick)?

It’s a five mile run for the foundation. [Robbie] was a nine-year-old boy who suddenly died playing baseball. They have volunteers come to keep the children busy. We’re going to have a booth there and be giving out starter bracelets, string, and starting lanyards and friendship bracelets. We’ll be helping all the kids and keeping them busy while their parents are doing the run. 

What tend to be your most popular items or patterns?

There’s about 10 to 15 different kind of bracelets and lanyards. Candy stripe bracelets are very popular. Box stitches and barrel stitches are very popular for the lanyards the children like to do.

For more information and to book The Lanyard Ladies, click here.

Have you been to a Lanyard Ladies Party? Tell us in comments.