How Big Is the Kids’ Party Pack Market in Cape Town?
Planning a child’s birthday party is a rite of passage for most Cape Town parents — and one thing you’ll almost always find on the table is a party pack. These colourful, treat-filled bags are a staple at kids’ celebrations across the city, but have you ever wondered just how big the market for them really is?
The short answer? It’s bigger than you think.
Let’s break it down.
Cape Town’s population sits at just under 5 million, and roughly 25–30% of residents are under the age of 15. That’s more than 1.2 million children in the city alone.
If we focus in on the typical party pack age range — kids aged 1 to 12 — we’re looking at around 800,000 to 1 million children likely to celebrate a birthday each year.
Not every child has a party with full-scale planning and store-bought packs, but a large portion of parents do opt for the convenience of ready-made solutions — especially in today’s fast-paced world.
Let’s assume just 30% of those birthday events involve the purchase of pre-packed or semi-customised party packs. That gives us a ballpark figure of 240,000 to 300,000 birthday events annually in Cape Town where packs are being used.
This isn’t just a niche product — it’s a high-volume local industry.
Depending on the size of the party and the number of kids attending, Cape Town parents typically spend between R350 and R1,200 per set of party packs. For a mid-range estimate, we’ll use R500 per event.
Multiply that by 250,000 birthday parties, and you’re looking at a potential R125 million market — just for party packs in Cape Town.
That doesn’t include:
- Balloons
- Cakes and cupcakes
- Decorations and tableware
- Entertainers or venues
- Party extras like themed invites, games, or crafts
If you include even a fraction of that spend, the broader kids’ birthday market in the city easily climbs to R250–R300 million per year.
For parents, this might be just one item on a long to-do list. But for local businesses, the kids’ party industry represents a major opportunity. It’s not only a steady source of demand (birthdays don’t take breaks) — it’s a growing one, thanks to:
- Busier lifestyles
- A rise in single-parent households
- Higher expectations for party presentation
- The convenience of online ordering and delivery
Cape Town, in particular, is home to a growing number of hyper-local party suppliers like PopFizz, who hand-deliver themed packs that take the stress out of planning — while still keeping the joy intact.
What makes the industry so resilient is its emotional core. Kids only turn five once. Parents want to make it special — but between work, home, and everything else, most simply don’t have the time to source, pack, and style everything themselves.
Party packs solve a real problem. They’re not just a fun extra — they’re a time-saving, sanity-saving solution for thousands of families across the city.
A Quick Chat with Shila, Founder of PopFizz
Q: Shila, where did the idea for PopFizz come from?
Honestly, I was just trying to find a way to make ends meet. Things were tough, and I needed to earn something while still being there for my kids. I saw how much pressure parents were under to organise parties, especially with everything else going on — work, school, life. So I thought, why not make party packs for them? Just something small to help out.
Q: Did you have any experience running a business or doing design work?
No, not at all. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning. I didn’t have money to hire anyone or build a fancy website, so I started with what I could learn for free. A friend helped me set up a basic online store. I used AI tools to make the designs. I did the packing at home on the floor. It was literally just me figuring it out as I went.
Q: How did PopFizz get started without a big budget or team?
PopFizz was built from scratch — no capital, no fancy equipment, and no professional photographers. It started with one mom, a phone, and a realisation that parents needed help with party planning. Shila saw a gap, used free tools and AI to create original designs, and packed the orders herself. What began as a way to make ends meet became a growing small business that now delivers party packs across Cape Town.
Q: What’s the response been like from customers?
It’s been amazing. Most of my orders come from other moms — busy parents who just don’t have time to do it all. They’re always so thankful, and that means a lot. Every single order helps me support my kids. People think it’s just a small thing, but for me, it’s everything.
Q: What do you want people to know about PopFizz?
It’s personal. It’s not some big business. It’s me, packing each bag, making sure everything’s right, and dropping it off myself. If someone messages me on WhatsApp, they’re talking to me directly. I take it seriously because I know what it’s like to feel like you’re on your own and still trying to give your kid a great day.
What This Tells Us About Cape Town’s Party Scene
The kids’ party market in Cape Town is thriving, not because parents are trying to outdo each other, but because life is full. Time is short, stress is high, and birthdays still matter. That’s where businesses like PopFizz’s Party Packs come in: real solutions for real parents who just want to make the day special without burning themselves out.
What makes it powerful is how local it is. This isn’t about franchises or imports — it’s about people like Shila finding a gap, solving a problem, and building something from scratch. And every time someone places an order, they’re keeping that cycle going.
The industry might be built on balloons and party favours, but underneath it all, it’s supporting families, creating jobs, and giving kids a reason to smile. And that’s worth a lot more than a bag of sweets.
