Indoor Playground Business Fundamentals Explained

In a previous blog post, I spoke that the 7 items I do in my indoor playground equipment playground business as I have grown and matured as a business proprietor.
I chased Michael Hyatt, who, in many of his novels and programs continuously describes designing your ideal days and weeks as"the appetite zone" Operating inside your dream zone, as he explains it, simply means you're spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are great at.
While there are lots of jobs I cut completely and a few I delegate to better-suited team members, there are numerous duties that still lie inside my"desire zone," and that I believe are important for me to handle personally.



At Climbing Vines Cafe and Play, we have chosen our unique personal birthday parties as the primary attention of our small business .
Because of this focus, I've chosen to plan the primary aspects of each celebration we host. When someone books their event with us, they receive a comprehensive confirmation that includes my own contact info and mentions that I will be in touch because their event draws near.
While I do not normally take care of the execution of our parties, I really do act as the main touchpoint for parents and gather all of their information and tastes. Ten days before each celebration, I send out a personalized celebration"questionnaire" that comprises all of the details we've gathered up to this point, provides added day-of information, and asks about last-minute details.
I answer all questions that the host may have in reaction to this email and-- after a few back-and-forth communication-- I list all their event info on what we call a"party prep sheet." According to clients' options, I make a listing for every one of our vendors (catering, party supplies, balloons, paper products, etc.) and will ordinarily have a team member complete the purchasing and organize all of the supplies so they are grouped by party. Because we have up to 6 comprehensive events in 1 weekend, this business is essential!
The party-prep sheet is a very thorough document that makes it possible for any of our party hosts to execute the occasion to the specific specifications of the parents, leaving no rock unturned. This has enabled me to have most weekends free nonetheless still feel confident we're delivering an above-and-beyond birthday party experience.
After the party, we deliver a survey to every hosting family. Should they have feedback, whether it be negative or positive, I always follow up personally. This closes the loop clients' experience and makes certain they understand I genuinely care about their child's special day. This method has lead to a significant number of repeat bookings and consistent testimonials from past parties.
Not merely is planning these celebrations something I excel in, but additionally, I take great pleasure inside . Event planning is how I got into this business in the first place, so I'm more than happy to take on this task. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed with all the details, I understand I've amazing team members that I can lean on.

2) OVERSEE HIRING AND FIRING


Speaking of our incredible team members, another task I choose to have a hand in is our hiring and firing process. While I really do leave the final decision up to our cafe manager, I would rather write the project posts and descriptions and filter through resumes and applications before bringing anyone in for a meeting.
Having spent many years shooting and hiring my fair share of workers, it's easy for me to see red-flags on software and also find"diamonds in the rough" Since we have the majority of our normal operating procedures optimized and documented, I would rather hire based on personality and excitement instead of experience.
In addition, I make sure I personally welcome every employee to our staff and touch base with them frequently to check in and gather feedback from them.


Since I no longer spend time doing those 7 items (and more!) , my energy and time are freed up to investigate what our perfect clients want and want and find out a way to incorporate that into our business model.
As an example, I discovered that our birthday celebration bookings were slowing down at the Summer. When I requested a couple of clients, they mentioned that they DID love our occasions and attention-to-detail but preferred a Summer party to be outside at their home (since most have backyards and pools). We then started offering mobile events, where we would bring food, decorations, and activities for your kids to their houses, and it was a hit!
Another illustration is our occasions . We're always adding fun new occasions that enable clients, particularly working parents with limited weekday availability, to see us out of hours and receive an enhanced experience through the subject of the event, class, or activity.
If I had been I doing EVERY job in my enterprise, I would not have nearly enough time to perform as much innovation or research.

4) CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS

If it comes to knowing how to innovate and the best way to provide, it all starts with forging a real connection with customers.
It's for this reason that I really like interacting with our customers all time (when I can) and on social media. I choose to work celebrations, events, and even open-play when my family's schedule allows it so I could stay active and aware of what is happening during the day-to-day. It also gives me the opportunity to observe how customers are using our space first-hand and listen to any concerns or queries they have. Even though at this age of technology there are testimonials, forms, and polls, I have discovered that NOTHING can replace having a face-to-face conversation with clients who use your distance (and probably visits competitors too!) on a daily basis.
It is because of this that you will even see billionaire CEOs seeing retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was renowned for seeing hundreds of stores around the nation each year, spending some time with all the customers who were spending their cash on his products.
I love being a family owned and operated business, and I love for my clients to know that I'm completely invested in their happiness.

5) HELP OTHER ENTREPRENEURS ALONG Precisely the Same PATH

While I no longer do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to open indoor playgrounds, I really do spend a substantial amount of time producing absolutely free articles for them on my blog and above on YouTube. In addition, I have an absolutely free, 44-page eBook to get play-cafe-owning hopefuls that they can download right on our website or by clicking here.
If someone consumes that free information and decides they still would love to move forward with their programs, I also have an online program named Play Cafe Academy in which I help entrepreneurs get from daydream to opening-day in significantly less time and with less stress than they ever believed possible.
When I was studying this company model, there was not a lot of info out there. Current owners really keep all of their business secrets close to their vest, and I do not blame them! Even in the event that you charge a consulting fee, you are still sort of giving away the secrets that you've worked so hard for and it's quite easy as a company owner to acquire a little smug and protective of your own research and development.
When it came time to open my own company, I ended up making a slew of mistakes (and I suggest a TON of mistakes) since I just did not know any better. When I began getting calls and emails to consult for additional possible play cafe owners, I couldn't keep all this info to myself. While it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or there are other business owners much more qualified than me to discuss this information, I understand that there's a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for another concept to jump out in them.
And frankly, I do not want to see an additional business close because someone who's walked before them did not share any information! So why don't you discuss it myself?!
However, my time is valuable. I've got two little kids and also run another company... I don't have 12 hours to devote hand-holding each perspective owner through the process. (And allow me to tell you, it is going to take at least 12 to 24 hours of paid one-on-one consulting to even break the surface of everything you require, such as documentation) In the average rate of $100 to $200 an hour to really consultwith imagine what you could end up paying for just a hint of education!
Students may go through these modules in their own pace, and I don't need to spend the time to walk my pupils throughout the program.
This allows me to help other entrepreneurs along their path while at the same time reserving the time and energy I want for my family and other commitments.
In general, this business model can truly be whatever the owner wants it to be. I know many owners who choose to do ALL of the things inside their small business, and it works for them because most of us have distinct"desire zones"
I feel really lucky that I have learned over the years what my strengths (and weaknesses!) Are and may design my"ideal" weeks so. If I was still burning the candle on both ends trying to handle everything , I would do myself, my family, and my customers a major disservice.