The Ultimate Secret Of Indoor Playground Business

In an earlier blog post, I spoke the 7 things I do in my indoor playground company as I have grown and matured as a company proprietor.
I referenced Michael Hyatt, that, in many of his novels and programs always describes designing your perfect days and weeks as"the desire zone." Running inside your dream zone, as he describes it, simply means you are spending the bulk of your time doing what you both love AND are good at.
While there are lots of jobs I cut completely and some I delegate into better-suited team members, there are numerous responsibilities that still lie inside my"desire zone," and that I feel are important for me to manage personally.



At Climbing Vines Cafe and Play, we've chosen our unique personal birthday parties as the primary focus of our business.
Because of this attention, I've chosen to personally plan the principal facets of each celebration we host. When someone publications their event with us, they get a comprehensive confirmation which includes my contact information and mentions that I'm personally in touch because their event draws near.
While I don't normally take care of the implementation of our celebrations, I really do act as the main touchpoint for parents and gather all of their information and preferences. Ten days prior to each celebration, I send a personalized celebration"questionnaire" that comprises all of the details we've gathered up to that point, provides added day-of info, and inquires about last-minute particulars.
I answer all questions the host might have in response to that email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I record all their event information on that which we call a"party prep sheet" Based on clients' options, I make a listing for all of our vendors (catering, party supplies, balloons, paper products, etc.) and will ordinarily have a team member complete the purchasing and organize all the supplies so that they are grouped by party. Because we have up to 6 comprehensive events in one weekend, this business is essential!
The party-prep sheet is an extremely detailed document that makes it possible for any of our party hosts to do the event to the exact specifications of their parents, leaving no rock unturned. This has enabled me to have most weekends free nonetheless still feel confident we're providing an above-and-beyond birthday celebration experience.
After the celebration, we send a questionnaire to each hosting family. If they have opinions, whether it be positive or negative, I follow up . This closes the loop clients' experience and makes sure they understand I truly care about their child's special day. This method has lead to a substantial amount of repeat bookings and consistent referrals from previous parties.
Not only is planning these celebrations something I excel in, but additionally, I take great pleasure inside . Event planning is the way I got into the business in the first place, therefore I'm more than pleased to have this task. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed with all the details, I understand I have amazing team members that I will lean on.



Speaking of our amazing team members, yet another job I choose to have a hand is our hiring and firing process. While I do leave the final decision up to our cafe supervisor, I would rather write the job posts and filter and descriptions through resumes and applications before bringing anybody in for an interview.
Having spent many years shooting and hiring my fair share of workers, it's easy for me to spot red-flags on software and also find"diamonds in the rough." Since we've got 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 welcome every worker to our team and touch base with them often to check in and gather feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Another job that lies within my present"desire zone" is digging the overall direction of our organization and coming up with fresh ways to best serve our community.
Since I no longer spend time doing these 7 items (and more!) , my time and energy are freed up to research what our ideal clients want and need and figure out a way to integrate that in our business model.
For instance, I discovered that our birthday celebration bookings were slowing down in the summertime. When I asked a couple of customers, they said that they DID love our events and attention-to-detail but chosen a Summer celebration to be out at their residence (since many have backyards and pools). We then began offering mobile events, where we'd bring food, decorations, and activities for your kids to their houses, and it was a hit!
Another example is our events. We're always adding fun new events that enable customers, particularly working parents with limited weekday availability, to visit us out of hours and receive an enhanced experience through the theme 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 do as much innovation or research.


When it comes to knowing how to innovate and the best way to offer, it all starts with forging a genuine connection with clients.
It's because of this that I really like interacting with our customers all time (when I could ) and on social networking. I opt to work celebrations, events, and even open-play when my family's schedule allows it so I could stay involved and aware of what is happening during the day. It also gives me the chance to observe how clients are using our space first-hand and listen to any concerns or questions they have. Even though in this age of technology you can find testimonials, types, and surveys, I have found that NOTHING can replace using a face-to-face conversation with customers who use your space (and likely visits competitors too!)
It is because of this that you will even see billionaire CEOs visiting retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was famous for seeing hundreds of stores around the nation every year, spending time with the clients who had been spending their money on his merchandise.
I love being a family owned and operated business, and that I love for my clients to understand that I'm fully invested in their own happiness.


While I do one-on-one consulting for people hoping to open indoor playgrounds, I really do spend a substantial amount of time producing absolutely free articles for them on my blog and over on YouTube. In addition, I have a totally free, 44-page eBook for play-cafe-owning hopefuls that they can download right on our website or simply by clicking here.
If someone consumes that free information and decides they would love to move forward with their programs, I have an internet program named Play Cafe Academy where I help entrepreneurs gain from daydream to opening-day in less time and with less strain than they ever believed possible.
When I was studying this company model, there wasn't a lot of information out there. Current owners actually keep all their business secrets close to their vest, and now I do not blame them! Even if you charge a consulting fee, you're still sort of giving away the keys that you have worked so hard for and it is quite easy as a business owner to acquire a little smug and protective of your research and development.
As it came time to open my own business, I wound up making a ton of mistakes (and I suggest a TON of mistakes) since I just didn't know any better. So when I started getting calls and emails to consult for other potential 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 more qualified than me to share this information, I know that there's a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for the next concept to leap out in them.
And frankly, I do not want to see one more business close because somebody who's walked before them didn't share any information! So why not discuss it myself?!
But my time is precious. I've got two small kids indoor playground and run another company... I don't have 12 hours to spend hand-holding each perspective owner through the procedure. (And let me tell you, it is going to take at least 12 to 24 hours of compensated one-on-one consulting to break the surface of everything you require, such as documentation.) In the average rate of $100 to $200 an hour to actually consultwith imagine what you could end up paying for only a sign of schooling!
Students may go through these modules at their own pace, and I don't have to take some time to walk my students through the program.
This allows me to assist other entrepreneurs in their path while also reserving the time and energy that I want for my family and other commitments.
I understand many owners that choose to do ALL of the items inside their business, and it works for them because we all have distinct"desire zones"
Are and can design my"perfect" weeks accordingly. When I was burning the candle on both ends trying to tackle everything myself, I'd do myself, my loved ones, and my clients a significant disservice.