The Mafia Guide To Indoor Playground Business

In a previous blog post, I discussed the 7 items I do in my indoor playground business as I have matured and grown as a business proprietor.
I chased Michael Hyatt, who, in most of his books and programs always describes designing your ideal days and weeks as"the desire zone." Operating inside your dream zone, even as he describes it, simply means you are spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are good at.



1) COMMUNICATE WITH BIRTHDAY CLIENTS



At Growing Vines Cafe and Play, we have chosen our unique private birthday parties as the main focus of our small business .
Due to this attention, I have chosen to plan the primary aspects of each celebration we host. Whenever someone books their event with us, they get a comprehensive confirmation which includes my contact information and mentions that I'm in touch because their event draws near.
While I do not normally take care of the implementation of our parties, I do still act as the major touchpoint for parents and gather all their information and tastes. Ten days prior to each party, I send a personalized party"questionnaire" which includes all of the details we've gathered up to this point, provides added day-of info, and asks about last-minute details.
I answer all questions that the host may have in reaction to that email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I record all their event info on that which we call a"celebration prep sheet." According to clients' choices, I make a list for all our sellers (catering, party supplies, balloons, paper products, etc.) and will ordinarily have a team member complete the shopping and organize all the supplies so they are grouped by party. Since we have up to 6 all-inclusive events in 1 weekend, this organization 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 allowed me to have most weekends free yet still feel convinced we're providing an above-and-beyond birthday celebration experience.
After the celebration, we send a questionnaire to each hosting household. If they have opinions, whether it be negative or positive, I follow up personally. This closes the loop on clients' experience and makes sure they know I truly care about their child's special day. This method has resulted in a substantial amount of repeat bookings and consistent testimonials from previous parties.
Not merely is planning these parties something that I excel in, but I also take great pleasure inside . Event planning is how I got into this business in the first place, therefore I'm more than happy to have this task. If I am ever feeling overwhelmed with the details, I understand I have amazing team members that I will lean on.



Speaking of our incredible team members, another job I choose to get a hand in is our hiring and firing procedure. While I do leave the final decision up to our cafe manager, I prefer to write the project posts and filter and descriptions through resumes and software before bringing anyone in for an interview.
Having spent several years hiring and firing my fair share of employees, it's easy for me to spot red-flags on software and also find"diamonds in the rough." Since we've got most of our normal operating procedures documented and optimized, I would rather hire based on personality and excitement rather than experience.
In addition, I make sure I welcome every employee to our staff and touch base with them frequently to check in and gather feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Another job that lies in 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 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 incorporate that into our business model.
For example, I noticed that our birthday celebration bookings were slowing down in the Summer. When I requested a few clients, they mentioned that they DID adore our occasions and attention-to-detail but chosen a Summer party to be out at their home (since most have backyards and pools). We then began offering mobile events, where we'd bring decorations, food, and activities for the kids to their homes, and it was a hit!
Another illustration is our events. We're constantly adding fun new events that allow customers, especially working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to see us out of open hours and get an enhanced experience through the subject of the event, course, or activity.
If I were I doing EVERY task in my business, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to perform 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 real connection with clients.
It is for this reason that I love interacting with our customers all time (when I can) and on social networking. I opt to work celebrations, events, as well as open-play when my family's schedule permits it so I could stay involved and aware of what's occurring during the day-to-day. It also gives me the opportunity to observe how customers are using our distance firsthand and listen to any concerns or queries they have. Although at this age of technology there are testimonials, forms, and surveys, I have discovered 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 also see billionaire CEOs visiting retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was renowned for visiting hundreds of stores around the nation each year, spending some time with the customers who had been spending their cash on his merchandise.
I love being a family owned and operated company, and I love for my customers to understand that I am completely invested in their own happiness.

5) HELP OTHER ENTREPRENEURS ALONG THE SAME PATH

While I no longer do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to open indoor playgrounds, I do spend a significant quantity of time producing absolutely free articles for them here on my blog and over on YouTube. I also have a totally free, 44-page eBook to get play-cafe-owning hopefuls that they can download right on our website or by clicking here.
If a person consumes that free information and determines they still would like to proceed with their plans, I also have an internet program called Play Cafe Academy in which I assist entrepreneurs get from daydream to opening-day in significantly less time and with less strain than they ever thought 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 that I don't blame them! Even in the event that you charge a consulting fee, you are still sort of giving away the keys that you have worked so difficult for and it's very easy as a company owner to acquire a little smug and protective of your research and development.
When it came time to open my own company, I wound up making a ton of mistakes (and I mean a TON of mistakes) since I just didn't know any better. When I began getting calls and emails to consult for additional potential play cafe owners, then I couldn't keep all this information to myself. While it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or that there are other small business owners more capable than me to share this advice, I understand that there is a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for another concept to leap out at them.
And frankly, I don't need to see an additional business close because someone who's walked before them didn't share any info! Why don't you share it myself?!
However, my time is precious. I have two small children and also run another business... I do not have 12 hours to devote hand-holding each standpoint owner through the procedure. (And let me 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 need, including documentation.) At the typical rate of $100 to $200 an hour to actually consultwith imagine what you could end up paying for only a hint of education!
Students can go through these modules in their own speed, and I don't need to take the time to walk my students through the program.
This enables me to help other entrepreneurs in their course while also reserving the time and energy that I want for my loved ones and other commitments.
Overall, this business model can truly be whatever the owner wants it to be. I know many owners that choose to do ALL of the things inside their small business, and it works for them since we all have different"desire zones."
Are and can design my"perfect" weeks so. When I was still burning the candle on both ends trying to handle everything , I would do myself, my loved ones, and my customers a major disservice.