Who Else Wants To Know The Mystery Behind Indoor Playground Business?
In a previous blog post, I spoke that the 7 things I no longer do in my indoor playground company as I have grown and matured as a business proprietor.
I chased Michael Hyatt, that, in most of his books and programs always refers to designing your ideal weeks and days as"the desire zone" Operating within your desire zone, as he explains it, only means you're spending the majority of your time doing what you both love AND are great at.
Because of this focus, I have chosen to plan the primary aspects of each party we host. When someone books their occasion with us, they receive a comprehensive confirmation which includes my contact info and mentions that I will be personally in touch because their event draws near.
While I don't typically take care of the implementation of our parties, I do act as the major touchpoint for parents and gather all of their information and tastes. Ten days prior to each party, I send out a personalized celebration"questionnaire" that includes all the details we have gathered up to this point, provides added day-of information, and inquires about last-minute details.
I answer all questions the host may have in response to this email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I record all their event info on what we call a"party prep sheet" Based on customers' choices, I make a list for all our sellers (catering, party supplies, balloons, paper goods, etc.) and will usually have a team member complete the purchasing and organize all of the supplies so that they are grouped by party. Since we have around 6 all-inclusive events in 1 weekend, this organization is essential!
The party-prep sheet is a very detailed document that makes it possible for our party hosts to execute 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 convinced we are delivering an above-and-beyond birthday party experience.
After the celebration, we send a questionnaire to each hosting household. Should they have opinions, whether it be positive or negative, I follow up . This closes the loop on clients' expertise and makes sure they know I genuinely care about their child's special day. This method has resulted in a significant amount of repeat bookings and consistent referrals from past parties.
Not only is planning these celebrations some thing that I excel in, but additionally, I take great joy in it. Event planning is how I got into the business in the first place, therefore I am more than happy to have this task. If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed with all the details, I know I've amazing team members that I can lean on.
Speaking of our amazing team members, yet another task I choose to have a hand in is our hiring and firing procedure. While I really 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 anyone in for a meeting.
Having spent many years hiring and firing my fair share of workers, it is easy for me to see 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 character and enthusiasm rather than experience.
I also make sure I welcome every employee to our team and touch base with them frequently to check in and collect feedback from them.
3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES
Another job that lies within my present"desire zone" is digging the general direction of our business and coming up with new tactics to best serve our community.
Since I no longer spend some time doing those 7 items (and more!) , my time and energy are freed up to investigate what our ideal clients want and need and figure out a way to incorporate that into our business model.
As an instance, I discovered that our birthday celebration bookings were slowing down in the summertime. When I requested a few customers, they mentioned that they DID love our events and attention-to-detail but preferred a Summer party to be out at their home (since many have backyards and pools). We then started offering cellular events, where we would bring decorations, food, and activities for the kids to their houses, and it was a hit!
Another example is our events. We are constantly adding fun new events that allow clients, particularly working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to visit us out of hours and get an enhanced experience throughout the theme of the event, course, or activity.
If I had been I doing EVERY task in my business, I would not have nearly enough time to do as much innovation or research.
When it comes to understanding how to innovate and the best way to offer, it starts with forging a genuine connection with customers.
It's for this reason that I really like interacting with our clients in-person (when I can) and on social media. I opt to work celebrations, events, as well as open-play if my family's schedule permits it so I can stay active and aware of what is happening during the day. It also gives me the chance to observe how clients are using our distance first-hand and listen to any concerns or questions they have. Although in this age of technology you can find testimonials, types, and polls, I have discovered that NOTHING can replace using a face-to-face dialog with customers who use your space (and likely visits competitors too!) on a daily basis.
It's 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 famous for visiting hundreds of stores around the nation each year, spending time with all the customers who were spending their money on his products.
I love being a family owned and operated company, and I love for my customers to know that I'm completely invested in their happiness.
While I do one-on-one consulting for people hoping to open indoor playground equipment home playgrounds, I do spend a significant amount of time producing absolutely free content for them on my blog and over on YouTube. I also have a totally free, 44-page eBook to get play-cafe-owning hopefuls they can download right on our website or simply by clicking here.
If a person consumes that free info and determines they would love to move forward with their programs, I have an internet program called Play Cafe Academy where I help entrepreneurs get from daydream to opening-day in less time and less strain than they ever believed possible.
When I was studying this company model, there was not a lot of info out there. Recent owners really keep all their business secrets near their vest, and now I do not blame them! Even in the event that you charge a consulting fee, you're still kind of giving away the keys that you've worked so difficult for and it is quite easy as a company owner to acquire a little smug and protective of your research and development.
As it came time to start my own company, I wound up making a slew of errors (and I suggest a TON of mistakes) because I just didn't know any better. When I began getting emails and calls to consult for other possible play cafe owners, I could not keep this information to myself. As soon as it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or there are other small business owners more capable than me to discuss this advice, I know that there's a 4-years-ago me sitting somewhere waiting for the next concept to leap out at them.
And frankly, I don't want to see an additional business close because somebody who is walked before them did not share any information! So why don't you share it myself?!
However, my time is precious. I've got two little children and also run another company... I do not have 12 hours to spend hand-holding each perspective owner through the process. (And let me tell you, it will take at least 12 to 24 hours of compensated one-on-one consulting to even break the surface of everything you need, such as documentation.) At the average rate of $100 to $200 an hour to really consultwith imagine what you might wind up paying for just a hint of schooling!
Students may go through those modules at their own speed, and I do not need to spend some time to walk my pupils through the program.
This allows me to help other entrepreneurs along their path while also reserving the time and energy I want for my loved ones and other commitments.
Overall, this business model may actually be whatever the owner wants it to be. I understand many owners who choose to do ALL of the items inside their business, and it works for them because we all have distinct"desire zones"
I feel really lucky I have heard over the years what my strengths (and weaknesses!) Are and can design my"ideal" weeks accordingly. If I was still burning the candle on both ends trying to handle everything , I would do myself, my family, and my clients a major disservice.
