Are you looking for something unique for your special customers? How about inflatable sports tunnels? Entrance tunnels are a great way to make a football or basketball game even more exciting.
Many times the school won't want to mess with owning their own tunnel....but they'll be thrilled to rent it from you if you have it available. And, of course, area sponsors will LOVE to advertise at all the games...on YOUR inflatable sports tunnel.
In many cases, the money you make for advertising will be more than you actually pay for the tunnel.
Sports Central Creations has sports tunnels and inflatable mascots in all shapes and sizes.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
More Water Woes for Your Moonbounce Business
How in the world can you run a Moonbounce Business when it's raining all the time? Surprisingly enough, it's not as hard as it sounds. A moonwalk getting wet isn't the end of the world, although if you don't dry your moonbounce fairly quickly it can be the end of the unit.
Since inflatables are made of vinyl, a little water won't hurt them. Not even a lot of water, BUT you can't let inflatables sit for very long drenched. As soon as the rain dies down and the sun comes out mildew will start working it's way through your inflatable. And mildew is extremely hard to remove!
So...after your inflatable gets drenched, as soon as possible set it up and get up and start the drying process. If you can do it indoors, that's great. Even if your ceilings are low you can open the vents and let it blow partially up. Just the air blowing through it will dry it.
If you don't have indoor space, then just get it up the minute the rain lets up.
And remember, this is a GREAT time to deep clean your inflatable games. They're up, they're wet...why not take advantage of it!
Find out more about take care of inflatables at Moonbounce Business Info
Since inflatables are made of vinyl, a little water won't hurt them. Not even a lot of water, BUT you can't let inflatables sit for very long drenched. As soon as the rain dies down and the sun comes out mildew will start working it's way through your inflatable. And mildew is extremely hard to remove!
So...after your inflatable gets drenched, as soon as possible set it up and get up and start the drying process. If you can do it indoors, that's great. Even if your ceilings are low you can open the vents and let it blow partially up. Just the air blowing through it will dry it.
If you don't have indoor space, then just get it up the minute the rain lets up.
And remember, this is a GREAT time to deep clean your inflatable games. They're up, they're wet...why not take advantage of it!
Find out more about take care of inflatables at Moonbounce Business Info
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Water Water Everywhere.... How Does it Affect Your Moonwalk Business ?
Being in business in the Midwest right now kind of sucks. We're knee in water almost everywhere. Of course, in the whole scheme of things, losing a few rentals isn't much compared to what others are losing, but we still have bills to pay and employees to support so all this rain can really hurt.
What can you do to protect yourself? A lot depends on how you handle your written contract. A few years ago we returned deposits if an event rained out. We were building our business and wanted the good will, but after losing a fortune due to rain one year we changed that policy. Now... we require 50% down BUT if the event cancels due to weather they have a full year to reschedule and use their deposit.
The basic fact is that if you don't take deposits or return them due to weather issues you'll find it hard to stay in business, and most businesses understand this.
Now, even though our contract states no refunds, in some cases we'll refund small deposits for backyard parties. $75.00 here and there isn't much when you realize the good will you can make, but this is a personal preference.
Just remember, people know you have a business to operate and deposits are taken for a reason. You are under no obligation to return them as long as you've made your policies clear to the customer up front.
If a customers really want to fight this, offer them a rain waiver. For 3-5% of the total cost of the event, they can purchase the ability to get a full refund in case of weather. This can be a win win for everyone. The customer will be more comfortable and in many cases you can make an extra 3-5% for all your events.
Tomorrow we'll talk about the effect of the weather on your moonbounces & interactive inflatable games in the party rental business.
What can you do to protect yourself? A lot depends on how you handle your written contract. A few years ago we returned deposits if an event rained out. We were building our business and wanted the good will, but after losing a fortune due to rain one year we changed that policy. Now... we require 50% down BUT if the event cancels due to weather they have a full year to reschedule and use their deposit.
The basic fact is that if you don't take deposits or return them due to weather issues you'll find it hard to stay in business, and most businesses understand this.
Now, even though our contract states no refunds, in some cases we'll refund small deposits for backyard parties. $75.00 here and there isn't much when you realize the good will you can make, but this is a personal preference.
Just remember, people know you have a business to operate and deposits are taken for a reason. You are under no obligation to return them as long as you've made your policies clear to the customer up front.
If a customers really want to fight this, offer them a rain waiver. For 3-5% of the total cost of the event, they can purchase the ability to get a full refund in case of weather. This can be a win win for everyone. The customer will be more comfortable and in many cases you can make an extra 3-5% for all your events.
Tomorrow we'll talk about the effect of the weather on your moonbounces & interactive inflatable games in the party rental business.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Phone Answering Tips for Your Bounce House Business
One mistake I see people make quite frequently when running their bounce house business is the way they handle their phone calls. This is such a small thing that it amazes me that more people don't put more thought into it.
You can spend all kinds of time and money getting the best equipment and advertising but it's amazing how many people don't take care of their phone calls.
Now...most of us start small and many have other jobs when we're just starting so you can't ALWAYS be at the phones. But, whenever possible you should answer your calls yourself. If you CAN'T answer, then return the calls as soon as possible....check your messages on your break, lunch time etc. The basic fact is that a lost phone call is many times a lost sale.
But, don't get depressed, because those of you who can't answer during the day can still get the jump on competition if you answer your phones in the evening. Many people will plan their parties when they're home after work, and the company that answers is the one who will book their rental.
There are a couple of different products that can help you manage your phones. We use Aptela . It's a voip program and for a small amount of money we get a professional recording and music on hold...but the BEST part is that we can transfer the calls to other phones easily...a cell phone or an assistant's phone, etc. You can set up the system to call you or email you a voice message immediately but the best part? You can check your account daily to see how many calls that did NOT leave a message and the time of the day they arrived.
This is a great way to see how many calls you're missing by not answering during the day and a great way to plan any staffing you need in your office.
We all know how much money you can make with a bounce house business...but you have to wonder....how much more could you make if you answered every phone call?
You can spend all kinds of time and money getting the best equipment and advertising but it's amazing how many people don't take care of their phone calls.
Now...most of us start small and many have other jobs when we're just starting so you can't ALWAYS be at the phones. But, whenever possible you should answer your calls yourself. If you CAN'T answer, then return the calls as soon as possible....check your messages on your break, lunch time etc. The basic fact is that a lost phone call is many times a lost sale.
But, don't get depressed, because those of you who can't answer during the day can still get the jump on competition if you answer your phones in the evening. Many people will plan their parties when they're home after work, and the company that answers is the one who will book their rental.
There are a couple of different products that can help you manage your phones. We use Aptela . It's a voip program and for a small amount of money we get a professional recording and music on hold...but the BEST part is that we can transfer the calls to other phones easily...a cell phone or an assistant's phone, etc. You can set up the system to call you or email you a voice message immediately but the best part? You can check your account daily to see how many calls that did NOT leave a message and the time of the day they arrived.
This is a great way to see how many calls you're missing by not answering during the day and a great way to plan any staffing you need in your office.
We all know how much money you can make with a bounce house business...but you have to wonder....how much more could you make if you answered every phone call?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Staking Down a Moonbounce .....Should you speak up?
I saw this discussion on the Moonwalk Forum today. The question revolved around a rental company setting up a tent for a customer while another rental company furnished the inflatables. He saw that the inflatables were only anchored in two places with the other straps just lying there.
The $1000.00 question? Is it correct to point out the problem to the customer?
In my mind? ABSOLUTELY! And most other owners seem to feel the same way. Now, I might go a step further with it if I know the other company owner. In our area many of us work closely together so I might call the owner and tell him his has a problem and see if he wants to come out and fix it, but if it's not fixed before I leave I will absolutely let the customer know he has a safety issue.
Remember, in the party rental business, it's SAFETY FIRST! The more we grow, the more we count on employees to take care of our set-ups. If we don't ALL feel responsible for safety there could be a lot more accidents in the industry.
The $1000.00 question? Is it correct to point out the problem to the customer?
In my mind? ABSOLUTELY! And most other owners seem to feel the same way. Now, I might go a step further with it if I know the other company owner. In our area many of us work closely together so I might call the owner and tell him his has a problem and see if he wants to come out and fix it, but if it's not fixed before I leave I will absolutely let the customer know he has a safety issue.
Remember, in the party rental business, it's SAFETY FIRST! The more we grow, the more we count on employees to take care of our set-ups. If we don't ALL feel responsible for safety there could be a lot more accidents in the industry.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Home Based Business Opportunity.com - Safety Precautions in the Moonbounce Business
I got a call from an owner last night telling me he had a bounce overturn at an event yesterday. Just the thought of that sends shivers down my spine. Fortunately, no one was in the unit at the time but that was just pure luck.
His drivers swear they staked the unit down. So...who is to blame?
I suggested for his (and the end users) protection in the future that he do a couple of different things.
#1...make sure he uses the proper size stakes and that they are pounded all the way in the ground. Also, make sure the type of the stakes are marked or covered with cones so that no one trips.
#2...If the ground has sprinklers and the set up people don't feel that they can push the stakes in all the way, use the proper sand bags instead of stakes.
#3...Now...for the final item...make SURE that when the set up people go over safety instructions that they tell the person in charge to check every 15 minutes or so to make sure the stakes are securely in the ground. This should be written on the instructions left with the owner, and also verbalized.
There are very few accidents in this industry...most are caused by improper staking. Make sure delivery people know that units must ALWAYS be staked, even if there is no wind and if you're attending the unit with your own people, they should consistently check to make sure stakes are secure.
Even if your business is small, you want to start it properly and make sure all new employees understand that safety is ALWAYS your primary concern.
If you want more tips on operating your party rental business you can find them at:
Start a Moonwalk Rental Business
PartyZone Entertainment Moonbounce Business Info
Stumble This Post!
Submit to Reddit
His drivers swear they staked the unit down. So...who is to blame?
I suggested for his (and the end users) protection in the future that he do a couple of different things.
#1...make sure he uses the proper size stakes and that they are pounded all the way in the ground. Also, make sure the type of the stakes are marked or covered with cones so that no one trips.
#2...If the ground has sprinklers and the set up people don't feel that they can push the stakes in all the way, use the proper sand bags instead of stakes.
#3...Now...for the final item...make SURE that when the set up people go over safety instructions that they tell the person in charge to check every 15 minutes or so to make sure the stakes are securely in the ground. This should be written on the instructions left with the owner, and also verbalized.
There are very few accidents in this industry...most are caused by improper staking. Make sure delivery people know that units must ALWAYS be staked, even if there is no wind and if you're attending the unit with your own people, they should consistently check to make sure stakes are secure.
Even if your business is small, you want to start it properly and make sure all new employees understand that safety is ALWAYS your primary concern.
If you want more tips on operating your party rental business you can find them at:
Start a Moonwalk Rental Business
PartyZone Entertainment Moonbounce Business Info
Stumble This Post! Submit to Reddit
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