Indoor Playground Business? It's Easy If You Do It Smart

In a previous blog post, I discussed the 7 items I no longer do in my indoor playground (www.twitarcade.com) company as I have grown and matured as a business proprietor.
I chased Michael Hyatt, that, in many of his novels and programs always describes designing your ideal days and weeks as"the appetite zone." Running inside your desire zone, as he describes it, simply means you are spending the majority of your time doing what you love AND are good at.
When there are many tasks I cut completely and a few I delegate to better-suited team members, there are several responsibilities that still lie within my"desire zone," and that I feel are important for me to handle personally. Even though this is continually changing as my priorities (both professionally and personally) evolve, these are just 5 of the jobs that I'm not giving up only yet as a business proprietor.



At Climbing Vines Cafe and Play, we have picked our unique personal birthday parties as the main attention of our small business .
Due to this focus, I've chosen to plan the principal facets of each celebration we sponsor. When someone publications their occasion with us, they receive a comprehensive confirmation that includes my contact info and mentions that I'm in touch as their event draws near.
While I don't normally take care of the execution of our parties, I do act as the main touchpoint for parents and collect all of their information and tastes. Ten days before each celebration, I send a personalized party"questionnaire" which includes all of the details we've gathered up to that point, provides additional day-of information, and inquires about last-minute details.
I answer all queries the host might have in response to that email and-- following some back-and-forth communication-- I list all of their event info on what we call a"party prep sheet" Because we have up to 6 comprehensive events in one weekend, this organization is indispensable!
The party-prep sheet is a very detailed document that makes it possible for our party hosts to execute the event to the specific specifications of their parents, leaving no stone unturned. This has enabled me to have most weekends free yet still feel confident we're delivering an above-and-beyond birthday celebration experience.
After the celebration, we deliver a questionnaire to every hosting family. If they have opinions, whether it be positive or negative, I follow up . This closes the loop clients' experience and makes certain they know I truly care for their child's special day. This process has resulted in a significant number of repeat bookings and consistent referrals from past parties.
Not merely is planning these celebrations something I excel in, but I also take great pleasure in it. Event planning is the way I got into the business in the first place, so I am more than pleased to have this endeavor. If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed with all the facts, I know I've amazing team members that I can lean on.



Speaking of our amazing team members, another job I choose to get a hand in is our hiring and firing procedure. While I do leave the final conclusion to our cafe manager, I prefer to write the project posts and descriptions and filter through resumes and applications before bringing anyone in for a meeting.
Having spent several 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 have most of our normal operating procedures documented and optimized, I prefer to hire based on character and excitement rather than experience.
I also make sure I personally welcome every worker to our staff and touch base with them frequently to check in and collect feedback from them.

3) DREAM UP NEW INITIATIVES



Since I no longer spend time doing those 7 items (and more!) , my time and energy are freed up to research what our perfect clients want and need and figure out a way to incorporate that in our business model.
For instance, I noticed that our birthday party bookings were slowing down in the summertime. When I asked a few customers, they said that they DID love our occasions and attention-to-detail but preferred a Summer celebration to be out at their residence (since most have backyards and pools). We then began offering cellular events, where we would bring food, decorations, and activities for your kids to their houses, and it was a hit!
Another example is our occasions . We're always adding fun new events that enable customers, especially working parents with limited weekday accessibility, to visit us out of hours and receive an enhanced experience throughout the subject of the event, class, or activity.
If I had been I still doing EVERY task in my enterprise, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to do as much innovation or research.

4) CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS

If it comes to knowing how to innovate and what to provide, it all starts with forging a real connection with customers.
It's because of this that I really like interacting with our customers all time (when I can) and on social networking. I choose to work celebrations, events, as well as open-play when my family's schedule allows it so that I can stay active and aware of what's occurring during the day. It also gives me the chance to observe how customers are using our distance first-hand and listen to any concerns or questions they have. Although at this age of technology there are testimonials, types, and surveys, I have discovered that NOTHING can replace using a face-to-face conversation with clients using your distance (and likely visits competitors too!)
It's for this reason you will also see billionaire CEOs seeing retail locations on a regular basis. Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, was renowned for seeing hundreds of stores across the nation each year, spending time with the clients who had been spending their cash on his merchandise.
I love being a family owned and operated company, and that I love for my customers to understand that I am completely invested in their happiness.


While I no longer do one-on-one consulting for individuals hoping to start out indoor playgrounds, I really do spend a substantial quantity of time producing absolutely free content for them on my blog and over 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 like to move forward with their plans, I have an internet program named Play Cafe Academy where I assist entrepreneurs get from daydream to opening-day in significantly less time and less strain than they ever thought possible.
When I was studying this company model, there wasn't a lot of info out there. Recent owners really keep all of their business secrets near their vest, and 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 very easy as a company owner to get a little smug and protective of your research and development.
As it came time to open my own business, I ended up making a ton of errors (and I suggest a TON of mistakes) since I simply did not know any better. So when I started getting emails and calls to consult for additional possible play cafe owners, then I couldn't keep all this info to myself. While it's easy for me to feel like an imposter or there are other small business owners more qualified than me to share this information, I know that there is a 4-years-ago me sitting at work somewhere waiting for the next concept to jump out in them.
And frankly, I don't need to see one more business close because someone who's walked before them did not share any info! Why not share it myself?!
But my time is precious. I've got two little children and also run another business... I do not have 12 hours to spend hand-holding each perspective owner through the process. (And allow me to tell you, it will take at least 12 to 24 hours of paid one-on-one consulting to even break the surface of what you require, such as documentation.) In the average rate of $100 to $200 an hour to actually consultwith imagine what you might wind up paying for only a sign of education!
PCA is broken down into eight modules at which I pay everything from writing your business plan to choosing a location and signing the right lease to organizing your flows of revenue and much, much more. Students can go through these modules in their own speed, and I don't need to spend the time to walk my pupils throughout the program.
This allows me to help other entrepreneurs in their course while also reserving time and energy I need for my family and other commitments.
Overall, this business model may actually be whatever the owner wants it to be. I understand many owners that choose to do all the items inside their business, and it works for them because we all have different"desire zones."
I feel really lucky that I have heard over the years what my strengths (and weaknesses!) Are and can design my"perfect" weeks so. If I was burning the candle on both ends trying to handle everything , I would be doing myself, my family, and my customers a major disservice.