Indoor facility party businesses continue to grow strength across the USA. Many people find that this type of business is more desirable than that of a traveling rental event company. There certainly are perks: less weather related issues, less labor to set up and operate the equipment, and less chance of damage to equipment from vandals and unruly patrons. Sounds great, right? Before you make the switch, however, there are some questions that you need to ask yourself.

Is this the business for you? Are you prepared for the unexpected? Indoor facilities are certainly very lucrative business ventures if you can deal with the day-to-day issues. The fact is that unexpected things will happen. Sadly, many new operators of indoor facilities are not prepared (emotionally or mentally) to run a business that invites the public into their facility. This article is not made to scare you away from taking the plunge into self employment. Rather, this information is intended to prepare you for every possibility that could affect the daily operation of your indoor facility.

CEC currently has done more with this industry that any other inflatable supplier in this country. We have seen many people get into this type of party business and be very successful. We have seen others get in and get out within the first 12 months. Why? What causes some to spend a bunch of time and money just to fail and bail?

Choosing a location can make or break this type of business. Simply finding a cheap, inexpensive building with large floor space and high ceilings will not bring the public to your door. You need to investigate the demographics for the area that you wish to operate. Are there lots of kids between the ages of 2 and 10? This is the age group that celebrates birthday parties and other celebrations that utilize these types of party facilities. Choosing a location near a school or large center that supports youth programs is a good choice. A location near shopping malls and restaurants is also beneficial.

Choosing the right inflatables for your new facility is also vital. Do not attempt to entertain all age groups. Why? The majority of your patrons will be children 10 years of age or younger. Of course, there may be an adult accompanying a child to a party or the occasional teenager that is dragged along by siblings that wants to try out a few inflatables, but you need to focus on the age groups that will frequent your facility. Focus on what will entertain them. We have categorized some of our popular inflatables a user-friendly group known as AIR SUPPLY (Advanced Indoor Recreation). These units have been specifically chosen to work with the age groups that frequent indoor facilities.

It is important to remember that toddlers are among those in this age group and they are too small to use the big slides and obstacle courses. You need to have a few inflatables that accommodate smaller children. We offer our PLAYLITE line of products for these smaller party goers.

Now for a bit of reality: these inflatable products are not made of steel with rivets and welded seams. They are made of vinyl material sewn together with heavy duty polyester thread and nylon webbing. They are going have occasional wear and tear, depending on the frequency and manner of use. Be prepared for this happening to your equipment. It could happen in the first 90 days or it could happen in the first 10 months, but chances are it will happen eventually. If you are having a lot of daily activity with these products, it is probably going to happen sooner rather than later. Many new inflatable owners are not aware of the required maintenance of their inflatable amusement devices.

Unfortunately, many operators do not plan accordingly. Since the downtime caused by wear and tear is rarely at a convenient time, panic sets in and they find themselves calling their inflatable supplier on the other side of the country to see what they are going to do to make this problem go away. This is where your relationship with your inflatable supplier can become strained. Most inflatable providers do offer a warranty to cover damage caused by a manufacturing defect. We feel we offer a very good warranty on our products. To use the warranty properly, however, you have to follow the agreed upon terms. Many customers, however, do not.

We find that even though customers are aware of the warranty procedures and have even signed the terms and conditions, the minute there is a problem with their inflatable they feel this warranty policy does not work for them; they want something more. Damaging your relationship with your inflatable supplier leads to many problems. On the other hand, if you maintain a good relationship with them, they will work with you to correct the damage in a fair and equitable manner and get you up and running again fast. How can you keep a good relationship?

Read the warranty language carefully and ask questions as to what is and what is not covered by a manufacturers warranty policy. Wear and tear to slide covers and entrance mats, torn netting due to patrons climbing up the sides of the inflatable, stitching that is worn off exposing an open seam... these are all examples of what might not be covered under a warranty policy.  These types of damage are often directly related to a lack of supervision within a facility: too many patrons overloading one specific popular inflatable, or patrons using the inflatable in a way other than how is was designed to be used; all things that a warranty does not usually cover.

If you ever have to ship your inflatable to the manufacture to get repairs done, it will leave a void in your floor space that may affect your scheduled parties. This is a situation that could have been avoided if you had made the smart move and purchased a backup inflatable unit. Consider buying one that is not too large and that can fit in just about any location. This keeps your options open and just makes good sense. For instance, you do not take a trip by car across the country without a spare tire in your trunk. This is another potentially volatile situation between you and your supplier that can be avoided by planning ahead.

To get a repair done properly on an inflatable product, you want to always use the original manufacturer. They know their product best and should be the party responsible for doing the job correctly. Not everyone with a sewing machine should be allowed to repair your inflatable! Proper type and size of thread, choice of vinyl, sewing machine tension adjustments, and stitch count all have to be factored in to a quality repair. You want this repair done right the first time. This may mean packing up your inflatable and shipping it off to the original manufacturer for repairs, especially if you wish the work to be covered under warranty.

This is a very rewarding business for most who take the plunge, but those who succeed realize that some adjustments are needed. Dealing with the consumer on your terms and in your facility requires diplomacy and a delicate approach so that they feel welcome and appreciated. Your customers have the power to make your business grow. These customers chat with coworkers, club members, relatives, and friends; people who too may utilize your business for their next party. Keeping you customers happy is a must. As the old adage goes, the customer is always right. Realize that they are paying to be entertained by what you have to offer, this gives them a little feeling of entitlement. If a problem should occur during their event that affects the outcome of their party even if it was unplanned on your part, you may need to suck it up and work with them to fix things. Doing so will ensure that their visit is a happy, memorable experience and the referrals will keep coming your way.