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Sued Over the Music I Play in My FEC?…what Right Said Fred Can Teach Us

April 24th, 2012 No comments

The title of this email was intended to catch your attention. With such a sue happy world we MUST do everything we can to protect and insulate ourselves from those “particular” types of attorneys. Most operators would agree that music is a key component to creating the atmosphere and experience we want our customers to have. Using high energy and popular music helps keep people entertained and keep them spending money at our locations.   I know for myself, before the internet radio became popular, we used Sirius Satellite radio, the personal version, to play music at our location. Our customers could choose whatever station they liked in their private areas although we had ones we would not allow to play as there is NO filter on those stations so the words and content were often questionable.

Interesting fact, one of our customers is friends with Right Said Fred out of the UK. You may recall they had the hit song “I’m too sexy”. While the song was a mega hit internationally and in 1992 hit big on the US charts the internet and smart phones were not even in our normal vocabulary. Once smart phones, and the iPhone in particular, hit the scene, the popularity of custom song ring tones exploded. As you can imagine the hook of the I’m Too Sexy song was just too much for the consumer to resist.   Now Right Said Fred makes more in royalties from the ring tone royalties than off the songs rotation when it was popular in the US (according to our source).

Now on to the heart of this email. Being SUED… I’m sure many of you know that artists and musicians make their livings mostly off of royalties from when their songs are played on the radio or on TV.   As consumers we can listen to the radio, play our CD or iPods and even play music off the internet for personal use. The businesses that provide those tunes for us to listen to are the ones who are responsible for the royalties. The key to this entire equation, and why so many people are getting sued, is that if you are using a CD, iPod, Internet Radio, Satellite radio (Personal or home subscription) or playing the local radio station in your facility you are BREAKING THE LAW. You are not allowed to play any song or portion of a song requiring a royalty payment in a commercial setting without paying the appropriate organization like ASCAP or BMI. While the chances of someone coming into your center and suing you is remote, it is happening all over the country in other industries. Larger franchise locations or chain stores are being hit with lawsuits for playing local radio stations or using cd or iPods. Some people say “But I paid for the CD or I paid for the song online”. Even if you purchase the CD or music online this does not exempt you from paying a royalty when playing it in your facility in a commercial setting. The reason is that you are granted personal use of that song and can listen in your personal office or car but not in a commercial setting. You need to first check with your attorney on what your government regulations are and then find a service that will pay those royalties for you.

 

How to protect you and your business….

One such product I found is called ControlPLAY (http://www.ControlPLAY.com). They are also known as Bowling Music Network for those in the bowling business. One of the best features or functions that they have is not just to play the music or music videos for you, but they offer “PARENT APPROVED” stations so that all questionable language and video content is edited out. This is to assure that you can play the hottest music without coming under fire from the parents concerned about the content of the music. Later in the night, you can switch to the regular station when the younger crowd is gone.

Obviously ControlPLAY and the other commercially available music or music video systems will pay any and all royalties that occur while using their service. This allows you a care free and potentially lawsuit free existence when it comes to playing music and music videos in your facility.

The biggest feature that comes in the ControlPLAY suite actually has nothing to do with royalty payments at all. This feature is the personalized marketing feature. You can set audio or even full video marketing commercials inside your own personal radio station. That means you can promote upcoming events or even when a meal time hits you can suggest that they get a mouthwatering burger with gourmet French fries… The customers have no clue they are listening to a personalized station except that all the commercial breaks are focused solely on promoting sales within your own company.

The reason for this article was not to scare you but just to make you aware that you might possibly be violating the law and putting yourself in a situation that is not necessary. Find a solution that will pay your royalties and one that will help you filter the content of what you are delivering to your customers. This will release a burden off of your plate while allowing you to create an amazing atmosphere for your customers.

FYI Similar laws also apply to television and sports games shown in your faciilty.   Some people try to save a few dollars by paying for TV or Satellite TV as if they were a home or personal account as often the commercial TV accounts are two times higher than a personal account. Why are they higher? They get charged more and have to pay different royalties when being rebroadcast in a commercial setting.

So I don’t get sued…..I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice. This is an opinion and I do not claim any of the above information to be factual or without error. Consult your own attorney and local government for the rules and regulations you must follow in regards to paying royalties or using a service that will pay the royalties for you…

Jump & Jack’s: There’s a New Indoor Playground in Town

April 24th, 2012 No comments
Original article: http://familyfriendlycincinnati.com/2012/04/22/jump-jacks-theres-a-new-indoor-playground-in-town/

Have your kids out done all the inflatable and indoor playplaces around town?

Well, guess what? There’s a new indoor playground that your kids will love, and I have a feeling you will, too: Jump & Jack’s in West Chester/Liberty Township.

Here’s the scoop:

  • The main attraction is Jack’s Playground, the largest multilevel play structure in Ohio. It features 10 slides, including a 40-foot long triple slide and speed slide, plus dozens of other fun and interactive play elements and spaces. The playground is ideal for ages 4 to 11, although 2- and 3-year-olds may enjoy some parts of it.
  • For parents of babies and toddlers, head straight to theToddler Room, a special enclosed area specifically designed for crawlers up to 3 years old. The play area features a soft carpeting over safety padding to help cushion falls as toddlers climb, play, and build.
  • On Friday Fun Nights (5 to 9 p.m. every Friday) and at private parties, your kids can bounce and play their hearts out in Jump’s Inflatable Play Yard. The play yard features a variety of inflatable experiences, including the Jumbo Bounce House (suitable for smaller children 34 inches or taller), Shooting Stars basketball, Soccer Fever, and a rock wall.

In each area of Jump & Jack’s, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents to see the kids, hang out, or watch one of the big-screen TVs. You can also order food from J&J’s Cafe, including homemade pizzas, lots of kid-friendly food, smoothies, and coffee drinks.

Open play pricing goes like this:

  • Weekend ticket (includes Friday Fun Nights), ages 3+ = $10
  • Weekday ticket (does not include Friday Fun Nights), ages 3+ = $8
  • Toddler ticket (anytime), ages 6 months-2 years = $4
  • Multiplay passes range from $35 to $150 (see the Tickets page for details)

Besides offering open play every day, Jump & Jack’s also has private party rooms available, ranging from $99 to $259. Learn more about their party and group packages.

I appreciated how the facilities were so clean and in such great (new!) condition. Owner and father of four kids (including TRIPLETS) Tony Smith confessed that he is a “clean freak,” which is a plus when it comes to places like this! Also, the staff were all extremely nice and helpful, bringing food orders to our table, helping my 2-year-old get down from the tall slide when he got scared, and monitoring the bigger kids getting a little boisterous in the bounce house.

We like Jump & Jack’s so much, we decided to host Cassie’s 6-year-old birthday party there next month. We’ve also been back several times for the Friday Fun Nights. What a great way to wrap up the work week and enjoy a family meal in a place where kids can have active fun! I guarantee your kids will sleep well after a few hours at Jump & Jacks.

Located at 7102 Office Park Drive, West Chester, Ohio, 45069

For information, call 513-779-JUMP (5867) or email Info@jumpandjacks.com

Hours: Mon-Thur 9:30-8pm; Fri-Sat 9:30-9pm; Sun 12-8pm

Note: Socks are required to play at Jump & Jack’s.

If you want to get exclusive discounts and updates from Jump & Jack’s, be sure to like their Facebook page.

When not blogging for Family Friendly Cincinnati, you can find Susan writing at her personal blog,Working Moms Against Guilt.

Jump A Roos Set to Open This July in The Southland Mall – Cutler Bay

June 13th, 2011 No comments

Jumping soon to a mall near you

Jump A Roos, set to open this July in the Southland Mall in Cutler Bay, says it will be Miami’s largest indoor inflatable play area.

OPENING THIS SUMMER IN SOUTHLAND MALL.

Southland Mall is located on U.S. 1 at Southwest 205th Street, or just off the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike, exit 12.

Jump A Roos will be near Regal Cinemas, next to Johnny Rockets.

Walk-ins will be welcome. Admission for children over two will be $9.99, adults will be free. Family memberships at a discounted rate will be available.

Party prices will vary from $150 to $375, depending on the day of the week, party theme and number of children.

For more information visit www.jumparoos.com or call 305-283-JUMP (5867).

 

BY LAURA EDWINS

LEDWINS@MIAMIHERALD.COM

This summer a new business is bouncing its way into Cutler Bay.

Jump A Roos, an 11,000-square-foot play center featuring seven inflatable obstacle courses, slides and bounce-house-like jumping games, hopes to open in Southland Mall in early July.

“It’s about having a good time with your kids at a relatively low price,” said Gregory Fefferman, owner of Jump A Roos. “At a movie you have to pay for the adult to get in too; here adults are free.”

Fefferman came up with the idea for Jump A Roos after attending numerous birthday parties with his three small children and sitting through activities and events that weren’t a lot of fun for adults.

“Most of the birthday parties we go to are fun because my children have fun, but they aren’t that enjoyable for parents,” Fefferman said.

His goal was to create a family entertainment center that wouldn’t leave parents pulling out their hair.

“You mention Chuck E. Cheese and parents shudder at the idea of going there,” he said. “I want parents to be comfortable and have options.”

In addition to the inflatable equipment where toddlers and kids up to age 12 can hop away the hours, Jump A Roos will offer perks that Fefferman says will really make a difference to parents.

They plan to partner with Sal’s, a nearby restaurant and pizzeria in the mall, to offer more dining options than just a slice of pizza, like chicken parmesan or a caesar salad. Fefferman also said there will be clean comfortable seating for parents, free wireless Internet access and TVs, so dads don’t have to miss the big game.

In addition to being Miami’s largest indoor inflatable play center, Jump A Roos will have four private rooms available for parties and playgroups. They also hope to offer classes like mommy and me yoga and to partner with occupational therapists, who could use their facility for therapy sessions with mentally and physically disabled children.

“The equipment is challenging, but forgiving,” Fefferman said. “If a child is trying to climb up a wall and they don’t accomplish it the first time it’s a soft landing.”

Jump A Roos is truly a family business. Fefferman based his market research on trips to other indoor inflatable play centers with his kids. Fefferman’s wife, an artist, created their kangaroo mascot, “Jumpin’ Joey” and his father, a part-owner, is his creative consultant.

“He’s a great partner,” Fefferman said. “It’s nice to have someone to share ideas with and to commiserate and celebrate with.”

Fefferman’s father, Glenn, first suggested opening a business together in 2008, after Fefferman lost his banking job during the recession. Glenn Fefferman, who owned batting cages in Tropical Park for years, suggested an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course.

Fefferman, familiar with backyard bounce houses and other indoor play facilities, figured there had to be a better way for kids to bounce. The family has been working on the idea for the past two years, searching for the perfect location and working to get the proper approval from the town of Cutler Bay.

Jump A Roos initially faced zoning issues because the mall was not approved for family entertainment use. But after working with the mall manager and the mayor of Cutler Bay, the Town Council voted to change the zoning code.

“Disallowing family entertainment didn’t make any sense,” said Edward MacDougall, mayor of Cutler Bay. “I’m in favor of assisting businesses overall, businesses should know that this government is approachable and we are willing to work with them.”

Jump A Roos still has a few hoops left to clear, permits to get and construction to finish, but they hope to be open for birthday parties and walk-in business mid-summer. Fefferman plans to hire about 25 employees who will be trained to clean the equipment regularly, interact with the children, initiate games and encourage safety.

Outdoor bounce houses have been known to become safety issues in bad weather, but Fefferman said it will be easier to monitor the equipment and the kids at his indoor facility. He hopes parents will have more interaction with their kids at Jump A Roos than at other play centers.

“One thing we plan to do differently than those crazy open playhouses is create memories,” Fefferman said. “Ultimately it goes back to the parents. I want them to experience it with their children, to share that moment of joy when their kid makes it down the slide.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/09/2255655/jumping-soon-to-a-mall-near-you.html

 

 

Hero’s Goes Online In a Big Way!

May 13th, 2011 No comments

Using Birthday University creator Frank Price’s unique business concept as motivation, Hero’s in Toledo is proud to have been voted “Best place to have a child’s birthday party in Northwest Ohio” three years in a row! As a business that caters to children and adults alike, Hero’s understands the importance of offering quality customer service with an exceptional product. Hero’s is open for parties by advanced reservation which allows the family-owned business to better control the level of service and the party experience offered to their loyal customers. Many Family Entertainment Centers are satisfied with doing the bare minimum with regard to how they engage with their customers –  a hosted party where the staff may not interact with the child just doesn’t cut it. Frank Price says “Hero’s has differentiated itself from all others by laying the foundation of living out the delivery of a personalized, remarkable party experience each and every time. Many talk a big game but fail to execute or end up taking short cuts.”  Price continued  “They exemplify  what I have been teaching for the past 10 years  – at Hero’s the party is not as much about the attractions, as it is the interaction of the Party Heroes’ (Hosts) that make each party unique and special for the birthday child. The Hero is the party.”

Hero’s is a well-orchestrated, finely tuned production where the birthday child is the star.  Each child has the opportunity to direct the action, the guests make up the supporting cast and the family is a participatory audience. The Hero’s staff goes out of their way to add a personal touch, calling the family a few days prior to each party in order to become familiar with the child and their interests. The staff member will then make a plan to incorporate the child’s favorite activities, characters or music into this special event – going this extra mile makes a huge difference with Hero’s customers.

As with any small business, Hero’s utilizes skills and innovation to create internal systems that assist in running an effective business, while placing primary focus on meeting customer needs at the same time. Like most Family Entertainment Centers, birthday parties and group events make up a significant portion of the facilities revenue. With young workers and broken systems in place, it can be a challenge to achieve a desirable experience for the customer. Nathan Smith, owner of Hero’s Toledo, explains, “We had been using a software program that we developed locally for 4 years so we were pretty reluctant to switch over to a third-party solution. So, Hero’s ultimately made the decision to switch software packages in order to utilize the Party Center Software online booking module which was lacking from our current software”.  Smith continued, “Before we started using Party Center Software, my wife was tied to her cell phone and laptop 24 hours a day in order to take care of all the calls and bookings that came in, and the time and stress in booking all the parties was overwhelming.  Now that customers can book their parties on-line we are able to answer the phone any time of the day and keep those lines of communication open with our existing customers, and sell our product to potential customers – who now prefer to book online.”

Not only has Hero’s experienced an increase in online party booking, but one of the unexpected perks of Party Center Software has been the increased sales of party extras. Smith says, “Our party add-ons such as fruit trays, balloon bouquets and piñatas has more than tripled now that customers can sit at their computer and browse through the add-ons at their leisure – the bottom line is that in the last 5 months, our average number of parties has increased by 20%, the average price of our parties has gone up by $35, and customers can finally get through to us on the phone.” As Price testifies, “Eliminating frustration and making the entire party experience more convenient is of great value with today’s time starved families.  On-line booking is an essential component for both.”

Having a system in place to ensure that potential human error did not translate to a poor customer experience was critical.  Using PartyCenterSoftware.com, Nathan was able to free up his staff to focus more on providing excellent customer service and allow PartyCenterSoftware.com to maintain an enjoyable online booking and facility management experience – both for his customers and his staff. Nathan proclaimed, “Party Center Software has been the best business move we’ve made in six years…thank you!”

http://www.herostoledo.com/

http://www.birthdayuniversity.com/

 

Justin Falls – Communications Director, Agile Software and Marketing

 

PartyCenterSoftware.com is an online party booking and event management tool designed to increase party bookings and eliminate unnecessary labor costs. Included in the PCS suite of tools is a complete EPOS system, time clock, and vendor management feature. Currently operating in seven countries, PartyCenterSoftware.com is marketed and sold by Agile Software and Marketing, based in California.

Copyright © 2011 Party Center Software. All Right Reserved.

3075 Alhambra Dr. #207 Cameron Park, Ca 95682 - PartyCenterSoftware.com
888.804.1166  |  020 3318 3523 (UK Number)  |  02 8014 9939 (Australia Number)

 

Lazer Frenzy Added to Alley Cats in Arlington, Texas

January 23rd, 2011 No comments

Nov 01, 2010 – The award winning Lazer Frenzy lazer maze has been added to Alley Cats, the popular bowling and family entertainment center in Arlington, Texas.  Each participant is on a mission to navigate through the maze as quickly as possible which gives most everyone a sense that they are a secret agent on a top secret assignment.  This arcade style lazer maze is a hit with young and old alike as it involves both mental and physical agility to weave around several lazer beams as quickly and accurately as possible to obtain a high score.  It’s almost as if placing the player in their own version of the Mission Impossible movie!

Alley Cats Center is no stranger to Creative Works.  Creative Works has had the privilege of working with Brian Smith, owner of the facility, in building their 4,500 square feet space themed laser tag arena in 2006 and then returned in 2009 to enhance the look of the arena to a high tech space adventure.  The team at Alley Cats contacted Creative Works to add the Lazer Frenzy attraction to a space in their arcade that wasn’t producing the revenue needed.  Lazer Frenzy is a great game to add to any arcade as it produces a great return on the investment.  “We’

re extremely excited that we added the Lazer Frenzy attraction to our facility.  Our customers love it and we’re excited to see the revenue stream it adds to our arcade” said Brian Smith, owner of Alley Cats.  “Creative Works was our first choice for a lazer maze as we know they are a reputable company that provides quality attractions and great service.”

Jeff Schilling, founder of Creative Works, worked with Brian and his team in making this attraction a reality at Alley Cats.   “We delivered a quality attraction that will not only increase the arcade revenues, but also create a buzz in the facility,” said Schilling.  “We’re very pleased to install such a great new game in this center.”  Lazer Frenzy won the best new product award for family fun centers by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.  More information can be found on www.lazerfrenzy.com .

# # #

Creative Works Theme Factory builds and designs attractions for family entertainment centers. We provide laser tag arenas, black light miniature golf, our Lazer Frenzy laser maze attraction and theming in general. www.thewoweffect.com

Creative Works adds a laser tag arena to a fitness center in Lubbock, Texas called Bodyworks.

January 23rd, 2011 No comments

an 10, 2011 – Fitness is an integral part of everyone’s life.  Consumers join and frequent fitness centers every day in order to get in shape.  Usually each fitness center has the same basic components to offer consumers:  fitness equipment, classes, weights, a track, and childcare services.  Bodyworks is a fitness center in Lubbock, Texas that decided to think outside of the box regarding what they could offer their customers.  Last month they added a laser tag arena to their facility to spark new interest in their club as well as to outside customers.  This is one of the few laser tag arenas to be located inside a fitness center, but the first to incorporate an immersive atmosphere for a more authentic playing experience.  The end goal was to create a visually stunning environment that would create a buzz about their existing facility and cause people to think differently about the capabilities of a fitness center.  Bodyworks succeeded in doing so through their partnership with Creative Works for designing and building this attraction from the ground up.

Creative Works, the world leader in creating themed laser tag environments, started with a blank slate and customized one of their Jungle Quest style arenas to fit within the area allocated as part of the new center.  “The height of the space allowed for us to design and build one of our steel play structures for the client to ensure their guests had a great multi-level playing experience,”

commented Jeff Schilling, Chief Architect of Experiences for the Theme Team.  It added over 1,200 square feet of additional space to the playing arena giving the players more room to play and the client more opportunities to grow the number of laser tag packs as the need arose.

Upon the final installation of the structure, Creative Works sent their Theme Team down to install all of the Jungle Quest décor for this 4,000 square foot laser tag space.  This adventure style arena included many unique props and effects including:  a 14 foot tall illuminated torch tower with a 3 foot artificial flame serving as a beacon of light throughout the space; oversized old forest logs; twisted vines; colorful species of plants and tree tops; and much more.  The outside perimeter of this space was a feast for the eyes as it was painted to resemble an enchanted forest with 3D perspective and depth.

“It was a great pleasure working with Jeff and his team to transform our place and help educate us on adding laser tag to our mix,” said Pat Rose of Bodyworks.

To learn more about Bodyworks, visit: www.gobodyworks.com

Creative Works Theme Factory builds and designs attractions for family entertainment centers. We provide laser tag arenas, black light miniature golf, our Lazer Frenzy laser maze attraction and theming in general. www.thewoweffect.com

Pizza and go-karts return to Sixth Street

January 10th, 2011 No comments

By Kathryn Rem


The former Kick’s location reopened Friday as a different family entertainment center, America’s Incredible Pizza Company.

Incredible Pizza, headquartered in Springfield, Mo., has 15 other centers in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Utah, Texas, Tennessee and one in Monterrey, Mexico. This is the first in Illinois.

“We’re a family entertainment center based on Christian values,” said Rick Pogue, company president, who was in Springfield last week for the ribbon cutting.

His business card says the company “exists to bring families and friends together through great food and fun…We operate our business by Christian principles, delivering a positive family experience and a fair return to our company.”

Eighty local employees have been hired at the facility, 2744 S. Sixth St., Pogue said.

The 1950s-themed venue (pictured above) offers laser tag, indoor go-karts, mini bowling and more than 50 arcade and video games. Game winners can redeem points for prizes.

There are three large dining rooms and four private rooms for birthday parties, showers, church events, sports team banquets, family reunions and other get-togethers.

An all-you-can-eat buffet features pizza, pasta, taco, nacho, salad and dessert bars, plus two entrees each day, burgers, vegetables, mashed potatoes and the company’s signature item — cinnamon rolls.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Food service ends an hour before closing. Website: www.incrediblepizza.com. Phone: 280-4067.

For more information about Incredible Pizza, plus other restaurant news, read the A La Carte column in the business section of the print edition of today’s (Jan. 9)  SJ-R.

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UK VAT changes

December 27th, 2010 No comments

UK VAT changes for 4 Jan 2011

Overview

The standard rate of VAT in the UK is changing to 20% on the 4th of January 2011!

At play with the Johnsons

December 21st, 2010 No comments

WHEN EDDIE Catz picked up the Multi Site Operator of the Year title at September’s Aspire Awards, Darren Johnson hailed it as a triumph for the “smaller operator”. Indoor Play detailed some of the reasons why the company won the prize in our last issue. In October, we popped into the busy Eddie Catz site in Putney for a question and answer session with Darren and his wife and business partner Maria.

What did winning the Aspire Award mean to you?
DJ: We have won several awards in the last few years and the Aspire Award is another sign that we are being recognised as a company that knows what it’s doing. You can wear a big hat and talk the talk, but unless you know how to back that up with actions, the words mean nothing. A lot of people in the industry have called us and that has been great; I think the smaller operators out there can see where we’ve come from and I hope it gives them a sign of what’s possible through hard work and dedication. As I said on the night, it was a victory for the smaller operators out there, for the many husband and wife or family indoor play centre owners who put their whole life into this business. It’s proof that you don’t need huge backing or to spend millions on a site; what you need to do is to get the basics right, keep your centre clean and tidy and give yourself every chance of making a real difference.

MJ: We had no fat bank throwing money at us and as an operation, we could not afford to make too many mistakes, so every move we have made has been well considered and carefully planned out. We don’t have a fancy marketing company working for us; we do everything in-house. I think one of our primary points of difference was that at no stage did we want there to be one Eddie Catz. I had a background in business consultancy and advertising, while Darren was a former professional on the international squash circuit, as well as manager of a Cannons health club in Fulham. We came into this with a very clear view of what we wanted to achieve. Before we opened in Putney, we had a long-term business plan. We already had a 52-page operating manual, which we update and still use today, we had a marketing plan, a board of directors and ambitions to expand. Our development was always going to be gradual and the biggest challenge when expanding is that you need all of the stars in the constellation to line up.

DJ: Sometimes you might find the perfect location when the money’s isn’t quite there, at others the financials add up but the location might be wrong. We have stuck to our plan throughout, always knowing that the key issue is how you are going to pay for yourselves and your staff.

What are the key attributes in a successful play centre?
DJ: I’d say location. You can have the best kit in the world, the best people and the best operation, but if it’s in the wrong place, you’ll still struggle to drag people through the doors. Having said that, you can also have the best location, but the wrong procedures and standards and that won’t work either.

MJ: It’s really important to understand what your customers want and give them that. I look at it like buying Christmas presents, there’s no point buying your child an X Box if he wants a Playstation. We have added a number of dimensions into our business after realising early that it would be impossible to survive on play alone. In Putney, we run 17 classes for pre-school children each week in our studio, as well as classes and events for local schools. We were the first in our industry to introduce classes on this scale and we were also the first to create summer camps, which have been extremely successful. We are also very big on seasonal events; more than 700 children attended Halloween parties at our three centres this year and we make sure we do it properly. If parents are paying for a ticket, they deserve it to be a big deal and we make sure it is. We also have a Beauty Bar called Mini Diva, which provides beauty treatments for ladies and parties for little girls. We don’t want to simply be seen as a destination for play, but also somewhere that children can come for pre-school development and education.

DJ: It’s extremely important for any centre to constantly be refreshing its offer. There are so many ideas out there that can be adapted for indoor play. If you come into any of our centres, you’ll see things we’ve taken from other sectors and made our own. But do it your own way, for your customers – simply copying other peoples’ ideas is not the way to be different. If you want to inspire your customers, come up with something new.

Was opening your second and third centres different to your first venture?
DJ: We learned from our experiences in Putney and our Wimbledon and Newbury sites are different. In Wimbledon, we took over an existing play centre, which was doing well and making money, but it was becoming tired front-of-house and the back-of-house operation was awful. We could see it had a loyal customer base and believed in its potential, so we took it over and for the first month, ran it under its previous name without changing anything. We then got the cleaners in for two days and got rid of the grot, replaced things like ripped posters, swept the car park, trimmed the hedges. Basically, we gave it a complete spring clean, but we didn’t change very much at all. A customer who had been there two days before came in and said ‘I love the refurb’, which just shows the impact a good clean can have. The site in Newbury was different again – we were looking for a new opportunity and this site was a previous indoor play area that had shut down two years before. When we asked around, it was a similar story to Wimbledon, in that everyone used to use it in the early days and liked it, but it had become run down and tatty and parents had stopped wanting to take their children there. We probably spent around a third as much money on Newbury as we did on our first site, because you certainly learn where and how to invest your money and which areas are most important to your customers. The Eddie Catz brand and Eddie as a character has become iconic in and around your centres. That must be very rewarding.

MJ: We designed him ourselves, and when it came to the look and feel, the kids were very important; we wanted a character they would want to hold and cuddle.

DJ: It’s great when you walk down the high street and see children hugging the Eddie Catz doll in their pushchairs – you feel like you’ve really made an impression. We trade tested him with our customers. We put two out on the counter without saying anything to anyone and the kids always went for the one we preferred, which is the Eddie we sell now.

MJ: We have created a community, but we are also an integral part of the community around each of our sites. In Putney, we are the provider of children’s entertainment on the high street and Eddie has become something of a local celebrity, to the extent that he is helping to switch on the Christmas lights this year. We have been very active in each of our local communities since we opened, working with local schools in particular and both hosting and attending events.

Eddie Catz has obviously been successful, but how have you dealt with the tougher times?
MJ: There came a point, when we realised that we were investing so much time and energy in the brand, we had started to lose sight of the real people in the business. So in the last couple of years, we have done an about face and looked to put some of our own identities back into Eddie Catz. We have always promoted from within and I think the customers can appreciate that. They are happier to know that there are people involved with real investment in the business and sometimes they can be more forgiving because of this. There is a definite connection being made between the government and big business at the moment and people respond better to a family-run, customer facing firm company.

DJ: The team working with us has been exceptional. This is not an industry where you’ll make £150,000 a year as a centre manager, but you do get a broad range of experience of food and beverages, health and safety, dealing with customers and leading a team.

MJ: Sometimes, admittedly, you can wonder why you’re doing it, but we have 200,000 visitors a year coming through our doors and we get an average of one complaint on email a month, and that shows we have a team that’s proud of what they do.

Your children were an inspiration behind you moving into the indoor play arena. How have they impacted on the business since then?
MJ: Our children are very much involved in the business and they have helped us in so many ways. It’s amazing how many times something that seems so complex can be so simple when you ask a child. We were looking at buying a centre in Scotland, for instance, and our 10-yearold said ‘daddy, if you’re flying to Scotland and back twice a week, you won’t be making very much profit will you?’. Of course, that was right, but we hadn’t looked at it like that. Our daughter is now 13 and she helps out a lot in the centre. She has a very good eye for the staff and picks up things that we don’t always see.

DJ: A lot of people get into this business because of their kids and we’ve evolved as our children have got older. We have introduced laser quest and our mini diva parties to reflect the changing tastes of our children. The really important thing is that you don’t pay too much attention to that while taking your eye off the needs of the younger children.

Have your attitudes to customers changed after six years in retail?
DJ: When we do get that one complaint a month, we have become more aware of the need to push back a bit, as long as we are 100% confident in our procedures. We always go into detail, defend the centre and engage with the customer who has complained. More often than not, we can turn that complaint around into a positive and, if it comes from a regular customer, that’s sometimes even better.

MJ: We all come into business having being told that the customer is always right, but in a recession, they’re not always right. It’s even more important now that you stand by your staff and your belief in your standards. Running our centres has changed me as a consumer. I used to look for reasons to complain, now I have a completely different perspective.

What future plans do you have for the Eddie Catz empire?
MJ: We are looking to expand further and want to grow the Eddie Catz brand around the country and into Europe. This could happen in a number of ways, including franchising or opening new sites, but what we’re searching for at the moment is existing sites that are welllocated but have perhaps lost their way or have owners who have decided that the indoor play sector is no longer for them. We have the experience and track record now to take on these opportunities and as long as the location is right, there is always a good chance we can turn a business around. We would be very interested to talk to anyone who feels they might fit our criteria.

Having been recognised as the best in the business, what advice would you give to other operators?
DJ: You have to take the time to step back and look at your own business. The easiest thing in the world is to criticise other operators, while ignoring your own faults. Go and see other indoor play operators, but don’t just look at our industry, constantly be on the lookout for ideas in other sectors. See how people do things, how they present themselves, how they deal with customers. Use your friends. Get them in to use the facility and give you honest feedback. One of the reasons we worked so hard to make Putney right was that we live just down the road and it became like an extension of our living room. You can’t have your friends round when the place isn’t clean and you can’t have their children picking things up off the floor. I didn’t want to embarrass myself and to this day lack of cleanliness drives me potty.

MJ: My advice would always be take your business plan and cut it in half, then assume you as the owner will take no salary for the first three years. Can you still survive? If the answer to that is yes, then you’ve got a chance. If it’s no, then don’t bother. This is not a quick payback industry – after six years, we have worked extremely hard to get three sites. We were disenchanted with what we were doing before and the lack of time we could spend together. But we knew the business would take time to develop. Now, even though we spend more time working, we are together a lot more and it’s under our control.

DJ: More people starting out should listen to the people in the industry who have been there and done it already. Sometimes, just talking to someone else who has experienced the ups and downs could be the key to your success. Competition is getting more intense for all of us, but we’re all in the same boat and we can all learn from and help each other. Speak to your competitors. It’s a difficult time, but there is nothing to be gained from stabbing them in the back or plagiarising their ideas. Pick up the phone or have a beer with other operators, you’ll be surprised how much you can get out of it.

Read the Here

New FEC Organization NAFEC

December 21st, 2010 No comments

Marcus Webb
MarcusWebb@aol.com

INDIANAPOLIS — The International Laser Tag Association has created a new division aimed at serving the family entertainment center industry. The formation of the nonprofit National Association of Family Entertainment Centers was announced in mid-November during the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, FL. It is expected to grow into a standalone sister association of the laser tag group.

NAFEC presently counts 200 members, all of which are associated with ILTA, which counts 500 members. The organization is offering six months’ free membership to anyone who joins in any of the three membership categories: developer, operator or supplier.

The laser tag association’s board is providing leadership to NAFEC under the direction of ILTA president Davor Franicevich, who owns Laser Tag of Baton Rouge and Laser Tag of New Orleans.

“Once we get the ball rolling, NAFEC may have a life of its own with its own board of directors and separate membership,” said Eric Gaizat, who serves as membership services director for both associations.

The growth of NAFEC’s membership and its development of separate leadership are expected to accelerate during the first quarter of 2011, particularly as the association launches a dedicated insurance program for FEC owners and operators. NAFEC may use ILTA’s insurance company or negotiate policies with a new carrier, Gaizat said.

Gaizat said it’s “premature” for NAFEC to decide if it will produce a trade show, but disclosed that the trade show question is the most frequently asked which is directed to the nascent organization. NAFEC will offer ongoing educational programs, he said.

NAFEC also announced the formation of the Supplier Advisory Council, which includes U-Profit’s Bill Carlson, Amusement Entertainment Management’s Frank Seninsky, Prime Play’s Nathan Jones and Agile Software and Marketing’s Scott Drummond.

Carlson and Seninsky were both members of the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry, which folded into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Both men were vocal critics of IALEI’s merger with IAAPA, which took place in October 2009.

Sources said the Supplier Advisory Council is “very loosely” affiliated with NAFEC. However, any association of Carlson and Seninsky with the new FEC association — no matter how informal or arms-length — is bound to raise questions about whether the faction views itself as a rival to IAAPA for operator loyalty.

NAFEC’s announcement of its birth provided a hint that such an interpretation may not be unwarranted. “Many [FEC] operators are concerned that their ability to be treated as equals with other high-profile members of [IAAPA] is nonexistent,” the new organization claimed. “We know what it is like to be a member of a large association where you are spoken at instead of spoken to. Our objective is to make each member feel important to the industry as a whole by taking the time to work with them individually and use those experiences to assist other members in similar circumstances.”

NAFEC said its mission is “to help our members become better informed through our research, services and communications with all levels of the industry … to provide our members with up-to-date data on safety, operations, marketing, seminars, trade shows and … to give [members] the knowledge and resources to grow their business and increase revenues.”

NAFEC’s launch announcement also said: “Our aim is to be the voice for the small business FECs and provide a forum for operators to share innovative ideas, learn from industry professionals and consultants, develop effective marketing strategies and address industry obstacles.”

Parent association ILTA was formed in 1996. Just over half of ILTA’s membership is based in the United States. National Association of Family Entertainment Centers is online at fecoperator.org and can be reached at (317) 786-9755.

Cool de Sac Awarded for Best Children’s Entertainment and Kid-Friendly Amenities

November 8th, 2010 No comments

Miami (Vocus) September 20, 2010

Cool de Sac, the family entertainment center that combines delicious and nutritious cuisine, with games and entertainment for kids, was recently awarded “Best Children’s Entertainment” by South Florida Parenting Magazine, the most valuable source of parenting information and local resources for families in South Florida, and “Most Kid-Friendly Amenities” by MyKidsPlate.com, an Orlando-based kid-friendly dining guide.

Recognized in the July 2010 Kids Crown Award issue, the “Best Children’s Entertainment” award was given to Cool de Sac to honor the family establishment for its intellectual games and various play areas, which include stations for art, blocks, games, tots, a play unit, a salon and an electronic and interactive games area. In addition, the family entertainment center also offers workshops for mommies and their little ones to bond and learn through play.

Cool de Sac’s second award was rendered by MyKidsPlate.com’s Platinum Plate Awards, awards recognizing family restaurants for having outstanding kid-friendly establishments. The “Most Kid-Friendly Amenities” award was presented to Cool de Sac for its safe and clean highchairs; changing tables in both men’s and women’s restrooms; kids’ cups with bendable straws; and Step-n-Washes, a step pad that that allows kids to wash their hands on their own.

“We are honored to receive the two well-recognized awards,” said Amy Madson, director of operations. “Cool de Sac is a family entertainment center not only built for children, but for parents as well. At our establishment, we strive to deliver high-quality food and service, while also making it a fun and safe place for kids.”

About Cool de Sac:

Cool de Sac, located in the city of South Miami, is a family entertainment center not only built for children, but for parents as well. The family establishment strives to deliver high quality food and service, while also providing a fun and safe venue for children. Providing its families with intellectual games and activities, its play areas include stations for arts, blocks, games, tots, a salon, a play unit and an electronic and interactive games area Lightspace® Play. For more information about the family entertainment center, please visit www.cool-de-sac.com .

Categories: Indoor FEC, News Tags:

The Incredible Pizza Company Partners with Creative Works

October 25th, 2010 No comments

After years of research and analysis, the Incredible Pizza Company chose to add laser tag to their corporate sites and partnered with Creative Works to design and build their arenas.

Incredible Pizza Laser Tag Arena

PRLog (Press Release)Oct 22, 2010 – After years of research and analysis, the Incredible Pizza Company based in Springfield, Missouri with over 20 franchised locations around the U.S. chose to add laser tag to their corporate sites. As a highly respective company this entertainment chain has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the most unique family fun centers in America today. With an emphasis on family values and offering a clean and safe atmosphere for people of all ages, the company partnered with Creative Works to create the first laser tag experience for their store in Springfield.

To make room for the laser tag area, they removed another attraction and went to work converting the space to prepare for the arrival of their custom arena. A separate room was carved out for the briefing and vesting areas to allow for efficient game rotations to help maximize revenue. As part of their package, a large lighted archway was built and installed by the Theme Team at Creative Works to attract guests from across the arcade to the laser tag area. Additionally, the center of their arena had an illuminated 10 foot high prop with a laser ball projecting over 50 laser beams in a 360 degree sphere. Mixed with the fog and the black lights, the lasers made for an incredible light show inside the arena.

“It was a pleasure to meet and work with this group,” commented Jeff Schilling, Founder of Creative Works. “Their professionalism and commitment to providing the best guest experience was great to see.”

Due to the huge success of the first arena in Springfield, the Theme Team has since added four more laser tag arenas to new Incredible Pizza locations – Draper, Utah; Davenport, Iowa; Memphis, Tennessee; and Mexico City, Mexico. In each of these locations, they chose the popular Space Quest themed laser tag arena and added a few extra bells and whistles to really drive home the WOW effect.  Additionally, they put in an observation window for spectators to view the game in play and create more interest for those who hadn’t played before.

“We are proud to partner with such a great company and look forward to the future,” said Schilling.  Stay tuned for future sites coming online by America’s Incredible Pizza Company.  http://www.incrediblepizza.com/

# # #

Creative Works Theme Factory builds and designs attractions for family entertainment centers. We provide laser tag arenas, black light miniature golf, our Lazer Frenzy laser maze attraction and theming in general. www.thewoweffect.com
Categories: Indoor FEC, Laser Tag, News Tags:

Creative Works Adds Mexico to Resume

October 7th, 2010 No comments

By Kimberly Schilling – Facilitator of FUN
Dated: Oct 01, 2010

Creative Works’ Theme Factory recently installed their first laser tag arena in the country of Mexico. They
added a 3,600 square foot arena to a new family entertainment center in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second
largest city.

Creative Works’ Theme Factory recently installed their first laser tag arena in the country of Mexico. They
added a 3,600 square foot arena to a new family entertainment center in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second
largest city also known as the Land of Tequila and Mariachi Bands. It’s fitting that a city famous for
extraordinary vacations now houses an extraordinary laser tag experience at Laser Zone Fun Center. The
space themed arena is sure to capture everyone’s attention as it’s the only one of its kind in the entire
country of Mexico. With cosmic interplanetary murals and futuristic glowing barriers, the arena has the
look and feel of something out of this galaxy!
Paul Wagner and John Lines, the owners of the new center, found Creative Works at the International
Laser Tag Association trade show this past April in Las Vegas, Nevada. These gentlemen had seen other
themed arenas by Creative Works and knew that they wanted to add CW to their team of vendors. Known
as the Laser Tag Experts when it comes to designing and building these attractions, Creative Works was
able to create a high-tech space themed two-level arena with vivid colors and shapes to deliver the “Wow
Effect”.
The city and its people were excellent hosts to the Creative Works team that travelled across the border for
this project. “We were delighted to work with such great people and build a site that will entertain and
create memories for years to come,” said Jeff Schilling, the Chief Architect of Experience at Creative
Works. “Although our cultures are different, the game of laser tag and its appeal is worldwide.” The
owners were ecstatic at the end results of the themed arena. “We were impressed with the professionalism
of the Creative Works team. They did a great job from beginning to end and we’re looking forward to
continuing our relationship in the future,” said Paul Wagner.
Laser Zone is sure to leave an impression in the cultural center of Western Mexico when it opens later this
month.

Creative Works Theme Factory builds and designs attractions for family entertainment centers. We provide
laser tag arenas, black light miniature golf, our Lazer Frenzy laser maze attraction and theming in general.

www.thewoweffect.com
Category Entertainment, Games, Tourism

Categories: Advertising, Indoor FEC, Laser Tag, News Tags:

PCS Customer: Incredible Pizza Opens Second Memphis Location

September 28th, 2010 No comments

WEBWIRE – Monday, September 27, 2010

America’s Incredible Pizza Company announced today it will open its second Memphis location at the Hickory Ridge Mall at 6075 Winchester Road. The grand opening date is set for Thursday, October 7th. The huge indoor family fun center will hire over 100 full and part time employees. Rick Barsness, CEO had this to say about the company’s latest location, “I’m delighted to open our second location at the Hickory Ridge Mall; our family fun center is part of the long-term plan for the mall. Millions of dollars have been put into renovations since the 2008 tornado. World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church Inc., has done a fantastic job in revitalizing the area by bringing in our family-friendly entertainment product.”

The nostalgic 1950s-themed facility features an all-you can eat buffet including pizza, pasta, salad, home-style food and dessert bars along with an extensive family themed games and attractions center.
The new 38,000 square-foot family entertainment center located in the Hickory Ridge Mall will be all-indoor, smoke and alcohol free, and offers seating for hundreds of people. There are four 50s-themed dining rooms with private rooms available for birthday parties, corporate meetings and other group events. The fairgrounds game room will contain attractions like Mini-Bowling, Mini-Golf, Bumper Cars and over 100 video and redemption games.

Birthday party guests and honorees at the new fun center will enjoy private party rooms, activities, food, party gift bags and game play. Parents can leave the set-up, cleanup, and entertainment to the staff. Incredible Pizza does all the work, so parents can spend their time enjoying the party with the children.

Additional information may be found online at: www.incrediblepizza.com

Categories: Indoor FEC, News Tags:

PartyCenterSoftware.com Is Finalist For Innovation Of The Year Award!

August 24th, 2010 No comments

Cameron Park, Ca., August 24, 2010 –Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, received notification that their product PartyCenterSoftware.com, is a finalist for the “Innovation of the year” award presented by the Play Providers Association (PPA), arguably the UK’s most influential association for the fun industry.  “It was great to see our PartyCenterSoftware.com program be recognized for the contributions it is making to help the fun industry.  As a previous operator I understand the struggles that our customers go through and we have found a solution to help make both their lives and their profit better!”

Drummond will be exhibiting at the Leisure International Week in Birmingham, UK in late September and along with 9 other finalist will display his PartyCenterSoftware.com product to be voted on by members of the PPA.  He hopes to bring home top prize for his newly released version of his online party booking and facility management software. “This will be our first year exhibiting at LIW so I am very excited to meet many of our customers in person and if we can bring home the award it will make for one great trip!  I’m just thankful for our customers and all they do to help us grow as a business”, said Drummond.

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