If you’ve been in this industry for any length of time, you already know that most of the conversations tend to focus on growth.

More revenue streams.
More offerings.
More experiences.
More complexity.

And while those conversations absolutely have their place, there is another layer of change happening right now that deserves just as much attention.

Because what I’m seeing across Play Maker Society and with my private clients is not just growth—it’s refinement.

Owners are starting to a...

Year-One Lessons from The Playroom WV: A Q&A with Owner Jessalyn Pustay

Note: The following Q&A is not a direct transcript. The answers are a polished summary and combination of the insights Jessalyn shared during our recorded conversation, along with additional written responses she provided ahead of time.

When Jessalyn Pustay moved from Washington, DC to West Virginia with an 11-day-old baby, she quickly realized something: the high-quality programs and enriching early-childhood spaces she h...

The Hidden Risks of Buying Into a Play Café Franchise

For many aspiring indoor-playground owners, buying into a play café or children’s activity franchise seems like the safest route. On paper, it promises a ready-made brand, a proven business plan, and an experienced team guiding your every step. But in reality—especially in the indoor-play and play-café space—franchising is often a financial and emotional trap disguised as a shortcut.

As someone who’s coached and consulted hundre...

Ever curious about what your fellow indoor playground owners (and soon-to-be owners) are listening to?

Kind of like when we were in school and we were always peeking over in the library to look at what our friends were studying up on before the big test?

Well, now's your chance!

Over on my Instagram I counted down the 10 most listened-to episodes of the profitable play podcast, and I wanted to share them with you here as well!

(But psst-- if you don't follow me on IG yet, now's a good time because I...

 In the evolving landscape of work and childcare needs, indoor playgrounds have a unique opportunity to diversify their offerings and tap into a growing market need by incorporating co-working services to their facilities.

This blend can not only maximize the use of available space but also attract a broader customer base, including parents and caregivers seeking productive environments while their children play. 

So before we get into the HOW–let’s first discuss in more detail WHY many ...

A couple weeks back I posted a video tour of a play space called The Friendship Fortress that’s not only local to me, but is also near and dear to my heart. 

And this is because one of my long-time  Play Cafe Academy and Play Maker Society members, Timea, is now the co-owner of the space.

If you’re a longtime listener, or if you watched that tour, you may remember that Timea actually opened her own space first called Tumbles Play Cafe, which I also toured and filmed multiple times. However, sh...

When I first entered the family entertainment and indoor playground industry, the “norm” was for play spaces to just have set open-play hours where customers could come-and-go as they please without reservations. Our open-play hours, for example, typically from 8am-4pm on weekdays and 8am-12pm on Saturdays. During the weekday evenings and weekends we of course did classes, parties– all that good stuff– but here I want to focus JUST on open play hours. Especially since our first location di...

If you're planning to launch an indoor playground business but are finding it difficult to find a larger-sized location or if you are operating within a cost constraint (i.e. you don't want to pay a bajillion dollars per month in rent) and are planning a smaller-footprint space, this article is for YOU.

And if you're a current owner of an indoor playground facility or play cafe business and you're about to skip this article-- let me stop you right there.

MOST of these tips and strategies...

As I am releasing this article it is July 7th which is JUST in time for Amazon Prime Day which begins on July 11!

And even if you’re reading this after it gets released– that's OK because Black Friday or another big sale holiday is right around the corner and this info can still be really helpful for you from someone who has spent MANY years searching for the best business related finds at the best possible price.

In this article I want to quickly share some of my Favorite Amazon finds f...