Year 1 Of Opening A Play Cafe With Jessalyn Pustay From The Playroom West Virginia!
This interview is also available on YouTube as a video here!
You can also get a summary of this episode on our blog here!
In today’s episode, I’m talking with The Playroom owner Jessalyn Pustay about her first year in business and the lessons she learned while creating a high-quality play and programming space in West Virginia — something she desperately wanted for her own kids after relocating from Washington, DC.
In this interview, we cover:
...How her staffing model grew from just herself to a small, reliable team that can now handle emergencies and weekend coverage.
...The tech struggles she faced early on, why pieced-together systems held her back, and why she’s excited to try something new.
...The marketing channels that actually work in her town.
...How she adjusted pricing and added unlimited memberships, plus which revenue streams perform best.
...The strong seasonality in her area and how she planned ahead financially to make summer slowdowns manageable.
...Her shift away from certain offerings, like read-and-plays and drop-off events, and the themed playgroups and holiday events that consistently sell out.
...The birthday party add-ons that made the biggest difference in profitability.
...How customer feedback shaped her hours and upcoming plans like co-working mornings and homeschool days.
...The vendor and community partnerships that drive real revenue, from bakers and roasters to photographers and local activity providers.
...Her biggest wins and biggest learning moments.
...How her personal workload has shifted — now just three short on-site days a week — and what she’s beginning to delegate.
Jessalyn closes with heartfelt advice for prospective owners: learn from people who have already done it, set boundaries early, and don’t let the business drain the energy you need to run it well.
If you’re planning, opening, or in your first couple of years, this episode is packed with practical insight and honest reflection.
TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@theplayroomwv
WEBSITE: www.theplayroomwv.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theplayroomwv/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/theplayroomwv
PLAY SPACE BRAIN: https://playspacebrain.com/
PROFITABLE PLAY RESOURCES:
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society
Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]
What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide
Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]
Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist
Michele’s Instagram
Michele’s Website
Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel
ETSY Template Shop
Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society
Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD
Questions and Support: [email protected]
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