The Profitable Play Podcast

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF My POS System-Of-Choice (WellnessLiving): https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

I am excited to bring you another recording coaching call with a very-soon-to-be indoor playground owner!

Today we are speaking with Ashima who is located in the Boston area and recently signed her lease to open a business called Stem Spot, which you can hear more about in Ashima's own words if you tune in.

Ashima is finalizing all of her pre-opening details and so in this call we focus on things like:

1. Ways to generate revenue since her buildout has been delayed and her rent will be kicking in sooner than expected
2. Becoming the face and voice of your business versus having a more professional, company feel to your branding and online presence and the pros and cons of each
3. Birthday party packages, pricing, semi private versus private, time slots, logistics and staffing, and more

This episode is perfect whether you are opening a new business or looking to refine your current business!

Stem Spot Website: https://www.stem-spot.com/

Stem Spot IG: https://www.instagram.com/stem_spot

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Episode 245 How To Increase Prices Effectively: https://bit.ly/4chHlZb

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In this episode, I'm sharing 16 creative and profitable ways play cafe owners can celebrate Valentine’s Day while uplifting their customer base. From Mom "speed dating" to parent-child craft workshops and “Date Night Drop-Off” services to themed play dates, these ideas are designed to boost revenue and strengthen community connections. Tune in for actionable tips to make this Valentine’s Day a memorable and rewarding one for your business and your customers!

Read this information on the blog and see picture examples: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/valentines-day

Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Why We Quit Kids Night Out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7OCwa3aocU&t=33s

Monkey Around IG: https://www.instagram.com/monkeyaroundplaycafe/

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

Today I have a coaching call for you to listen in on with business partners Jordan and Alexis of Nurture to Play which is a soon-to-be play cafe in Minnesota.

YouTube video of today's interview:

Jordan and Alexis are deep into the planning phase of their business and back when this was recorded were about to sign their lease so in this call, we talk about things like:

-how to space plan effectively, particularly for a strangely shaped piece of property

-money making square footage versus non money making square footage and when it makes most sense to prioritize each

-optimizing space layout to combat business seasonality and create enough revenue stream options to get through the slower traffic months

-crowdfunding and pre-selling things like memberships and play passes during the build out phase

-business sponsorships and the best way to network with local business owners to get some of your attractions funded through mutually beneficial agreements

-and finally we also touch on something that is unique to Jordan and Alexis’ situation which is that they are actually outsourcing the cafe operation in their business ot another local coffee shop owner

Nurture to Play IG: https://www.instagram.com/nurturetoplaymn/

Nurture to Play Website: COMING SOON!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

My annual TRENDS prediction episode is here! From custom gross-motor structures to more classes and online offerings, I am detailing what I expect more businesses will (or should!) do in 2025.

Thanks to ALUVII for sponsoring this episode! Book a free demo and get our exclusive discount when you use this link: https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy

2024 Trend Predictions: https://bit.ly/4j3Q853

2023 Trend Predictions: https://bit.ly/4a9bJoH

2022 Trend Predictions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG02UbNRciQ&t=13s

Series on Accommodating Autistic Kids: https://bit.ly/423lKBG

Chat with Inclusivity Specialist: https://bit.ly/4gGakIA

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2024 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

Schedule an Aluvii Demo And Unlock the Play Maker Discount: aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Casey McGuire Davidson, a Life & Sobriety Coach and host of The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women, to talk about how alcohol can affect both our personal and professional lives. We’re diving into Dry January—what it is, who it’s for, the benefits it can bring to your life and business, and some tips for making it through an alcohol-free month successfully. Whether you’re curious about cutting back or supporting someone you care about, this conversation will give you plenty of insights and inspiration to reflect on your own relationship with alcohol and consider a healthier, more intentional path forward.

Casey's Podcast - https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/podcast/ 

Connect with Casey on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok:

https://www.instagram.com/caseymdavidson/  

https://www.facebook.com/HelloSomeday/  

https://www.pinterest.com/hellosomedaycoaching/ 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeVIxEe2MC9sPUaDh74sdWQ 

https://www.tiktok.com/@hellosomedaysober

Free Masterclass Take A Break From Drinking With These 5 Secrets - http://www.hellosomedaycoaching.com/class

PROFITABLE PLAY RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

Schedule an Aluvii Demo: aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

Schedule an Aluvii Demo: aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy

Read this episode's blog article: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/last-minute-holiday-tips

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

Schedule an Aluvii Demo: aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In today's Profitable Play Podcast episode I have a coaching call for you to listen in on with Natalie Goodall, owner of Playgrounds Cafe and at the time this was recorded Natalie had been open for just under 5 months.

In this call we cover things like:

-how to choose a business focus

-how to maximize the revenue obtained from parties already booked

-how to fill empty party slots

-how to expand your event revenue to other types of events like family reunions, baby showers, nfl watch parties, and more

-how to maximize high-traffic holiday weeks in your business

-how to motivate your staff to sell more, communicate with one another effectively, and work together to move the business forward- even if they are all working different shifts and schedules

And Natalie has a unique perspective because she actually works full time in addition to owning her indoor playground (which is fully staffed for the most part)-- so if you are wondering what working full time while owning a business looks like in real life, this is a great episode to tune into.

Playgrounds Cafe IG: https://www.instagram.com/playgrounds_cafe/

Playgrounds Cafe Website: https://www.playgrounds-cafe.com/

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In today’s episode because we are getting into another hot topic amongst families and the play and education industries in general and that is the concept of Microschools. Now by definition, a Micro-shcool is a small, independent learning community that typically serves a limited number of students. These schools are characterized by personalized, student-centered education that is often tailored to the needs, interests, and pace of the individual students.

Sydney Loper, owner of Cultivate Studio is one of my OG Play Cafe Academy– i helped her open her doors was back in 2019- so this interview is even nearer and dearer to my heart than normal. During and after the pandemic, though, Sydney felt like she was being called to a different business model.

In this conversation Sydney is going to share why she made this pivot, how she got started, what needed to change about her space in order to make this shift possible, what her day to day and family life looks like now compared to when she was an indoor playground owner, what this pivot has meant for her financially, how her school and team have grown over the last 3 years of running her programs, what skills were able to really translate from play cafe ownership to Microschool ownership, and what she loves most about operating a Microschool. She is also going to share some of the mistakes she made along the way and tons of advice for anyone feeling Microschool curious or similarly called to this model .

EDITORS NOTE: I incorrectly referred to Sydney's business as Cultivate Academy in the introduction and outro of this episode- my apologies! The correct name is CULTIVATE STUDIO.

Sydney's Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/microschoolmakersociety

Sydney's Website: www.cultivatestudiosmobile.com

Episode 275 With Microschool Owner Alera Owens: https://bit.ly/4giSvzN

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2025 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In this episode I'm joined by Nicole Heritage, the owner of Magnolia Play Cafe in Louisiana.

We recorded this coaching call back in July, just a few weeks after Nicole opened her doors. In this conversation, we dive into Nicole’s vision for her business, the challenges she faced during the opening process, and her invaluable advice for new business owners.

During our coaching session, we explore three main topics:

1. Retaining Memberships: Strategies to maintain memberships through slow seasons.
2. Booking More Birthday Parties: Tips for attracting bookings even when your business is new.
3. Email Marketing: Accelerating email list growth, engaging your audience, and using email marketing to boost sales.

Additionally, we touch on other important aspects like Instagram growth and stepping away from day-to-day operations. Check out the show notes for links to Nicole’s website and social media to see these tips in action!

Tune in for practical insights and actionable advice that can help you grow your indoor play business.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Episode 1 (Creating an Email Opt In): https://bit.ly/3E5WU7D

Episode 2 (Creating a Welcome Email Sequence): https://bit.ly/4cFRCyr

Book More Birthdays Challenge: https://www.michelecaruana.com/birthdaychallenge

Annual Membership Sales: https://bit.ly/4cG5uZu

Magnolia Play Cafe:

Website: https://magnoliaplaycafe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliaplaycafe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagnoliaplaycafe

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2024 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of opening a brick-and-mortar play cafe with Mackenzie Tyson, owner of Playgrounds Play Cafe in Ohio. Mackenzie shares her experiences from the first seven months, including the hurdles of launching a business, unexpected expenses, and slower-than-expected bookings. We discuss the importance of pivoting and optimizing your business model, especially focusing on improving party and membership offerings for increased revenue.

Tune in as Mackenzie opens up about her vision for Playgrounds Play Cafe and the reality of managing a new business. We also explore the necessity of staying agile, continuously learning, and being ready to make necessary changes to achieve success. Whether you're an aspiring play cafe owner or navigating your first year, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips.

Mackenzie's Website: https://www.playgrounds740.com/

Mackenzie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/playgrounds740/

OTHER RESOURCES:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Getting Started YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU

What's Working 2024 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz

Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI

Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC

Michele’s Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK

Michele’s Website: https://www.michelecaruana.com

YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7

FREE 14-DAY Active Campaign Trial: https://bit.ly/3rjp5bP

ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4

Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep

TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:

Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD

Questions and Support: [email protected] 

TOOLS:

Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software

Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving

Active Campaign Free Trial

Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS