Michele Caruana

The Profitable Play Podcast

Business EN ↓ 382 episodes

If you own or manage an indoor play center, play cafe, indoor playground, family entertainment center, mobile soft play rental business or really any business that serves local children and families, and you want to operate with more EASE and JOY, all while making the living you dreamed of– I created the profitable play podcast just for you. Join me, your host, Michele Caruana, for small but mighty tips every single weekday that will all add up to a BIG impact on your mindset, your business, and your bottom line. Stick with me to keep the PASSION and GROW the profit in YOUR play-based business

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.michelecaruana.com

Author

Michele Caruana

Episodes

206: 5 Takeaways From The Eras Tour To Apply To Your Indoor Playground Business 14.06.2023 41:36

As you likely know if you follow me on Instagram, you saw that I was traveling to attend Taylor Swift's "The Eras" Tour this past weekend! And since I love examining my experiences through the lens of a business owner-- I want to share some things I loved about this event and exactly how they can be applied to YOUR small indoor playground or play cafe business! RESOURCES MENTIONED: Episode 153 (Ca...

205: Sierra Zagarri from Grandma's Playroom Shares Her Journey + Tips and Tricks! 07.06.2023 31:07

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-WuAlSiP_Q&t=699s I am so excited to share my conversation with Sierra Zagarri- who you've likely seen on TikTok or here on YouTube!   In this episode, Sierra from Grandma's Playroom shares...  ...How she purchased her business as an established indoor playground  ...What her experience was like buying and transitioning  .....

204: Successfully Navigating Credit Card Disputes And Reports of Fraud In Your Service Based Business 05.06.2023 23:16

RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ 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...

203: Want To Sell Summer Memberships? Here Are My Best Tips For An Offer And Marketing Plan That SELLS 24.05.2023 17:48

RESOURCES MENTIONED: Free Funding Class: https://bit.ly/3IxfWpp Facebook Ads for Indoor Playgrounds: https://bit.ly/3N7bPAI Content Blitz: https://bit.ly/3olshqb Blog for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/summer-memberships OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor...

202: 5 Things I Do When I Am In A Creative Rut or Feeling Stuck In My Business 22.05.2023 30:41

RESOURCES MENTIONED: ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/40RF5D4 Episode 50 (Boundaries): https://bit.ly/3q2ynfx Episode 5 (Love Note Strategy): https://bit.ly/3Womsoa Mental Health Episode (Marketing Junkie Podcast): https://bit.ly/3OtVWb4 OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor...

201: 8 Revenue-Generating Alternatives To Field Trips For Your Slow Open-Play Season 17.05.2023 20:53

While field trips can be a great revenue generator for larger indoor playgrounds, some smaller facilities just aren't set up to safely accomodate them. In this episode I want to share 8 alternative ways you can still work with groups or schools, even if you have a smaller space OR if your physical space is not yet open! What's Working 2023 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy...

200: Tips For Celebrating Your Business Anniversary That Boost Revenue and Show Customer Appreciation 15.05.2023 25:18

It's the 200th episode of the Profitable Play Podcast! Thank you for being here. Web Design Services: https://bit.ly/41Ac6DG OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI Indoor Playground Business Co...

199: 5 Red Flags Potential Business Investors Look For In An Indoor Playground or Play Cafe 12.05.2023 35:34

RESOURCES MENTIONED:  Lease Negociation Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://bit.ly/37yCxAC...

198: 6 Scams That Target Small Business Owners & How To Avoid Them 05.05.2023 21:21

In this episode, we'll be discussing a topic that is unfortunately all too common in the world of small business: scams. Small business owners are often targeted by scammers looking to take advantage of their busy nature, limited resources, and lack of expertise in certain areas. But fear not - I'm here to help! Let's go over six of the most common scams that target small business owners and some...

197: The Simple (Free!) Social Media Tip To Boost Any Promotion Or Priority 03.05.2023 15:50

RESOURCES MENTIONED: ETSY Template Shop: https://bit.ly/3p2rLxj Faceook Business Page:https://www.facebook.com/playcafeacademy Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlayCafeAcademy OTHER RESOURCES: Indoor Playground Business Courses: https://www.michelecaruana.com/mini-course-library-play-cafe-academy Michele’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmichelecaruana/ Michele’s Website: www.m...

196: 18 Features Every Indoor Playground Website Should Have (Your Checklist!) 01.05.2023 52:43

RESOURCES MENTIONED: Web Design Services: https://bit.ly/41Ac6DG Episode 1 (Lead Magnets): https://bit.ly/41KjyMT Episode 16 (FAQ Page): https://bit.ly/3ZXAa1B YouTube Video (Example Sites): https://youtu.be/tT9jeAP_Xss Episode 180 (Planning a Photoshoot): https://bit.ly/3Aq1vPz Episode 19 (Conversion Rates 101): https://bit.ly/3L4UwjX Episode 93 (Video Tour): https://bit.ly/41eRMHc Episode 176 (A...

195: 3 Strategies for Recovering Abandoned Carts and Bookings To Increase Revenue At Your Indoor Playground 28.04.2023 32:52

As indoor playground owners, our businesses thrive on attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. While online marketing plays a critical role in reaching your target audience, abandoned carts can be a significant challenge for your business– and one that often goes overlooked. According to research, the average online cart abandonment rate is around 70%, which means that a majority of p...

194: 7 Ways To Increase Your Website Conversion Rate And Turn More Browsers Into Buyers 26.04.2023 37:29

If you're an indoor playground owner or marketer, having a website that effectively converts visitors into customers is crucial. We'll cover the importance of having a clear value proposition and how to communicate it effectively on your website. We'll also discuss the role of social proof, high-quality visuals, and optimizing your website for mobile devices. Additionally, we'll explore creating a...

193: How To Design An Engaging Play Area And Choose The Best Equipment With Karri from Smart Playrooms 24.04.2023 1:03:07

In this interview, Karri from Smart Playrooms shares her expertise in designing a space that is engaging, inclusive, and aesthetic-- whether you are just beginning your play space plans OR you're looking to refresh your current indoor playground! Not only does Karri share her expertise in choosing equipment and constructing the best flow for a play area, she also shares some safety measures she al...

192: The Power of Plain Text Emails- A Game Changer for Your Play Café Business 14.04.2023 28:10

EMAIL MARKETING RESOURCES: Episode 1: https://bit.ly/41KjyMT Episode 2: https://bit.ly/3mlmnns Epsiode 177 (More Emails = More Sales): https://bit.ly/3MwjBH5 MY RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz Courses & Consulting: http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI...

191: How To Facilitate Communication Between Party Hosts and Guests To Promote Inclusion 12.04.2023 25:16

RESOURCES MENTIONED: FREE 2023 Membership Workshop: https://bit.ly/free2023workshop How To Better Accomodate Autistic Kids And Adults: https://bit.ly/41eRMHc Using Visual Signs and Schedules: https://bit.ly/3zPWboE FAQ Page Tips (Episode 16): https://bit.ly/3ZXAa1B OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.l...

190: Utilizing Visual Signs And Schedules To Facilitate Communication And Promote Inclusion 10.04.2023 26:26

Visual signs and schedules are tools that use images, symbols, and/or words to provide information and instructions in a visual format.  They are commonly used in various settings, including indoor playgrounds, to help individuals with communication difficulties or cognitive disabilities understand their surroundings and what is expected of them. And if you accommodate children that are under...

189: 9 Things I Loved About Explore And More Children's Museum 07.04.2023 20:50

Watch my VLOG: https://youtu.be/hD0fvihUs8k A few weeks back I brought my 6 year old son to Explore and More Children's Museum in Buffalo New York after our plans to attend a hockey game were foiled. I took notes and video and wanted to share exactly what I loved abot the kids museum and what I took away from the experience as an indoor playground owner! In this episode, I share how you can implem...

188: When Customers Become Competition- More Tips For Handling Competition and "Copy Cat" Play Cafe Businesses 05.04.2023 20:12

Running an indoor playground business can be a fulfilling and exciting experience. However, it can also be challenging, as all of you listening likely know, especially when a CUSTOMER expresses an interest in opening a similar business in the same area. While I recently made a YouTube video about this topic (linked below), I wanted to expand on that topic and provide some practical tips and daily...

187: Counter Offers- The Pros and Cons for Indoor Playground Owners Retaining Quitting Employees 03.04.2023 18:58

RESOURS MENTIONED: Book More Birthdays With Ads: https://bit.ly/3N7bPAI The Reality Of Working Alongside Your Kids: http://bit.ly/42UOGd4 Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYb...

186: Designing the Perfect Music Program for Your Indoor Playground 31.03.2023 40:20

RESOURCES MENTIONED: American Orff-Schulwerk Association: aosa.org Organization of American Kodaly Educators: oake.org Bryson's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thatmusicteacher/ Episode 44 Upselling To Boost Event Revenue: https://bit.ly/3lw8HG1 Episode 38 Planning Profitable Events and Classes: https://bit.ly/3LDJ8hb Epsiode 39 How To Sell out Your Events: https://bit.ly/42pihuU Episode 97 Allign Y...

185: Unlocking the Power of User-Generated Content- A Playground Owner's Guide to Incentivizing Customers and Boosting Online Presence 29.03.2023 27:33

RESOURCES MENTIONED: What's Working 2023 Guide: http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS Episode 02 Creating a Welcome Sequence: https://bit.ly/3mlmnns Episode 85 Repurposing Positive Reviews: https://bit.ly/3lw8HG1 Mochas and Minis IG: https://www.instagram.com/mochasandminis/ Mochas and Minis Site: https://www.mochasandminis.com/ MY Play Cafe Site: https://www.myplaycafe.com/ OTHER RESOURCES: What's Working 2023 G...

184: How To Make Money As a User-Generated Content (UGC) Creator 27.03.2023 36:46

183: 6 Ways To Optimize And Scale Your Family Entertainment Business Using AI And ChatGPT 24.03.2023 28:58

FREE AI/ CHAT GPT TRAINING: https://www.michelecaruana.com/using-ai-for-your-play-cafe-business Recession Prep Playlist: https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Socity: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Current Owners Membership Application: http://bit.ly/3kQsNtQ Fund Your Indoor Play Business: http://bit.ly/38KbYbz Courses & Consulting: http://bit...

182: Is Your Scarcity Mindset Restricting Your Revenue? 22.03.2023 37:51

A few weeks back I interviewed the amazing Amanda Bybel on this podcast and on YouTube, and we talked about money mindset and we also discussed the different insecure attachment styles we may have with our business, and she also gave us some tips for moving towards a place of more confidence and a more secure attachment style so we can start charging what we’re worth, prioritizing and valuing our...