PUMPING UP PROFIT

Looking for a fun biz? Consider inflatables. It's hot and could earn you an easy $10,000 a month working weekends only.

Corporate picnics
School events
Youth group parties
Fundraisers
Community fairs
Shopping malls
Sporting events
Crafts shows
Flea markets
Neighborhood block parties
Garage sales

We've all seen those fun, bouncy inflatables set up at crafts shows, flea markets, malls, outdoor community events, corporate picnics and trade shows. Entrepreneurs who own them make a tidy sum renting them out to various groups for events, or pocket cash setting them up at events and charging a fee for children who want to experience the fun of an inflatable castle, dinosaur, water slide or beach-theme sports arena.

According to Rouben Gourchounian, of Ninja Jump, "It's a wonderful business to start that doesn't require any special experience or qualifications. We have people from all walks of life--housewives, school principals, carpenters, store owners--that have purchased Ninja Jump products."

Ninja Jump, Inc. was founded in 1993 by its principals who were in the sporting goods manufacturing business for over 40 years. They have a 24,000 square foot manufacturing facility.

"It's an excellent business because it fits everyone's schedule. Most opportunities are on weekends. This is a great business to start on a part-time basis and grow into a full-time enterprise if one wishes.

"The inflatable business is one that you can grow at your own pace. You can start with one unit and add them as you experience the demand," said Gourchounian.

"Our customers find that with their colorful Ninja Jump products, they don't have to do any advertising. Word-of-mouth generates a lot of interest and excitement in their units.

"If an entrepreneur brings the inflatable to a birthday party, they will likely pick up a new client by the end of the afternoon," he said.

Ninja Jump Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles, California, offers many innovative styles in the inflatable roster. They have Spider-Man, Jurassic Park and Dragonball Z to name just a few of their exciting offerings.

Ninja Jump units are crafted for maximum durability. They are built with double, triple and quadruple stitching, along with polyproplyn and nylon reinforced webbings at the all important stress points. According to Ninja Jump, "We carefully engineer every component to make sure that sufficient amount of air is distributed to all sections of the unit."

Although experience is not required, Ninja Jump does offer training to entrepreneurs getting started in the business.

"We offer training in how to inflate the units, how to deflate and fold them into a managable package," said Gourchounian.

The company is a proud member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the International Association for the Leisure & Entertainment Industry, the American Rental Association and the Better Business Bureau. They have an informative website at: www.ninjajump.com to help you learn more about their business opportunity. For more contact information on Ninja Jump, see the sidebar.

The earning potential in the inflatable business is tremendous. Bee-Tee USA, Inc. offers more than 200 exciting and colorful inflatable designs. The company is a leading global manufacturer of inflatables. The pieces are all hand-painted and this dedication to detail ensures vibrancy of colors.

According to Bee Tee president, Paul Monaco, "In addition to one's ability to market their inflatables business, the success of the enterprise will be based on the quality of the inflatable product.

"It is imperative to purchase quality products. Inferior products don't have the lifespan of the high-quality inflatables. Entrepreneurs who purchase inferior goods will have to replace them while others who purchase high-quality products will maximize their investments. Inferior products just don't have the lifespan of high-quality products," said Monaco.

"It's possible for an individual who invests $4000 to receive a $50,000 to $70,000 return on that investment thanks to our high quality inventory," he said.

It is not unusual for inflatable entrepreneurs to pocket $1000 in a weekend with just one unit.

"It's not uncommon for an individual working three days a week to make $80,000 a year. With 10 units, one can make $2000 a weekend and up to $10,000 a month," Monaco added.

According to Bee-Tee, a typical rental rate for a 2-3 hour party is $80 to $200 depending on what the market will bear, the design and size of the inflatable and the current rental rates in the area.

"The supply of customers is endless. And there are marketing techniques that are very easy to implement that don't cost a lot of money. Entrepreneurs can offer customers a $20-off coupon on their next inflatable rental if they refer the business to a new customer. Entrepreneurs can offer that new customer a $10-off coupon.

"One can also pass out business cards and eventually make up some magnetic business cards with a picture of the inflatable. It's a popular item," said Monaco.

Monaco said there are no special qualifications or experience to run a Bee Tee inflatable business and that because of the company's strict adherence to the highest government safety rules and regulations, much of the worry is taken out of the business.

"The government asks that we address four concerns: hazards of inflatable being lifted away, suffocation & entrapment, fire, and bodily injury.

"Our inflatables are properly anchored and we use metal, not vinyl, at each of the anchoring points. Number two, our inflatables feature an immediate exit so that each children has sufficient time to get out of the inflatable should there be a power failure and the unit deflate. All of the Bee Tee inflatables are fire retardent. As for concerns about bodily injury, our inflatables do not feature any sharp objects or corners where kids can get hurt," explained Monaco.

According to Paul Monaco of Bee-Tee USA Inc., "The units fits into a SUV, van or small truck," making it extremely easy to transport the inflatables.

"At Bee-Tee we understand the anxiety and eagerness of starting your new business, that's why we offer you marketing and sales support and guidance. Once you purchase your first inflatable you are in business. We do not charge any franchise fees, royalties, license fees or commissions."

The very colorful and fun inflatable units from Bee-Tee can be purchased at prices starting at $3000-$6000. In just a few gigs, the units are paid off. The company accepts both VISA and MasterCard. Bee-Tee offers a lot of great information on their website. Visit www.beeteeusa.com to learn more. Bee-Tee is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

All American Inflatables was founded six years ago. They manufacture their own products at their own facilities. The inflatables comes with a one or two year warranty.

Contact All American Inflatables for their latest pricing information. Their 13 13 foot 3-Bounce Package (that includes one Deluxe Bounce Monster Truck) was priced at $9500. They have many other units priced at less than $5000 and great bounce houses priced at less than $3000.

Visit their website at www.aainflatables.com for more information on their product line. The company is based in Sacramento, California.

Another inflatable company you'll want to contact is Jolly Jumps Inc. The company is based in Camarillo, California and their products are known worldwide.

They've been in business for more than 13 years and have been manufacturing their products for more than 11 years. Their products are extremely popular at birthday parties, corporate events, family reunions and fun gatherings.

According to the company, "Jolly Jumps Inc. was created so average working people could make great money on the weekends and in their spare time, even before turning their rental business into their sole income source. Most people including the founders themselves started with only 2-3 Jumps working out of their homes, therefore overhead is virtually nothing and your business will grow more rapidly."

The company is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, The Better Business Bureau and the American Rental Association.

Jolly Jumps Inc. offers financing to qualified entrepreneurs. Training is provided at the company's facility and marketing support and an operations manual is provided. Follow-up support and technical assistance is also provided. Jolly Jumps Inc. estimates the startup costs to range from $2000 to $15,000.

The company has a fun and informative website at: www.jollyjumpsinc.com. Check it out.

Space walks are air-inflated amusement rides that have been providing fun and profits for amusement businesses and operators for years. Space Walk, Inc. has been the leading manufacturer of air inflated rides for more than 30 years.

Space walks can be set up and operating within 10 minutes and their high portability makes them an excellent addition to any party store or suppliers inventory.

Space Walk Inc. products come with a two year guarantee, a motor, a repair kit and anchor.

One of the blockbusters in this industry is Space Walk's The "Cloud." The unit is designed for carnivals, festivals or fund raisers. It is thirty feet high, fifty feet wide and as much as 100 feet long. The "Cloud" is manufactured in weight manageable sections for easy assembly and transport. Each section is joined together with heavy-duty, color-coded zippers.

According to Space Walk, up to thirty children can climb up on the unit at one time. At a cost of $2 to $3 per child, that's an hourly earnings potential of $480 to $720 an hour (at eight rides per hour).

The first air-inflated amusement ride was invented by Space Walk Inc. president, John T. Scurlock. The company has its own manufacturing facility of 12,000 square feet. Space Walk Inc. offer more than 12 different models in a wide variety of colors. They can also custom design own that's just right for you.

For more information on Space Walk, Inc. of Metairie, Louisiana, visit their website at: www.spacewalkinc.com or see the sidebar accompanying this feature for more contact information.

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