New Operators Networking Lunch
|
|
|
|
If you’re looking at opening an indoor play centre, Play and Attractions at LIW is the show for you. During the start up process you will want to gather as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision on whether or not to go ahead.
Continuing our long term partnership, with the event, the Play Providers Association (PPA) has joined forces with the API and RPII to put on an educational networking lunch for potential operators with short seminars on a range of start up issues.
It’s a must attend FREE event with expert speakers and existing play centre owners on hand to advise you. Please pre register to guarantee your place by emailing kate@sportsandplay.com with your contact details. We look forward to seeing you on the 22nd September (and don’t forget to pre book your show entry too!)
New Operators Networking Lunch
Date- Wednesday 22nd September 2010
Venue- Suites 29 and 30 – Leisure Industry Week
Time – 11 am- 1 pm
11-00 “- Researching the Market- Is there an opportunity??”
Janice Dunphy – PPA Chair
The indoor play market is at a crucial stage in its development. Sites are still opening with operators keen to turn their ideas and business dream into reality. However there are many casualties and business failures. Using data from the PPA’s state of the industry report, Janice Dunphy the PPA chair will cover all the important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to take the plunge and how through innovation and good research, you can stand a better chance of success with your new venture.
11-15 “ Indoor Play- Setting the Standard”
Keith Dalton – Member of the RPII, The Play Inspection Company
Operating an indoor play centre obviously involves having an understanding of industry standards some of which are legal requirements. Covering BS8409/ EN1176-10, inspections, maintenance procedures, risk assessments, insurance and health and safety this vitally important session led by Keith Dalton, a member of the RPII will give you a brief overview of the issues you will need to have an understand of prior to opening.
11-30 Location, Location, Location (and planning)
Neil Scott – Play Consultant
Finding the right size and site for your business is a key factor in its long term success. Ex PPA chairman turned play consultant, Neil Scott has a wealth of knowledge in the indoor play sector and will offer advice on finding your location and will outline some of the challenges you might face with planning authorities and gaining change of use.
11-45 Raising Finance in the current climate
The current credit crunch has severely impacted all new start businesses looking for finance. Businesses considered niche or ‘non-core’ like soft play centres are finding it particularly difficult to source funding. Everyone is acutely aware that traditional high street funding is less and less readily available for new start businesses.
12-00 “Choosing a Manufacturer”
It is very hard to decide where to put your hard earned money with any purchase, be it a DVD player or a car, but to purchase the play equipment you need to start an indoor play centre is a very large financial commitment so you need to be sure you are controlling the risk as best you can. The wrong decision can mean buying a product that doesn’t do the job you need or expect it to do, meaning you risk not meeting your own business objectives. The Association of Play industries represents the manufacturers of play equipment… It makes sense to use companies with good and varied track records – been there, seen that, companies with wide experience of differing operations and lots of satisfied clients. This session led by one of the leading play equipment suppliers will outline the key considerations to take into account when choosing your equipment supplier.
12-15 “Creating your brand and marketing your site pre launch”
Andy Kidd- Hattrick Marketing
Creating a strong brand is an increasingly vital start up consideration. Your brand communicates your business to your customers so its important to know who your customers are, what these customers like and want, how to package what they’re after, and then, how to tell them about it in the most relevant and eye-catching way to make them sit up, take notice and come back time after time. This session will outline the range of tools you can use as an operator to market your centre successfully before you launch and will be led by Andy Kidd from Hattrick Marketing who is the branding and marketing expert, responsible for designing the PPA’s Play4Life Schools Challenge resources earlier this year.
12-45 “Question and Answer – The Panel “
Panelists….
Ian Kearney (Cheeky Monkeys, PPA Member)
Iain Westwater (Gambado, PPA Exec Member)
Graham Robinson (Soft Brick, API Indoor Chairman)
Keith Dalton (RPII Member, The Play Inspection Company)
Our leading panel of experts will be taking questions from the floor in this last session for questions. The panel is made up of 1 single site operator, one multi site operator, an inspector and a play equipment manufacturer. All the other speakers will also be on hand to assist you as well as a number of other suppliers to the sector.
