Hello to all members,

Welcome to BIHA alert # 43.  (Issued 31^st  July 2005)

There are a large number of second-hand inflatables etc. in this alert and also news of an auction taking place on weds 3^rd August in Newcastle upon Tyne (See section 11).  There are also some other very important issues.

Contents:

1)     Second-hand inflatables & equipment for sale.

2)     Wanted to purchase items.

3)     Hints & tips.

4)     LIW Show 2005.

5)     PIPA in the news.

6)     Questions from members to members.

7)     Real-life hire stories.

8)     Dead mans cut off switch for rodeo bulls.

9)     Something a bit different.

10)  Update on the BIHA van stickers.

11)  Auction of liquidated inflatables.

12)   Please check your free advert on: www.biha.org.uk and www.leisurescene.com

13)   Internet online booking system.

14)    Advice to prevent theft of your inflatables.

15)    Bouncy boxing – get your FREE listing on the BIHA website.

1)   Second hand inflatables & equipment for sale.

Please see below the latest second-hand inflatables being sold by BIHA members. If any member is interested in advertising their second-hand inflatables to over 1,300 BIHA members (completely free of charge), please email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com (Don't forget to always include your town and county area, so that potential buyers can work out how far they must travel to view your second-hand inflatable before they enquire. If you are looking at a second-hand unit, always check carefully the condition of the bed seams and also the stress points. If you are not sure what to look out for when assessing the condition of a second-hand inflatable - try and take someone with you who is experienced. (Please note that the BIHA cannot be held responsible for the quality of the second-hand inflatables advertised in this alert, so please be vigilant).

FOR SALE

second hand castles for sale

1x harry potter 14x16 castles with slide £500

1x spider man castle with slide £500

1x 10x12 ball pool with attached roof £350

3x 12x12 castles £300

all castles come complete with blower , mats ,raincovers

and are all around 3 years old

please contact mindy @ childsplay bouncy castle hire 0161 3013111 manchester area

1

FOR SALE

i have a 18 x 12 bouncy castle for sale

with it it has

a 2kva sip generator  3months old

0.75 elecric blower

extension cable for generator to blower use

stakes

ground sheet

safety mats

castle was pippa tested in november

offers around £550 please

near spalding in lincolnshire

tel  01406 365304  answer machine messages will be answered

FOR SALE

Hi Mark,

I have the following Inflatables for sale.

Tug of War Eliminator (8) £900

20’ x 15’ Wacky House (6) £900

18’ x 18’ Jungle Book (9) £1200 UNDER OFFER

18’ x 16’ Castle (5) £600

15’ x 15’ Cloud (7) £650 UNDER OFFER

15’ x 15’ Greenhouse (3) £300

12’ x 12’ Tiger (4) £350

12’ x 10’ Front Wall (5) £400

12’ x 10’ Clown (7) £450

12’ x 10’ Magic (7) £450

12’ x 10’ Rabbit (10) £850

16’ x 11’ Castle Ballpit Combo (6) £600

16’ x 11’ Castle Ballpit Combo (7) £650

16’ x 11’ Castle Ballpit Combo (7) £650

21’ x 17’ Multi Activity Ballbouncer (6) £700

35’ x 14’ Duel Lane Bungee Run (6) £800

20’ x 15’ Gladiator Joust (7) £800

14’ x 14’ Sumo Wrestling (7) £700

15’ x 15’ Pillow Bash (10) £1100

Inflatable Slide, Front loading (10) £1200 UNDER OFFER

Condition (out of 10) :

1. -
2. -
3. Needs work
4. Private use only
5. Fair
6. Fair / Good
7. Good
8. Excellent
9. As New
10. New

Used Fans available for £95 each

East Sussex / Kent Boarder

01580 830102

07850 423836

Russ.

FOR SALE

dear mark,
would you please place this ad i have a couple of 10 x 10s for sale good condition with fans £500 each and a couple of slides all in really good condition and some slightly battered sumos please ring linda 01825 732742. thank you very much.

FOR SALE

CASTLES

10 X 12FT £625

15 X 12FT JUNGLE £700

15 X 15FT £700

12 X 12FT  ALLADIN £650

14 X 12FT ALIEN/SPACETHEME £700

14 X 12FT A FRAME GIRAFFE £700

15 X 12 COWBOY £700

18 X 18FT ADULT £950

20 X 20FT ADULT £1000

25 X 25FT £1200

SUMOS KIDS AND ADULT SUITS AND MAT / HEADGUARDS NECK BRACES £800 FOR ALL

MEGA SHOWMANS SLIDE £4000

24FT TO PLATFORM - 2 MAN LIFT / ROLL

ALL WITH BLOWERS / STAKES ETC.

GOOD CONDITION

CONTACT TIM ON 07710 668615

T L & G LEISURE 

FOR SALE

Mark , I have for sale the following.

1.   Balloon Stuffing Machine.   good condition, with all accessories. £350.00

2. Zippy Dipper.  Very well made, 60ft. long, muiti coloured, 2 cars. Good earner.  £650.00

I am looking to obtain any s/h or unwanted  crazybikes,  wobbley wheel bikes.

More details on 01923  680744 ( Watford )

Thanks, Mike Holland Leisure

FOR SALE

We are selling a subsidiary of KBL Event Hire – Kidz Bizz unlimited, in Suffolk.  I know it is not the normal type of for sale item, but wondered if you might advertise it for me.

Thanks – Brian.

Party Venue/ Children’s activity centre for sale.

High Street location, - Haverhill (Essex/Suffolk Boarders).

We decided a couple of years ago, after hiring out inflatables for over 10 years,  that there was an opening in the market, for a place where parents could hold a party for a child with everything already in it.  We managed to find great premises in the High Street, and after much negotiation with the council, opened up our shop.  The shop is ground floor 72’10” x 21’4” narrowing to 18’. With huge car parking to rear.  It has a bouncy castle, soft play area, ballpond.  Stage area, karaoke machine, disco lights, bubble machines and lots more.  We hold parties on site for min 10 max 25 children. Age 1-10.  We supply food, drinks, cake, party bags, balloons prizes etc. My daughter has run it as a gap year project, for the last year but she is going to university in September, and to be honest it is so busy now , that we can’t handle all the work, on top of running the castle hire business. (our main business being in Chelmsford Essex)  It would suit a mum/ daughter two friends type partnership.  Turnover is just below vat limit, and has increased month on month every consecutive month since opening in May 2003.  We also hire out our bouncy castles for the Suffolk area from this location and run a toddler group 3 days a week.   We are not really looking to sell the castle side,and were thinking more of paying a commission for taking bookings.  The asking price for the shop’s contents and goodwill is around £22,,500.00 .The lease is about to expire and the current landlord is willing to enter a new lease for as long or as little as it required.  Rent £13000.00pa.  There is lots of room for expansion so If anyone is interested please e mail me on kbl@btconnect.com or give me a call on 07947 187073 and speak to Brian (KBL Event Hire) Shop trades under the name of Kidz Bizz unLimited.  

FOR SALE

1 x as new 15 x 15 arch castle can be seen on (yellow on web site as 16x16    www.castlehire.info nice unit.

1 x 3 year old arch castle

3 x 3 year old 12 x12 castles

also offers for web site or web site name, site can be change to suit.

FOR SALE

Dear Hirer,

Due to a house move and subsequent lack of space, I regrettably have to sell my bouncy castles and would like to offer them to another BIHA member.

Two of these castles (12x14's) are only half a season old as I only started up in June last year and packed them away for the winter in September, and because of this have only been used in fair weather. 

The 15x15 has only been used once as I bought this at the end of last season ready to use this year, but circumstances force a sale. 

As you can see from the photographs, these units are all in top condition and have been very well looked after during their short use.

The complete list of kit for sale is:

12 x 14 ft Clown bouncy castle

12 x 14 ft Jungle bouncy castle

15 x 15 ft Clown bouncy castle (with integral rain cover)

12 x 14 Rain cover (x2) (Never used)

3 x 1.5hp Blowers

3 x 30m extension leads

1 x Two wheeled trolley

Ground pegs for all three units

A massive bundle of new towels to clean/dry the castles

These units were manufactured by AJ Leisure (UK) in Liverpool, and if you have had any dealings with Andy before, you'll know he makes excellent quality kit and is always happy to help if you have any problems. 

Have a look at his website: http://www.andyj.co.uk/index.html

I need to sell these units ASAP as they are taking up space in the new house and because of this I am only asking £2000 for all of this kit.

As an extra incentive to buy, I can also offer the following:

Free delivery

Design of a company logo (or re-vamp of an old one) (I'm a graphic designer by day)

Design of a leaflet for advertising

1000 leaflets for letter drops and for your customers to keep

I'll even give you an invoice to claim against your tax!!!

You are more than welcome to come and see any of the equipment before you buy it - you will not be disappointed !!!

You can contact me any time on the following numbers

0151 670 5470 (8am -5pm)

0151 334 8138 (5:30pm onwards)

or e-mail me at the following

nmcadam@rfdbeaufort.com

I look forward to hearing from you

Best Regards

Neil McAdam

ACN Bouncy Castle Hire

FOR SALE

FOR SALE - 3 BOUNCY CASTLES

16' X 14' WITH SLIDE

14' X 12'

10' X 10'

BLOWERS, GROUNDSHEETS RAINCOVERS, EXTENSION LEADS, TROLLEY, MOBILE PHONE (NUMBER PRINTED ON CASTLES)

NEW JOB FORCES SALE

£3800 ONO

07946241031 / DAVID.HAZELL80@NTLWORLD.COM

FOR SALE

Hi Mark please can you include the following in your next BIHA alert

1 x 6 bed trampoline trailer with a unique inflatable showerproof cover. ADIPS safety certificate until October 2005.. 15 months old. Re-enforced welds added to base trailer and new Super Tramp trampoline beds. Something a bit different that appeals to schools in particular. View pics http://www.wallystrampolines.com/party/default.php

£6675.00 contact Ellie 01279 755976

Thanks very much

Jerome Louis 

FOR SALE

GIANT INFLATABLE TRAIN

THIS IS HUGE !!  ABOUT 100FT [30 MTRS] LONG

If you want to be noticed the “Go-Loco Fun Train” is for you.

It is a giant adventure playground for kids.  Children enter at the front of the train and pass through a series of “biff-bash” poles and obstacles, before negotiating a series of rollers finally exiting through a tunnel and slide.

The train is supplied in 5 sections for convenience and can be supplied in a combination of sizes between 18ft [5.5 mtrs] approx. upto 100ft [30mtrs] approx.  For smaller events a single section can be provided as an alternative to a bouncy castle.

For safety, when fully set up, “windows” in the carriages and the connections between sections allow for easy supervision by adults.

Ø                   THIS IS IDEAL FOR HIRING OUT AS A UNIT AT CLOSED EVENTS / PROMOTIONAL DAYS OR CHARGING PER USER AT OPEN EVENTS.

Ø                   GREAT EARNING POTENTIAL !

Ø                   SUPPLIED WITH 2 FANS

Ø                   THE UNIT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO RIPS / TEARS OR REPAIRS.

Ø                   ADVERTISED ELSEWHERE SO COULD BE WITHDRAWN

Delivery can be arranged [at cost] or collect in transit van or similar.  Contact us with any queries.

BlownUps4GrownUps Ltd

0121 552 0011

FOR SALE

Pole Joust for sale.

Two people sit on a pole, holding a padded shield and basher in each hand, wearing head protection and have fun play fighting.

This 10' x 12' unit has been hugely popular in the TS postcode area so far this year, and at £150 hire charge a time its good money and lighter to handle than a 12 x 12. The pole is 10' long. Item pictured on www.megafun.co.uk test just out, but this shouldn't be a problem as all the equipment is still in its Sunday best. Can be seen and tried in North Yorkshire. Bargain at £750 for quick sale. Currently available immediatly. Tel 01609 770310. or 07754 515557.

FOR SALE

for sale: bouncy castle 12 x 10. as new, includes fan, safety mat, anchors, sandbags, ground sheets etc. Cost £1500. Accept £750 ono. 01179570416.Bristol (membership no. IH794)

FOR SALE

Hello Mark,

could you please put on your web site the following items we have for sale;

10'x12' Barbie bouncy castle £350

Marquee Business

40'x15' Clear Span Marquee

(Can be split into combinations of 10'x15' sections)

very good condition and ready for hire

lots of extra cloths including windows and doorways and extra bars.

Adjustable Walkway 6ft to 12ft and 4ft wide

7 rolls of carpet/matting

10'x10' pointed roof marquee with windows.

ideal as add on or bar area or just smaller gardens

5 garden tables

25 chairs

ground sheets, pegs, rachets, plus loads of spares

£2950

We also have a trailer that fits all the bars and extras in.

10ftx5ft with drop end, good brakes, and a good spare wheel

£500

Telephone 01708 866222  mobile 07761938183

FOR SALE

Please can you put this in the for sale e-mail, thanks. Pic of blower attached.

Electric blower .75hp. Inflatable Fan Company product. Used as back up blower, so hardly used. It has a slight whistle, so only £50.

Four blue crash mats, 1m x 2m, 2in thick. Excellent condition, £100. Will sell separately at £30 each.

Based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Call 01494 717771.

Audrey Wixon

Style Leisure Bouncy Castles

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

BUSINESS FOR SALE (PART OR WHOLE):

JL Inflatables Limited have been established in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire for 4 years.

Our house move to North Wales forces the sale of our business. The equipment is currently in storage and comprises of:

1 x Pair of Adult Sumo Suits and mat – 10 x 10

1 x Adult Bouncy Boxing with gloves – 15 x 15

2 x Harry’s Magic Kingdom with slide – 14 x 16

1 x Rainbow Bouncer – 14 x 12

1 x Rainbow Bouncer 16 x 16

1 x Winnie The Pooh – 12 x 12

1 x Kings Castle 14 x 14

1 x Fiat Ducatto Van. Wood paneled inside. 50,000 miles R Reg. 1.9 litre diesel. MOT until April 2006.

All equipment comes with elec fans and ground pegs.

We are currently turning well established business and contracts away.

Price £10,500 for entire business and good will.

Look at the inflatables at www.sun4lessuk.com and click on ‘Bouncy Castles’

We also have a modern catering van on an established pitch in Bedfordshire. House move again forces sale. Weekly turn over £800-£1000.

Will sell van and site contract for £8500.

Tony Leece

Ski 4 Less Limited

www.ski4lessuk.com

Tel: 0044 (0) 1492 545144

Fax: 0044 (0) 1492 545308

FOR SALE

Hello mark

I would be very grateful if you could advertise my two bouncy castles and generator I have for sale.

Tiger 15ft x 18ft re-inforced adult bouncy castle with built in raincover. Bought brand new 9 months ago for £1750. Comes with 1.5hp blower, ground sheet and safety certificate. In as new condition. Genuine reason for sale.

£1100 ono

Bouncy castle 12ft x 12ft with built in raincover. Bought brand new 9 months ago, hardly used. Comes with 1.5hp blower, ground sheet and health & safety certificate. as new condition.

Genuine reason for sale

£650 ono

Clarke petrol generator CP500LRES, 9HP, 5KVA, electric and pull start, 10 hour running tank. Cost £1200 from machine mart 6 months ago. Genuine reason for sale

£700 ono

Please call us on 0117 9571274 BRISTOL

Many thanks

Lisa ( Bounce Inflatable Hire)

FOR SALE

RODEO BULLS X 2 FOR SALE

INCLUDES INFLATABLE BED/TROLLEY / SAFETY CERTS

2 YEARS OF AGE £5000 EACH ONO

CONTACT TIM 07710 668615

FOR SALE

Giant Slide 24ft high, by 18x36ft Zizo made Rabbit Theme Demo model still under warrenty £4500

Activity Centre 30ftx14ft c/w cover Zizo made 12 mths old £3000 very colourfull and attractive

Tracerzone Paintball Shooting Range New condition 3 player digital scoring £3000

Surf Rider 20ftdia x20ft high very different and attractive £2750

Airbourne adventure  15ft dia £2500

Giant Pirate of the Caribbean Adventure Centre 75 x20ft in 4 sections £3750

All include blowers and available NOW, prices include delivery to UK mainland.

See photo's on http://www.irishbouncycastles.com used units page.

Kindest Regards.
Eric O' Sullivan
Managing Director
Carousel Enterprises / Toons and Balloons
Tel: +353 96 32042
Fax: +353 96 32042
Mobile: +353 86 2692630
Email: info@toonsandballoons.com
Web: http://www.toonsandballoons.com
" Our Business is Fun "

FOR SALE

hi mark

second hand castles for sale

1x harry potter 14x16 castles with slide £500

1x spider man castle with slide £500

1x 10x12 ball pool with attached roof £350

3x 12x12 castles £300

all castles come complete with blower , mats ,raincovers

and are all around 3 years old

please contact mindy @ childsplay bouncy castle hire 0161 3013111 manchester area

1

FOR SALE

Could you please include a couple of items for sale for me in your next Alert

1.  Ball Blaster ( Moonshot Toss) hardly used and with 2 blowers .....£1250Stg  

     VIEW HERE  http://www.irishinflatables.com/page10.html

2.  Two piece assault course pirate theme from DMK 18 months old...£2100stg 

     VIEW HERE  http://www.irishinflatables.com/page40.html

Kind regards

Bob Clohessy

00353 719662770

00353 868792423

www.irishinflatables.com

FOR SALE

Mark , I have for sale the following.

1.   Balloon Stuffing Machine.   good condition, with all accessories. £350.00

2. Zippy Dipper.  Very well made, 60ft. long, muiti coloured, 2 cars. Good earner.  £650.00

I am looking to obtain any s/h or unwanted  crazybikes,  wobbley wheel bikes.

More details on 01923  680744 ( Watford )

Thanks, Mike Holland Leisure.

2) WANTED TO PURCHASE

Could you please put a advert in for me for a  'wanted motorised gyroscope' please contact kerryshane@btinternet.com or (01242 539513) in your next newsletter thank you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dear mark,could you place an ad for me

 WANTED :

 ADULT SUMO WRESTLER SUITS OR INFLATABLE KANGAROO BOXING,I HAVE £400 CASH IF ANYONE CAN HELP . TEL :07888 735335  ASK FOR PHIL

i can confirm i am a current biha member my address is  philip neal , 12,crouchfield close , seaford , east sussex , bn25 1qe  (MEGA BOUNCE)

thanks for your help phil neal

WANTED

WE ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING EITHER ADULT SUMO SUITS OR A TWO LANE BUNGEE RUN, OR THE LASTEST MUST HAVE IN ADULT INFLATABLES. PLEASE CONTACT JUMPIN JACKS BOUNCY CASTLES ON 01603717575 OR PREFERABLY EMAIL WITH PHOTOS TO bouncycastles@jumpinjacks.freeserve.co.uk

DARREN AND SARAH KNIGHTS

JUMPIN JACKS

NORWICH

WANTED TO PURCHASE

Bungee Run wanted.

Prepared to travel, cash waiting.

Pls call Anthony Rogers: 07831 200020

Somerset.

3) Hints & Tips.

1)       An excellent way to connect sand-bags to bouncy castles and other inflatables is to use small carabenas which can be bought quite cheaply in good camping shops.   Carabenas are used by mountaineers to attach themselves or their equipment to their ropes.

2)       Buy a starter charger from Halfords (for about £30).  This will get your van going in an emergency. Contains a very powerful, but light-weight battery and also a compressor in case you get a flat tyre.

3)       Never apologise to a customer if an incident occurs where you, the operator may be held liable.  An interesting case occurred recently where a customer found a needle in a bouncy castle and contacted the operator who had no idea as to how it got there.

4)       If you are tired of getting unwanted sales calls, did you know that you can register with BT Privacy on 0800 121 8000.  Alternatively, visit: www.bt.com/btprivacy

4) LIW Show 2005  (NEC – Birmingham).

The BIHA is starting to get ready to exhibit at the LIW show in Birmingham on 20^th – 22^nd September.  We highly recommend that as many members as possible attend.  For all members who attend the BIHA stand there will be some promotional give-aways such as coasters, key-rings, van-stickers and e-books (on a first-come first served basis).  There will be many inflatable manufacturers exhibiting and also companies which support our industry e.g. Fan manufacturers, PIPA, Inflated News, and the NAIH.

Please visit the LIW website at: www.liw.co.uk

As the show gets closer, there will be some more updates. 

5) PIPA in the News

The PIPA scheme was recently mentioned in the Daily Telegraph. Please click on the following link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/06/23/nbounc23.xml

6)   QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS TO MEMBERS.

 Q. How high should the walls be on an adult bouncy castle?

A. The wall height on an adult bouncer needs to be no less than 1.8 metres (6 feet).

The rest of the castle also has to be substantial enough to cope with adults,  i.e. 1 metre high bed, thick walls and posts which won't collapse under their weight.

Richard. (Manufacturer).

Tear-away Leisure.

Louth, Lincolnshire.

7) Real Life Hire Stories.

1)

2)  I did a boot sale on Sunday with a 10ft slide and made the grand total of £12 after paying for the pitch. It's just not worth it, I should have stayed home and watched the golf. One funny point was as I let it down an old lady came up to me and said how much, I said £1, she said, how will I get it home.

Paul (acefun)

3)  A hire company received a phone call saying that a group of travellers had parked their vehicles and caravans etc. on a wide layby of a busy dual carriageway.  As there were children in the group they needed entertainment (i.e. a bouncy castle and other inflatables).  The hire company was asked if they could rent out this equipment and petrol blowers for the day. 

Unfortunately, the hire company agreed and delivered and set-up the inflatables on the layby powered by the petrol blowers.

At an agreed time, towards the end of the day, the hire company went to collect their kit and to their shock found that the layby was completely empty.  Not only had the customer and their friends disappeared, but had also taken the inflatables with them.

This booking should never have happened, as the risk of theft was just too high from the outset.

4)      Recently, a BIHA member was driving his transit-sized van down a very quiet residential street in Reading looking for his customer’s house so he could deliver a bouncy castle.  Some of the house numbers were difficult to read and as a result the member slowed down in his van to get a better look.   However, just at that moment a police motor-cyclist pulled him over, and gave him a £30 fine for slowing down and causing an obstruction on a public high-way.   There followed a massive row between the member and the police-officer as the member pointed out that he was making a delivery and had to slow down in order to find the customer’s house.   In response to this the officer said that the driver should park his van at the top of the road and then walk down looking for the house.   The driver said this was ridiculous and unnecessary bearing in mind it was a very quiet street.   The driver refused to pay the fine and has made an official complaint to the Police Complaints Authority, who are investigating……Once I hear the outcome, I will let everyone know.

5)      One operator hit a stake in the ground and it punctured a gas pipe.

This incident should never have happened.

You don't need stakes longer than 18'' (450mm) and if you hit them in at 45 degrees they ony travel 12'' deep into the ground (300mm) -  All services should be deeper than this.

If you think your equipment need longer stakes to be secure - what it needs is more anchor points and stakes. I recon a anchor point every 8-10 feet approx.

8) Dead man cut off switch for Rodeo Bulls.

Further to our telephone conversation this morning with regards to the above.    Last week we were informed by Michael Scott of FML Insurance that there has been a change in the annual Public Liability Insurance premium on Rodeo Bull multi-rides which are not fitted with a 'Rider Safety Cut off Switch or 'Dead Mans Handle'

All Rodeo Bull multi-rides that are not fitted with a Rider Safety Cut off Switch or 'Dead Mans Handle' will now have to pay an annual premium of

£ 2000.00 compared to Rodeo bull multi-rides that are fitted with the device, only paying around £ 1200.00

Can you please make all your members aware that with immediate effect, all 'new' Rodeo Bull multi-rides manufactured and supplied by

G.S. Engineering Ltd., will now be fitted as standard with a Rider Safety Cut off Switch. 

All 'GS' Rodeo Bull multi-rides that have been supplied previously can be upgraded to have this device fitted and, and should contact either Steve or Denise on 01406 490335 or email:  info@gseng.co.uk 

Thanks for your help

Denise

GS Engineering Ltd.,

Tele:  01406 490335

www.gseng.co.uk'

9) Something a bit different.

Please click on the following website, it will show inflatables being used in a completely different way.   Can you profit from this??

 www.britishwatersports.co.uk  

10)  Update on the van stickers.   www.biha.org.uk/promo.htm

To date around 114 sets have been sent off.   If you would like to order a set of BIHA van stickers – please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com   (Please could you write “Van stickers” in the subject bar of your email.   I am now getting feedback from members who have received their stickers and (with two exceptions) they are all impressed with the exceptionally high quality.

Each set is £15.00 which includes 2 x A4 stickers, one small windscreen sticker, a BIHA key-ring and 199 free mini-reports (see www.biha.org.uk/199reports )

11) Auction of liquidated inflatables

James Sutherland & Co

Re: Topaz Leisure Limited

On Instructions from the Liquidator W Paxton Esq FCA

Sale by Tender at Unit 3, Maling Court, Hoults Estate, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2BS on view Wednesday 3^rd August 2005 10am – 4pm only

Full range of eqp from bouncy castles & inflatables hire Co. inc: Inflatables – 30’ & 2 x 15’ bouncy castles, 2 x bouncy boxing (one as new). 30’ and 28’ bungy runs, 2 x surf set ups with electronic control, grab ‘a’ grand, pot black, bar fly wall, human table football, gladiator joist eliminator, space hopper track and space hoppers, ball pond and balls, un-climbable ladder and accessories. Also pole joust, 2 x giant connect 4 games, giant chess set, 2- wheel twin axle giro wheel trailer, 2 x padded sumo wrestling suits, 2 x table tennis tables (as new), In frame petrol blower, 12 x 240v blowers, rodeo ram, 35’ Scalectrix track with scenery and cars etc.

Pictures and details of some equipment available by e-mail on request

Completed tender forms to be returned to Auctioneer’s Office by 4pm day of viewing

All goods purchased must be paid for and removed on Friday 5 August 2005 9am-4pm

Auctioneers office: 3 Maling Court, Brinkburn Street,

Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2BS Tel 0191 2763443   Fax 0191 2762323

Email: js.ltd@btconnect.com Website: www.js-bid.com

12)  Please check you free advert on biha.org.uk and leisurescene.com

One of the most important jobs at the BIHA office in Bracknell is maintaining the data-base which powers www.biha.org.uk and also www.leisurescene.com    Please could you visit the members listing section and check that your free advert on both sites is correct.  If it is not please contact Mark Stevens on www.leisurescene.com/Contact.html 

These member listings have been designed to be “search engine friendly”.  This means that if a potential customer goes into Google for instance and types out “Bouncy castle hire” or “Rodeo Bull Hire” and then the name of your town, then the search engines are likely to identify your company amongst others.  More and more customers are now using the internet to source inflatable hire services (esp. when they are at work!).

Don’t forget to email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com if you have forgotten your password to get into the

“Members Only Pages” on www.biha.org.uk   (This password protected area contains virtually everything that the BIHA has ever published going back nearly 5 years

13) Internet Online Booking system

I recently received the following email:

Dear Mark,

Last year I started an online booking facility, to allow customers to make a booking 24 hours a day online.  I had a message on my answer phone, so if I was unable to take a call at least I could encourage people to book via the web site.

It was extremely successful, and I’ve received a lot of positive feedback.  On top of that, it also promotes a professional image.

I’d like to make this booking system available to other operators, but initially I’m just looking for one or two people so that we can properly volume test it.  These would be strategic partners who would prove the concept across multiple sites.  These partners would need no web experience - everything would be done for them.  The booking site would be linked from their own site (if they have one) - a ‘make booking’ button or something.  If they haven’t got a website, I would host a launch page for them.

They would also get their own password protected ‘maintenance’ page, which would allow them to delete availability from the database (for bookings taken off line), free up slots for booking in the case of cancellations, and to run reports showing new bookings.  All new bookings are automatically emailed to them as well.

So in summary you would get:

·      Your own customised online booking system accessed from your own site

·      A hosted launch page if you haven’t got a web site

·      Ability to take bookings 24 hours a day 365 days a year

·      Ability to delete availability from the database for bookings taken elsewhere

·      A password protected online maintenance facility

·      Email every time a booking is made on your site

·      Reporting facility

I am not looking for any up front payment or construction fee, but would ask for £1 per booking made on line, payable in arrears.  So basically it is entirely risk free with a nominal charge for my efforts only if it is successful.

To run a demonstration of the facility, please click here:

 HYPERLINK "http://www.goneboy.net/demo/start.html" www.goneboy.net/demo/start.html

Would it be possible to put this in the next newsletter, please?  Interested parties could email me: colin@veryfishyfunhire.co.uk

Many thanks,

Colin

14) ADVICE ON PREVENTING THEFT OF YOUR INFLATABLES.

Dear fellow BIHA members, I would like to write to inform anyone who hires inflatable equipment to the dangers of having your equipment stolen and tips on how to avoid it happening.

We had all our equipment stolen, down to the very last peg and lead in February this year from a garage in a nearby block to our house in Bracknell, Berkshire resulting in the lose of 15k worth of equipment.

Our garage was overlooked via several houses and a new £600.00 steel garage door with 4 point internal looking was fitted with a high quality Yale lock. We honestly thought that it would not be possible for anyone to brake in as the door was of high security and due to the noise that it would make, alerting the near by residence.

In February this year I received a dreaded call from my wife to say that a neighbour has reported our garage had been broken into. I knew there and then that the equipment would be gone, and on arriving to see the now empty garage I was left with a very sick and empty feeling - only someone who has had a lose like this will understand.

We were luckly that we had saved some money and with the help of several people within our industry we decided not to let the ‘SCUM’ win and set about re-building our stock from scratch.

We ended up selling the house and are moving into a new house with integral garage in a nicer albeit dearer neighbourhood.

In all, the loss of earnings, stock, relocation etc has cost us a severe amount of money potentially up to 40/50k

How can you avoid having to suffer to the hands of the scum’s and low life’s that target all walks of our society, well I think the following can help…

Make sure all inflatables are sign written and include marking things like mats, and accessories. Engrave all fans with your name and number and any other metal objects. Never ever leave your equipment in a garage that is not attached to your house, one thing is you cannot get insurance and secondly nearly all thefts are from garage blocks or lock ups. Use a storage company as a few hundred pounds a year is a lot less than having replace your equipment. If you have an integral garage, brick up the front and fit a 5 leaver mortise deadlock front door, this will be hard for the criminals and will qualify you for insurance. Fit an alarm on your premises. Never allow anyone to collect or return stock to your home or lockup and use a PO Box address for your advertising, this costs around £50.00 a year from the post office; this way no one knows where you store all that expensive stock.

The last point is to place a tracking device into your inflatables so that should they be stolen they can be traced quickly. This is something I would like more info on and should anyone have an idea of a cost effective way of doing this please get in touch with Mark Jerram - mark.jerram@ntlworld.com

The word on the street is that theft in our industry is a growing problem and due to get worse I am sure, the stock never seems to surface and if it happens to you it’s soul destroying.

Be lucky and remember when buying equipment, never buy any stolen stock as it could be your stuff been sold one day…

Darren Latimer

Innovents Ltd

Crowthorne, Berkshire.

15) Bouncy Boxing – Get your free listing.

If you own and operate a bouncy boxing inflatable (or several) you can now get a free advert for it on www.biha.org.uk  under  www.biha.org.uk/type.htm 

This will help your potential customers find you easier (without them having to trawl through the Yellow Pages until they find a supplier). Secondly, and very importantly, it will tell your competitors that you operate bouncy boxing, so that they can pass business over to you (perhaps for a commission) if they do not operate this type of inflatable or are fully booked.

If you would like to advertise your bouncy boxing unit(s), please email me your full address, company name, website and telephone number to mark.jerram@ntlworld.com ensuring you write “Bouncy boxing listing”  in the subject bar. Thanks.

If you would like to add anything to the next BIHA alert due out in August 2005, please email me at:  mark.jerram@ntlworld.com 

I hope you have found this alert interesting.

Until the next one.

Mark

Mark Jerram

BIHA founder www.biha.org.uk

www.biha.org.uk/NA42.htm  (Last news alert)

www.biha.org.uk/news/alert34/index.html  (Sample newsletter)

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