Newsletter 49
Hello to all BIHA
members,
A very warm welcome to BIHA
newsletter # 49. (Issued
Out of all the newsletters which the
BIHA has published since 2001, this one (in my opinion) is one of the most
interesting.
Some of the highlights are: Two
trade shows coming up, lower PL insurance rates and increased sum assured, and
an incredible video of a bouncy castle in America being blown 45ft into the air
with children still in it, see: http://www.biha.org.uk/NSimages/castleaccident.html , the re-launch of “Spot-light on
a hire company”, and a potential new service for BIHA members i.e. adding a low
cost video commercial to your website..(e.g.
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_Limo.html )
Limosine business.
Did you know that
according to the Daily Mail (
Contents:
1)
Two inflatable trade shows –
2)
Second-hand inflatables & equipment for
sale.
3)
Wanted items.
4)
Spotlight on a hire
company.
5)
Increased sum assured for FML
Insurance.
6)
Hints & Tips.
7)
Giant Inflatable screen premiers in
8)
Press release: Designer Bounce / DMK Leisure
merger.
9)
The danger of barbeques in the
summer.
10) The invention of the bouncy
castle.
11) 10% Discount on Bouncy Castle
Repairs.
12) At last help has arrived with lifting heavy
inflatables.
13) Discounts on Van rental for BIHA
members.
14) Real-life hire stories (including. “Hirings
from Hell” See
video!)
15) Scam warning.
16) New service to BIHA
members.
17) Some tips to reduce your insurance
premiums.
18) Can you help?
19) More stolen
equipment.
20) Add a low cost video commercial to your
website & watch bookings/sales skyrocket!
21) A reminder of the two inflatable
shows on 7/8 march 2006 in
22) Safety
crash mats (8’ x 3’ x 2”).
23)
Membership
renewal for 2006.
25)
Closing comments.
1) Two
Inflatable Trade Shows - 7/8 March 2006 –
The
BIHA will be exhibiting at both trade shows in
SHOW
1
Is
Download your free ticket from: http://www.performancetextiles.org.uk/shownext.asp
Timing is important in any
business and in one as seasonal as the inflatable play industry even more
so. Staying one step ahead of the
competition by understanding the latest products on the market now, in plenty of
time for the new season, can make a massive difference to your
business.
The Inflatable and Soft Play
show will take place at the Telford International Centre, one of the
An exhibition is a chance for
visitors to see the products, to ask questions, a unique environment where the
seller and the buyer are on ‘neutral’ ground.
For the exhibitor it is a prime opportunity to demonstrate an inflatable,
or a combination of units to show the full effect, not to mention the chance to
see what the competition is doing. The
main reason given by people for going to exhibitions continues to be the
opportunity to see new products – people will be in
And for those who would like
to see just some of the textiles, machinery and accessories used in the
manufacture of inflatables, or perhaps look at areas where new business
opportunities may lie, then the Performance Textiles Show is being staged
alongside. Registration with one ticket
provides access to two shows or you can register online at www.performancetextiles.org.uk
So whether it is as an
exhibitor or as a visitor, make sure you don’t miss out.
Make 7-8 March in
Inflatable and Soft Play Show
2006
7th
& 8th March
2006
Telford International
Centre
Telford ,
Shropshire
Download Ticket
Pre-register on line now
For the first time, the Performance
Textiles Association is showcasing the work of its members involved in the
inflatable and soft play industries. There will new designs on show from the
country's leading manufacturers - Just in time for the start of the 2006
season
Linking directly with
the Performance Textiles Show this is a unique opportunity for operators,
SHOW
2
Inflat-A-Show –
'Inflat-A-Show'
We will have lots of inflatable
manufacturers plus mechanical rides, fans and insurance company's all attending
the show.
Hopefully it should be lots of fun
and great place to actually come visit the makers and see the castles before you
buy.
Anybody needs any more info, please
feel free to e-mail me at inflatashow@aol.com and I will
do my best to contact you all!
Hope everybody is getting ready for
a great year and best of luck to you all!
Kind
regards
Chris
'Support the show
that supports you'!
2)
Second-Hand inflatables and 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 1,600 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 calculate 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
8ft x 8ft Mini Box Bouncer/Ball Pool For
FOR
Can you please
put the following items up for sale in your next
newsletter?
2 x Adult Sumo
Suits
2x Junior Sumo
Suits
1 x Playing
mat
4 x Sumo
Helments
4 x Neck
Braces
Only for
£1000.00
To view items
following link http://www.dkentertainment.co.uk/sumo.htm
8 x 8
2
mats
1000 ball
approx
Only
£700.00
To view items
following link http://www.dkentertainment.co.uk/8x8.htm
For more info
contact Derek at enquiries@dkentertainment.co.uk 01462 811569
Derek
Bramley
DK
Entertainment Ltd
FOR
It’s
Ben here at Bounceabout in
1x 18 x
18 A frame percy the owl £500 ono
1x 16 x 16 A frame tiger and jungle
scene including shower cover£500 ono
both of these will be supplied with a
boxed gibbons 1.5 hp blower
3 x boxed 1.5hp blowers £120 each
contact us on 01732 847533
07834
772796
benbounceabout@aol.com
FOR
FOR SALE MINI
QUAD BUSINESS OR WILL SPLIT AS FOLLOWS:
FOR
BARRIER WITH AN
ARCH FEATURE FAN BLOWER & PEGS
INCLUDED. 12 MONTHS OLD IN
EXCELLENT
CONDITION £700 ONO
FOR
RESTRICION
THROTTLES, LOCKABLE GEARS, & SAFETY
CUTOUT. 12 MONTHS OLD
EXCELLENT
CONDITION 2 RED & 1 BLUE £225 EACH ONO
MOTOX JUNIOR
HELMETS 2 X MED 2 X LARGE EXCELLENT CONDITION IN DUST BAGS £15
EACH
ONO
THE WHOLE
FOR
FOR
£300-00 GOOD CONDITION. THE SLIDE
ATTACHES TO A DMK STYLE 12'X12'
BOUNCER
14' LONG 12' TALL (TO TOP OF
ARCH)
TEL
DARREN 01935 472191 MOB 07765 260847 Yeovil,
FOR
2x12x12 turret style
bouncy castles for sale 1 year old both come with 1.5hp
blowers ,pegs&groundsheets buy both for £1000 or £600
each.
can be veiwed in
sutton,surrey . if interested please email chris at gregorymjh@aol.com
FOR
2 x Williams
Rodeo Bull Multi Rides both with surf and bull attachments (£3,500.00 and
£4,000.00)
Surf Simulator
in working order £1,200.00
I am also
looking to sell a package to a company looking to expand into adult hire.
Ideally, in the
The package
includes
2 x Bungee
Runs
Gladiator
Dual
Pole
Joust
Sumo
Wrestling
Bouncy
Boxing
Barfly
Large Adult
Slide
Children's
Slide
Children's Ball
Pond
2 x Large Adult
Bouncy Castles
A White
Trailer
A High Top
Transit Van (White, no marking, good runner K reg)
All of the
above equipment is in ready to hire out condition and includes electric
blowers
Total Package
Price: £25,000.00 ono
We would also
listen to offers to buy the package without the work but we are unable to split
the items
Please note
that we can also do a deal to include a rodeo bull multi ride and or a surf
simulator.
Contact Trevor
on 0118 977 3720 or email me at trevor.collins@btconnect.com
Website: www.corporateleisure.co.uk
FOR
My slide is a
40ft X 20ft X 21ft fantasy slide two years old, fully themed, and
has only had
one seasons use, the test cert which I have has now expired but
the slide was
not used last season and has been stored inside my Dad’s BMW
garage, so I
imagine a new ticket could be obtained easily enough as no
damage has been
done in any way. The extras that come with slide are two
blowers,
fencing mats and tools I am looking for £3000 or a smaller ride in
part
exchange. My numbers are 01304339204 or
07737010058 ask for Nathan.
FOR
1x 12x12 children's bouncy boxing
with gloves. Made by Galaxy £500.00
1x midi slide. Made by Playtime
£1250.00
1x 20x15 activity bouncer. Made by
Abacus. £1250.00
1x G.S engineering Surf Machine.
Heavy duty model with all accessories. £3500.00
Also
Thanks
Paul 07771 765083
FOR
Air cannon powerball
game,comprising of two gladiator style turret cannons with built in timer
operated blowers run by 240v mains.These cannons fire very soft sponge balls
with two very large bags of balls inc,two pairs of safety goggles and a purpose
built inflatable arena approx 16 foot x 25 foot, built in ground sheet and
inflatable pryamid section across the middle to force the balls to roll back to
either end. Never been hired but about 18/24 months old and unused,purchase
price was over £9000. The arena is fully roofed and has netted walls,complete
with blower and stakes.Very nice unusual bit of kit,reason for selling too much
kit and i would do a deal against an inflatable arena for my bull and an
inflatable arena for my laser shot game so if anyone is interested £4000 is what
i am asking.Contact Ian or joanne at GT Rides on 07946
680981.
FOR
I have 2 bouncy
castles for sale. They are in excellenct condtion, purchased
as new in
2004.
One is an
eastern style castle (15 x 15) -
£1000
One is an
activity play space (20 x 20). -
£1300
They come
complete with blowers and ground stakes. Manufactured by Airquee,
they can be
viewed at www.regalbounce.com.
Can be
collected or shipped at buyers expense.
Change in
family circumstances forces sale.
Thanks
Michele
FOR
WILLIAMS RODEO
BULL WITH SUFT ATTACHMENT FOR
Good working order,
fair condition - new hyde fitted last year. Approx 5 yrs old. Can email
pictures if required.
£2150 ono. Please
contact Andrea or Tony 02380 618149 email apartymania@aol.com.
FOR
Due to an
increased family and promotions at work we are going to have to sell our
business this year as we haven't got the time to run
it.
Bouncy Castle
Business for
4 Castles
including all accessories and van (if required). Advertising in Yellow pages and
Yell.com included
Price -
£3,000
Tel Julie/Mike
Dunn - 01473 725844
Mob - 0775 703
2989
Many
thanks
Julie
Dunn
FOR
I have 5 units for
sale
3 themed 12/14ft
castles, monster inc, harrys magic castle,barbie
all less than 5 months
old in brand new condition and all fitted with shower
covers
also a 7/9ft ball pond
again brand new from bee tee in a jungle theme
and a adult castle
17/18ft again from bee tee in a disco theme
all these castles can
be seen on my web site www.perfectpartyinflatables.co.uk
my number is 07910
007 992
thank you
steve.
FOR
For
Three 12ft x
12ft Arched Bouncy Castles, 12ft high all with rain cover, blower, pegs, ground
sheet. Pipa tested £475 each
one 12ft x 12ft
Standard bouncy castle 9ft high. ideal for inside use, with rain cover, blower,
pegs, ground sheet pipa tested £475 o.n.o
Roy
Dulson
FOR
FOR
Detachable head and rocket pieces that can be replaced
with your own personal design. Velcro sides to add your own theme to the slide.
For full details http://www.wallyandco.com/new/product.php/183/clearancemodel or
call Ellie 01279 813942
FOR
Low Sided Surf
1200.00
Williams Multi Ride Rodeo Bull 3500.00
Williams Multi Ride Rodeo Bull 4000.00
Sumo Wrestling
800.00
Bouncy Boxing
800.00
Bungee Run – low sided
900.00
Bungee Run
950.00
Metal Pole Joust – no power needed
650.00
Gladiator Dual
800.00
Wavy Slide
1500.00
Mountain Slide 1500.00
Pulsar Inflatable
1000.00
17 x 17 castle adult
1000.00
17 x 17 castle adult 1000.00
25 x 25 castle ghost 1600.00
7 x 7 kids ballpond with 100 balls
600.00
Jungle Slide
900.00
Penalty Shootout
600.00
Large Inflatable Dome
800.00
Barfly – no suits
500.00
White Marquee 5 m x 5 m
300.00
Electric Octopus Children’s Ride 1000.00
Kids Quad Bike
400.00
Theming Package – (details on
request) 15000.00
Wind Up Horse Game with track x
6 1500.00
Mechanical Rocking Horse
500.00
Set of Tequila Belts x 2
800.00
John Wayne Quick Draw 1500.00
5 Gun Laser Clay Shooting 3500.00
Giant Scalextric
2000.00
Roulette Casino Table
350.00
Blackjack Casino Table
350.00
Poker Casino Table
350.00
Roulette Wheel – full size 1000.00
Roulette Wheel – full size
950.00
Wheel of Fortune
300.00
Army Theme Set
1200.00
Pirate Ship Theme Set 2000.00
Christmas Theme Set 5000.00
Contact Corporate Leisure for details on 0118 977 3720
(
3) WANTED
ITEMS
a) I am interested in buying a twin
needle sewing machine so that i can do my own repairs as its quite a trek to get
a quick repair done here and there and was hoping you might know of someone or
somewhere that is selling one for cheap if so would you please be able to pass
there details on to me. thankyou very much. Dean Harrington, Allsorts
Inflatables. Tel: 01932 33606 (
b) How do?
Anyone happen to have a barfly with suits
for sale?
If so, can you drop me a email info@threewayservices.com .
Cheers
Mark
4)
SPOTLIGHT ON A HIRE COMPANY.
In
the early BIHA newsletters, one popular section was “Spotlight on a hire
company”. This has been re-introduced by popular
demand.
1. Who are
you? John Bleasdale, Fun-tasia inflatables in
2.When did you
start an inflatable hire business? I started the business about 4 years ago
initially with a loan and support from the Prince’s
Trust.
3.What type of
inflatables do you hire out?
I started with a Fantasy Run from Jumbo inflatables and now own about 14
inflatables including 5 different types of assault courses, 6 bouncy castles, a
bungee run, sumo suits and I have also just purchased a brand new rodeo bull
from GS Engineering.
4. Why did you
start an inflatable hire business? I went to a meeting with the
Prince’s Trust and just decided that I would want a business that I could run by
myself and that I could develop further. Fun-tasia has provided me with the
ideal opportunity for both!!
5. What did you
do before? My previous experience was mainly customer service
based and this helps with my business. However, I definitely do not miss the
6. What do you
most enjoy about the business? I attend a lot of Fairs/Major
Events etc as well as hire out inflatables. However, I can safely say that there
is nothing better then dropping off an inflatable at a party and then picking it
up a few hours later, Heaven!!
7. What do you
least enjoy about the business? 1. Bad weather, 2, Poor access to
property, 3, Dog mess in the garden!
8. What
problems (if any) have you encountered? (None
yet)
9. Where do you
see yourself in 5 years time? I hope to expand Fun-tasia by buying
new types of equipment especially for the corperate market. I bought the rodeo
bull mainly for this market.
10. If you
could “wave a magic wand” and change one thing about the industry, what would it
be? Improve the public’s
attitude towards our industry. The BIHA are doing an exceptional job in uniting
all the hirers around the country and giving information on improved working
practices. This has to be a positive step as it can only increase the public’s
attitude towards our industry!
11. Do you have
any ideas, hints and tips to help the other members? 1. If using heavy equiment
(bungee run etc), purchase a van with a tail-lift. I now own a van with a
tail-lift and it makes such a difference compared to normal vans, especially on
your back! 2. Look into attending Fetes/School fairs etc even if you own small
bouncy castles as the turnover can easily exceed your expectations!
12. How have
you most benefited from your membership to the BIHA? The BIHA have helped my business in many ways
especially hearing about the different working practices that people use. I have
adopted several ideas myself and they have helped tremendously with my
business. Also, I have the BIHA emblem on my website which I am sure creates a
good rapport with potential customers.
13. Any other
comments? My main comment is to ask everyone to keeping sending in
tips/new ideas etc as it can only improve all our companies reputations.
Finally, I am happy to attend any major event etc so if you hear of anything
please get in touch!
Many thanks John, for taking the time to answer these 13
questions. If any other member would
like to be featured in “Spotlight on a Hire Company” in the next newsletter –
please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Many Thanks…Don’t forget your answers and comments will be read by over
1,800 inflatable hire companies.…………
5) Increased sum
assured for FML Insurance.
FML Insurance in
We also review our Rodeo and Multi
Serve rating - attached below is the new rating strategy, which takes into
account the Dead Man's Handle and also the reward for
CCTV.
6) Hints and
Tips.
1) If
a potential customer telephones you (or emails you), but they do not book with
you immediately. (Perhaps they want to shop around). Give them your mobile number and your
name. This will help to develop rapport
and trust with your customers.
2)
What freebies can you give your customers if
they book with you. People love things which they can get for free (especially
if it very useful). E.g. liaise with your local party shop and see if they can
give you some money-off coupons, which you can then give to your customers. This is a real win-win-win situation. The customer is delighted as they get some
free vouchers to spend on their kid’s party.
The Party shop is delighted because it is obtaining a brand new customer
who is forced to buy something from their shop.
Finally, you the operator should be delighted because you are more likely
to get the booking, and repeat bookings well into the future.
3) Pro plus for
long journeys when you must stay awake.
I
recently drove back from Brecon in Mid Wales to
4) Do
you own an iPod, or did you receive one as a present over Christmas. Did you know that you can use your iPod for
work related activity and hence get tax-relief on it!! This one tip could earn you more than the cost
of your BIHA membership fee!!
I
found this useful and money-saving tip in the following eBook. http://www.ipodebook.com/?hop=leisure06
5) I
read recently in a eBay guide that the winning bid for an item can sometimes be
as little as 1pence. i.e. If someone
were to bid just a penny over the previous highest price – just before the
auction ends – you can sometimes win the bid.
Similarly, when it comes to securing a booking for an inflatable (or even
a batch of inflatables for a large event) sometimes if you go £5 or £10 under,
then you will win the booking.
Here’s how it works: When someone rings you
up for a quote on an inflatable(s) or invites you to put in a tender for a major
job, say these “magic words” to them. (An example is a £350 job). “The price will be £350 for the day, but if
you find any other company which can offer the same deal but at a cheaper price,
I would really appreciate a call back, so that I can have the opportunity of
trying to give you the best price of all”.
Notice, that you are NOT committing yourself to offering a lower price,
and also you are not putting the customer under any pressure or obligation to
call you back. If they do call back,
(and they usually do), this is 2 major benefits for your business. Firstly, you get to hear exactly what your
competitors are charging and any other details (e.g. free add-ons). Secondly, it gives you that final opportunity
to perhaps offer a small discount as they took the trouble to call you
back. Please note that if your potential
customer does call you back, it is important to thank them for doing this before
you discuss prices. If a customer likes
you on the phone and you can develop a rapport, and your price is
slightly cheaper than their previous quote, then all other things being equal,
you stand a good chance of getting the booking.
6)
Oh and one tip which I learnt to my cost a few years ago - never ever
ever give people any indication of your turnover, size of hire business, cost of
units or tell them it is easy money because before you know it your neighbour,
school playground 'friend', work colleague (you get the picture!) will become
your competitor - just keep your head down, count the cash and enjoy a well
earned beer in your garden on a late summers evening with a smile on your face -
and in my case an ache in my back - is it me or are these units getting
heavier!!! (This interesting tip was
posted on the industry message board – see: http://www.biha.org.uk/messages.htm )
7)
Inflatable Projector Screen Premiers in
The
BBC in conjunction with Cross Day Productions have commissioned AV2Hire.Com®
Limited (A member of the BIHA) to provide the equipment to screen the premier of
their new film “Shooting Dogs” in Africa, amongst the equipment being
transported from England is a massive 30’ wide inflatable screen that stands as
tall as a three story building.
“We
have to use such a huge screen due to the event being for 10,000 people in the
country’s main Stadium” says David Clement-Horton from
AV2Hire
The
Screen AV2Hire will use is made of the same material as a
David
says “We commissioned this screen to be made specifically for us and we can do
front or back projections from it. In
high winds it will be taken down, however in high winds most of the audience
will have gone anyway. One aspect of
using an Inflatable Screen as opposed to a traditional rigid screen is the
safety aspect, if a rigid screen falls over it can kill people, not so with an
inflatable”
AV2Hire are
expecting lots of orders this year from the FA and World Cup matches… but only
at night-time.
Click
on: http://www.av2hire.com/inflatable.html
Best
Regards
David
Clement-Horton
0845
123 5654
07956
447 229
AV2Hire.Com
Limited
Unit
2
EC1R
0NE
8)
DESIGNER BOUNCE - DMK LEISURE MERGER
Well, during the Christmas period whilst all of you were
tucking into your Christmas Turkey major changes were happening in the
inflatable industry. Designer Bounce and DMK Leisure (Two of the major
Their factory now boasts the latest CAD, IT and Plotting
equipment which is used in the design and manufacture of their top quality
units.
They have also taken the most capable and the most
experienced staff from both companies. Steve Peters still remains Managing
Director, Mike Kerr (ex DMK Leisure) is now Sales Director and Graham Dring has
been appointed as Technical Director.
Their factory is based in
Because of there combined purchasing power Designer
Bounce have been able to slash their prices immensely, there new web site
www.designerbounce.co.uk has full details and also some amazing multi purchase
packages.
If you wish to see some of their products Designer
Bounce now have a showroom at their
New for this year Designer Bounce will also be able to
offer you a buy now pay later scheme or lease purchase. (This is subject to
status), and also in the near future credit card
facilities.
For further details visit their website www.designerbounce.co.uk
9)
The danger of barbeques.
Hello
Mark
I would firstly like
to thank you for running the BIHA web-site,
this has helped me a great deal in setting up my hire business. I
currently have 1 booking under my belt and 3 booked for January and that’s all
with out a great deal of effort, it helps that my brother has run an
entertainment company for the last 15+ years which is where the other 3 have
come from, but the inflatable side of things was something he never really
expanded into, hence where I stepped in.
Anyhow the reason I'm
putting text to e-mail is while reading though the T&C's there was plently
of talk about silly string, party poppers etc etc, but it stuck me that there
was no mention of, or warning re. BBQ's, with these going hand in hand with
summer parties I have added the following line into my
T&C's
'No BBQ’s to be in used or set up within
10 feet of the inflatable'
This may be something your like to post on
the web-site.
Barbeques can spit out hot fat etc. and
burn an inflatable if it is sited too closely.
Regards
Darren
Python Hire
10)
The Invention of the Bouncy Castle.
In 1962 John Scurlock was
experimenting with inflatable solutions for tennis court covers, swimming pools,
and other enclosures and he noticed that employees had fun walking on the
inflatables. The loss and refilling of air made them bouncy and the employees
kept flopping and jumping on them and having a great time. Scurlock decided to
create a kid's amusement bouncer and started the first inflatable moonwalk
business, Space Walk. At the time, the devices were referred to as Moon Walks,
although many different terms to describe them have come into
use.
He started out with a large air
mattress. In 1967-1968, he decided to add walls. At that time, there were 2
inflatable fans- one for the mattress and one for the walls. Windows were made
of solid clear plastic and were enclosed like a bubble. In 1976 they introduced
the "Jupiter Jump"- it was the first unit to support netting. It was shaped like
a liberty bell and was round. The first characters started appearing in the late
‘70's.
Other Names for Bouncy
Castles, moonwalks and inflatables.
Worldwide, moonwalks are referred
to as jump houses, bounce houses, jumping castles or bouncy
castle among other terms. The inflatable amusement industry has grown to
include various other amusement devices such as slides, obstacle courses, and
climbing walls.
11)
BOUNCY CASTLE REPAIRS offering a 10% discount to BIHA
members.
10% Discount on ALL New units to
BIHA members if ordered before
20% non refundable deposit required
on all orders made.
PIPA tests on used units until 31st
March 2006 are £65.00 per unit,
thereafter £95.00 per unit.
Remember, those of you that already
have a PIPA tag, ONLY need a NEW certificate on a re-test. From us, they are
£35.00 per unit and a £15.00 check over fee.
Roger
12)
At last, help has arrived with lifting heavy inflatables!! http://www.bounceloader.com
PRESS RELEASE
Help
has arrived for the inflatable rental market! Introducing the all new
BounceLoader(tm); exclusively designed for handling and lifting all bounces and
interactive inflatables!
The
Jakubec Brothers, of Star-Walk Entertainment have perfected their all new patent
pending BounceLoader(tm) inflatable handling system. Designed for safe
lifting, loading and transport of inflatables by one person! It utilizes
weight shift technology and is designed around sanctioned OSHA lifting
techniques which helps avoid potential debilitating back injuries and makes
moving and loading inflatables possible for just one
person.
The
secret is utilizing the stored potential energy of the inflatable by shifting
its weight, using specific increments and counterbalanced by the device itself.
The load is lifted in concert by pushing, allowing the operator to raise and
thus load inflatables many times their own weight. Resulting in what people are
calling “the best new product for the rental
market”!
Utilizing
their 16 years experience, the Jakubec Brothers, devised a better and safer way
to lift, load and transport inflatables without the use of expensive and
complicated hydraulics, winches or motors. By utilizing an integrated braking
system which not only holds the BounceLoader(tm) in place while loading and
unloading, it helps maintain control in down hill
situations.
The
BounceLoader(tm) can also be used for blowers, cords and sandbags as well as
other rental items such as tents, games and concession equipment! Its powder
coated frame and rugged “low center of gravity” 4-wheel design makes it a
necessity for moving and lifting inflatables in both the warehouse or in the
field.
The
Standard model transports loads up to 800 lbs and lifts 400 lbs to an incredible
26” height by one person! Now almost anyone can load heavy inflatables into
most vans, pick-ups, SUV’s or trailers. Its simple lightweight design makes
it easy for anyone to use. It folds to 33” x 49” x 13” and weighs around 70 lbs
allowing it to be easily lifted and fit into any loaded truck or
trailer.
The
Heavy Duty BounceLoader(tm) is ideal for extreme inflatables and slides. It has
the ability to transport 1200 lbs over most surfaces as well as pick up 800 lbs.
Because of “heavy-duty” components such as sealed precision bearings, super
heavy-duty “no flat” tires and 3/4” axles no other hand truck or dolly can come
close in terms of
capability,
versatility and value.
The
BounceLoader(tm) will yield immediate savings! It will eliminate the need for
extra employees, increase productivity and minimize lost time injuries. It is
ideal for cash and carry operations and will increase the bottom line and give
rental companies an instant competitive advantage!
It’s
a featured product on http://www.partyrentalclassifieds.com along with
their other unique innovative products such as the Waterballoon Battle(tm) game or the Ultra
Portable 70 lb Soft-Dunk(tm) dunk tank which can also be
converted into a “cash cube” for additional versatility and revenue. All items
can ship UPS. Phone
13)
DISCOUNTS ON VAN & CAR RENTAL.
Mark
Ref short tel com
call
I would like to talk to you about
negotiating a NATIONAL discounted deal for BIHA members from Practical Car and
Van Rental.
Yet another advantage of being a
BIHA member.
Regards
Mark
Saxons Practical Car & Van
Rental
Ivy Works
Jail Lane
Biggin
Hill
TN16
3AU
Tel +44(0)1959 541 511
Fax +44(0)1959 541 611
bromley@practical.co.uk
14)
Real life Hire Stories.
a)
Video of a bouncy castle being blown 45ft into the air by a very freak gust of
wind.
(Fortunately,
no-one was seriously hurt). Click
on:
http://www.biha.org.uk/NSimages/castleaccident.html Talk about
scary!!
b) Well, It all
started when I sold my Fish-and -chip shop.
I saw an opportunity locally ,for an indoor
play -centre. Made tentative enquiries about prices,and shelved it......until I
saw an advert in"LOOT" for a complete indoor centre, which I bought, dismantled
and shipped 50 miles down country to storage in a rented
unit.
BIG MISTAKE......2 years down the line, I
still haven't found suitable premises....but I have done an awful lot of
refurbishment, ready for the time!
Included with the purchase,was a bouncy
-castle. this had seen better days, but an idea was
forming.
I contacted the manufacturer,who was quite
happy to repair and refurbish it, including the large hole that my friend's Jack
Russell had made,savaging the bundle one day!
I now had a sound and clean castle, a
pat-tested fan and a contact -number for BIHA....I had read the "hirers from
hell"stories and didn't fancy it being abused or stolen...so I would operate it
myself.
Having spent some considerable time
phoning the local -authority, I eventually tracked-down the person responsible
for hiring out PARKS AND GARDENS.....see my plan??
Having established that I couldn't pay
£120 per day to hire the WHOLE park, and that I would only need around 20' x 30'
and that I would probably only be there 4-5 hours on fine -dry days......a deal
was struck...insurance arranged,an LPG -converted blower sourced.and a frame
made for a "booth" with pockets on the sides ,for shoes,(handy shelter from
chilly winds, as well.)
So, that's it, It all packs into an
Astra Diesel estate,except a large "A"-board which carries a version of the BIHA
safety-sheet , insurance certificate, test-certificate,authority from the
Council, etc.
It takes about 45 minutes to fully
set-up,by which time a crowd has ALWAYS gathered. I make a point of ALWAYS
taking a towel, climbing in and "dusting" the walls,bed,etc....of course,I tell
the waiting kids that this "bounce" is my reward for setting it
up!
A quick check that all the stakes are
correctly placed,blower secure,gas-bottle tied to it(all stood on a sheet of
plywood)Speed-up to normal "run"position, ground-tarp. pegs not sticking -up
then it's "RIGHT, WHO'S FIRST"....
There's a full activity recreation area
in the
park,(swings,seesaws,slides,roundabouts,etc.) but they love
bouncing.
Bits and
bats....."traffic Film Remover" is the "soap" used in
power
-washers...a concentrated solution in a bucket, together with a
soft,nylon-bristled broom and a terry-towelling face -cloth....an excellent
Castle-cleaner. SPRING-CLEANING AND BLACK MOULD!!!!
the face-cloth again, saturated with WHITE
VINEGAR...YES! it works you need to wipe
it over every surface.....I found it best to inflate first,treat everything
reachable,then partially deflate to get the other bits.
LPG
(propane-gas) This adds about £130 to the cost of the blower
BUT...Officialdom LOVES IT !!!! It's so
much safer than petrol, the engine-oil stays cleaner,and it is about 1/3 the
cost of running on petrol.I reckon it paid for itself in the first
season.
make sure your
ground-sheet is at least 10'longer than the inflatable...it gives a "clean"area
for crash-mats,shoe-changing etc.
I carry a roll of blue paper wipe....cleans
snotty noses,muddy knees etc....the mothers perceive that you CARE about their
child. likewise a prominent first-aid
kit and a fire-extinguisher.
I'm NOT
GREEDY...it's a largish village, I charge £1 only.
"how long do
they get?" is answered "Until YOU'RE bored !"
Always gets a
smile, especially from the regulars,and when it has to be repeated until "the
penny drops"
most kids have stamina for about 10
minutes..if you SET that, the parent wants their "money's worth", come hell or
high water. leave it open -ended (once you leave the groundsheet, you're
finished)..they are happy AND COME BACK..(I've had maybe £6 in a week from the
same
customer) Very
few have more than 1/2 hour,-so what, it attracts
others!
I Don't allow pubescent
teenagers...selfish, inconsiderate,bolshie showoffs. (odd rare exceptions,if I know the
parents)
Safety notice
states " THIS IS NOT A MINDING SERVICE", I always ask an unaccompanied child to
fetch a "grown-up" to"look after you"...also useful for getting rid of
undesirables/gangs as above.
I always place
the ground-sheet, blower etc. THEN put the castle on the sheet, remove the
transport bag/straps, unroll it and STAKE IT.
after
connecting the blower,closing the dump-tube, etc. I start on a low speed. this
gives time to position the crash-mats and reposition stakes before it's fully
up.
beware identical shoes!! it's happened
twice..I now tell the adult the number of the shoe
-pocket.
I keep an "acme thunderer" YES! REALLY!
whistle hanging from a neck-cord...kids see it as a mark of
authority.
I hope this is
informative and of interest to BIHA members.
Steve Moye, Saddleworth,
3) One operator
had to deliver two 12ft x 12ft castles to a school in
Moral: Never assume that the venue you turn up to is
the correct one, always double check first! I have even heard of operators who
have turned up a company to set up for a corporate do, only to be told that the
function is to be held at the other company base 2 miles down the road!
15)
SCAM WARNING.
Scam Warning............
Watch out Guys & Gals, Its happening again.
Companies pretending to represent the “Health & Safety Executive” this time.
You get a phone call asking for your details possibly so they can use the
information against you or your buisness. They say they need to send you
information initially. I asked for their name, address and contact tel number as
I don't give any info. over the phone as I have no proof who they are. I offered
to call them back as confirmation and possibly send the information by letter
once established who the are. Surprise, Surprise..... they eventually hang up
and with-held their tel no’s giving nothing away.
If any-one has your telephone number and company name
they are almost certainly gonna know all the information they require. Any
bonafide organisation will have no problem being checked
out.
Be Warned.
Scam Warning............
This message was recently posted on the inflatable
industry message board. If you would
like to also post messages and receive them regularly in your email inbox.
Please click on: http://www.biha.org.uk/messages.htm
16)New
Service to BIHA members
http://www.wallyandco.com
Dear Mark - we have recently
launched a new website and to celebrate this we would like to offer all BIHA
members the chance to receive a cheque for £10 from
us.
We will send every member a cheque
for £10 who makes a purchase over £50.00 before
All BIHA members need do is place
their order at http://www.wallyandco.com and
their cheque will be posted with their receipt. The offer is valid across our
range including items that are in our
We have massive sale and clearance
discounts on our site on everything from trampolines and go karts to giant games
and (used inflatables). So lots of good stuff for hiring out
this spring and summer to bring in that extra bit of
revenue.
I am sure that this offer will be of
much interest and we will be happy to repeat it again later in the year should
it prove popular with your members.
Can you please change our website
details on the BIHA site to reflect this new URL where all the best offers can
be found. http://www.wallyandco.com
Many
Thanks
Ellie
Louis
(Offer valid for one £10 cheque per
household on all orders made over £50.00 at www.wallyandco.com before
17) SOME
TIPS ON HOW TO
REDUCE YOUR INSURANCE
PREMIUM
So how do you persuade an
insurer to reduce his premium?
The answer is by
demonstrating to the Insurer that you have acted reasonably, prudently and in a
manner that will allow the Insurers to perceive you as a Risk ‘that will not
have a claim’, which can be eliminated by using ‘best practice’
principles!
The main areas of claim can
be eliminated by having a good Risk Management programme in place; they may
include, amongst others :-
a.
A good training programme
for all your key personnel in respect of all your equipment that you own and
hire out.
b.
Obtain manufacturers’
directive on the best and accurate use of the equipment and write up a risk
assessment programme in respect of each type of equipment that you may
have.
c.
Obtain PIPA accreditation
and certificate for all the kit that qualify for PIPA.
d.
Ensure that your terms of
trading is written legally correct, it is balanced and that you have a hand over
procedure of your equipment to the hirer and that it is signed off by the hirer
confirming that it has been installed accurately and fully operational and
completely safe and compliant to HSE Directive PM76.
e.
If you operate a Rodeo Bull
or Multi-ride, ensure that the Disclaimer is signed by the rider, before they
embark on the machine, and you keep a daily inspection log and a weekly
maintenance log in respect of this equipment.
f.
Consider a Kill Switch or
Dead Man’s Handle being fitted to your Rodeo Bull.
g.
Consider incorporating a
CCTV monitoring arrangement on the Rodeo Bull and keep the image for at least
twelve months.
Without fear of
contradiction, you will be able to improve on your
premium.
If you require
any further guidance on this aspect, or samplers, send an e-mail to michaelscott@fmlinsurance.com or call Ron/Marino on 01702
437800and he will be pleased to provide you with further
assistance.
18) Can you
help!!
Dear
Mark
I have recently purchased an
inflatable slide which was addvertised on the BIHA.
I bought a whole going concern slide
lorry generator
etc.
The problem I have is the vehicle is
an ex bulders lorry with a hi hab crane on the back, used for manouvering the
slide in to position ( this is a big unit by the way ), i was wondering if any
member knows of or how to go about insuring the vehicle as i dont have a HGV
license. the vehicle has been changed to a special uses
vehicle.
Any info tips or addvice would be
most welcome.
I can be contacted on the following
emails or number.
07941244405
Cheers Paul
19)
More Stolen Inflatables & Equipment.
|
20)
Add a low cost video commercial to your
website and watch your bookings and sales skyrocket!
The BIHA has recently been
approached by an American company which produces the most amazing 30 second web
videos for small to medium sized businesses for a very affordable
price..
Please see below some examples of
their work:
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_Limo.html Limosine
Business
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_Fitness.html
Health Club /
Gym
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_Casino.html Casino
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_ExtremeSports.html Extreme
Sports
http://www.xlproductionstudios.com/commericals/XL_TravelAgency.html
Travel Agency
I am sure you’ll agree the quality
and professionalism is of a very high standard.
This American Company is interested
in making various bouncy castle / inflatable hire web-commercial videos (showing your own
company name, your telephone number and website
address).
It has been proven that web
commercials dramatically increase response to websites, and visitors are more
likely become your customers and recommend your website to their
friends.
If you are interested in having a TV
broadcast quality 30-second video built for your business – please register your
interest by emailing me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Please put “Video web commercial” in
the subject bar.
There is absolutely no obligation at
this stage, the company in
The cost of having a video of this
type of quality produced would normally be several thousand pounds. However, if enough members are interested
then the cost comes down to a small fraction of this. (From around £299). If the average inflatable booking is £60,
this means after 5 bookings, the web commercial has paid for itself and you can
use it for life.
Mark
Jerram
21)
A reminder of the two inflatable trade shows:
Performance
Textiles Show –
http://www.performancetextiles.org.uk/shownext.asp
The Performance Textiles Association
The Performance Textiles Show
2006
7th & 8th March 2006
Telford International
Centre
Telford ,
Shropshire
Download Ticket
Pre-register on line now
Inflatable and Soft Play Show
2006
7th & 8th March 2006
Telford International
Centre
Telford ,
Shropshire
Download Ticket
Pre-register on line now
For the first time, the Performance
Textiles Association is showcasing the work of its members involved in the
inflatable and soft play industries. There will new designs on show from the
country's leading manufacturers - Just in time for the start of the 2006
season
Linking directly with
the Performance Textiles Show this is a unique opportunity for operators,
Inflat-A-Show –
Hi all,
Don't forget to visit
the
'Inflat-A-Show'
We will have lots of inflatable
manufacturers plus mechanical rides, fans and insurance company's all attending
the show.
Hopefully it should be lots of fun
and great place to actually come visit the makers and see the castles before you
buy.
Anybody needs any more info, please
feel fre to e-mail me at inflatashow@aol.com and I will
do my best to contact you all!
Hope everybody is getting ready for
a great year and best of luck to you all!
Kind
regards
Chris
'Support the show
that supports you'!
22)Safety
crash mats.
|
' 8ft Wide x 3ft
Deep x 2" Thick ' |
|
Safety crash mats
are made from high density flame retardant foam and flame retardant PVC.
|
|
All crash mats have
small air holes at one end for easy roll up and storage, and will roll up to
approximately 11 inches in diameter. |
|
Crash mats can be wiped clean or
just hose down with water. |
|
£55.00 each +
P&P. or £500.00 for 10 + P&P. Visit the website
at: http://www.mgminflatables.com
|
|
Safety crash mats are also ideal for
camping, fishing, sports, beach mats
etc. 23)
Membership Renewal for 2006 If your BIHA membership has expired, you can now renew
it using PayPal. Go into http://www.biha.org.uk
and click on the PayPal button near the top left hand corner. Alternatively, you can renew by standing
order. (Due to the admin. problems with invoicing etc. the BIHA regret that it
can no longer accept cheques for renewal of membership. The only exception is if
a member operates a bank account or building society account which cannot
process standing orders, and if they do not have a PayPal
account). The BIHA now has over 1,800 members and as a result it
is getting more and more time consuming chasing up members who have let their
membership lapse. The BIHA needs to
spend as much of its time and resources as possible helping members succeed in
their businesses, and improving the industry as a whole.
If you are in any doubt about whether or not you are a
fully paid-up member, please contact your bank, and ask them if your standing
order to the BIHA is still active. If it
is not, please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
and I will send you another standing order form by first class post. Thank you. |
25)
Closing comments.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this
newsletter as much as the BIHA team and myself enjoyed producing
it.
I also hope that you save money as a
result and you also make extra profits by putting some of the ideas and
suggestions into practice.
I would like to say a big thank you
to everyone who has contributed to making this newsletter one of the most
interesting that the BIHA has ever published.
If anyone would like to add anything
for the next newsletter due out in March 2006 or has any comments about this
one, please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
We
are always looking for ideas, hints and tips to improve everyone’s profits and
safety. Also, your real-life hire
stories, particularly those where valuable lessons can be learnt. Don’t forget
to also email in your secondhand inflatables and equipment – it is always free
to advertise these items to the membership.
Just remember if you think you have
had a bad day, spare a thought for the poor operator in America who tried to
hold down his bouncy castle as it lifted 45 feet into the air (with children
still inside it) due to a freak gust of wind. See: http://www.biha.org.uk/NSimages/castleaccident.html This accident demonstrates the
crucial importance of always staking down inflatables (and using guy ropes if
appropriate) whenever they are used outdoors.
All the
best.
Mark
Mark
Jerram
Founder of
the British Inflatable Hirers Association (BIHA)
www.biha.org.uk/NA42.htm
(Sample newsletter)
www.biha.org.uk/NA43.htm
(Sample newsletter)
www.biha.org.uk/Alert/NA47sh.htm (Sample
newsletter)
www.biha.org.uk/Alert/NA48rb.htm (Last
newsletter)
http://www.pipa.org.uk
PIPA website.
N.B.
Please accept our apologies if you have
received
this email in error as it is not
our
intention to send emails to anyone who
does
not want to receive them. If you wish
to
be removed from this BIHA email list please reply
and
let us know, by writing “remove” in the subject bar.