Welcome to the BIHA newsletter no. 25 (Released 23rd January 2004).
Please note that this newsletter is copyright BIHA.
Please note that this newsletter is copyright BIHA.
If you have received this newsletter in error, please accept my apologies and send me a blank email to mark.jerram@ntlworld.com typing "delete" in the subject bar. Please note that this newsletter is sent free of charge to members of the BIHA. If you are reading this and you are not a member - please go to section 23 in the contents.
Contents:
- Introduction.
- Public Liability Insurance News.
- Hints & Tips for a more profitable & safer hire business.
- Second-hand inflatables for sale.
- A new type of repair patch for inflatables.
- Real life hire stories (Formally known as "hirings from hell").
- "Spotlight" On A Hirer.
- BIHA Alerts!!
- Can you help?
- BIHA formula for a professional and safe business.
- Key fob with the BIHA logo and your membership number, and lost key return service.
- Car / Van Stickers displaying the BIHA logo.
- Cheaper diesel & petrol on the forecourts.
- More contributions from members required!
- Brand new safety mats for sale.
- BIHA safety cartoons - a reminder.
- Get a low cost website from Act Dynamic http://www.act-dynamic.co.uk/
- BIHA message board http://uk.msnusers.com/BritishInflatableHirersAssociation
- A repairer of inflatables.
- Other ways to make money (Not just from inflatables).
- No Adults Please!!
- PAT Testing.
- Invitation to non-Members reading this newsletter www.biha.org.uk/
- Final word.
I hope all members had an enjoyable Christmas break and that 2004 proves to be a successful year for all.
BIHA membership is still growing rapidly, and I am pleased to announce that the BIHA has now grown to over 800 members. Again, I would like to thank all those manufacturers, members and trade associations who have recommended to their customers, members and contacts that they join. This large membership base represents a vast collection of different skills, experience, knowledge, ability, enthusiasm and dedication to the inflatable hire industry. This resource is absolutely priceless, and I would like to say a big thank you to all the members who have shared some vitally important information with the other members during the last 3 years through the message board (see section 18 of this newsletter), emails, and the BIHA newsletter.
The BIHA recommend Leisureinsure for your PL insurance requirements. Visit their website at www.leisureinsure.co.uk We are still operating in a difficult environment, and unfortunately the cost of buying PL insurance is still high. However some industries have been even worse affected than the inflatable hire industry, e.g. Motorised go-kart hire and scaffolding hire. I even received an email from a member informing me that their local swimming pool was being forced to close because they could no longer afford the PL insurance cover.
The BIHA are in contact with an insurance company in the Channel Islands, and if they are able to offer favourable rates then all BIHA members will be immediately notified via email. The BIHA is also exploring the possibility of linking up with several other large trade organisations and associations (within the leisure industry) in order to benefit from having a large potential customer base to make it considerably more attractive to Insurance Companies underwriting PLI.
The solution to combating higher PLI costs is actually very simple in theory. (Every reputable hire company just needs to put their prices up to compensate for this extra expense of PLI). However, in practice it is not so simple, as many hire companies are anxious that if they put their prices up, then they will lose valuable business to their competitors, and to the less reputable hire companies who may be operating without PL insurance in place.
The secret of successfully putting our hire prices up without losing any business is to EDUCATE our customers and potential customers. Imagine the following phone conversation: A potential customer phones you up and asks you for the price of a 12ft x 12ft bouncy castle for day's hire. After establishing the party date, availability, age of children etc. (never tell them the price straight away - build up a rapport first of all). You eventually tell them that the price is £65 per day. They reply that XYZ bouncy castle hire down the road is hiring them for only £55 per day. You then explain to them why you are £10 more expensive. Some examples of what you can say are as follows:
.............The list goes on and on.......Use your imagination, make sure that you are being truthful, educate your customers and it should not then matter that you may be 10%, 20% or even 30% more expensive than you competition. To show a real life example of how the above can work in practice, please read the following true story. A sandwich shop's product was significantly more expensive than the competition. However, it educated its customers that its sandwiches' were much fresher as they were fresh produce and made on the premises. Providing they clearly explained to their customers why they were much more expensive, they could justify the cost. This message successfully got through to the customers (who may have gone elsewhere) and it resulted in much better margins for the sandwich shop.
I am planning to run an advert in the Mail on Sunday, Sunday Times and also the News of the World - appealing to any insurance companies (or similar organisations) who may be able to help and provide PLI for us hard pressed hire companies.
I will find out the cost of running these advertisements and then I may ask the membership for a small donation. (E.g. £5 per member). If every member contributed just £5, then the total budget would be around £4000. This would buy quite a lot of high profile advertising in these newspapers. If anyone has experience of buying advertising in national newspapers - please could you email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com ......Thanks..
The launch of the BIHA "Fighting fund" is still very much on the BIHA agenda, but its launch has been delayed. I still need to email all members so that they can cast their votes as to whether they want to take part.
It is always very sad when there is a serious accident on a bouncy castle or inflatable. A member has brought it to my attention that a young lad was tragically paralysed while attempting a backwards somersault on a bouncy castle. Such accidents are very rare, but when they do happen they make the headlines. Accidents of this type press home the absolute necessity of PL insurance cover. One important lesson that all BIHA members can learn from this incident is to inform all our customers that users on a bouncy castle should never attempt to try a backwards somersault or flip. I would even go so far as to say that forward somersaults should not be attempted either. The BIHA safety cartoons will have to be amended as they do not mention that "somersaults are not allowed". You can read this article at the following web link. http://uk.srd.yahoo.com/S=11111254:WS1/R=4/K=bouncy+castles/*-http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/147338.stm
a) If you have an INDOOR booking for one of your 12ft x 12ft bouncy castles (or larger) and you are not familiar with the size or ceiling height of the hall - take a smaller inflatable with you just in case the first one does not fit.
b) Write FRAGILE on your circuit breakers with a big, black, permanent marker pen, otherwise, when you collect your bouncy castle, the circuit breaker will invariably come flying out of the window, when the customer unplugs it.
c) Pay attention to detail. e.g. if you are running 5 or 10 minutes late for a customer - ring them up and tell them!! It will stop them from panicking!
d) Put a spare belt on a bungee run.
Then if one belt breaks it will not cause an injury.
e) Provide a safety mat for the giant jenga. This protects the wooden blocks and it means that the game can more easily be transported.
f) If you are supplying equipment to a house or inside a venue that you feel uneasy about. As well as asking for ID, I always take the car registration of the person to sign the hire agreement. If the castle or people are not there when you return, it would be easier for the police to trace them.
f2) On your Hire agreement form, next to where the customer signs - add a line for their email address. You will be surprised at how many customers fill this in and instead of posting reminders to them you can now email all your customers once or twice a year. I email mine to say "Merry Christmas", and put in a small advert for my new stock for the next season.
g) Always try to collect payment on delivery - just in case something happens during the party and the person responsible for paying has had to leave.
h) "The bag that thinks its a skip". You can buy them in most big D.I.Y.shops. They come in very handy for packing balls in ballponds away, because they stand open by themselves.
i) Make yourself a stretcher, out of two strong wooden poles about 5ft to 6ft long and a piece of canvas. It comes in very handy when you cannot use a sack-barrow to transport your inflatable.
j) The most useful torch you'll ever buy. A re-chargeable snake light. One of those torches on a flexible pipe. Wrap it around your neck. Switch it on, and you have hands-free light where ever you go.
k) Surely, everyone in this business owns a Black and Decker Dustbuster ? You can clean debris from an inflatable in a couple of minutes or less.
l) If you are looking to buy new inflatables for this coming season (2004). Now is the time. While most manufacturers are quieter than they are in the spring and summer, now is the time to get that bargain.
m) This idea was mentioned in a previous BIHA newsletter, but a member has asked me to mention it again as it is such a superb idea. This idea revolves around being able to suck the air out of the inflatable very quickly so that it can be rolled up very soon after the inflatable has been switched off. If you get a cardboard tube approximately 18" long and 6" wide and insert it into the tube at the rear of the inflatable and then with the other end of the tube press it hard up against the vent on the side of the blower (after the blower has been turned round 90 degrees). Then switch the blower on and the vent will suck air inwards and as a result, air in the inflatable will be sucked out very rapidly.
n) Rather than hike tables etc. around to prevent the blowers from sucking in rain-water, we made some covers for our fans using castle vinyl (available from any manufacturer by the metre - it's 5 feet wide so you don't need much) and some 2 inch foam.
Cut rectangles of foam to fit top and the three enclosed sides and stick together with foam glue (craft shops or foam supplier).
Cut your vinyl to cover foam leaving an extra 2 inches at the bottom and stitch together (domestic machine can handle a couple of sheets of vinyl).
On the fan air-intake side make the vinyl extra long.
Put eyelets in the corners of the vinyl and you can peg the whole thing down and create a waterproof slope on the fan intake side.
No water gets sucked in and nasty metal box is also softened somewhat.
Covers come off when we pack away and get slung in all those little corners of the van.
Hope this is of some use.
Ian
DreamCastles
o) Circuit Breakers.
I use the breakers that are integral to the plug , you can get them from B&Q or Screwfix direct about £6 each, occasions when they don't fit are rare, just carry a lead with a standard plug and separate breaker for the odd occasion.
p) If your inflatable is sited on a slight slope - make sure that when you roll it up at the end of the event you roll it down the hill. If necessary turn it around so that it is pointing downhill. Not only will it be much easier to roll, but if it is pointing uphill then it will be more difficult to roll.
q) You get a much tighter connection with the tube on the blower funnel if you use 3 or 4 bungee straps. The lower the leakage of air at this point then the inflatable will be better inflated and there will be more bounce to it.
r) Have an auto-responder to automatically answer emails which your customers send to you. For example - see below
Thank you for e-mailing ABC Bouncy castle & inflatable hire
Thank you for your e-mail, we will be replying to you as soon as we can.
If there is anything I can help you with sooner, please do not hesitate to call me on: (01234) 123456.
I look forward to talking to you.
s) Many members like to hire out giant games with their inflatables. One of the most popular giant games is giant snakes and ladders and ludo. The dice however which comes with these games is inflatable. All it takes is for an over-enthusiastic child to burst or pop the dice and the game will be unplayable. A solution to this potential problem is to provide large dice made of sponge rather than inflatable dice.
t) ALWAYS carry business cards around with you - even in a non-work situation. E.g. you may be relaxing in your local pub, when you overhear someone mention to their friends that they need a bouncy castle - Giving them a business card in a social situation can be quick and professional. If they want to take it further, then let them do the talking. I was recently in a queue by a supermarket till, suddenly a man in the next queue recognised me and shouted "It's the bouncy castle man", people everywhere just looked and stared. Fortunately, I had plenty of business cards on me, and several were handed out. Motto: Always be prepared.
u) I recently received a brochure through the post which was in the exact size and shape of a large metal stake used for anchoring marquees. The brochure was 3ft long and 3" wide. It really did grab my attention and I thought how this same idea could be applied to bouncy castle brochures, e.g. a brochure made from bouncy castle material or even if it could be produced cheap enough by a manufacturer - a miniature 2-dimensional bouncy castle which could be sent out to customers with your company logo and telephone number on it.
v) Try and capture you customer's email addresses and then periodically email them with photos and details of your new inflatables or special offers, or just to say "hello" and let them know that you are still available to rent inflatables to them. Always direct your customers to your website.
w) If you have got a wet castle, use a garden vac on blow to dry it as much as possible. it will not get it dry, but it will help a lot. I carry one in the van at all times.
Pete (Wibbly)
x) To prevent excessive wear on the anchor points, we use a piece of rope, tied from the anchor point to the peg.
y) The tops of all my pegs are painted LUMINOUS orange so they are easily seen, but as for rope you can spray paint that.
z) My plumber recently told me that he was conned out of £40, He was given £400 cash for a job (all in £20 notes), but some of the notes were folded over to make it appear as if it was two £20 notes not one. When he double checked the money later he found that there was only £300.
INFLATABLE/CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY FOR SALE - ESSEX BASED
Largest supplier of Inflatables in Essex - Established 1995 Warehouse Facilities - Alarm CCTV - Over 60 inflatables, Rodeo Bulls x 2, Surf Simulator x 1, 5 Vehicles all signwritten, 5 Telephone Numbers, Area Codes, Large Yellow Pages Advert and Thompsons Local for next year, Trackers on Vehicles Laptop/Computers 10,000 Brochures Full Colour (8 Pages) Loads more
For Details Please Call
Tim Bear - 07710 668615 for prelim discussion
NO TIMEWASTERS PLEASE
MARK WOULD YOU PLEASE ADVERTISE THESE ITEMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THESE ARE SOME THE ITEMS I HAVE FOR SALE.
3 X 20 X 20 CASTLES £1000 EACH (ONE WITH RAIN COVER, ALL HAVE 1.5 BLOWERS)
1 X 15 X 15 CASTLE £850 (+ RAIN COVER & 1.5 BLOWER)
1 X 35FT OB/C £1200 ( + 1.5 BLOWER)
2 X 10 X 14 CASTLES £750 EACH (+ 0.75 BLOWERS)
1 X 50 X 20 X 20 WESTERN TRAIN,INCLUDES SLIDE,BOUNCY BED AND BIFF BASH £2500 (+ 2 X 1.5 BLOWERS)
1 X 12 X 12 (NO PICTURE) £750 (+ 0.75 BLOWER)
TOTAL..............................£9,800
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING THE LOT TOGETHER I WILL SELL FOR .......................£8.500
MANY THANKS CLAIR 01702 615260 ESSEX.
FOR SALE
We have a Supabounce clown theme castle for sale with original large blower. Suitable for children up to 14 years old. Had a new bed and step last season but some of the wall tubes could now do with replacing. External measurements 17' x 18'. Hired out approx 30 times last season at £70 per hire.
Asking price £1200. Picture available or see web site at www.partytimecastles.co.uk (01472) 750476 (Grimsby).
FOR SALE
I am selling my leisure hire business based in Essex but easily re-locatable, either as a going concern or just as stock. I can be contacted on 01268 769 083 or 07774 647794 or on leisurebloke@aol.com The equipment comprises:
Inflatables & Ride
Full size Rodeo bull with stars and stripes bed
Electric roundabout 12 seater
2 Lane 22' Bungee Run
Large scramble net slide aprox 16' to platform
20x22 Bouncy castle
12x12 Bouncy castle
12x12 bouncy boxing with helmets and gloves also used as ball pond with aprox. 3000 balls
Velcro wall (Bar fly) recent new Velcro and suits
Adult Sumo set (inflatable) with 2 spare bladders
4 petrol blowers
8 sand bags
2 sack barrows
Minor repair kits
All inflatables come with blower, crash mats, pegs and ground sheet.
Also side shows please contact me for full list
And Iveco 35cwt van, P reg with MOT & tax, Hi Capacity with tow bar, work lights and winch
The equipment is all in good condition and ready for work, please note that the sumo set is currently in appearing in pantomime and can only be viewed by recent photo untill January.
Price is £35000 including goodwill or stock only by negotiation I would not be interested in splitting the equipment.
Cheers Kev Hammond Tel: 01268 769083. Essex.
FOR SALE
We have a large number of 12x12 castles for sale all under 2 yrs old and in very good condition, all with fans rain-covers, webbed beds etc. priced from £350 phone Andy for full list on 07876277478 Surrey area .must be sold to make way for new stock.
FOR SALE
Items for sale:
| Williams Full Size Rodeo Bull in good condition | £4000.00 |
| Williams Delux Multi Ride with Bull attachment | £5500.00 |
| Williams Multi Ride with Bull attachment | £4500.00 |
| Giant Scalextric 4 lane computer scoring replica Brands Hatch built on a 16 ft x 8 ft course. Complete with many extras and cars. In need of work but a good investment at | £1200.00 |
| Sumo Wrestling adult set with mats | £1000.00 |
| Bouncy Boxing with giant gloves | £1000.00 |
| Children's Barfly | £1000.00 |
| Pole Joust - mats needed | £500.00 |
| Gladiator Dual | £1000.00 |
| Low Sided Surf Simulator | £2000.00 |
| Two Lane Bungee Run | £1500.00 |
| Two Lane Bungee Run - low sided | £1400.00 |
| Children's 16 seater Land Train | £1000.00 |
| Roulette Casino Table - no wheel | £500.00 |
| Roulette Casino Table - no wheel | £500.00 |
| Blackjack Casino Table | £450.00 |
| Blackjack Casino Table | £450.00 |
| Poker Casino Table | £450.00 |
Pictures can be seen on website www.corporateleisure.co.uk
Please tel: 01189 773720. Reading, Berkshire.
FOR SALE
21ft x 21ft Castle for sale.
Arch style with animal theme.
Approx 7/8 years old but good strong castle ready to use for kids or adults.
Includes blower and lead.
I bought autumn 2003 but have decided it's too big for what I want.
Looking for £800 or open to swap offers
Email info@lichfieldentertainments.com
FOR SALE
Hi Mark,
We have a set of 10 Pulsar Laser Guns & Vests for sale. They are in reasonable condition with new batteries in most guns. Complete with chargers £500 ono to clear.
Contact Eric on Ph (00353) 96 32042 or info@toonsandballoons.com
Kind Regards,
Eric O Sullivan.
Managing Director.
Carousel Enterprises / Toons & Balloons.
Tel: +353 96 32042
Fax: +353 96 32042
Email: info@toonsandballoons.com
Web: http://www.toonsandballoons.com
"Our Business is Fun"
FOR SALE
Please can you include the following items in your next newsletter. we have ceased trading as manufacturing/repair, and sold our hire company to another local hirer. these are the items we would like included:
Inflata-Fun, Woking. Items for sale:
New Items:
Net ball bags, hold 500+ balls
Metal 'O' rings
Various lengths of webbing
1" strap buckles
Various plastic buckles and clips
Window netting
Second Hand Items:
3 fans (spares or repair)
Petrol fan
For further information and prices, please call Dean Goodall on 01483 838099
FOR SALE
Bright Pink Mitsubishi Delica (Scooby Doo Style Vehicle)!
FWD 1988 Z.S TD
Tow Bar, Roof Rack.
10 months MOT/Taxed
Ideal for Bouncy Castles 2,650.00 ono Tel Louisa
Bouncy Bouncy Hampshire
01489 786966 Mob. 07759146909
For Sale
Huge 15' x 15' inflatable with giant boxing gloves, recently re-stitched £600
10' X 12' Clownbouncer, recently re-stitched - Ideal for Smaller children as it has a built in front safety net £500.
12' X 14' Toystory, recently re-stitched, Ideal for the 'LARGER' party!
2 new crash mats hardly used £20 each
All are viewable at www.seansbouncycastles.co.uk
Or Call Sean On 07719 940298
For sale
Bungee Run - £800
2 Harrys Magic Castles with slide - £650 each or £1200
for the pair.
Very good pictures and more info can be seen on my website - www.fun-tasia.co.uk
Please phone John Bleasdale on 07973 682114. (Plymouth, Devon).
FOR SALE
Due to a pre-season clear out we have the following units now available.
10ftx10ft with blower £675.00 ono
12ft x 12ft Jungle with blower (nearly new) £900 ono
12ft x 12ft Jungle Bounce with blower (nearly new) £900 ono
12ft x 12ft Jester Castle with blower £1000 ono
11ft x 15ft A Frame castle with blower £700 ono
All used castles are in great condition. For more information please call Matt on 0800 0741599, email matt@amusementsdirect.co.uk or take a look online at http://www.amusementsdirect.com
Milton Keynes. Bucks.
Second-hand inflatables for sale.
I have a number of inflatables for sale, could you please include them in your next newsletter:
7ft x9ft ballpond - 3 years old good condition with blower £350
12' x12' toy story 2 castle in perfect condition 2 years old with rc and blower £600
12' x 15' safari train good condition 2 years old with rc and blower £650
15ft x 15ft hunchback of notre dame perfect condition 2 years old with rc and blower £700
12' x 20' pirate ship with soft play shark octopus and 4 fish perfect condition 2 years old with blower £750
34lx12wx15h party slide up back over front with slip sheet and removable ladder and rope perfect condition 2 years old with blower £1500
22lx14wx20h clown slide 16 months old immaculate condition with blower £2200
150lx15wx25h hamster run with 2 balls immaculate condition with all kit new value £22000 sale price £10000
Pictures of all of the above can be seen on www.allsortsinflatables.co.uk or I can send a brochure also available from 7 other castles various sizes and conditions from £350. Please call for details. contact details are Dean, Allsorts Inflatables, Addlestone Surrey, 01932 336306. BIHA no: IH545. If you need any pictures or help please give me a ring many thanks, Dean.
FOR SALE.
Two white Capri Marquees.
1) Size 38ft x 28ft £1000 OVNO. (Typical daily hire charge - £400 - £500)
2) Size 28ft x 28ft £700 OVNO (Typical daily hire charge - £350 - £400)
Would be prepared to accept £1,500 for the two.
Both marquees are in good condition but do need a clean.
Capri marquees are very quick to erect and is an excellent add-on to a bouncy castle hire business.
If you are interested please contact: David Bull on 01442 402770 (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire)
I recently received the following e-mail.
Hi Mark,
Just a note to inform members that we have found an incredible new material to repair rips and tears in vinyl. This stuff works like a plaster and peels off and just sticks to the vinyl and within minutes it's ready for use again.
We have tested this on our own inflatables and on customers' bouncy castles and Big Slides and are totally satisfied with it.
How many times have you opened a unit ready for work and found it torn? With this simple kit in the van there will be no more lost bookings just stick and use!.
The material is transparent so there are no messy glues and it can be put straight over art work etc.
We can supply kits of 6 patches 6"x 6"in one strip just cut to size clean the area and stick, job done!.
Cost is £30 / 45Euro per kit incl. postage and we can take payment over the phone by Credit Card or Cash /Cheque.
Please allow 10 days for delivery.
Kind Regards,
Eric O Sullivan.
Managing Director.
Carousel Enterprises / Toons & Balloons.
Tel: +353 96 32042
Fax: +353 96 32042
Email: mailto:info@toonsandballoons.com
Web: http://www.toonsandballoons.com"Our Business is Fun"
a) Be careful when accepting bookings which are a year or more in advance.
The following story shows why:
By the way, this year I had 2 occasions when I arrived with a bouncy castle only to be told on one occasion they had cancelled by leaving a message on an answer machine (although obviously not my answer machine) and the other had forgotten who she had booked with, so as she couldn't confirm the details, she just re-booked with someone else! I could not charge the first customer anything as it was his word against mine. The second customer admitted it was her fault and we agreed an amount to cover my costs. The most annoying thing was the fact that it was in the height of the season and I could have hired these castles out several times over!
What did these bookings have in common? - They were both booked in advance, the previous year in fact. Although during busy periods it is not possible to confirm all private bookings, I now make sure that I confirm any which are made a long time in advance.
Hope this may be of interest to you.
Regards,
Andrea - Partymania.
b) In a BIHA newsletter of about 18 months ago, it was reported that a bouncy castle was set up in a community hall which has wooden decking floor apparently and the story comes on good authority the person setting up the equipment (not a BIHA member!!) attempted to stake down the castle to a wooden floor. By doing so, he caused hundreds of pounds of damage and a great deal of embarrassment to the customer having to explain the situation to an angry caretaker. If you thought that this incidence was a one-off then you would be wrong, as it has happened again - but this time the customer did it deliberately. A member telephoned me with this most strange story. He set up some inflatables and a marquee in the customers' back garden and there was a moderate breeze blowing at the time. The customer was so concerned to make sure that the marquee would not blow down that he asked the member if it would be ok if he was to hit a stake into the wooden decking adjacent to the garden. Somewhat wisely the member refused and immediately the customer picked up the mallet and started banging the stake in himself which penetrated the wooden decking. The member was not impressed with this course of action but though he would relate the story anyway.
c) Another member has reported to me that he set up a bouncy castle in a community centre just before Christmas. All went well and as he was demonstrating the safety points to the customer and pointing out the safety mats, sand bags, do's and don'ts, disclaimers etc a "cowboy operator" came into the hall set up a bouncy castle without any safety mats or sand bags. Also, to the member's surprise he did not go over any safety procedures, terms and conditions of hire and disclaimer. The member quizzed him about his public liability insurance and the reply was "ain't got none mate" the member then asked him if he had heard of the British Inflatable Hirers Association or BIHA for short. He replied that he had not. He then went on to say that although he was a "cowboy operator" he was £5 cheaper than anyone else so what was the problem!!! Was this guy living in the dark ages?? The member walked away shaking his head in disbelief at what he had seen and heard.
d) One member reported that he recently sold a second-hand bouncy castle and while he was showing the buyer around the unit he pointed out some small tears on the under side of the castle. The customer was so impressed with his honesty that he gave him £100 extra over and above the asking price of the castle.
e) Another member mentioned a story which I found shocking. He set up some equipment in a private back garden and the agreed price was £650 for the evening's entertainment. However, later in the morning all the equipment was set up and the member went looking for the client to arrange payment of the balance. The client came over and although was initially impressed with the equipment he then proceeded to point to and identify every mark, scratch, stain, scuff, dirt and took off an amount of money of between £1 and £5 for every mark on the equipment. After about 10 minutes the customer had identified about 50 marks and deducted £200 from the agreed price. The member was furious and vowed not to deal with this customer ever again.
This is now a regular feature of the BIHA newsletter, and focuses on a particular hire company.
If you would like to be featured in this section of a future newsletter - please email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
In this issue the Spotlight is on William Styles (Bill) who runs Bill's Bouncy Castles in Kineton, Warwickshire.
Bill Styles - aged 34 married with two children - boy and a girl age 5 and 3, and very keen on playing rugby. Bill started hiring out inflatables in April 2000. Bill's full time occupation is an electrician but he tells me that his inflatable hire business is a very serious and profitable sideline. I asked Bill some questions about his business:
Q1) How did you start in the inflatable hire business Bill?
A1) I saw an advert in my local newspaper for 2 second hand inflatables ( a bouncy castle and a ballpond). I bought the units and started advertising in my local newspaper. As soon as the ad came out in March 2000, I was absolutely inundated with enquiries. I was shocked by the amount of business that resulted from it. In the spring of 2001, I bought an entire inflatable hire business which had lots of good will. Since then I have not looked back.
Q2) What problems have you encountered since you have been in the business?
A2) The high cost of public liability insurance
Q3) Have you any ideas, hints and tips which you can share with the other members?
A3) Always be polite and courteous with customers
Be well organised
Always turn up to events and customers houses with a SMILE
When you buy new inflatables try and get the best quality you possibly can, as it will really pay off in the long run, even though it may cost you a bit more in the beginning.
Get fridge magnets produced with your business logo and telephone number on them and give them to your customers, they will love them!!
When getting "biff n bash" fitted to the bed of your bouncy castle either before its manufacture or afterwards - use Velcro to get it fitted to the bed from underneath as the strain will be much less (please refer to your usual manufacturer he may be able to give you more advice on this).
Always put a business card in with the party bags.
Always have contingency plans (e.g.carry spare blowers in case one breaks down).
Finally Bill...........
Q4) How have you most benefited from your membership to the BIHA?
A4) My business has benefited from the numerous ideas which have been presented in the newsletters during the last 3 years.
One of the improvements that will take place in the BIHA during 2004 is that if any member has any second-hand inflatable(s) or related equipment for sale, then it will go under a "BIHA alert" which will be emailed to all members. This will mean that if a member has second-hand items for sale - they do not have to wait until the next newsletter for it to appear. The "BIHA alerts" will also include important and urgent information connected to the inflatable hire industry (e.g. changes in legislation). Also, it will include any hints and tips which are deemed to be of substantial benefit to our industry. Also, any stolen items will also be notified. Wanted items can also be added.
I wonder if you can help me? My wife and I are considering moving to the Costa Del Sol and I would very much like to take my inflatable hire business with me.
Is there a decent market for hirers over there? . Also, how are the local authorities about possibly renting a 'pitch' on the beach.
Any useful info and advice would be gratefully received
Stef Swann Tel: 0115 921 1704. (Nottingham)
Also, I wonder if you could put it in a newsletter or on the notice board on your website - I am desperately trying to get hold of a bubbles manufacturer so that I can buy in bulk direct from a wholesaler. I give them to the customer's children with my own company sticker around the bottle as a promotional product.
Do you know of a magazine that may give me this information? What publications in general are you aware of that would help bouncy castle firms?
Many thanks
Sarah Potts - Tel: 0161 427 0771.(Stockport). Inflatable Ideas
Courtesy + Safety + Attitude + Cleanliness = Professional Operation
I am pleased to announce a new benefit for members of the BIHA. I have ordered a large quantity of key fobs all displaying the BIHA logo. These key fobs should be ready next month (February 2004).
During the last 3 years a few members have asked if the BIHA have any car or Van stickers for members to display on their vehicles. Now that the BIHA logo has been converted into colour (see www.biha.org.uk/images/logo.htm ) it makes sense for stickers to be printed. Again, these should be ready next month.
If you spend a lot of money on diesel and/or petrol, then you may be interested in saving money. (Around 2p to 5p per litre), on the cost of fuel at your local forecourts. The company providing these savings is Cooke Fuels. You can contract them on 01282 410710 Ext. 125. Ask to speak to Faiza Arif (or Fiz for short). Please mention to her that you are a member of the British Inflatable Hirers Association. If you call her before the end of January 2004 - the annual charge (£7) for the service is waived.
If you are interested in contributing to the BIHA newsletter either on a one-off basis, ad-hoc, or on a regular basis, please email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com. This BIHA newsletter will be seen by at least 1000 inflatable hire companies in the UK, and also an unknown number overseas, who may not have a trade organisation in their own particular country.
NEW SAFETY MATS FOR SALE.
SIZES ARE APPROX 8 FT X 3 FT X 2" THICK
ALL SAFETY MATS ARE HEAT SEALED AND HAVE SMALL AIR HOLES AT ONE END FOR EASY ROLL UP AND STORAGE.
SAFETY MATS ARE MADE FROM HIGH DENSITY FLAME RETARDANT FOAM AND ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH BS585 PART 2 SAFETY REGULATIONS.
PRICES ARE £50.00 EACH+P+P OR £450.00 FOR 10
PLEASE CONTACT CLAIR 01702 615260 ESSEX. Or mail Clair at: Clair@mgminflatables.fsnet.co.uk
Don't forget that all BIHA members are entitled to FREE copy of inflatable hire safety cartoons. These cartoons are in black and white and nine of them fit easily onto a single page of A4. You can photocopy them as many times as you like, and hand them out to your customers, and their children. If you would like a free copy, please send an A4 sized large stamped addressed envelope to: Mark Jerram, BIHA, 33 Ladybank, Birch Hill, BRACKNELL, Berkshire, RG12 7HA.
All BIHA members are entitled to have a web page from just £10 per year from Act Dynamic. That is all you pay! You do not get a domain name but you can put it on your business card as an extension of the Bouncy Castle Directory BCD. (please see http://www.bouncy-castle-directory.co.uk/ ) You can even create your own page and Act Dynamic will upload it into your space for you. The page can contain up to 10 pictures. £10 is all you pay each year and your page will be easily accessible to search engines etc through the BCD which we believe is the biggest bouncy castle directory in the world.
Alternatively, If you want your own website, and your own unique domain name then Act Dynamic can beat any price that is currently offered by any other website design company. Their email address is act.dynamic@ntlworld.com (Please mention that you are a BIHA member). Act Dynamic also designed http://www.biha.org.uk/ You can visit the website of Act Dynamic at http://www.act-dynamic.co.uk/
A message from Pete (Wibbly) (One of the message board managers).
Just a few words for all the BIHA members out there who are are not as yet members of the message board. We currently have 225 members and many post messages on a regular basis. It is a very good way of keeping in touch with other hirers and is a good source of information, as well as being a good forum for sharing views, tips and ideas.
I was wondering if we could improve the message board. One way I have thought of doing this is to ask for volunteers; people who have a knowledge or expertise connected with the bouncy castle business e.g. an electrician for electrical advice, someone who knows about health and safety, maybe a manufacturer who can advise on new designs, repairs and alterations, in fact anything. If you would like to volunteer for any of these, or indeed if you have any other suggestions which you think may be of help to other members, please either email me direct at petrovitchbh@aol.com or visit the message board.
To make it a bit easier, I have put a link to the message board here: http://uk.msnusers.com/BritishInflatableHirersAssociation
Pete @ Wibbly Wobbly World
BOUNCY CASTLE REPAIRS
We are ON - SITE Repairers, as well as having full factory facilities. Our ON -SITE repairs come to YOU, your business, garden, wherever.
We cover all of the UK, no-matter where you are.
We have a call out fee, (BIHA members NO CHARGE) and fuel fee. From the Emergency jobs, to FULL repairs, we offer a professional service.
You choose, come to us, or we come to YOU..
Full Test Service and Certificates.
We also Manufacture, but NOT inside the season.
We wish you all a Happy New Year.
Roger and Darryl.
www.bouncycastlerepairs.com
The following message was recently posted on the BIHA message board - I am interested in taking it further for the benefit of all members.
Hi all,
We are in the association to make money from our business, which for a lot of us, but not all, is centered on Inflatables.
But there are other things out there which we can do as an add-on which take little or no extra effort and can make some good extra profit. The sort of thing where someone books a castle and we can say 'We also do ??????, would you like one of these as well'. If it's something with a profit of 20p thats an extra 20p for nothing, if it's an extra £5, that might be an extra 20 - 30% on our profit.
I propose that we all suggest a few ideas with our experiences of them whether good or bad, even if it is something we haven't tried before. Put in as much detail as possible, costs, sources, retail/wholesale prices, pitfalls etc.
After the thread has been going a while, assuming it does, I'll collate the results and post it in the documents folder.
You can either post here or e-mail me on biha@celebrationballoons.biz
Jim Campbell
Celebration Balloons
I will try and get the ball rolling on this topic of earning money from additional income streams. I know of members who earn an income over and above their inflatable hire business, by hiring out marquees; offering a DJ service; a window cleaning service; a car valeting service; a childrens' entertainer; a taxi driver / chauffer etc etc.
One method to try and prevent adults from bouncing on childrens' inflatables is to include the following notice with your terms and conditions of hire, and then get your customer to sign it.
NO ADULTS PLEASE
It is with regret that (the name of your hire business), due to recent incidents, are having to include this notice with all hires.
We at (your company name) take great pride in our safety standards and will not allow them to be compromised in any way. Please read and sign the following notice:
All inflatable equipment has an age limit for use, this is stated on your hire agreement and operating instructions. This limit is due to the manufacturing process, and if adults are allowed to use such equipment, their weight and size will compromise the safety of the inflatable.
Unfortunately it is becoming all to common that adults are still jumping on inflatables whilst they are in their care, thus making the possibility of the inflatable being unsafe for the next hirer, I am sure that you would not wish us to supply you with an unsafe castle for your children's party. With that in mind the next hirer deserves the same safety standards as you would expect. We do however realise that an adult may from time to time need to access the inflatable to deal with younger children, please keep this it to a minimum and spread your weight across the inflatable as much as possible.
All our inflatables are put through a rigorous safety test at regular intervals, but if it is found that adults have used the inflatable, then it must be retested to ensure that it is safe for the next person to hire for their children.
Therefore if it is found that adults have used the inflatable whilst it is in your care there will be an initial charge of £60 to have the inflatable retested, and you will be liable for the full cost of any repairs required due to the misuse and any loss of business whilst the inflatable is out of use.
I have read the above document and fully understand and accept the conditions above. I am aware that whilst in my care I am fully responsible for the inflatable and if it is found that adults have used the inflatable I will be liable to pay for a new safety test, the cost of repair for any damage and any loss of business due to such misuse of the equipment.
sign_________________________ print_________________________
Follow our simple rules and you and your children will have an enjoyable and safe day!
This notice is in addition to our Terms and Conditions of Hire. In no way does this compromise or change any of these Terms and Conditions or your rights under such an agreement.
One of our members (Dave Bull from Hemel Hempstead in Herts.) has recently successfully completed a training course which means he can PAT test electrical equipment such as fans and extension cables etc. Please visit his website at www.1stop-electronics.co.uk Dave has offered a discount to all BIHA members, and he is prepared to travel around the UK to PAT test every members' electrical equipment.
If you contact him please mention that you are a member of the BIHA.
I hope that this newsletter has given you a taste of the BIHA and the large number of benefits available to the members. To date the BIHA has over 800 members (which represents approx. 50% of all the inflatable hire companies in the UK). Since the launch of the BIHA in December 2000, our industry has gone through some major changes, in particular the problems of the soaring price in getting PL insurance and the new Inflatable Play Inspection Scheme (IPIS) http://www.ipis.org.uk. As a result of the current problems with PL insurance, the BIHA is focussing on finding a solution, and we feel that the setting up of a "fighting fund" to help members who fall victim to a compensation claim against them is a natural progression for the BIHA to head towards.
The other benefits of joining the BIHA are as follows:
If you are interested in joining the BIHA, please could you email me your name, address and post-code to mark.jerram@ntlworld.com and I will send you a BIHA information pack and also an application form by first class post. Alternatively, you can call me on UK (01344) 485389.
Thank you for reading this newsletter no. 25. I hope you found it interesting and enjoyable and that your businesses will profit from some of the ideas mentioned, and become safer as well. In January 2001, the BIHA published a free report for all members - see www.inflatedprofits.com for more details. Volume 2 of "How To Turbo-Charge Your Profits From Hiring Inflatables" is nearly ready to be published and will be shortly emailed to all BIHA members. Also, If you would like to add anything to the next newsletter (No.26) - please email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com e.g. second-hand inflatables for sale or wanted to purchase, any hints and tips you would like to share with other members, and any real life hire stories (formally known as "hirings from hell"). Also, I would appreciate your feedback on the BIHA having a "fighting fund" in order to help any member who may be facing a compensation claim against them.
Finally, if you have any testimonials about how the BIHA has helped you in your business, or a new contact you have gained, or anything in general - then please email me at mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Thank you for reading.
Until next time............
Regards
Mark
Mark Jerram
BIHA Founder and Association manager .
Email: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Telephone UK (+ 44) 01344 485389.
Visit us at: www.biha.org.uk