SPOTLIGHT ON AN INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY
Marc Turner of Colourful Castles.
YOUR NAME?
Marc Turner
YOUR AGE?
49
NAME OF YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY?
Colourful Castles – www.colourfulcastles.co.uk
YOUR LOCATION?
Luton, Bedfordshire
YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?
Goodnight, Mister Tom (1998)
YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL?
A hot curry
YOUR HOBBIES?
Old Lambretta Scooters, Alternative Energy. (E.g. wind, solar) Attending music festivals, reading about old buses being converted for people to live in.
WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THE BOUNCY CASTLE HIRE BUSINESS?
I used to be a market trader selling pound-lines (similar to what Pound Shops sell) However, I found the 3am starts on a Sunday morning very tiresome. Also, the profit margins were low despite a large financial outlay on stock each month.
I wanted a business where I could invest once in stock and then make money from it over and over and over again. The bouncy castle hire industry fitted this spec perfectly!
IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?
I would like every customer to pay a deposit before they are allowed to hire an inflatable.
Two benefits. Firstly, it would stop customers from shopping around AFTER they have booked the inflatable and secondly, it would add to the security of the equipment whilst it is on hire.
WHAT DO YOU MOST LIKE ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE INDUSTRY?
Meeting new people and making friends with customers. Getting recognised for doing a great job. Getting recommendations by customers.
WHAT DO YOU LEAST LIKE ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE INDUSTRY?
Some customers taking the mick, and wanting the bouncy castle until 11.30pm even though they agreed a collection time of
8.30pm Also, some customers making the equipment filthy.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HIRING FROM HELL?
Yes, I delivered an adult bouncy castle for a private overnight event. The customer was delighted with the castle and the service and treated us like Kings.
Unfortunately, when we came to collect the castle the following morning. There were matching two inch rips where the back wall met the back pillars.
The only way this could have happened was if the kids and adults had been bouncing on top of the back walls – something which we had told the customer was strictly forbidden.
We contacted the customer to inform them of this damage but they just ignored our emails and texts etc.
Fast forward one year, and the customer’s mother contacted us to re-book the same castle.
We reminded her of the damage caused at the previous year’s party, and expressed our disappointment that nothing had been resolved.
She denied any knowledge of it and said she would speak to her daughter, and get her to pay the repair bill.
We are still waiting to hear from the daughter….
HOW HAS THE BIHA HELPED YOU IN YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
I have benefited a lot from all the great advice and tips on the forum on www.BouncyCastleOwner.com and I enjoy all the banter that goes on in there.
Thank you Marc for taking time out to answer these questions – it is much appreciated.