SPOTLIGHT ON AN INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY
Bouncy Kings of Leicester (Leicestershire)
YOUR NAME?
Antony or Ant
NAME OF YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY?
Bouncy Kings of Leicester
www.bouncykingsofleicester.co.uk
YOUR LOCATION?
Leicester
WHAT IS YOUR AGE?
27
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU STARTED HIRING OUT INFLATABLES?
Branch Manager for The Daily Mail – Retail
WHAT MADE YOU START AN INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
We hired for a family BBQ and wasn’t too impressed in how unprofessional the business was so thought it would be fun for us to do it right.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
I’m half way through getting my private pilots licence but this is on hold a little at the minute.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?
Wouldn’t say favourite but with 3 little ones the one i’ve watched the most recently is Frozen, although the theme tune does send a chill down my spine.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL?
Anything that includes the Charlie All Shapes crew and alcohol.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE UK HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
Devon
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION ABROAD?
We have just come back from Egypt but you can’t beat Majorca for a great family holiday with little ones.
WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
It’s an industry where you really do get out of it what you put in. If you work on your business, brand, product and marketing it will pay you back.
WHAT DO YOU LEAST ENJOY ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
6am starts and 1am finishes from the months of March to October,
IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?
Haha, erm where to start. I think the industry is already changing at a rapid pace at the minute and will change massively over the next 10 years. For example, there are lots of new suppliers, operators who are really turning the industry on its head. Long gone are the days of the 12 x12 castle from the bloke down the pub.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HIRING FROM HELL?
None really from hell, we have a great team of 5 full time staff, who work all year round, as well as around another 10 casual/helpers so things go as smooth as they can do. Although we did hire to a swingers club once, they did say it was for a childrens birthday party, but our drivers weren’t convinced and the unit needed a little clean on its return!!
DO YOU HAVE ANY USEFUL TIPS OR IDEAS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE OTHER BIHA MEMBERS.
Everything is online now and a major part of our success is down to the great guys at the BCN (Bouncy Castle Network www.bouncycastlenetwork.com ) they really give us the tools needed to run our business and booking site. If you are not currently with them you are really missing out!!
HOW HAS THE BIHA HELPED YOU IN YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
When we first started, the templates and all the information on the website were invaluable for us.
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Thank you Ant for taking time out of your hire business to answer these questions – it’s greatly appreciated.