Things to Remember When Buying Inflatables for Your Rental Business
When it comes to purchasing products for your inflatable rental company or family entertainment center, there are several rules you must follow in order to be successful. We have been selling commercial inflatables for years and we know the keys to success and they all start with product selection.
Tip #1 – Quality product
Your entire business plan revolves around your product. Product quality is essential to success. You only make money if your inflatables are up and running. You can’t afford to have the product in the shop for repairs. Go with trusted brands. There are many good and bad products on the market and like most things you buy, you get what you pay for.
Tip #2: Start Conservative
Many times we hear from new customers that they would like to start with 10-12 inflatables. Our typical response is why would you do that? The key to success is cash flow from your inflatable business. Start with 3-5 inflatables and when they are all rented on a consistent basis. If inflatables are sitting in your garage, they only cost you money, they don’t make you money.
Tip #3 – Don’t buy what you like, buy what your customers like
As I mentioned earlier, you don’t make any money when your inflatables aren’t rented. Customers often want to buy a unique bouncy house for their start-up and this is absolutely wrong. One client in particular wanted to start her business with a princess-themed bouncy house. Instantly, that business only serves 50% of the parties. There is competition in most markets and if you don’t buy what customers want, you won’t rent. Our philosophy is to start with traditional gender-neutral products. Starting with bouncy castles or bouncy slide combinations will put you in the best position to meet the needs of your customers.
Starting an inflatable rental business can be a profitable business. Following the tips I outlined above will help you get started and on your way. By purchasing a quality product, you ensure that your product is up and running for rental. Combining a conservative approach with buying products that appeal to the masses will give you the right mix to start with. When all your inflatables are rented and you’re turning customers away, it’s time to add products. You’ll also get customer feedback on products they wish you didn’t have. This is crucial. By having a product that appeals to the masses, you may not have exactly what they want, but they will rent it. At the same time, you can take notes on what customers order.
Good luck!