Family entertainment center and amusement attractions news
Family Fun Centers June 12, 2008:
The FEC Network is pleased to announce the newest addition to our amusement business web portal : Fun Center Directory.com.
* Fun Center Directory Listings
* Amusement Job Board
* Amusement Forums and Discussions
* Amusement Business News
Best of all - it's Free! Come by for a visit: www.funcenterdirectory.com
Amusement Business June 2, 2008:
Starting a new amusement business and working on your plan - then don't forget to look locally for help. Your Chamber of Commerce can be a wealth of information and resources, and can further direct you to other business friendly organizations in your community, State or Province. In addition to helping you secure community statistics, recent census data and other Government planning information, the Chamber may also be readily connected to the banking and funding community, and may be able to help point you in the right direction for the startup capital your fun center is looking for.
Starting a Fun Center May 20, 2008:
Once you are serious about starting a fun center business, there are really only two major hurdles, location and funding. Both can be huge rocks to crack, but for most of us funding is the bigger of the two. Moving forward means getting a realistic sense of what your access to capital is... in these times of the mortgage melt-down and gun-shy lenders, especially for startups, having access to your own capital is what potential lenders are going to demand. A good fun center business plan that is based on reality and demonstrates your financial commitment to the project is where to start.
Amusement Business Fun May 13, 2008:
Building your own family entertainment center or just the process of researching such a mammoth undertaking is not for the weak-kneed. In your daily grind to do all that you need to do, and to keep up your enthusiasm for this amusement business project, it is very important to remember why you got the idea in the first place. Keep your vision close, make the time to read and immerse yourself in the amusement industry and for crying out loud get out there and play! Go somewhere and play a game of laser tag, a round of miniature golf, take the kids to an indoor rock climbing center. After all, this is where you want to end up, right?
Indoor Playgrounds May 5, 2008:
Still the number one activity for fun centers, family entertainment centers and other amusement business that cater to the birthday party crowd. Indoor playgrounds have been around for close to 30 years now and can still pack in the 4 to 12 year olds. Although the basic indoor playground design has not changed that much (steel pipe, foam, vinyl, netting) the activity mix inside the playground has grown up. From ballocity, balladium and ballistic to other new format slides and trolley rides, indoor playgrounds can help amusement business operators drive a healthy party business.
Family Entertainment Center Tip - Apr 28, 2008:
At the end of the day, many new amusement developers comment "I wish I had more party space". When thinking through your fun center facility layout and space planning, you may want to consider what happens when your marketing really kicks into gear and you get more party bookings than your space can accommodate? Making sure you have a multi-purpose space that can act as an additional birthday party area, or a special events area that can be used to drop in a big-screen for Super-Bowl Sunday, or as a quick way to add a stage for local presentations, artisitc display or some managed programs you offer your guests. Thinking through flexibility in space design today, can offer multiple revenue streams tomorrow.
IRVING, Texas, Associated Press - April 25th, 2008:
CEC Entertainment Inc., which operates the Chuck E. Cheese pizza and entertainment center chain, said Tuesday that first-quarter profit rose 3 percent, helped by higher sales at company-owned stores. Net income rose 3 percent to $32.9 million, or $1.26 per share, from $32 million, or 95 cents per share last year. Analysts, on average, expected a profit of $1.12 per share, according to a Thomson Financial poll. Revenue rose 5 percent to $245.2 million from $232.9 million a year ago. Analysts predicted revenue of $241.5 million. Company-owned store revenue rose 5 percent to $244.2 million, while same-store sales, or sales in stores open at least one year, rose 3.6 percent. More.
Family Entertainment Center Tip - Apr 24, 2008:
Working on a shoe-string amusement center budget with big dreams? Get your family entertainment center walls themed for next to nothing - and get some fantastic local press at the same time. Draw up a local competition for the best artistic proposal to win the opportunity to showcase their work on your amusement center's walls. Make a splash in the local papers with the competition guidelines, time-line and judging criteria and then invite anyone and everyone from the local high schools, art schools, colleges, etc to submit their design proposal. You supply the paint, offer the winner your canvas of walls and/or a 6 month pass to your laser tag game, miniature golf or one of your fun center attractions. Great for building some pre-opening buzz, community awareness and some fantastic good will before ever serving any one.
Family Entertainment Center Tip - Apr 20, 2008:
Customize your entertainment center operations directly to your core market by multi-purposing your facility space. Why be satisfied with 60% of your amusement business arriving just to play on the weekends? Look to your community to add different programs over different hours of operations. Got a lot of at home mothers during the week? Start a mom's club from 8:30 to 11:00 am three days a week.Team up with proactive teachers to address the sedintary child issues and offer your space at reduced prices for an "off-site" school class that plays a little and learns a lot. Make sure to clearly demonstrate your stellar amusement center service and all it's great attractions, they will be back for more at regular prices. Make a habit of thinking outside the box - it's your space and you are paying for it 24/7, think of ways for it to make you money $$$$.....
Fun Center Attractions - Apr 18, 2008:
Family Entertainment Centers, Fun Centers, Amusement Parks and Children's Entertainment Centers - the amusement business resources you are looking for to design, build, open and operate a successful family entertainment center business.
www.familyentertainmentcenter.com
