The Profitable Play Podcast

Michele Caruana
  • 5.0 (162)
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If you own or manage an indoor play center, play cafe, indoor playground, family entertainment center, mobile soft play rental business or really any business that serves local children and families, and you want to operate with more EASE and JOY, all while making the living you dreamed of– I created the profitable play podcast just for you. Join me, your host, Michele Caruana, for small but mighty tips every single weekday that will all add up to a BIG impact on your mindset, your business, and your bottom line. Stick with me to keep the PASSION and GROW the profit in YOUR play-based business

  1. 4天前

    334: 10 Sales Automation Strategies for Indoor Playgrounds — Get Time Back & Grow Revenue

    As indoor playground owners, we didn’t open our spaces to spend nights chasing late payments or answering 10pm DMs. We opened to build community and have time with our families. That balance is possible—with automation. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 sales automations you can set up THIS week to recover lost bookings, increase revenue, and free up your time, including: Abandoned cart emails & textsEvergreen social media adsExit pop-ups & nurture sequencesChatbots for off-hoursParty follow-ups, win-back campaigns & renewal remindersUpsells & review requestsMUCH more! These automations plug the leaks in your funnel so you stop losing sales—and stop choosing between being present at work or at home. 📚 BLOG For This Episode 🔗 Episodes Mentioned Episode 1: How To Incentivize People To Opt-InEpisode 2: Generate 89% MORE Revenue With An Automated Welcome SequenceEpisode 44: Upselling—How To Increase Average Transaction ValueEpisode 195: Abandoned Cart Sequences Active Campaign Free Trial OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy Active Campaign Free Trial: https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG

    43 分钟

  2. 9月1日

    333: Why Your Indoor Playground Needs A Cafe (And More Hard Truths) With Funtown Play Cafe Owner Kate Mitchell

    Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Kate Mitchell, the inspiring owner of Funtown Play Café, to hear the real story behind how she turned her vision into a thriving family destination. Kate shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between—from the spark of inspiration that started her journey, to the challenges of the build-out process, to how she developed such a strong and recognizable brand that immediately resonates with families. We also dive into: How Kate’s branding and marketing have fueled her growthWhich marketing channels have been most effective for herHow she chose the right play equipment, layout, and amenities for her communityThe systems, tools, and training that keep her team consistent and her business running smoothlyWhich revenue streams have been strongest so far—and which ones didn’t quite hit the markThe most surprising challenges of day-to-day operationsWhat’s been most rewarding about owning a play caféHow Kate balances entrepreneurship with motherhood If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to bring a play café to life—or you’re looking for practical tips and encouragement to keep moving forward—this conversation is full of golden nuggets you won’t want to miss. 👉 Listen in and get inspired by Kate’s journey to creating Funtown Play Café! Funtown Play Cafe Website Funtown Play Cafe IG OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    45 分钟

  3. 8月25日

    332: Thriving Through Your First Months Of Indoor Playground Ownership With Jan From Kinderland

    In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I share a recorded coaching call with Jan from Kinderland Play Cafe in Hendersonville, TN that covers the exact questions so many indoor playground and play café owners face when setting up their systems and preparing their business for growth—or even a future sale. My guest’s long-term plan is to eventually sell their business, so every decision they make now is with that end goal in mind. During our conversation, we dig into: How to realistically set up and enforce cleaning procedures with staff so you don’t need to rely as much on outside cleanersWhen and how to delegate customer communication—whether that’s email or social media messages—without losing controlWhether to implement different pay grades for staff, and how that impacts team harmonyHandling tricky operational details and bottlenecks that present themselves as you go through your first weeks and months of operationHow to navigate software costs and adjustments as your customer base growsAnd finally, how to streamline the entire party booking process—from the initial reservation all the way through confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups If you’re in the trenches of creating processes, figuring out how much to delegate, or looking to build a business that’s scalable and eventually sellable, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Kinderland Website: https://www.kinderland-hendersonville.com/ Kinderland IG: https://www.instagram.com/kinderland.hendersonville OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    1 小时 7 分钟

  4. 8月6日

    331: Non-Profit Success With Rosie Lynch From Wild Child Museum

    In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I share a recorded coaching call with Rosie Lynch, founder of Wild Child Museum & Managerie, a non-profit indoor play space operating inside her local community center. We discuss the strategic advantages of starting in a low-overhead location — including building a loyal customer base, growing a healthy financial foundation, and securing community and business sponsors — before moving into a larger, more costly space. Topics covered include: Creating consistent revenue to support hiring paid staff over volunteer relianceIncreasing social media presence and local visibilityEvaluating future expansion opportunitiesLeveraging non-profit status to secure sponsors, grants, and community support This episode offers practical insights for play space owners interested in sustainable growth, community partnerships, and non-profit operations. Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Connect with Wild Child Museum & Managerie: 🌐 Website: wildchildmuseum.org 📸 Instagram: @wildchildmuseum 📘 Facebook: Wild Child Museum & Managerie OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    1 小时 2 分钟

  5. 6月10日

    330: "Unstaffed" Play Spaces? Use Cases, Safety Tips, and New Revenue Streams

    2 TICKETS LEFT FOR PLAY MAKER SOCIETY LIVE: https://www.michelecaruana.com/playmakerslive2025 Is your indoor playground or play café business ready for more freedom, flexibility, and revenue? In this episode, I share how a simple keypad entry system can completely transform your business operations. Whether you're hoping to reduce your reliance on staff, offer after-hours access, or turn your space into a community hub, this upgrade might be the highest ROI decision you make this year. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why keypad entry is a smart move for both safety and scalabilityHow to offer unstaffed open play sessions and private rentalsWays to rent your space to instructors, therapists, and community groupsHow to give your cleaners, vendors, and staff secure access without keysHow keypad access can support premium membership tiers and sensory-friendly hoursReal examples of how this tool creates passive revenue while you sleep This episode is packed with actionable tips for play café owners ready to work smarter—not harder. 🎧 Tune in and learn how to turn your front door into a revenue-generating asset. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned: Wellness Living Passport Technologies Play Date Indoor Playground Episode 263: My Interview with Heather Play Cafe Academy OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    23 分钟

  6. 5月19日

    329: Summer Revenue Rescue for Indoor Playground Owners (Even WITHOUT Summer Camps)

    If you’re listening in real time, you know that summer is just around the corner—and if your foot traffic or bookings are starting to dip, you’re not alone. This season can catch even the most prepared indoor playground owners off guard. But here’s the good news: even if you didn’t get a summer plan in place months ago, it’s not too late to make a real impact on your revenue. In this episode, I’m sharing creative, actionable, and low-lift ways to boost income quickly—even if you’re starting from scratch. These are strategies I used myself when we were struggling through slow summer seasons, and they helped us not only stay afloat but thrive. I’ll walk you through how to: Rent out your unused play equipment for outdoor and at-home partiesOffer balloon décor for off-site events, not just birthdaysHost preschool and kindergarten readiness camps without needing certificationsFill a big market gap by offering baby-friendly classes and seriesLaunch short-term summer memberships, especially for teachersAdd a mini retail section with seasonal essentials and sensory-friendly optionsRun themed drop-off nights with a summer twistTake your café mobile by popping up at local markets and eventsHost profitable micro events that don’t require big crowdsOpen up private rentals for families looking for low-stimulation or exclusive play options Remember, these don’t all need to be complicated or time-consuming. Many of these ideas can be launched in a day or two using the resources you already have—and just one or two can make a big difference in your bottom line this summer. If you want help launching any of these ideas fast, be sure to check the show notes for links to free resources and templates inside Play Cafe Academy. And if you’re in Play Maker Society, bring your questions to our next group call and I’ll walk you through them step-by-step. Don’t let the slower season catch you off guard. Let’s get creative, stay scrappy, and make this your most profitable summer yet. Episodes & Resources Mentioned: WellnessLiving Mobile Event Business Toolkit ($37) Episode 204: Summer Memberships Episode 99: Calculating ROI Of Renting That Booth Episode 325: Parent-Only Event Ideas Episode 249: Reuse Party Supplies And Make Extra Money Selling Busy Bags OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    46 分钟

  7. 5月13日

    328: Get Better Results From ChatGPT and AI By Using the Right Tools and Smarter Prompts

    Play Makers Live 2025 Registration and Information (6 Tickets Left!) In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I’m diving into Part 2 of our AI mini-series, and this time it’s all about how to get better results from ChatGPT. I’m sharing the exact tips and strategies I use as an indoor playground owner to write better prompts, train ChatGPT to match my voice, and streamline my content creation and operations. I’ll also walk you through how I use other AI tools to automate tasks like scheduling, creating videos, and designing graphics. If you’ve ever felt like AI was giving you “meh” results, this episode will change the game for you. 👉 If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and listen to last week’s episode first HERE! ETSY Template Shop OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    35 分钟

  8. 5月6日

    327: 8 Next-Level AI Uses and Hacks for Busy Indoor Playground Owners

    If you’ve ever joked about being the “lazy” play cafe owner—this episode is for you. (And if you’re offended by that term… take a deep breath and trust me on this one.) I know you're not actually lazy—you’re just juggling everything: your business, your family, your sanity… and trying to keep it all together. So in this episode, I’m sharing 8 of my favorite next-level AI hacks that help me save time, reduce stress, and focus on what actually matters. This isn’t your basic AI 101. These are practical, time-saving tools I use daily as a business owner—whether you’ve already started experimenting with AI or have no clue where to begin, you’ll walk away with real strategies you can use today. BLOG for this episode (if you prefer to read to follow along!) 💡 In This Episode, I Share: Why calling myself “lazy” is actually a business strategyHow I use ChatGPT to train my team and improve customer experienceTime-saving tricks to repurpose content without rewriting everythingHow I analyze feedback and emails with AI to improve my offersMy favorite automations for boosting profitability and productivityAnd so much more! 📌 Resources I Mention: 👉 Want more step-by-step AI help? My Free AI Training for Indoor Playground Owners 👉 Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society 🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll be sharing even more creative ways to use AI to grow your indoor playground—without adding more to your to-do list. Thank you to Aluvii for sponsoring this episode! OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy

    31 分钟
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关于

If you own or manage an indoor play center, play cafe, indoor playground, family entertainment center, mobile soft play rental business or really any business that serves local children and families, and you want to operate with more EASE and JOY, all while making the living you dreamed of– I created the profitable play podcast just for you. Join me, your host, Michele Caruana, for small but mighty tips every single weekday that will all add up to a BIG impact on your mindset, your business, and your bottom line. Stick with me to keep the PASSION and GROW the profit in YOUR play-based business

信息

  • 创作者
    Michele Caruana
  • 活跃年份
    2022年 - 2025年
  • 单集
    344
  • 分级
    儿童适宜
  • 版权
    © 2025 Profitable Play All Rights Reserved.
  • 节目网站
    The Profitable Play Podcast

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