Sky Zone is the global originator of the trampoline park movement. The concept was created in 2004 in Las Vegas as a professional sport – it did not take off, however, the company became profitable when local skateboarders came knocking on its doors wanting to jump on its wall-to-wall trampolines – and were happy to pay $8 per session to do so. Today, Sky Zone parks feature Ultimate Dodgeball; a 10,000+ cube foam pit; SkySlam, which gives guests the opportunity to slam dunk a basketball; SkyClimb and more.
GF: Why did Sky Zone decide to go global?
JP: It was a decision made in part because of the great results we were seeing domestically. We knew that if we were doing well stateside, we would see that same success on an international level. Ultimately, we wanted to provide the whole world with the joy of jumping; who doesn’t like being free from earth’s gravity? Today, we have international locations in Mexico, Canada and Australia, and will be opening a park in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2015. We will also soon be entering Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, New Zealand, China, Japan, Chili and others.
GF: How did you go about setting up the franchise?
JP: Our key strategy was initially – and continues to be – finding great area developers, who are capable of and committed to executing the Sky Zone brand promise of delivering ‘wow’ to all our guests.
GF: What makes your brand so appealing?
JP: Sky Zone is promoting active entertainment – and doing so in such a way that we are delivering an experience that appeals to a wide range of people from toddlers and kids to teens and millennials. We are on the forefront of innovation, and constantly evolving our offer with new attractions and more.
GF: What advice do you have for potential franchisees currently researching brand opportunities?
JP: Start online and read customer reviews about multiple concepts. There is so much information available on the web, and it’s very important to see what the end-users are saying. Once you’ve narrowed your search down, speak with the relevant corporate teams; not only do they need to determine if you’re a good fit for the brand, you have to make sure that they are the right choice for you and your family. Lastly, before making any final decisions, speak with franchisees of the brands. Ask them about their experience and for honest opinions of being involved with the concept. By first getting the customer opinion, then learning more about the corporate team and finally learning from a current franchisee you should be able to get a complete idea of the brand, and decide whether it’s right for you.
Brand research – Jeff’s 3 steps to success:
1. Ask the customers
2. Ask the corporate team
3. Ask the franchisees
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT LESLEY HAWKS AT LKHAWKS@EDWARDSGLOBAL.COM OR VISIT WWW.SKYZONE.COM/FRANCHISE.
