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SIOTO & Safety Always
Underground Hazards
By: Tammie Mason
Last time we talked about overhead
hazards. Now lets consider underground hazards, those hidden dangers
we all know are there but don’t give much thought to.
The majority of underground
hazards include sprinkler and utility lines such as sewer, water,
and gas and in some areas phone, cable, and electric lines. These
dangers can be avoided by making a few simple steps part of your
normal rental routine.
·Know the city, county, and state requirements for
utility depths.
oOne key to remember here is just because a utility
lines is required to be buried a certain depth doesn’t mean it is.
Unfortunately we don’t all go by the rules.
·Ask about underground hazards as part of your
reservation questionnaire.
o Do you have a sprinkler system?
oWhat underground utility lines are in the area?
·Have an underground utility survey if available
oMany areas provide this service free of charge. If it
is available in the area, make it a requirement for rental. The
customer can have the survey completed in advance and ready for you
at set-up.
·Be aware of your surroundings
oWhen you get to the set-up area, take the time to look
around. Notice if the cable, phone, and electrical lines are
overhead. If they aren’t, then assume they are buried underground.
Find sewer cleanouts, sprinkler heads, water faucets, and utility
boxes. Most of these lines are not flexible and will run in a
straight line to the home.
Most important, if you should
strike an object while staking, stop immediately. Remove the stake
and reposition if necessary. If you see water, smell gas, or hear
electrical sparking, contact the proper utility company.
Next time we will discuss where
the unit will be placed and the surrounding area.
We would like to welcome all of our new
SIOTO members that joined in February & March and congratulate all
of the members who passed their certification tests in February &
March.
New Members
Darren
Morizet
PartyTime
Rentals, Inc
Beth-Ann
Hannigan
Nifty
Fifty's FEC
Jennifer
McCloud
Alegria
Party Center, Inc
Elroy
Flashy
We're
Having A Party
Ian
Taylor
Big Time
Inflatables, LLC
Michael
Hickman
Laugh Out
Loud Party Rental
Mark
Harper
Moon-Walker
Sales, LLC
Dave
Meads
Jumping
Beans Inflatables
Randy
Yarborough
Action
Attraction
Robert
Knarr
Space Jump,
Inc
Joseph
Nunes
BOUNCES R
US
Kim
Adams
D&N
Amusements, LLC
Robert
Pearson
Leaps N
Bounces
Louis
Vraniak
Russell's
Farms Inc.
Angel
Johnson
Jump-a-Roma
William
Miksanik
Great Lakes Bounce
Tammi
Virgil
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Lana
Smith
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Chelsie
Hoyt
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Keith
Schlyer
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Zach
McManus
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Dylan
Rudloff
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Shannon
Goyne
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Robin
Davis
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Maureen
Schmotzer
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Damascus
Chappell
Planet
Bounce Rentals
Mark
Rose
Lone Star
Inflatables
Lathan
Gareiss
Xtreem
Family Fun Inc
McArthur
Finley
The Three
M's Rental
John
Selleck
J&S Club
Just Jump Inc
Jill
Acton
The Wild
Eddie
Phelps
ABG Fun
Inflatables
Kevin
Baldree
Austin
Moonwalks
Teresa
Hope
Over the
Moon
Richard
Harvey
You Can Jump,LLC
Tommy
Hurst
TC's Amusements
William
Penman
Fun Time
Inflatables LLC
Barry
Conlin
PlayNation P3
William
Destefano
Party Time Rentals
Brian
Glazer
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Michael
Bain
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Phyllis
Barbarino
Jumping Jack's Moonwalks, LLC
Paul
Schutte
1st Class Fun Fairs
Natasha
Diamond
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Norman
Harris
Backyard
Bounce Party Rentals
Richard
Hunt
Trelliscourt
Rick
McGeeney
PlayNation
Parties & Playgrounds
Larry
Clem
Jumping
Jellybeans llc
George
Hankins
Aunt Dort's
Parties, LLC
Dean
Yaukey
Phantom
Entertainment
David
Manuel, Jr.
Clubhouse
Ministries
Jennifer
Logan
Family Fun
Works
Jay
Yucht
NJ Bounce
Timothy
Wickert
Incredible
Inflatables
Kathleen
Gilmore
Jolly
Jumpers Party Rentals
Charles
Evenson
Bounce
House Inc
Lisa
Bodnar
LT
Amusements LLC
Tom
Bodnar
LT
Amusements LLC
Jeff
Ransom
LT
Amusements LLC
Tim
Bullis
Jumpmaxx
Dave
Bullis
Jumpmaxx
Linda
Bullis
Jumpmaxx
Rachael
Bullis
Julia
Gilbert
Xtreme Play
N Go, LLC
Cheri
Pike
The Jungle
Jump, LLC
Peter
Dyba
Once Upon A
Theme
BISOC Certifications and Renewals
James
Simmons
Beyond the Bounce, LLC
Rick
McGeeney
PlayNation
Parties & Playgrounds
Rod
Merrick
All About
Fun
Kathleen
Gilmore
Jolly
Jumpers Party Rentals
Damascus
Chappell
Planet
Bounce Rentals
Jennifer
Logan
Family Fun
Works
Jay
Yucht
NJ Bounce
Greg
Harkins
H & H
Enterprises
Scott
Williams
Bouncing
Fun Inflatable Rentals
Natasha
Diamond
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Dale
Veraghen
Abra
Cadabra Arcade Jumps
Robert
Kmetz
Go Ahead &
Jump, LLC
Zach
McManus
Bouncing
Off the Wall
William
Destefano
Party Time Rentals
Michael
Bain
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Andrew
Hoffing
Wacky
NAAK's Moonwalks and More
Brian
Glazer
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Louis
Vraniak
Russell's
Farms Inc.
William
Penman
Fun Time
Inflatables LLC
Phyllis
Barbarino
Jumping Jack's Moonwalks, LLC
Cora
Oehmke
Mid-America
Jumpers
Skipper
Schmitt
Awesome
Party Inflatables
Rodney
Lowe
A Higher
Bounce
Roger
Bishop
HyperSounds
DJ & Vocal Service
Beth-Ann
Hannigan
Nifty
Fifty's FEC
Tammi
Virgil
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Barry
Conlin
PlayNation P3
Chelsie
Hoyt
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Heidi
Calvagna
Jump2it
Theresa
Palmerini
Jump2it
Lana
Smith
Bouncing
Off the Wall
McArthur
Finley
The Three
M's Rental
Kyle
Hanley
Tri-City
Party Rentals
Robin
Davis
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Maureen
Schmotzer
Bouncing
Off the Wall
John
Selleck
J&S Club
Just Jump Inc
Shannon
Goyne
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Randy
Yarborough
Action
Attraction
Joseph
Nunes
BOUNCES R
US
William
Miksanik
Great Lakes Bounce
Ryan
McGrail
RJ DJ And
Party Service
Steven
Bishop
Bounce
About, ltd
Rick
BrownEagle
Action
Attraction
Dave
Meads
Jumping
Beans Inflatables
Michael
Hickman
Laugh Out
Loud Party Rental
Kathryn
Nowicki
J 4 Jumping
Beans
Mark
Harper
Moon-Walker
Sales, LLC
Ian
Taylor
Big Time
Inflatables, LLC
Jason
Case
Case
Entertainments
Craig
Wastell
Party Hop'n
Michael
Kastner
Party Jump
Rental
Elroy
Flashy
We're
Having A Party
Robert
Driesch
Jolly Jumpz
David
Cox
Let's Jump
Around, LLC
David
Pittomvils
Dk-Rents
Michael
Wallace
Jumpin
Party Rentals LLC
Timothy
Zack
FunBouncers.Net
David
Atkins
Leapin'
Little Ones, Inc
Jeff
Stephens
Inflate-O-Fun
Dale
Cole
Eric
Berdine
Moonwalk
South
Douglas
Wiorek
Brew City
Bounce LLC
Kirk
Sissell
Dino Jump
of Porter County
Matthew
Mark
Boomerang
Amusements
Gene
Ferguson
U Gotta
Jump
AISOC Certifications and Renewals
Damascus
Chappell
Planet
Bounce Rentals
Greg
Harkins
H & H
Enterprises
Dale
Veraghen
Abra
Cadabra Arcade Jumps
Zach
McManus
Bouncing
Off the Wall
William
Destefano
Party Time Rentals
Michael
Bain
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Brian
Glazer
Party Perfect Rentals, LLC
Chelsie
Hoyt
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Skipper
Schmitt
Awesome
Party Inflatables
Rodney
Lowe
A Higher
Bounce
Roger
Bishop
HyperSounds
DJ & Vocal Service
Tammi
Virgil
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Heidi
Calvagna
Jump2it
Theresa
Palmerini
Jump2it
Robin
Davis
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Kyle
Hanley
Tri-City
Party Rentals
Maureen
Schmotzer
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Shannon
Goyne
Bouncing
Off the Wall
Ryan
McGrail
RJ DJ And
Party Service
Steven
Bishop
Bounce
About, ltd
Kathryn
Nowicki
J 4 Jumping
Beans
Mark
Harper
Moon-Walker
Sales, LLC
Ian
Taylor
Big Time
Inflatables, LLC
Jason
Case
Case
Entertainments
Robert
Driesch
Jolly Jumpz
Matthew
Mark
Boomerang
Amusements
Business & Marketing Advice
Internet and Email Marketing
By AJ Wright
Marketing your business through Email and online
can be more cost effective than many other, more
expensive advertising. It is easier than you
think. If you’re just starting out and have
little or no money left to market, every time
you get a new customer make sure you get their
email address. I would also ask your customers
if they know of anyone else you could contact
and politely ask for an email address.
Start building your database of emails and
contact information for future marketing
efforts. It’s always easier when you know how
to contact the right people right before they
need what you provide.
Here are some tips to collecting emails and
preparing for marketing purposes:
Collect your customer’s
e-mails. Ask for an e-mail address on your
rental agreement and ask for their email
when they call on the phone requesting
quotes.
Keep track of events,
festivals and other things going on in the
communities you serve. Contact the director
of the event or festival and email them
information telling them you want to be
involved.
Let your past customers know
when you’ll will be at festivals, community
events or local Relay for Life events.
Parents like ways for their kids to burn
energy during the weekend. If they know
you’re going at a community event or
festival, they’re likely to stop by and let
their kids play. On a person note, the
community in which I live had an event this
past Thursday night with inflatable games.
Every thing was free; we stopped and let my
two little ones burn energy. I would have
not known if I wasn’t in that part of town
Thursday night. If the inflatable owner,
whom I know, would have dropped me an email,
I would have been able to plan better to
stop by the event.
E-mail customers a deal if
they book inflatable units during slower
months. Work out a deal with community
recreation centers, churches, schools or the
local YMCA so that events can be held inside
when the weather is cold. This will open up
a great new revenue source during the
off-season. Renting the local recreation
center costs $25 in Rabun County, GA; and it
allowed me to book events in the winter
months, which was one reason the inflatable
party rental business was so good to me.
If you do attended rentals,
always bring a camera and take some
pictures. Email your customer a few days
later thanking them for using your company
and include a picture taken during their
party. That will help keep Top Of Mind
Awareness with that client.
AJ
Wright is the former owner & operator of
PartyWright, llc. AJ currently manages radio
stations in Upstate South Carolina, Western
North Carolina and Northeast Georgia. He is the
host of the upcoming podcast series, A
PartyWright Podcast, that is sponsored by the
Moonwalk Forum. The podcast series will be
launched in May.
Buying On eBay - Buyer
Protection
By Sharen Patten
Making a large bid on eBay can be scary, but
there are some steps you can take to better protect yourself.
1) Know who you are buying from. Are you able
to research the company or individual that is selling the
equipment? In this industry they most likely either currently have
or would of had a business name and phone number. If at all possible
read feedback comments. Ask yourself if they look reputable?
2) Know specifically what you are bidding on.
Be sure to ask pertinent questions about the equipment being sold.
How old is the equipment? When was it manufactured? Who was the
original manufacturer? How much use has the equipment had? Was it
used only seasonally and if so, how was it stored during the winter?
Has this equipment had any professional repairs? Has this equipment
been repaired by the owner? Does this equipment need any repair?
Does it have torn vinyl or rips? Does it have any patches? Does it
have ripped/torn/frayed netting? Does it have any worn vinyl or rub
marks? Does it come with a blower(s) and how old what brand are
they? Does this unit have any mold on it? Does this unit have any
mal-odors? How frequently was this equipment cleaned, how was it
clean; what was it cleaned with?
Does it come with any features that may
not be able to be seen such as zipper? Zipper size? Roofs? Steps? Or
mats? Is the slide cover in good condition?
**Don't be afraid to ask questions and
be specific! And always ask questions within eBay using the "Ask
Seller a Question", since all questions and replies are documented.
3) Why are they getting rid of the equipment?
4) Who is paying shipping or freight? Who will
do the packaging?
5) If you’re not sure about the quality of the
equipment then try to contact someone local to the seller, even if
you (the buyer) would need to pay the "trusted person" a few dollars
for their time.
6)
Make your purchases with a payment that has a "Buyer Protection".
Paypal or Credit Cards have settlement dispute processes where you
have a chance of getting your money back if you didn't get what you
were promised. This is where "Know Specifically What You Are
Bidding On" really helps: Since any false or misleading information
is documented and can be submitted as evidence to get your money
back. ** Never pay for your purchase with cash or cash wire
transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or direct
deposits.
Product Review
Inflatable
Midway
Out of this world games?
You got that right. The folks over at Amberg Entertainment have
pooled their thoughts and bring us an incredible alternative to the
traditional carnival games. Do your customers want a nice looking
carnival tent? Do they also want some very cool games? How
about something with that "wow" factor? Better yet, how about all
three? This inflatable midway brings you everything mentioned
above, plus has a very unique blower prtal that keeps the blower noise
to a minimal. The games come with the tent or you can get the tent
separately. You can also choose which games you want installed in
your unit. Check it out today at
www.outofthisworldgames.com
Sponsor
Highlights
Don't forget to let our sponsors know you saw them here! You
might score a better deal!
Jose Lopez brings us his expertise in
the marketing arena with Strictly Logo, which by its namesake is
just that. If you have an outdated logo, need a new logo
designed or don't even have a clue about what your logo should be
then you can contact them at
www.strictlylogo.com
From the folks who brought you Super
Deflator comes another new product designed to help you run your
rental business. Super Track is a feature filled software
program that is designed to offer you what you need in rental
software while keeping it very affordable.
www.supertrack.com for more
details.
Contact Us
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