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LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE Advice for Best Inflatables Safety Practices

In the last decade, inflatable amusements have become a staple in the party rental industry. Many small companies that began as part-time endeavors have blossomed into full-time operations that book dozens of clients per month. As the industry has grown in popularity, the inflatables have grown in design, size and variety.

Darren Morizet start­ed Partytime Rentals in his garage. Now, the Wappingers Falls, N.Y.-based company is a full-service party rental enterprise that has in its inventory more than 100 inflatables.

" I underestimated the rental industry," Morizet noted. "We have grown even in a down economy because memories don't stop occur­ring, and our business helps build those memories."

Partytime Rentals services and maintains all their equipment and also ser­vices the equipment of small competitors as well. The company, which operates throughout the year, books about 3,000 events annually with inflatable rentals accounting for about 1,500 to 2,000 of those bookings.

"The inflatable industry has definitely trans­formed over the last decade. When I first got into inflatables, there were accidents, and the bouncers were not monitored, but now manufacturers and

Nick Troisl, creio chief, and Vincent Squilla, warehouse manager, of Partytime Rentals in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. The company services and maintains all of its equipment and also services the equipment of small

competitors as well.

products," Morizet said. Partytime Rentals has never had an accident and

Morizet believes it is a combination of his strin­gent safety practices and a lot of luck as well.

There has been an increase in safety features in inflata­bles especially when it comes to tying down the inflatables and the use of the electric blowers.

"Some competitors and insurance companies say I go over the top, but any time I rent out any kind of slide or water attraction that is 18-feet or higher or has a pool or a technical component, I insist there has to be an attendant on site at all times. I think it is better for the customer too. We can make sure kids are engaged and playing cor­rectly and the adults do not have to be on duty. They can enjoy themselves as well. "

Companies that drop off inflatables without even inflating them on the event's site is Morizet's biggest pet peeve with the industry.

"Customers are not experts in stakes and which ones work best for an inflatable. Sometimes these rental companies do not supply the correct stakes nor do they give instructions on inflating or deflating safely," he noted. "If we are not going to have an attendant at an event, we have an in-person briefing plus we hand over to our custom-

insurance companies pay close attention to these ers our own operations manual, which has the

56 Tourist Attractions & Parks I September/October 2012 I www.tapmag.com

musement Rental & Inflatable News

manufacturer's printed instructions too. If we want to provide equipment that goes beyond what the manufacturer suggests, we do that too."

In the future, Morizet would love to see more interactive inflatables with electronics embed­ded in the design. More creative design depends upon each manufac­turer. Right now, 90 percent of the products that Morizet carries are American made.

"We go for the American products because we know that when our catalog says we carry or w i l l carry something, it w i l l be avail­able. Sometimes, we have bought products from other countries and put it in our catalog thinking

A shot of the Partytime The company has neve

it w i l l be available when they promised, and it never arrives. But sometimes, because the inflat­able is very popular, we have to take the risk."

As Director of Operations for Dougherty's Party Services in Syracuse, N.Y., Taier-Chad Parsnow oversees the renting of everything from costumes to inflat­ables for both small and big events. The compa­ny, which is the largest costumer in central New York, is in the process of establishing a per­manent facility to hold events on site as well.

"For the inflatables side of the company, we offer mostly a delivery service right now, but we are strict about safety," explained Parsnow. "We

Rentals warehouse, r had an accident.

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go beyond manufacturer's recommendations. We take great pride in our company and want every­thing right for our customers."

Dougherty's performs a three- point inspection for all inflatables, which includes making sure an inflatable is well secured. If it is at a venue where stakes cannot be used, Dougherty's staff pro­vides sandbags to ensure the inflatable remains secure. Dougherty's also checks on the grounding for the blower for every event.

"If the outlets are not properly grounded, we have a device that allows us to adapt non-ground-able outlet into a groundable one," Parsnow noted. "And if that is not a possibility we w i l l provide a

" I underestimated the rental industry. We have grown even

in a down economy because memories don't stop occurring,

and our business helps build those memories."

- Darren Morizet, Partytime Rentals, Wappingers Falls, NX

generator. Parsnow or his staff makes sure there is enough

clearance around the inflatable. "We have to have enough space between the inflatable and trees or

wires." While Dougherty's

does book some indoor winter events, the major­ity of its bookings take place between April and October.

"We cover a wide range of events from the very small to the very large. We average about 135 events per month," Parsnow

said. "Honestly, it is just as much fun for us to do a small party as it is to do a big party or event where we deliver 20 bouncers. We provide the same ser­vice no matter what size event someone has, and

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to us everyone is equally important." for designs because " i r : -iSr.: everything from the Cassie and John Joslin have owned Bouncin' previous owner, bur ir. ~s e rurure and as we grow

Around Long Island in East Meadow, N.Y., for about and as we buy r r : r - sS.111c.es. that interaction a year. The company, which books about 12-15 events per •• - 7:—ics & Promotions month, operates all year long :r'3re" errcr. X.Y., is known as and rents out 10 inflatables at 2 rslserr.ee operation where a variety of venues, from sum- 9 ^ „ x \ can rent anything mer camps to churches to block I f r : ~ irr~ arable bouncers to parties. A cas.r: eauirment to tents,

"At the majority of our r.-r_~~ir.z pools and hot tubs, events, we leave attendants J ^ J J L w f l ~^es, anything that w i l l there," said Cassie Joslin. "We -\: a rartv or event corn-know we can deliver the inflat- p r - J V ^ f m ~ = rave," said Owner able and just do a briefing with yJ^Qr ' 1$̂ ^ Garry Thompson, who has the party hosts, but we feel ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ > : - e company for 20 , .. , . , , Partytime Rentals Owner Darren Morizet. Anv better knowing we have people l m c M o n z e t r e n t s o u t m y k i n d o f f l i l i c o r : : : , years. on site." attraction that is 18-feet or higher or has a pool cL~ ~ est of the rental com-

Bouncin' Around Long o r a ^ical component, he insists tlwre Ms tc aU year long, the o • be an attendant on site at all times. «^ - J °

Island has competition in their irr.ararle arm operates spring geographical area, but the Joslins combat that by into summer. Parries ~::ra:5 ic Promotions rents going the extra distance in customer service. out inflatables for s~il parries as well as large

"We have already carved out a good niche with corporate and co~~;arr:v events, our inflatables. We clean and sanitize the bouncers "We provide custrrr.erf v.ith verbal and written after each event. As of now, we have not had much instructions for each ir_r"a:arie." Thompson said, interaction with manufacturers about suggestions "However, if thev v.-ar.: ar artendant there, we w i l l

Five Tips for Improving the Guest Experience w i t h Inflatables

Safety is first

Have attendants on duty to engage guests and allow hosts to tend to other

party duties

Make sure clients understand the importance o f inflat ing and deflating the

bouncer correctly

Make sure clients understand the proper way for guests to use the bouncer

Make the bouncer the centerpiece o f entertainment for an event

60 Iourist Attractions & Parks I September'October 2012 I www.tapmag.com

A Partytime R mtnls outdoor evm t. The operation's owner takes issue with companies that dr opoffinflata hies withou f even inflating them.

provide one. In our industry, if an attendant is not there and an accident occurs, it is on the person holding the event. If an accident occurs while one of our attendants is present, it is on us."

Thompson was the first person in the Syracuse area to offer an inflatable. His Big Moon Walk proved popular and more companies began to sprout up. Most of his inflatables were at one time manufactured in Florida or California, but now many come from China.

"China is inevitable but I do look for compa­nies that use American materials because those inflatables are higher quality and there is more of an emphasis on safety."

Thompson believes that safety has become a

bigger issue with all companies over the last few years with manufacturers paying attention to the concerns of operators.

"Some manufacturers have introduced extra loops at the top to help anchor the inflatable. Before, the loops were just anchored at the base. Another change has been with the blowers," he noted. "They are now plastic, which if someone slips onto the blower, there is little danger of being hurt. The new blowers are also GFI and more quiet, which adds to the overall experience of the bouncer. I love to see safety innovation with the inflatables because safety should always be an operator's and manufacturer's first concern. When safety is there, fun follows and that is the point of the bouncers." A

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