It’s been over three years since we helped Wigan soft play centre, Run and Jump, get set up with equipment finance. With more exciting projects in the pipeline, we thought we’d get in touch with Operators, Steve and Regan Tartt, to see how they’re getting on.
Run and Jump initially opened in October 2013. How’s it going?
Really well- in fact, we’re currently planning on expanding our centre to cater for growing demand! Being busy is a great problem to have, and we’ve recently recruited more staff to help with the day-to-day running of the centre. With classes, children’s parties, guest appearances and the attraction of free beans on toast for children on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there’s no such thing as a quiet day!
Has it been what you expected?
We knew that running a business would be a lot of work, but we’ve been overwhelmed by how busy we’ve been. Before we opened, there was no indoor play facility in Wigan or the surrounding areas, so we’ve certainly filled a gap in the local market. We provide young children with a facility that encourages physical, emotional and social development, and parents with a place they can come and relax and socialise with other parents. It’s an incredibly rewarding job, but I don’t know where the time has gone!
It’s a great idea to host various health and safety courses at your play centre. Why did you decide to introduce these?
By dedicating just a few hours, parents can learn valuable new skills and information that could ultimately save lives! One of our most popular courses is the Baby and Child Choking and CPR Training. Shockingly, St. John’s Ambulance found that 40% of parents have witnessed their own baby choke, yet over 80% of parents wouldn’t know what to do in that situation! The more people we can educate, the better. Anybody that completes the course gets free access to the play centre for a month as a thank you.
How did leasing your equipment through Johnson Reed help you in the new start stages?
Our lease agreement allowed us to gain access to the equipment we needed to operate, without having to part with the cost upfront. The fixed repayments really eased any cash flow concerns in the early stages, and we were able to work our equipment costs into our budget easily. The advice, support and guidance Mark provided pointed us in the right direction, and we look forward to working with Johnson Reed again in the near future. We’ve got big plans for Run and Jump!
