Not even six-months in from the opening of its first trampoline park in Bolton, one of the UK’s leading and most innovative operators, Jump Xtreme, is thriving. We catch up with Director, Cliff Nicholls, to see how he’s getting on with his new venture…
You opened your doors in Bolton to the public in March. How are you getting on?
So far, so good! We’re incredibly busy, having had a total of 35,291 individual jumpers since we opened. We also currently employ 39 staff in Bolton alone, with a similar number having just been recruited to work in our latest Park in Tamworth.
More on that later! You previously worked in asset finance. Why did you decide to open up a trampoline park?
I could see a huge gap in the market. Trampoline parks are so successful in the US, and I was confident they’d be a big hit here too! When we were looking into the possibility of setting one up in the UK they were very few and far between, but now they seem to be springing up all over the country.
Not only is it a popular business venture, but also a booming fitness craze! Why do you think it’s so popular?
It’s believed to be miles better for your joints than running. Trampolining takes 80% of physical stress off the joints, and helps to build on strength and stamina. When people come and bounce with us, they’re having fun and getting fit without even noticing it! We also offer special fitness classes run by our top instructors that focus on toning, interval training and dancing.
As you mentioned before, there’s a lot more competition in the UK trampoline industry now. What makes you different?
I think the high-quality and incredibly diverse range of activities we offer really sets us apart from competitors. Our main court in Bolton, for example, has 95 trampolines, a dodgeball court, stunt airbag, tumble tracks, slam dunk hoops and a mini trampoline area for under 4s so that even they don’t miss out on the fun! We really do have something on offer for everybody; whether you’re a jump enthusiast or simply want to chill and watch the fun from the viewing platform in the Xtreme cafe over a coffee.
Why did you opt for alternative finance options to help you get set up?
Having worked in vehicle finance, I’m no stranger to asset finance and I’m well aware of its benefits. Through the leasing agreement with Johnson Reed, we purchased the trampoline system and platform lifts for our centre, and coffee machines for the café. This allowed us to have immediate use of equipment and spread the cost through fixed-term repayments, so we’re seeing a more immediate return on our investment rather than parting with the cash up front.
Why did you approach Johnson Reed?
When starting a venture of this magnitude it’s important to work with the right partners and suppliers…those who are attuned, and fully buy in to what we are looking to achieve. In Mark Johnson of Johnson Reed, I’m pleased to say that’s exactly what we have.
What’s next for you?
Our new site in Tamworth has recently opened. Though broadly the same as our Bolton model because it works so well, but we’d like to think that this new Park already offers a slight step up from the original, as it’s our stated aim to build improvements in to every new site that we open. What is very much in common for both is that they are ideally located for easy access to a broad catchment offering ideal locations for families wanting a fun way to wind down have some fun and get fit all at the same time!
Look at the fantastic Jump Xtreme site in Bolton below.
