This quick tutorial is a game-changer for inflatable rental pros who want to work smarter, not harder.

👉 Watch the full video here: YouTube Shorts – Carlos Rolls an 18ft Slide Solo

🧠 Inflatable Water Slide Tips from Carlos:

Carlos takes us through the step-by-step process of rolling up a commercial-grade 18ft inflatable water slide, showing the right techniques to make the job efficient and safe.

✅ Step-by-Step Breakdown:

• Lay it flat & even: Start with a clean surface and remove excess air.

• Fold it tight: Neat folds are key to a compact roll.

• Roll with power & posture: Use your legs, not your back!

• Strap it down like a pro: Finish strong with secure tie-downs for easy loading.

💡 Pro Tip: Always carry a few extra straps and never rush the fold—it’ll save you trouble later when loading and unloading.

📈 Boost Your Efficiency, Maximize Profits

Learning how to roll a water slide solo is just one of the many ways you can streamline your operations. Whether you're a startup or a seasoned rental veteran, every minute saved adds up.

🧰 Want more inflatable rental business tips?

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for hands-on tutorials, inflatable showcases, and pro tips from the EZ team.

👉 Browse our Water Slides Collection

👉Shop our IN STOCK!

Final Thoughts

Carlos proves that you don’t need a crew of five to handle an 18ft inflatable—just good technique, the right equipment, and a little confidence. So next time you're on your own, channel your inner Carlos and show that slide who’s boss. 💪

Thriving Market Demand:

• The demand for inflatable entertainment is on the rise, with families and event organizers constantly seeking new and exciting ways to make their gatherings memorable. Whether it's birthdays, corporate events, or community festivals, inflatables are a popular choice, ensuring a steady stream of potential customers.

Diverse Product Portfolio:

• One of the key advantages of running an inflatable business is the versatility of your product range. From classic bounce houses to elaborate obstacle courses and water slides, you can cater to a broad audience with diverse preferences and event needs.

Low Initial Investment and Operating Costs:

• Compared to many other businesses, the upfront investment and ongoing operating costs of an inflatable business are relatively low. Once you've acquired your inflatable inventory, expenses such as storage, maintenance, and transportation can be managed efficiently.

Seasonal Opportunities:

• Inflatables aren't just limited to specific seasons. While bounce houses may be the star attraction in warmer months, the demand for inflatable holiday decorations and structures during colder seasons presents year-round business opportunities, allowing you to adapt to changing market needs.

Scalability:

• Start small and scale your business based on demand. As your customer base grows, you can expand your inventory and services, potentially diversifying into related areas such as event planning or party rentals.

Repeat Business and Customer Loyalty:

• Offering a positive and enjoyable experience with your inflatables can lead to repeat business. Satisfied customers are likely to become loyal patrons, turning to your services for their future events and celebrations.

Flexibility for Various Events:

• Inflatables are incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide range of events, from intimate private parties to large-scale corporate functions. This adaptability ensures that your business remains relevant and in demand across different sectors.

Creative Marketing Opportunities:

• The vibrant and eye-catching nature of inflatables provides endless opportunities for creative marketing. Unique designs and engaging social media content can help your business stand out and attract attention in a crowded market.

Community Engagement:

• Running an inflatable business allows you to actively engage with your local community. By partnering with schools, charities, and local businesses for events, you can build strong relationships, establish goodwill, and become an integral part of your community.

Launching an inflatable business can be a buoyant journey towards entrepreneurial success. The combination of market demand, product versatility, low operating costs, and the potential for creative marketing makes this industry an enticing prospect for those with a passion for fun and a desire to make a lasting impact on the events industry. So, if you're ready to turn your business dreams into a reality, consider taking the leap into the world of inflatables – where every bounce is a step closer to success!

How to start marketing an inflatable rental business? 

Do you find it hard to come up with ideas for your rental business? 

Are your posts inconsistent and irrelevant?

 If so, you have come to the right place. 

What is a social media content calendar? 

A content calendar is exactly what it sounds like. Let's start with the basics. A content calendar is a spread sheet or app where you schedule your upcoming posts. This is where you will keep track of what and when you are posting.

Where do you create your content calendar?

The easiest platform to use if you are just starting out is google spreadsheets or excel. These platforms can be easily accessed on multiple devices and are easy to use. 

What should your content calendar look like

• The platform 
• Type of content 
• Topic / caption
• Date and time for publishing
• Whether it has been posted
• Metrics 

Five benefits to using a content calendar

When you are posting on multiple platforms it is difficult to keep track of all your content. Writing down your thoughts and ideas on post-it notes or pieces of paper is unreliable. A content calendar will keep all your ideas and thoughts in one place. Also, a content calendar can help keep your posts aligned with the image you want your rental business to project. 

If you can only retain one thing from this blog post let that be the importance of consistency. The key to growing your social media presence is to be consistent. To maintain relevance and be at the top of your consumers mind you must provide them with consistent relevant content. Make sure you keep your content relevant to your rental business. 

Keeping your audience engaged is a difficult task. Improvising your content can lead to mistakes, like posting irrelevant content and reposting the same content.  These mistakes can cause you to lose your audience. A scheduled content calendar will allow you to see the larger picture to avoid mistakes like these. 

A content calendar will give you a place to add your metrics and keep an eye on how each post is performing. Content performance will let you know which posts work better for your rental business. 

Running your own rental business can be stressful and keeps you busy. A content calendar will allow you to plan months ahead. You will not have to worry about neglecting your social media or stress over what to post. 

Conclusion

A content calendar is the perfect tool to help you start marketing your party rental business. The content calendar will keep you organized and consistent.  

Welcome to the fourth and nearly final installment of our series on improving your website: Content Creation Strategies! Content is the most important piece of your website, hands down. It is the clearest, most direct way to deliver your messages, it is an effective way to sway your audience’s opinions, and it allows you to be found by the various search engines of the internet because of SEO! What’s not to love about content?

But how do you ensure that your content is actually… decent? And what content is best for an inflatable company? That’s where this blog can help! Below we’ll list some tips and strategies for making sure you have grade A content that’s going to draw people into your business and create a sale!

 1. Content is King; Make it Work for You

As mentioned above, content is the key ingredient to having a successful site and can be used to help you stick out among your competition. Having concise information that’s easy to read, enticing, and relevant to your business paints an image of professionalism that convinces your audience to take action.

While your website design draws your audience in and leads their attention to where it needs to go, your content is what influences them to make a decision. Make it count! Highlight the best aspects of your company, describe your products with creativity, and use relevant keywords that will get your website to the top of the front page!

2. Write for People, Not Search Engines

It’s no joke that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential to any website looking to bring in visitors. Who wants to buried in the Google masses? However, do not let this concept get to your head. Some people think that loading your site with keywords is a surefire way to bring in new business; it’s not.

A site that is overly wordy, repetitive and is simply overloaded with keywords is a major turnoff to readers. Instead, incorporate keywords strategically and let your content flow naturally. If you’re writing about your product, these keywords are sure to make an appearance organically.

3. Lure Your Audience to Other Pages

Using text, you can entice your audience to venture to other areas of your site. Be sure to highlight any special offers, products/services, blogs, and videos! Don’t forget; content includes videos as well as written text, so be sure to include relevant footage that further educates your audience.

4. Keep Up with Your Site

You want to make sure that your content is up to date and fresh for your viewers. There’s nothing like a dead site to deter prospective clients! Periodically scroll through your site and look for outdated information, broken links, and anything that just isn’t performing at its best. Not only is this a content issue, but can be applied to any and all website upkeep as well.

5. Keep it Clear and Consistent

All businesses have goals and a dedicated means to reach them. Ensure that any content displayed on your site is in line with your business goals and the messaging you have established for your brand. If your site has an upbeat tone with colorful imagery, stick with that! Consistency develops your brand; stick to it!

Now that you have read through this short list of tips, do a walkthrough of your site (if you have already developed one) and see if there are any areas you can improve. For the inflatable business, include videos of the product in action, text that describes the look and feel of the product, blogs about the rental industry and the ways in which you can incorporate inflatables into events, and any other well-crafted content that is consistent with the goals you are trying to reach.

Happy content creating!

Every year, the IAAPA Trade Show in Orlando, Florida transforms into the ultimate playground for the attractions industry, bringing together visionaries and innovators from around the globe. For us at EZ Inflatables Inc., IAAPA 2024 was nothing short of epic!

The highlight? Showcasing our premium inflatables and meeting long-time customers in person! Our lineup featured the EZ Game, Snow Throw, Gingerbread Game, Winter Wonderland Snow Globe, Football Challenge Jr., 3-in-1 Carnival Game and the stars of the show: EZ Gaming Combo Jr. and the Pixelated EZ Combo.

We’re proud to deliver inflatables crafted from high-grade vinyl for unmatched durability and style. Our booth reflected our dedication to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. But what truly sets us apart isn’t just our exceptional products—it’s our unwavering commitment to our customers.

IAAPA was BUSY with our team answering questions, sharing insights, and helping entrepreneurs thrive in the inflatable business. We don’t just sell inflatables—we empower our customers to succeed.

This year we decided to do something special for our customers and had an exclusive giveaway for those who purchased inflatables at the show! The prize was Ninja Jump’s Spider Nest Igloo, with the winner announced live at the show by our CEO, Eddie who spun the drum and picked a name at random. Congratulations to Cowboy Party Rentals, the lucky winner!

Missed out on the action? Don’t worry! Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to catch all the highlights. From product showcases to some behind the scenes, it’s all there waiting for you!

We had a blast at IAAPA 2024! The positive feedback we received affirmed that our commitment goes beyond products. We’re here to foster success, growth, and excitement for our customers and their businesses.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. Whether you just said hi or placed an order, we appreciate your support. As we look ahead, we’re energized and inspired, ready to continue innovating and collaborating in this dynamic industry. We can’t wait to see you next year!

A strong website is key to boosting your business in today's digital world. At EZ Inflatables, we're here to give you top-notch products and share our insider tips from the inflatables industry. In this blog series, we'll show you the must-haves for building and upgrading your website. Let's get started!

1. Strategize

Before starting your website project, understand your customers' needs and interests. Design a site that’s easy to navigate, visually engaging, and highlights why your company stands out. Think like a first-time visitor: what do they need to know to fall in love with your brand? Let these insights steer your content and make your site unforgettable!

2. Consider Your Options

New to website design? No worries! You can build your site yourself with easy tools like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress, which offer drag-and-drop features and options to integrate bookings, or hire a freelancer using sites like Fiverr or Upwork

3. Keep it Functional

Test your site on different browsers and devices to ensure it looks and works smoothly. Fix broken links and images, eliminate dead ends, and boost speed for a reliable, satisfying user experience.

4. Stay Current and Consistent

Regularly update your site with fresh, relevant content, ensuring that all information is accurate and up-to-date. Keep your content aligned with your business goals and brand messaging, maintaining a consistent tone throughout. Review your site often for opportunities to improve with additions like product videos, descriptive text, and industry blogs.

5. Make Your Website Work for You

Your website is a powerful tool for driving sales, so invest in developing and maintaining it. Regularly monitor web traffic, analytics, and SEO, or hire a specialist to do so. With a little know-how, your site can significantly boost your business.

Your website is a powerhouse for driving sales, so treat it like one! Invest in its development and keep it in top shape. Regularly check web traffic, analytics, and SEO, or bring in a pro to handle the details. With the right attention and a dash of expertise, your site can turn browsers into buyers and make your business shine!

Don’t miss the video that complements this blog!

Make sure to check out our video below!

1. Alternate Your Inflatables

As the weather cools down, it's time to bring the fun indoors and alternate between units. Offer inflatables perfect for indoor play, like smaller bounce houses, and interactive games. These will be a hit at indoor venues like community centers, gymnasiums, and event halls, and are perfect for events such as birthday parties, school functions, and corporate events.

2. Up Your Marketing

Don’t get discouraged when things begin to slow down. Use this time to up your marketing. Finish updating up your website with fresh content, optimize it for search engines, and increase your online presence, actively engaging with your audience on social media. Make use of all those photos, videos, testimonials, and more.

3. Stay Up to Date

Stay in the know about local events to score inflatable gigs and tailor your inventory to match the seasonal trends. Connect with event organizers, local businesses, and community leaders, boost your business's presence, and ride the seasonal wave. Plus, you might snag some great referrals while you’re at it!

4. Diversify Your Services

Expand your offerings beyond inflatables to become the ultimate go-to party service! We've got sol·id chairs, tables, and tents for sale on our website, ensuring your customers are covered. Add a sprinkle of fun with concession rentals and photo booths. By being a one-stop-shop for party essentials, you’ll attract more customers and boost your revenue!

5. Plan Ahead

Take advantage of peak season by offering enticing deals for the slower months. Let your customers know about upcoming discounts and package deals while you have their attention, so they keep you in mind as the slow season approaches.

Keep the inflatable fun rolling all year long by shifting to indoor-friendly inflatables and adding chairs, tables, and party extras to your lineup. Boost your marketing, stay updated on local events, and plan ahead with off-season deals. By staying proactive and engaged, you’ll ensure a steady flow of business and keep the party going year-round! Here’s to making every season a blast!

Starting your own inflatable business comes with its fair share of twists and turns. We're diving headfirst into the world of inflatable entrepreneurship, uncovering the top five mistakes that newbies often stumble upon.

1. Purchasing Themed Units

Themed units are like a party with a guest list; fun, but exclusive. While undeniably fun, themed inflatables limit your rental market to a narrow audience seeking that specific theme. Cast a wider net by offering universally enjoyable units and save the themed dazzle for when you're ready to steal the show!

2. Not understanding the market

Do your research! Know every nook and cranny: neighborhoods, schools, parks—you name it. Knowing your turf inside out is the key to reaching your audience and sealing the deal. Don’t forget to get familiar with your competition: find out what areas are already being covered and how much others within your area are charging.

3. Being Shy with Marketing

Without marketing, your business may not reach its full potential audience, resulting in fewer sales and slower growth. Be bold and proactive! Invest in brand materials like banners, flyers, and business cards. Consider creating a website to promote your products and become active on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and social media. Positive reviews can build trust and credibility with potential customers.

4. Underestimating Operational Costs

Newbies often get blindsided by the full bill of running an inflatable rental business. It's not just about the bouncy castles – think transportation, storage, upkeep, insurance, and more! Neglecting to budget for these can turn your business dream into a deflated disaster. So, bounce smart and budget like a pro to keep your dreams soaring high!

5. Thinking of Your Preferences Before Your Clients Needs

Small business owners often fall head over heels for a particular inflatable unit. But just because it's fabulous doesn't mean it's flying off the shelves! Get on the demand train and take the time to mingle with your clients to find out exactly what floats their boat.

Need a quick recap? Check out our Youtube video below!

EZ Inflatables Inc.

5 Rookie Mistakes That'll Deflate Your Fun (Avoid These Oopsies and Keep the Party Pumping!

1. Using Clorox to clean your inflatables.

Keeping your inflatables safe, clean, and pristine is key. Skip the Clorox; it's vinyl's enemy! Anything with a pH over 10 spells trouble, dissolving threads over time and damaging your vinyl’s coating. Check out our recommended cleaning products here

2. Leaving your inflatable dirty post-party

Cleaning your inflatable after every use is crucial for maintaining a professional image and ensuring customer satisfaction. Plus, it helps extend the lifespan of your equipment, saving you from premature replacements and keeping your business bouncing!

3. Don't store it wet!

Trapped moisture breeds mold and mildew, causing odors, discoloration, and material damage. It also fosters bacteria growth, posing health risks. Properly drying the inflatable before storage prevents these issues and extends its lifespan.

4. Letting your unit set sail

Using stakes or sandbags to secure your inflatable unit prevents it from taking flight unexpectedly, ensuring your event stays grounded and worry-free! Stakes for grass, sandbags for pavement. We recommend using 60 lb sandbags per anchor point indoors, 100 lb - 200 lb per anchor point outdoors, 36” stakes for units over 24 ft, and 18” length and 5/8” diameter stakes for units shorter than 24 ft.

5. Sparking a short circuit

Pick the right extension cord or risk turning your inflatable into a firework display! Avoid burning out a blower or circuit breaker, and keep the fire away by calculating the optimal wire size for your needs using an online wire size calculator like the one below.

Wire Size Calculator | Unleash Your Electrical Potential

Is your bounce house rental business struggling to find insurance that covers your needs?

Why Insurance?

If large companies can go bankrupt due to lawsuits, small party rental businesses are much more likely to go under. It is important to insure your bounce house rental business to prevent complete loss from a lawsuit. 

Type of insurance 

 You might be asking yourself what type of liability insurance does a party rental business need? The insurance your rental company needs is commercial general liability insurance. A commercial general liability policy protects your business from financial loss should you become liable for any property damage, personal injury caused by your business, services, or your employees.

Research Insurance 

Now that you know you need insurance for your rental business. It is time to research which insurance best works for you. 

Finding the right insurance for your rental company can be stressful. We know how busy you can get running a small business! So EZ Inflatables has done the research for you. We have narrowed it down to two insurance companies. 

Rental Insurance for your Rental Business

Cossio Insurance Agency 

Liberty United Insurance

Conclusion

Overall both rental insurance companies are great. It is up to you to decide what insurance company best fits your party rental needs. We hope our research has helped you make your choice easier!

Check out Nick Glassett Youtube channel and Blog. 

Starting a business can be really scary, especially when you never started a business before. A rental company can bring in a pretty good cash flow no matter if the business is part-time or full-time. Nick Glassett, the owner of It’s The Jump Off Bounce House and Waterslides, gave 11 really good tips for starting a business.

Tip #1: People Business

An inflatable rental business isn’t about the inflatables but the people. It’s all about your clients what they need and how you can provide for them.

Tip #2: Just Go

You’re not going to be a pro at the rental business on your first try. It will be scary to do something new or doing something you’re not comfortable with but it is ok to fail because you still went and did it. Just go and figure it out on the way.

Tip #3: Nothing’s Impossible

Never use the phrase “it’s impossible” because nothing is impossible. With a lot of hard work, you can pull anything off.

Tip #4: Hire People

When you have your business all set up and you’ve taken on a few clients it’s time to hire another person. When your business starts to bomb it will be hard to do all the deliveries, pick-ups, cleaning, paperwork, etc. all on your own. Hire a hard worker, split the duties in a qualified way and it will be smooth sailing from there.

Tip #5: Good Equipment

The bigger the inflatable the better the rental sales are but it will become extremely hard to pull around a 500-pound waterslide with a tiny dolly or truck. Investing in good quality equipment will be worth it in the long run.

Tip #6: Facebook Group

The best part of building an inflatable rental company is that the community for this business is extremely nice. By joining the bounce house and rentals operators Facebook group you can ask any questions you may have and get responses immediately. Most of the time the question you have had already been asked and you can easily look it up in the Facebook group. 

Tip #7: Stay Aggressive with Yourself

Every time you do a delivery or a pick-up do something different from the routine. Put the inflatable in the trailer a different way, clean them with a new technique, or unpacking a different way. All of this will help you grow as a business owner and help you move faster during deliveries and pick-ups. 

Tip #8: Pay Well

The people you hire are the most important aspect of your company. By paying your employees well, they will see how much you appreciate them and what they do.  Pay them well and they will stay.

Tip #9: Become a Marketer

With building a new business, you will need to learn how to market your business. Learn how to use Facebook ads and see how they connect with Instagram. Look into google ads and making a website. But one of the most important marketing tools is Word of Mouth. By giving your clients a good experience with your inflatable, not only will they come back for more but they will tell their friends and neighbors and families about how great your company is and would recommend them to give you a call.

Tip #10: More Content

The more active you are on social media the more opportunities you could potentially have. For example, Nick Glassett is always posting on his Instagram story and he had said that he has gotten a few opportunities for the franchise. Don’t be afraid with your social media and just start posting!

Tip #11: Get a Finance Guy

Getting a good finance guy and a good CPA is so important for your business. They will help you with all of the taxes and how to pay your employees and give you money advice. Very important to have these two in your pocket. 

There you go! These are the 11 tips from Nick Glassett, check out the full video and all of his other ones. Good luck with your new business and look into some of our inflatables to help start you off!

Have you ever wondered how bounce houses were made?

Here at EZ, we take special pride in our units that we make in the United States. We have set design teams to create new and exciting units and a team of expert sowers who make the idea come to life. On our youtube channel, you can find our informative guide to our process.

It takes time and creativity to design a new unit. Here at EZ, we make sure to always try and bring you new and innovative designs to help create any bounce house that will help form the perfect aesthetic for any themed party. Once our design team has curated an idea they cut the pieces into sections.

Once the material has been cut and prepared the sowing team is ready to begin forming the unit together. This is the final stage of the process, the team lays out the pattern and begins to connect the patterns. As soon as they sowed it together, we blow it up and make sure the entire unit is up to EZ standards and the quality our customers are accustomed to.

The unit is finally ready to be shipped and sent over to its owners! Our team makes sure to roll up each bounce house, waterslide, or even a slip & slide carefully and into a tight roll. All of our units come with their corresponding stakes and blowers in a neat package.

Every business has a bad side to it. But with the right strategies, you can surpass any tough situation. With owning an inflatable business, you’re not only starting a cool, fun, and exciting adventure, you’re also providing it all to your community.

1. Deflate your inflatable
2. When completely deflated, pull one side of the unit towards the center.
3. Walk over the unit to apply pressure and release any extra air inside. 
4. Repeat the process on the opposite side.
5. Start rolling your unit from one end to the other, while still walking over the loose end to release air.
6. Tie straps when you’re done rolling.

Do you have your own strategies and tactics in rolling your inflatables? Let us know in the comments below!

Busy seasons in the rental business come and go depending on where you live, the items you have to offer and the different events/ holidays that happen throughout the year. Ideally, we can keep up a steady stream of business all year long, but there will always be those periods where we receive an influx of work. It’s essential to be prepared and stay on your toes so you can meet the demand. Here are 5 tips we think are crucial to being successful when business gets a little busy.

1. Look back on previous years

The best thing about the past is that you can always learn from it. Reflect on previous years and gather all the data and insights you need in order to predict your business trends. This is also a great opportunity to see what you could have improved on, what you can do differently in the future, and how you should move forward. Did you have enough employees? Was your ad budget effective? Did you have enough units to meet demand? These are all questions that can guide your strategy that are based around the past.

2. Get Your Game Plan Ready

Once you’ve evaluated the triumphs and pitfalls of previous years, plan your next moves. Conducting a SWOT analysis for your business is a great place to start. For those unfamiliar, a SWOT analysis is where you lay out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your business. It can give you a good idea of where you need to improve and what you’re already doing well. With a good grasp on your business’ current status, you can then enact a strategy that will prepare you for an influx of orders.

3. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

So you’ve gone through your SWOT, you’ve pinpointed your next course of action, and now it’s time to actually get it all done. There are a few necessities that we’ve discovered are common throughout the inflatable/ party rental business, so make sure to review:

Employee Coordination
One of the biggest challenges in running a business is coordinating a well-trained, reliable, and hard-working staff. Start your hiring process early on and establish an effective training process to prepare your staff for an increase in events.

Website Updates
Skim through your website often to ensure that it is providing a comfortable user journey, is providing accurate information, has engaging calls to action, and represents your business properly. Are users reaching a certain point and not following through with a sale? Investigate the cause and adjust your website as needed. 

Unit Maintenance
Go through your inventory and perform any necessary repairs, retire units that are no longer working well for your business, and see if you have room to bring in new inventory (maybe from EZ Inflatables!)

Insurance and State Inspections
Review your state requirements and your insurance policies to make sure that you have everything covered and in good standing. It is always best to be prepared before an incident happens.

Advertising Budget
Stay on top of your advertising efforts and make adjustments as needed. Run tests to see what is working, invest in quality pictures and videos, and allocate a healthy budget for promoting your business. This includes social media, local ads, Google Ads, and SEO!

4. Stay Organized

In order to keep your sanity and your business running smoothly, maintain an organization system that tracks orders, employees, finances, etc. Using software like Quickbooks, Event Rental Systems, Inflatable Office, Excel, or any other program that works for you is a great way to stay on top of everything. Keep your inventory organized as well. Establish a working system that your employees can follow for labeling units and keeping track of accessories to save yourself from future headaches.

5. Keep calm and thrive!

When there’s an increase in business, there’s always an increase in the chance for mistakes and hardships. Employees not showing up, equipment breaking down, mistakes with orders being made and so much more can occur at any time; the best way to get through them is to be prepared. Take the extra moment to inspect your vehicles, follow up with customers and confirm every item of their order, and go the extra mile when you can to ensure your success.

Lastly, don’t forget to relax from time to time. You cannot pour from an empty cup and you won’t be any good to your business if you’re not well physically or mentally. Taking a breather is never a bad thing!

Moral of the story: work smart, be prepared, and get ready for an exciting season. Get out there and conquer whatever challenges come your way!

If you have any tips or tricks for your fellow party rental business owners, feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

Winter is coming… So how do you prepare?! For those in the inflatables industry that live in colder climates, winter months are oftentimes slower than usual or can come to a full stop. Whether you’re making a push to keep orders flowing or taking a short vacation this season, there are things you need to know to maintain your inflatable business. In this blog, we’ll outline how to care for your inflatables during the Winter and tips to help keep your business booming despite the chilly weather.

Inflatable Winter Care

When it comes to storing inflatables, it’s important to consider temperature. Vinyl can withstand extremely cold temperatures without taking on damage, so it’s not necessary to worry about them being too cold if you’re leaving them in storage all winter long. If you are still operating during the winter and inflating your units from time to time, remember that cold vinyl is stiff and more difficult to roll so that will add some time to your assembly/ take down. When vinyl is out in the cold, you need to take care in the way you handle and manipulate it since it is a bit more fragile and stiff than it would be in warmer weather. Cold weather can also be harsh on seams and printed vinyl in general, so just be wary of potential wear and tear and be sure to thoroughly inspect your units for any damage. A heated storage unit or warehouse can make inflatable rentals during the winter much more pleasant!

For storing your units, dryness is your friend and rodents are the enemy. Make sure that there is no moisture in your inflatable units before you store them for winter, because any wet spots in a unit can lead to mold, smells, and bacterial growth that can stain and damage your vinyl. Also, thoroughly inspect your storage for any leaks or weak points that could lead to problems in the future.

If you live in more humid climates, watch for any moisture that can accumulate during the winter. It may be necessary to do a mid-winter cleaning then thorough dry to ensure that no mold is building up. It's a nightmare to open a unit after being stored for months, only to find it covered in mold. Preventative maintenance will save you lots of headaches in the future. 

To ward rodents away from your units, some folks recommend unconventional methods like peppermint oil and bars of soap around your storage or mothballs and dryer sheets within your rolled inflatables. They hate the smell and it will keep your vinyl smelling fresh and clean without any rodent-caused holes.

This is also a great time to review your inventory, perform repairs, and plan ahead for the year to come. Just because business is slow, doesn’t mean you have to be.

Winter Business Tips

Thinking of how to stay busy during the winter months? You have lots of options! Many people continue to rent out inflatables and focus on units that work well inside, add on different services to their business model, or stop renting all together and shift their focus towards strategy.

For inflatable units that work well during the winter months, we recommend smaller inflatables that can be brought inside a gym, church, or convention center. Items like our Cones, Zap-A-Mole, Shoot & Score 4, Mini Wiped Out, Strike a Light, Roller Ball, Carnival Games, EZ Beats, and any smaller size slide, bounce house, obstacle course or combo are perfect for inside events. We also have lots of holiday/ Winter themed units that are perfect for this time of year and any holiday events you may have booked.

Get creative and see which organizations you can reach out to before winter, incorporate your products into their events, and sell them on the idea. Corporate holiday parties, fundraisers, school and church events are abundant around the end/ beginning of the year. Use this to your advantage!

Use this time to plan ahead for the year to come as well. Do some cold calling to book events for when it’s warmer, plan which inflatables you’re looking to purchase for the upcoming season, perform repairs and heavy cleaning, establish your marketing strategy, edit your website/ social media, and do any other tasks you may not have had time to focus on during the busy season.

Winter can be a hard season if you don’t have a solid game plan for how you go into it. Plan ahead and stay busy to keep your business performing at its best!

Big thanks to Alan Graber with A Bounceable Time in North Carolina for providing valuable insights added to this article! Check out his site here.

1. Readability is a Top Priority

Your website could have lots of bells and whistles to draw people in, but if your message isn’t clear or the text is difficult to read, the information on your site is pointless. There are a couple of ways to ensure that your text is not only legible, but is easy on readers' eyes as well.

Serif vs Sans Serif

A serif is the little mark or stroke on letters in certain fonts. “Sans serif” applies to fonts without this little stroke. See below:

Using sans serif fonts makes reading through internet pages easier and they’re the preferred typeface for most big-name websites. Also, try to stay away from using a wide variety of fonts; 2-3 for your whole site should do the trick!

Contrast is Crucial 

We’ve all seen those sites with a light green text on top of a yellow background (just thinking about it is making my eyes hurt), and while these colors are fun, they’re not all that practical when placed together. Using a stark contrast with a dark text on top of a light background can make a world of difference for your readers’ eyes and improve your website’s overall look.

Another key factor in choosing fonts is to remember that different internet browsers and operating systems can display fonts differently and there are standard, web safe fonts that you can stick with to ensure a consistent look among all devices. Some of these fonts are:

Arial

Comic Sans

Courier/ Courier New

Georgia

Helvetica

Impact

Times/ Times New Roman

Trebuchet

Verdana

2. Minimalism Is In

Branching off of readability, having a minimalistic website can improve legibility, make your site look more professional, and allow you to steer your audience’s attention to where you need it to go. A user on your site is more likely to see a message if it’s not surrounded by clutter.

3. Pay Attention to the Visual Hierarchy

The concept of a visual hierarchy is that there are certain elements of a design that stick out more than others and this affects the way people look at a design. This applies to the way people scan a page, the order in which they read a design, and their preferences for what they want to look at. For example, people read bigger things first. It’s the way our brains work and we’re more drawn to large, bold text than smaller text.

Knowing this, think about what is most important for your audience to know and where they should begin their visual journey on your site. Visual hierarchy also applies to the use of color, textures, and more. Do some additional research on visual hierarchy and learn how you can improve your website’s design using this tool.

4. White Space Can Be Your Friend!

When designing a website, it can be easy to neglect white space for fear that it is boring or unattractive. However, properly utilizing white space can add to the minimalistic feel of your website, improve readability, and help you direct your audience’s attention to where it needs to go. If you couldn’t already tell, we at EZ Inflatables love white space! We use it as an easy on the eyes backdrop for our products and it allows us to showcase what we find most important for our audience.

5. Use People, but Avoid Stock Images

People love people plain and simple, but they don’t like seeing people who look staged, posed, or generic. Images are important and especially if they showcase a person using your product or enjoying themselves, but users will completely ignore the image if it’s an unappealing stock image.

Check out this image from a study by NN Group:

It shows the activity of users’ eyes when looking at a particular webpage. They found that website users will simply tune out filler photos and will look at pictures of interesting people. So rule of thumb: use people, but use interesting pictures that feature real people!

6. Keep Things Mobile Friendly

It goes without needing to be said, but we’re saying it anyway! People visit websites on their phone more often than their desktop computer, so make sure your site looks good on mobile devices! This means paying close attention to text spacing, font size, image alignment, colors, and so much more. A lot of web builders give you the option to directly edit your mobile site or update it automatically; whether it’s direct or automatic, make sure to check on it and ensure that it looks and performs how it needs to.

7. Make Your Calls to Action Stand Out

Calls to action are essential for bringing your audience to an end goal. That could be signing up for your newsletter, making an order, or calling in so you can make a sale over the phone. Whatever your goal is, make the actions they need to take obvious and easy to access. You can do this by placing them on your homepage, making them large and colorful, and paying attention to the visual hierarchy of your site so you can figure out where to place them.

This doesn't lead anywhere but it stands out doesn't it ;)

8. Keep Your Audience Focused on the Goal

Similar to making your calls to action stand out, remember that your website’s audience is on a journey and can easily stray. Think twice about where you’re providing links to outside websites or your social media. Put all your social media links at the bottom of a page so your audience can stay focused and consider if there is any real benefit to linking to a third party. Create an easy to follow journey for your audience and they will follow it!

9. Answer Your Audience’s Most Important Questions

Put yourself in the shoes of a user visiting your site for the first time. What will they want/need to know? Use these questions to help guide your decision on what information should be brought to your audience’s immediate attention.

10. Let Your Website’s Design Speak for Your Company

It’s important to have a functioning and organized site, but don’t let the little details let you lose sight of your company’s message. You want your online presence to not only be informative and help you make a sale, but you also want your audience to know the company they are purchasing from. Adding personal touches like pictures of you and your employees or your products out in the field creates an image of who your business is and gives your audience a more intimate experience on your site.

Remember, have fun with your design and make something beautiful that you can be proud of. Your website is a tool that showcases your brand, make sure it’s representative of what your company stands for.

In the digital age, one of the most important aspects to growing your business is having a strong online presence. Social media is key to promoting growth, but it all ties back to one place: your website. Without a strong website as your foundation, your online presence will remain stagnant and it will be increasingly difficult to get your company seen online.

At EZ Inflatables, not only do we want to provide you with high-quality products, we want to share our knowledge and experience in the inflatables industry with you. In this blog series, we will cover some key features for building/ improving your website so you can develop the know-how to maintaining a successful site.

In this first blog of the series, we want to talk about the basics of getting started: how to plan ahead and the options you have when building a website.

1. Strategize

With any project, it is essential to plan ahead and know the direction you want to go. Do not jump into site building blindly. Learn about your customers, understand what their journey will be when visiting your site, and use that as a starting point for the type of content and designs you’ll have on your website.

What exactly are they looking for? What are they interested in reading? What words and designs will draw them in? Keep these questions and more in mind when approaching your site design and take the time to research your customer base. Potential customers are on a journey when visiting your website, so make sure it is one that is to the point, convincing, and makes your company look like the best option for them.

2. You Have Options

If you’re new to the website design world, creating your own site may seem daunting. Coding?? Hosting?? SEO??? It can all sound like a technological headache. Luckily, there are so many programs, sites, and people out there who can help you succeed.

Understand that you have lots of different options. If you feel comfortable taking on the task of designing your own site, go for it! If you want to hire an in-house web designer to maintain your online projects, more power to you! If you want to hire a freelance web designer to get your website started, make that happen! There are so many ways to get your business online and they all just take a little bit of research and understanding what will work best for your own business.

If you decide to go the route of building your own site, look into your options. If you’re not an experienced coder, programs like Wix, SquareSpace, and WordPress provide easy drag and drop templates that allow you to design your site with ease. There are also programs like Event Rental Systems (ERS) that are catered to the event industry specifically and allow you to edit your site through their software while it tracks and books orders/ reservations. We’ll have more information on ERS at the end of this article.

If you decide to hire a freelance or in-house web developer, be sure to take the time to educate yourself on some web design basics so you can better articulate your ideas for your site and understand your web developer’s work. This makes the job easier for your web developer and you get the results you’ve been looking for while also understanding the steps it took to get there. 

The most important thing to remember when getting started is that you have options and there is an infinite amount of resources out there to help you along the way (including this blog!) Don’t let the vastness of the internet intimidate you. When you get down to the core of website design, it’s not too difficult! 

This was our first blog to kick off our series on website improvement! Stay tuned as we release more articles in the coming months about design, SEO, and more!

About Event Rental Systems

We asked Rob Weinstein, Owner of Event Rental Systems, Inc. to tell us a little bit more about his software. If you’re in the event planning/ rental industry and have been considering revamping your software, check out ERS! Here’s what Rob had to say:

Event Rental Systems known as ERS by their users is the leading software system for the inflatable industry with over 1300 companies and close to 10,000 user accounts worldwide.  Chosen over 5 to 1 over their closest competition the system allows for real time ordering and smart suggested add-on sales. They release over 120 new updates and features per year and even hold their own industry conference called ERSCON.  Here are some of the key benefits included in ERS:

Real time ordering

Automated sales and marketing

Automated truck routing.

Real time vehicle tracking

Automated paperwork and contracts

Digital paperless options

Free mobile app for drivers

Automated surveys

Tax reporting

Integrations with QuickBooks, leading email marketing packages such as Constant Contact, Google Analytics and Gmail, etc.

The system also comes with a customizable CRM and if that wasn’t enough, an SEO friendly, state of the art website with click and drag editing also comes included with the system.

They have a 30 day free trial and a Facebook Users group with over 700 active users able to help out day and night. Finally their customer support is over the top. Check them out at www.eventrentalsystems.com or call 505-435-9731.

Protect your reputation and the quality of your inflatable units by keeping them clean and pristine! Imagine this scenario (or maybe this has actually happened to you): your crew shows up to a birthday party; it’s summertime, it’s hot, your client is getting a little cranky, and you got 3 more gigs for the day that you need to set up for. So you unroll the water slide your client ordered, install the blowers, get it settled in its spot for the day, and you head on out.

When you go back to pick up the water slide, your client mentions that this party was WILD and your slide was a total hit! “It was so much fun! The kids got on the slide after having a food fight, covering each other in silly string, and rolling around in the mud! Also, we wanted to be nice and tried to roll up the slide for you, but man is it heavy! It’s over there sitting in that muddy water.”

O.M.G.

Total nightmare right? This baby is going to need some deep cleaning. Where to even start? Have no fear, we’re here to offer you a guide on basic cleaning of a unit (waterslides specifically) and some special tips and tricks for those stubborn cases.

Where to start?!

With any water slide, you want to make sure that everything is properly detached before rolling it up. Any hoses, misting units, anything connected to a water source needs to be removed.

Next, be sure to rinse it as well as you can. Any residual mud, grass, and debris should be rinsed off with water. The longer you wait, the drier the slide will get and the more difficult it will be to get it clean (especially if it’s warm out). There’s definitely going to be some mud and debris left over on the slide, but hey, there’s no harm in a pre-wash!

Make sure you have all the items that go with the unit (customers have a tendency to take things off, like roofs?! So make sure to get all your supplies). Secure your covers using the Velcro attachments.

Remove as much water as possible before loading a water slide so it’s not heavier and doesn’t create more mess for you in the future. An easy way to remove water is by unzipping one area of the unit and using the pressure of the air blower to push the water out. Then, turn off the blower, open up all the zippers and let it fully deflate.

Roll up your unit and take it home!

Our friends over at Bounce it Out Events made this really great blog post about taking down a unit! Check it out here!

The unit is back in my warehouse, now what?

So, it’s important to dry out your unit as soon as possible! Vinyl + sitting water= mold, damage, and just a smelly time for everyone that will make your cleaning job even harder.

Open up your water slide as much as possible and get all the water out. Towel dry any excess wet spots and (pro tip) don’t forget to open the drainage hole flaps and to pad dry the baffles!

If you need to store a unit before it’s properly cleaned, be sure to open up a zipper and keep it stored at an angle so that any water or excess humidity can escape.

Cleaning Time!

Cleaning your inflatable doesn’t have to be hard! All you need is a solid cleaning solution (or 2 or 3) and some help.

First things first, blow up your inflatable and remove the covers and steps. We’ve found this to be the most efficient way to clean an inflatable. Make sure to lie down a tarp so you don’t get the bottom of the unit any dirtier. 

Sweep your unit or use a ShopVac to remove any leftover debris. You can also use a microfiber towel to give the unit a once-over and get anything the broom or ShopVac may have missed. 

Be sure to periodically inspect your units and check for any holes, tears, cracks, etc. Not only will this help the look of your unit, but it’s a safety concern as well!

Recommended Cleaners/ Disinfectants

We asked the members of the Event Professionals Alliance Facebook group and they offered their insights on working cleaners!

There’s traditional cleaners and all-natural cleaners, which could potentially help you reach a new market of clients! - Lysol Disinfectant Spray - OdoBan Odor Disinfectant. Recommended by Cassie Beardsley. 

MonoFoil Antimicrobial Spray (Kills Staph virus) Recommended by Nathan Suddarth, KidZone Party Rentals, Noblesville, IN.

THIEVES essential oil cleaner (all-natural cleaner; kills MRSA and Staph virus) Recommended by Pamela Hoekstra-Corsner, 3 Monkeys Inflatables.

Red Lion, PA - doTERRA On Guard cleaner (all-natural cleaner) Recommended by Jumpin’ Wheelies, Crown Point, IN.

Simple Green d Pro 3 Recommended by Nathan Davis, RAD Bounce House-Party Rentals, Mesa, AZ.

Do you have a favorite cleaner you like to use or a technique that’s changed your cleaning game? Share it below in the comments!