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Please see below a sample newsletter which went out to all BIHA members (via email) on 7th December 2014. (This newsletter goes out weekly)
From Mark Jerram:
BRITISH INFLATABLE HIRERS ALLIANCE www.biha.org.uk
The Support Network you can count on.....
Including the PRIVATE discussion forum at:
Is your hire biz on the BIHA Google Map ? http://bit.ly/1uDQ0Ku If not, please reply to this email.
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7 December 2014
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to this week's BIHA Tip....
Also, Matt from Big Bounce in Nottingham is featured in today's "Spotlight on an Inflatable Hire Company" (See below).
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The BIHA Tip this week is a bit like marmite -- you will either love it -- or you'll hate it!!
Over the last few years I have been collecting ideas to increase the "TRUST FACTOR" of bouncy castle hire companies (in the eyes of their customers and prospects) so they get more bookings!
The logic behind this is very simple - the more your customers, potential customers, website visitors and referrals trust you, then the more likely you are to get bookings and referrals (including lucrative bookings from corporates and Local Authorities etc.)
You can see a report I wrote at: http://bit.ly/1CVInY5
This report is being updated for 2015 and more trust factors will be added.
The BIHA tip this week involves another trust factor which not only can impress the heck out of your customers/prospects but can get you quickly noticed by your local community, and directly helps save lives.
It revolves around a much needed service that approx. 10% of the population do -- and it's giving blood.
If you give blood -- take a selfie -- including the needle and tubes etc. and the nurse if she's happy about it.
Even better -- take some video on your mobile phone and upload it to YouTube!!
Then put the selfie and/or the video on your website and Facebook page etc.
Think it's a bit unprofessional and pointless?
Think again....
Giving blood is one of the most selfless acts that you can possibly do.
Your customers and prospects will know that you will not have been paid for it and will impress the heck out of them.
Subconsciously they will be deeply moved at your compassion for fellow human beings (A pint of blood you donate can save the lives of THREE people)
Whether they like it or not -- they will see you as being incredibly caring, and even quite courageous (i.e. not afraid of the process because some people have a fear of needles!)
Because they see you as being a caring human being -- they are likely to trust you more!
This should convert into a greater likelihood of them wanting to hire your inflatables as opposed to your competitors (everything else being equal)
I have given blood (quite a lot) and it's actually quite an enjoyable experience -- Ask any blood donor you know! And they will tell you it is!
However, if you like the above idea but have a genuine fear of needles then there are other ways that you can benefit from it to impress your customers (and help good causes).
E.g. Get photos or video of yourself doing a charity fun run.
Getting involved in Foodbank or some other charitable organisation to help the poor.
Visiting sick children at Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital or your local hospital.
Helping out with any charity that has a very strong local community following (e.g. the Air Ambulance).
Etc. etc.
Don't forget to photo or video yourself, and add the footage to your website and social media sites.
You may even get a mention and a pic in your local press. (Valuable free advertising!)
DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR CORPORATE SHIRT OR SWEATSHIRT ETC. WITH YOUR COMPANY LOGO CLEARLY DISPLAYED.
Please try this idea -- the worst that can happen is that you save the lives of THREE people.
See video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUTrJYR2bNc
(Red Cross in the USA)
Thanks for reading and I would be interested in your thoughts...
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To read responses from members concerning this tip - please click on......
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Please see below this week's "Spotlight on an Inflatable Hire Company" where some other useful tips are mentioned.....
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SPOTLIGHT ON AN INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY
YOUR NAME?
Matt
NAME OF YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE COMPANY?
Big Bounce
YOUR LOCATION?
Nottingham.
WHAT IS YOUR AGE?
39
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU STARTED HIRING OUT INFLATABLES?
I was an accountant.
WHAT MADE YOU START AN INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
My wife was a nursery nurse and was fed up with all the long hours etc. She decided to look around for a business that could be started in our spare time. We started with three bouncy castles and haven't looked back!
The income from our new bouncy castle hire business replaced my wife's income very quickly.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
I'm a scout leader.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?
The Abyss (1989)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL?
Kebab (Preferably Shish)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE UK HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
Cornwall
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION ABROAD?
Disneyworld, Florida.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME?
The Walking Dead
FAVOURITE SONGS
One by U2
WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
The money!!!
Also, being an ex-accountant I get a kick out of the joy and excitement on people's faces when I arrive with their inflatable. This never happened in my accountancy career!!
WHAT DO YOU LEAST ENJOY ABOUT THE INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
Long wet days.
IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY?
I would make it more difficult for newbies to enter the industry. Also, I would raise prices across the board - not just hire prices but also the prices that manufacturers sell new inflatables for. This would deter newbies and help keep them out of the industry!
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HIRING FROM HELL? (or an unusual booking?)
Yes.
On one occasion, a female customer took a fancy to one of my drivers, and tried to encourage him to go upstairs with her into her bedroom.
On another occasion we were picking up a castle and all the family were in the garden. The children were pestering us to not take the castle away and the whole family were doing the usual thing by encouraging the kids to boo us. The birthday boy was sat on his grandmother's lap, and I did my usual thing of saying "You can keep the bouncy castle overnight for an extra £25. Why don't you ask your grandma if you can have the extra money?" There was a moment of silence and then the grandmother said: "I'm not his grandma.....I'm his mum!" The rest of the family immediately erupted into laughter and needless to say we made a quick exit with the castle. The guys who were with me couldn't stop laughing all day and surprisingly we never got another booking from the mother.
DO YOU HAVE ANY USEFUL TIPS OR IDEAS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE OTHER BIHA MEMBERS.
1. Get friendly with other inflatable hire companies in your local area. Take them out for a coffee at Costa or a pub meal etc. Pass bookings and referrals to each other. If you make enemies of your competitors then you will all lose out. There is more than enough work in most towns and cities to go round. I am not geared up to take last minute bookings - so I can pass these on to my competitors who can take on this kind of work.
2. Don't try and take on all of the work yourself. Use drivers to do it for you. We have 5 full-time staff who deliver and collect castles for us.
HOW HAS THE BIHA HELPED YOU IN YOUR INFLATABLE HIRE BUSINESS?
The forum at www.BouncyCastleOwner.com is a great outlet and after over 9 years in the inflatable hire business I still pick up tips from it. You're never too old to learn!!
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Thank you Matt for taking time out of your hire business to answer these questions - it's greatly appreciated.
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If anyone else would like to be featured in an up and coming "Spotlight on an inflatable hire company" please reply to this email. As a thank you we can provide you with an extra FREE backlink from:
www.biha.org.uk/spotlight-on-a-hire-company to your website which should help you in your Google rankings. (This backlink is worth at least £60 per year!)
Would you like to read more "Spotlights on inflatable hire companies" ?
Click on: www.biha.org.uk/spotlight-on-a-hire-company
Can't log in? Need your username and password?
Reply to this email and then we will rush you your username and password to log in.
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If you have forgotten your username and password to log in to the PRIVATE forum at www.BouncyCastleOwner.com - please click on the "forgotten password" button, and then it will automatically email you your login credentials.
Would you like to read ALL the BIHA weekly tips - going back to 2001 ?
If so, click on www.biha.org.uk/members-only-area/
Can't log in? or need your username and password?
Reply to this email and then we will rush you your username and password to log in.
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***URGENT--URGENT--URGENT--URGENT--URGENT--URGENT***
Is your hire business listed on the new BIHA Members Map - powered by Google ?
See: http://bit.ly/1uDQ0Ku If not, please text 07880 -- 540201 or reply to this email.
By being listed on this map - it gives Google an extra reason to rank you higher to make it easier for your prospective customers to find you!
URGENT - If you read nothing else this year - you must read this FREE report which will show you how to easily get your inflatable hire business at the top of Google - in their brand new "Local listings platform". (This replaces the old Google Places, previously known as Google Maps)
It pretty much goes without saying that if you are well up on page one of Google, you will get more work all year round!!!
To get your detailed step-by-step free guide (in pdf format) showing you how to do it (before your competitors do!!) - please send an email to: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com putting the words "Google My Business Guide for inflatable hire companies" in the subject bar.
I will then rush this 18 page quick-start FREE guide out to you by email.
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Don't forget to also list your hire company (under your county area) on: www.biha.org.uk/add-your-listing It will create a virtual business card for you just like at:
www.biha.org.uk/surrey and get you MORE bookings!!
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Join the hot conversations on our PRIVATE discussion forum and see what other bouncy castle hire companies are saying and doing to improve and grow their businesses.
Click on: http://bit.ly/1qvvlbU
We've got a new batch of forum threads we want to make members aware of. We would encourage all members to check them out.
Here are a few highlights:
- Seriously impress the heck out of your customers/prospects
- Slide for sale
- Andy J. Blowers - Extension cable for sale
- 6 trampoline bungy trampoline for sale
- Help - ref. extension cables
- Latest news from INPAS 2015
- Soft Play risk assessment needed
Jump into the conversations at...
Thanks for reading.
We'll be back next week with more tips and another "Spotlight on an Inflatable Hire Company".
See you on the Inside.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: If you find that you are unable to log into the "Members Only" area of the BIHA website
at: www.biha.org.uk/members-only-area/ then please send an email to mark.jerram@ntlworld.com requesting your username and password.
Please put "My BIHA username and password needed" in the subject bar. Thanks.
The BIHA Members Only Area was completely changed and updated a few weeks ago - which is why some members have not been able to log in.
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All the best.
Mark and the rest of the BIHA Team.
BIHA Founder - Mark Jerram
TEL: 07880 - 540201 (Please text if possible)
www.BouncyCastleOwner.com (Sister site and online PRIVATE interactive discussion forums)
http://bit.ly/1uDQ0Ku BIHA Members Map - powered by Google. Not listed? please text 07880 -- 540201 or reply to this email.
www.BouncyCastleHireUK.com (Alternative Online directory for inflatable hire companies) - Don't forget to add your listing! - There's no charge)
Claim your free report to show you how to get listed on the brand new Google "Local Listings Platform"
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Please could you also list your hire business by filling out the online form on:
www.biha.org.uk/add-your-listing
It only takes a couple of minutes to do, is 100% free of charge, and It will then create a virtual online "business card" similar to the ones on www.biha.org.uk/surrey
If you don't know how to upload an image - don't worry - we can do it for you. It would be a "thumbnail version" of your website homepage.
The BIHA website is ranking well in Google, so your virtual "business card" combined with your listing on the Google powered BIHA map at:
http://bit.ly/1uDQ0Ku should get you more bookings - which are very important - especially at this time of year!
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Interested in a highly professional, "jaw-dropping" website for your inflatable hire business ?
Want to impress the heck out of your customers and visitors to your website?
The BIHA highly recommend:
See what all the fuss is about.
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Interested in getting a discount on your PL Insurance through your BIHA Membership?
The BIHA strongly recommend www.leisureinsure.co.uk
Mention your BIHA membership number to enjoy your discount.
Lost your membership number?
No worries - Text 07880 - 540201 and we will text it to you.
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As a reminder, here is the link for the complete list of 6,000+ topics (threads) and almost 40,000 posts on the discussion forum.... http://bit.ly/1qvvlbU