CenterEdge Software Blog

Stories provide context, model desired behaviors, connect staff to your values, and so much more.   

I had the extreme pleasure of chatting with Eddie Hamann, Managing Partner of Andretti Karting and Games in Orlando during the most recent Experience Academy event earlier this year.

During one lunch, Eddie shared with our group some of the work that the Andretti's team has been doing locally and abroad. They believe in giving back at least 10% of what they earn and do this in various ways. They build churches, give donations, help team members in need, and,  through their #CheckIt4Andretti Foundation, they work to provide awareness of the importance of early screening for colorectal cancers. The foundation also helps fund screening for low-income individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, and who might not otherwise get this critical screening. At the time of the conversation, Eddie shared that they had already saved nine people's lives by detecting cancer early. 

Give your birthday party program the boost it needs to work harder than ever.   

We're busy ramping up for the first of only two Birthday University education sessions this year.

Your birthday party program is likely one of the most important programs in your business, and you want to get the most of it. 

In preparation for the next session in Chicago on March 30-31, we compiled this quick list of birthday party resources that can help you improve in any area you choose. 

Take a look, and join us for free in Chicago for a deeper dive into every aspect of the birthday party experience. (Just enter CenterEdge in Scholarship Sponsor Name). 

Avoid the high costs of allowing problematic behavior with these tips.   

Quick story: Last week, my husband and I went to one of our favorite little cafes for a quick lunch. There was someone new behind the counter and my husband asked if she was the owner, and she was. 

When I asked after the team member who typically worked the counter, I learned they were no longer with the company. I asked, "is it because they were kind of salty? I mean they were nice if you didn't interrupt or want to change the kind of bread your sandwich was on. But if you did, their face told you exactly how they felt about it."

Of course, the owner was professional and wouldn't share details, but I did learn that I hadn't been the first person to ask a similar question since the owner had taken over the management of her operation. Besides that, while we were enjoying lunch, my husband noticed that the cafe appeared even cleaner, and the staff seemed a little sunnier than they had in the past.  

Bottom line: having a team member that isn't in line with your values could be impacting your business in ways you may not even realize. Read on for tips to help you recognize when you have an issue with a team member and what to do about it.  

Consider new and refined approaches to help get your audience's attention.  

As a marketer, you're always looking for new ways to spark your readers' interest and get your message heard (read?). Lately, I've been on the receiving end of a few unique strategies that sparked mine. 

Read on for five quick messaging tips that can help you win big at the marketing game. 

Upgrade to the new CenterEdge Advantage 2022 LTS.

The CenterEdge Advantage 2022 Long Term Support (LTS) version is now available to CenterEdge clients with a current license and service agreement (LSA).

Helping others is the rising tide that lifts all boats.

At the recent IAAPA FEC Summit event, operators from all over North America shared challenges that the leisure-based entertainment community faces and how we can what we can do about it. 

One of my favorite ideas shared was the idea that facilities could do a much better job communicating the important work they're doing in their community. Read on for the details and how you can take this idea and run with it. 

How to sell a streamlined experience in a hyper-customized world

I recently had the opportunity to attend IAAPA FEC Summit in Arizona. In talking with many operators, I heard some of the current issues facing location-based entertainment facilities today.

One conversation that stuck with me was with Ryan Powers of Shipwrecked in Brooklyn. In essence, how can a family entertainment venue meet their guests' changing needs with party packages when guests seem set on hyper-customization?

What a terrific and important question in times like these! We spent some time thinking about it, and are sharing five steps to help you deliver the right experience to your guest every time. 

Seamless scheduling, accurate accounting, and flawless food and beverage management are just a few of the advantages of an integrated events management system.

Managing every detail of your facility's event business can feel like a circus where you're struggling to keep everything moving.

This stress is compounded if you're spending valuable time trying to manage scheduling, ticketing, payment, and food service in many different systems, or worse - on paper.

An events management system that's fully integrated with the rest of your overall facility management solution can save you headaches and precious time. But what does integrated really mean? Read on for seven ways you can streamline your events program with an integrated system. 

See your projects through to success with these tips.

Projects, goals, resolutions, new initiatives, and group meetings. Do one or more of those fill you with a sense of dread? If so, it's probably because, in the past, you've been overwhelmed or frustrated when they haven't gone the way you planned.

While it's easy to take these failures personally, it's important to remember that they've happened to nearly everyone in every industry. 

The good news is that failure isn't final. By taking the proper steps and building the right habits throughout every project, your project will have a fighting chance at success. Read on for five tried and true strategies for managing projects more effectively. 

A little creativity and planning can quickly boost your revenue and audience engagement.

When you've been in this business a while, you've undoubtedly tried a lot of different promotions and special offers. But over time, it can be easy to get into a habit of doing things the same way.

Sometimes it makes sense to go "back to the drawing board" and reinvent new ways to sell and promote your business. To help you do that, we put together this list of five simple, low-cost promotion ideas that can help you boost your creativity and your bottom line. Try one, combine them, or use these as a starting point for your own creative magic, and go forth and conquer the world!