CenterEdge Software Blog

Use these steps to help you manage tense situations with angry guests in a way that you can be proud of. 

A year into the pandemic, we're seeing a lot of positive movement towards getting back to normal. However, recently in online forum threads, we have begun to notice that an increasing number of business owners are facing unusually negative reviews and more angry customers than ever.

I think it's safe to say that the last year has left us all more stressed than ever and that stress is making its mark. But even though we might be facing more challenging situations, we need to respond in a way that resolves a problem quickly and positively. That's why we're bringing back these tips to help your team win every tense situation they face. 

Thoughtful program planning and strategic rollout can make all the difference. 

Now that you’ve heard about some of the key benefits, new CenterEdge tools, and a success story, you’re probably ready to think about setting up a membership program for yourself. 

Today’s interview with CenterEdge client, Zach Johnson of Rev’d Up Fun, will give you terrific insights to help you decide if building a membership program is right for you. 

As we discussed in Part One of this blog series, membership programs could have the potential to bring in a brand new revenue stream for your facility. But do they actually work?

We decided the best way to illustrate program benefits would be to let a CenterEdge operator like you share his results. 

Rev’d Up Fun is a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art family entertainment center in Woodhaven, Michigan. This family-owned and operated venue features multiple attraction offerings, including Ballocity, axe throwing, laser tag, a ropes course, an XD Dark Ride, bumper cars, and a game zone, as well as a full-service food and beverage offering. 

We sat down with Zach Johnson, Owner, and asked him to share his experience with membership programs and his plans to make memberships a key component of Rev’d Up Fun’s offering.

Continue to adapt your approach in these key areas to meet your business' needs in the ever-changing amusement landscape.

Many times over these last months, it seemed like all we could do just to survive some days. We had to reimagine our businesses as we fought to reopen and recover. As you look forward to the new year, now is a good time to review the management strategies that you implemented and decide how you need to change them in the new year. 

We brought back our facility management blog series to help you analyze your approach around the key areas that can help your amusement facility thrive as you move forward. Each section links to a more detailed blog for easy reference so that you can start where it makes the most sense.  

Optimism is a renewable resource. Boost yours with these tips.

At the most recent Birthday University online Master Class, when asked how everyone is, an attendee responded, “well I get paid to be optimistic but my optimism sure takes a beating sometimes.” I believe that we can all relate to that sentiment these days. The good news is that optimism, like happiness, is a “renewable resource” and fostering more of it can help prepare you for a brighter, more successful new year. Read on for seven ways to improve your outlook today.

Spoiler alert – it still takes a culture built around respect, consistent practice and accountability

During a time with higher unemployment rates, it might be easy to think that team members will stay with your FEC just to have a job. But falling into this trap and not focusing on your company culture puts your business at risk for losing your best team members - and your customers. Because if your team isn't happy, no one will be. That's why we're bringing back this important post to remind leaders about what it takes to maintain a world-class culture. 

There are no do-overs during face to face interactions with guests; team members must be equipped to get it right from the start. 

Guest service interactions have been on our mind a lot lately. Your team has a lot to worry about just making sure they are keeping on top of all the changing processes. They shouldn't have to worry about saying the wrong thing to a guest and damaging your facility's guest experience OR reputation.

That's why we decided to update the top phrases team members should never use to help remind staff that there are some words better left unsaid. 

Practice daily gratitude and reap benefits like better decision-making capabilities, improved relationships with your team and community, and more. 

We were so sad to learn of Creative Works’ founder, Jeff Schilling’s, recent passing.  He will be greatly missed. Jeff’s legacy lives on through the results of his commitment to innovation in our industry and his lessons about making a difference every day.

Today, we’re sharing how Jeff’s words of wisdom about gratitude can help you become a powerful influence in your business, family, and community. 

Guest experience may be changing, but one fact remains - use data to inform your strategy. 

As you continue to adapt to the challenges each new day brings, it also makes sense to take a broader look at industry trends and consider whether your plan will put your business ahead of, or behind, the competition. 

We were asked not long ago to provide our analysis of the 2020 FunRating Report, provided by Amusement Advantage, to help facilities make sense of survey results from over 600 attractions across the family entertainment and amusement industry. Our full five-part analysis was published inside the report, but here we wanted to share three of the key takeaways that can help you continue to think creatively about your operation now, and in the future. 

Systems are ready. Offerings are updated. Capacity management controls are in place. For many facilities, it's showtime. But is your team ready?

To wrap up our blog series, Rethinking Your Facility Management Approach, we’d like to share a quick word of encouragement along with a few tips to consider when outlining your training plan for reopening your FEC. Take these three final steps to prepare to reopen.