CenterEdge Software Blog

Maximize your use of electronic event invitations at your FEC to handle RSVPs, waivers and more.

Think electronic event invitations are just a value-add for guests? Think again. Today’s CenterEdge Pro Tip video discusses other key benefits that will help your FEC maximize the potential of an integrated electronic invitation system with Advantage Groups. Using electronic event invitations, you can track everything from RSVPs to waivers all while collecting data for future marketing efforts.

How to masterfully manage difficult guest interactions while maintaining the relationship – and your cool.

Without a doubt, handling angry customers (or coworkers) is one of the most difficult parts of anyone’s job. Tense interactions invoke both physical and psychological responses in us that can make a tough situation worse if we don’t handle them appropriately. And our reactions to those moments can leave a lasting impact on guests’ repeat visits, our reputation at work and even our business’ standing in the community. Bottom line, it’s a big deal and one that you need a plan for – before the next difficult situation arises. To do it right means not only putting all the pieces together into a well-rounded approach to service recovery, but also being ready for the tough times with these five tips.

Shorten your busy to-do list by having important reports sent to you automatically on a one-time or recurring basis.

You have enough on your plate without having to take the time to pull routine reports to use in analyzing your business. Save time by setting up the reports you pull most often to be automatically emailed to you or anyone else – whenever or wherever.

Practical tips for setting meaningful goals for your FEC.

The holidays sure are busy, aren’t they? Navigating all the festivities and facility events along with your family obligations will no doubt require some major juggling, but hopefully you’ll be able to take some time to relax and enjoy it. With the new year approaching fast, it’s time to nail down those 2019 goals so you can hit the ground running in January. But setting and achieving goals are often easier said than done, so we’ve provided five tips to help you craft or refine your 2019 goals to turn them into a reality and keep you from failed resolutions.

Time Clock and Scheduling Tricks

You probably have a few point of sale software tricks that help you better manage your business on a daily basis. We have collected some of these tips from clients and team members — and today, we’re sharing a Pro Tip from Jill Rempert at Epic Air in South Elgin, Illinois.

Meet the five Excellence Award winners and finalists of the 2018 Customer Service Week Challenge

We had such a great response for the Customer Service Week Challenge! Responses came from all over the U.S. and it was great to read about all the terrific things your team members are doing. From party hosts to admissions staff all the way to maintenance, it’s so obvious when team members have that “it” thing that makes a difference. It was so hard choosing winners, but here are the top five winners and finalists who prove that “Excellence Happens Here” at their facilities.

Understanding, hiring for, and cultivating creativity could be the key to growing your business.

Nearly every operator in every business finds themselves considering how to find, develop or keep their competitive edge. When asked, “what makes the difference between you and your competitors?” many managers, especially those in the family entertainment industry, will automatically answer, “it’s our people that make the difference.”

Being a great leader isn't a skill people are just born with, it's developed over time. Whether it be through training seminars or reading books, the best managers — both new and experienced — are always learning new ways to improve their skills. 

You only get one chance to make a first impression: Spoiler alert – Admissions staff are the key.

Frontline training is obviously a must in every entertainment venue. But many organizations take a haphazard approach to training which can put your facility at risk for creating a negative first impression. Don’t teach your team how to smile but forget to include how to make change (no, it’s not as common sense as you might think). Also remember that your cashier interaction must go beyond the transaction. The key is an effective training process that ensures you have all the bases covered. Here are five steps to help you implement point of sale training that sticks.   

We asked three experts to share their secrets for building the best teams and added one ourselves! Find out what everyone had to say.

Hiring frontline staff is tough today. There are fewer teens in the workforce than there were a decade ago when the US last achieved nearly full employment. Tougher school schedules, increased participation in higher education and more outside commitments are just some of the reasons the pool of workers has gotten smaller over the last 10-15 years. Bottom line: entertainment facilities need to know how to recruit, train and manage this young workforce in such a competitive environment.