The Profitable Play Podcast

Hosted by Michele Caruana

Business Entrepreneurship

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378

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Aug 2026

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About the show

If you own or manage an indoor play center, play cafe, indoor playground, family entertainment center, mobile soft play rental business or really any business that serves local children and families, and you want to operate with more EASE and JOY, all while making the living you dreamed of– I created the profitable play podcast just for you. Join me, your host, Michele Caruana, for small but mighty tips every single weekday that will all add up to a BIG impact on your mindset, your business, and your bottom line. Stick with me to keep the PASSION and GROW the profit in YOUR play-based business

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August 19, 202648 min

368: What To Look For When Choosing Soft Play (And Mistakes Many Owners Make)

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Charlotte from Children’s Factory to talk all about designing indoor play spaces that are intentional, engaging, durable, and built for the way children actually play. CONTACT INFORMATION: Website: www.childrensfactory.com Email: charlotte.thomas@childrensfactory.com Discount Code: Use code PM30 for 30% off and Free Shipping! BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/choosing-soft-play-equipment-childrens-factory Whether you’re opening a play cafe, indoor playground, children’s museum, family entertainment center, daycare, preschool, or other children’s play-based business, the physical environment you create can have a huge impact on the customer experience. We talk about how thoughtful play space design goes far beyond simply filling a room with equipment—and what owners should consider when choosing furniture, soft play equipment, activity zones, and other elements for their space. We also discuss how to think strategically about your layout, how different types of play support different ages and developmental stages, and how to create an environment that works for both children AND the adults bringing them into your business. If you’re currently planning, designing, building, renovating, or refreshing an indoor play space, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next investment. In this episode, we discuss: • Indoor playground and play cafe design • Choosing commercial play equipment and children’s furniture • Creating intentional play zones for different ages • Designing spaces that encourage imaginative and open-ended play • Soft play equipment for indoor play spaces • Balancing fun, function, durability, and aesthetics • Creating a better experience for both children and parents • What play cafe and indoor playground owners should consider before purchasing equipment • Designing a commercial children’s space for long-term use • Ideas for refreshing or improving an existing indoor playground or play cafe Have an idea for a future episode? I always want to hear what YOU want to learn more about! Send me a DM on Instagram with your questions, challenges, or topic suggestions—you might just hear your idea featured on an upcoming episode of The Profitable Play Podcast. OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2026 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

July 28, 202655 min

367: Why Great Indoor Playgrounds Are "Yes Spaces" (And the Play Area Mistakes That Drive Families Away)

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms, a design firm specializing in creating intentional play spaces for both homes and commercial facilities. We explore what makes a truly great play environment and how thoughtful design can encourage independence, spark imagination, support child development, and create a better experience for both children and their caregivers. BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/design-an-indoor-playground-play-area In this episode, we discuss: Karri's approach to designing intentional play spaces that support children's development. What makes a play space engaging for children of different ages and developmental stages. Why open-ended play is one of the most valuable elements of a well-designed environment. The "Yes Space" philosophy and how it encourages curiosity, independence, and confidence. How to create spaces where babies, toddlers, and older children can safely play together. Why mixed-age play benefits children's social, emotional, and imaginative development. The role pretend play and movement play have in creating meaningful, long-lasting engagement. How to incorporate sensory experiences, gross motor play, and fine motor activities throughout your space. Creative ways to make small, narrow, or awkward layouts feel functional and exciting. How to transform underutilized areas into engaging play opportunities. Design considerations for visibility, supervision, and safety without sacrificing exploration and creativity. Strategies for improving traffic flow and preventing bottlenecks in busy play areas. How intentional layouts encourage children to naturally move between different types of play. Common design mistakes play space owners make—and practical ways to avoid them. Whether you're building from scratch or looking to make better use of the space you already have, this episode offers practical ideas to help you create a play environment that children love and families return to again and again. Smart Playrooms Website: https://www.smartplayrooms.com Smart Playrooms IG: https://www.instagram.com/smartplayrooms Email Smart Playrooms: mailto:hello@smartplayrooms.com OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

June 22, 202651 min

366: How This Husband-and-Wife Team Built a Thriving Play Space and Discovery School

In this episode, I sit down with CarlyAnn and Justin, the husband-and-wife team behind EverPlay Village. We go beyond the opening story and dive into the systems, revenue streams, and mindset that have helped them build a thriving family business. BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/everplay-village-ep366 In this episode, we discuss: How they identified a gap in their market and launched EverPlay Village The multiple revenue streams that fuel their business Their unique Discovery School program and how it creates reliable recurring revenue How they define and measure success beyond attendance numbers What it's really like running a business as husband and wife Lessons they've learned since opening and what they'd do differently Balancing entrepreneurship, family, and raising three children Advice for owners looking to build a profitable, sustainable business Whether you're already operating a play space or dreaming of opening one, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest lessons. Connect with EverPlay Village: https://www.everplayvillage.com https://www.instagram.com/everplayvillage/ OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

June 2, 20261 hr 2 min

365: The Unexpected Revenue Streams Working at Press Play Cafe in ON, Canada

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Amber, owner of Press Play Café in Ontario, Canada. Even though her business has been open for less than a year, she’s already learned so many valuable lessons about operations, staffing, café sales, birthday parties, memberships, accessibility, and community-building. We talk about: Construction delays and what pushed back their opening Pitching landlords and investors on a play café concept Why café revenue was slower than expected How character meet-and-greets became a huge success Community vendor events that increased visibility and bookings Birthday party package changes she made after opening Staffing, training, and trial shifts Designing a more accessible and parent-friendly space Policies she added after opening The importance of constantly tweaking systems instead of expecting perfection on day one If you’re planning your business, newly opened, or trying to improve your current operations, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and honest insight from someone currently in the trenches. LINKS: Press Play Café: https://pressplaycafe.ca/ Follow Press Play Café on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressplaycafe OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

May 4, 202656 min

364: The Automated Campaigns Every Play Cafe Should Have Running (And How To Set Them Up)

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m joined by Nick Veneris, Email Marketing Expert at Aluvii, for a conversation all about email marketing, automation, and how indoor playground and play café owners can turn the customer data they already have into more bookings and repeat visits. One thing I really want to emphasize upfront: this conversation is NOT platform specific. Even though Nick is from Aluvii, the strategies we discuss apply no matter what POS, CRM, or email platform you use. This episode is really about understanding your customer journey and communicating with more intention. We talk about: Why email marketing is still one of the most powerful tools for play-based businesses The automated campaigns that are actually driving birthday bookings and repeat visits How birthday, half-birthday, bounce-back, and review request campaigns work in practice Subject lines, timing, and messaging strategies that are getting parents to engage right now The biggest mistakes play café owners make with email marketing How to segment your customer list in a simple, manageable way How to “sell” naturally without sounding overly promotional Realistic ways busy owners can implement these systems without adding more overwhelm If you’ve ever felt like you’re sitting on valuable customer information but not fully using it—or like your marketing feels reactive instead of predictable—this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start applying immediately. FREE E- Mail Marketing Playbook: Click HERE Book A Demo With Aluvii: Click HERE OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

April 29, 202627 min

363: Google’s NEW Review Rules — What to Stop Doing + What to Do Instead

Google updated its review policies in April 2026—and many of the strategies play café and indoor playground owners have relied on for years are now considered violations. BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/new-google-review-rules In this episode, I break down what actually changed, what’s now banned (including incentivized reviews, in-person asks, and review gating), and how Google’s AI is actively flagging suspicious behavior. More importantly, I walk you through exactly what to do instead—so you can continue generating consistent, high-quality reviews without putting your business at risk. If reviews drive your bookings (and they do), this is a shift you need to understand. In this episode, we discuss: The biggest Google review policy changes in 2026 Common review tactics that are now violations What “review gating” is and why it’s banned Whether you can still share your Google review link (and how to do it correctly) The new role of AI in detecting review manipulation How to build a compliant, system-driven review strategy Practical ways to still get consistent, high-quality reviews GOOGLE'S POLICIES: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

April 13, 202652 min

362: How Sunshine Indoor Play Uses a Nonprofit Arm to Serve More Families

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Kate, the owner of Sunshine Indoor Play in Lake Havasu City, Arizona—an indoor playground and play café that has evolved into a true community hub for moms and families. BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/non-profit-play-cafe Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HwetKpdryvQ Kate shares how she built a multi-revenue business that includes open play, memberships, retail, a coffee shop, birthday parties, and a nonprofit arm designed to support families through services like mental health groups, lactation support, car seat checks, and access to essential baby items. We also discuss how her personal experiences shaped both her business model and mission, and how her faith plays a central role in how she leads, makes decisions, and serves her community. Inside this episode, we break down how she raised over $55,000 in local sponsorships to fund her build-out, why being in a small town actually worked to her advantage, and the realities of opening and running a play café with no prior business experience. Kate also shares what surprised her most about her revenue streams—including why birthday parties underperformed expectations, how memberships and open play now drive nearly half her revenue, and how she’s working to grow her café sales. Plus, we talk about the challenges of managing multiple revenue streams, balancing motherhood with business ownership, and her long-term vision to build a sustainable, purpose-driven business that can eventually be passed on to another family. In this episode, we cover: How to have both a for-profit and non-profit play cafe (under one roof!) How to build a play café with multiple revenue streams Creating a nonprofit arm within your play café business Using local sponsorships to fund your startup ($55K raised) Turning a play café into a true community hub for families How faith can shape your business decisions and mission Real revenue breakdowns: memberships, open play, retail, and café Why birthday parties may not perform as expected Lessons from opening with no prior business experience Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship Building a business with long-term sustainability and purpose Website: https://www.sunshineindoorplay.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineindoorplay/ OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

April 6, 202636 min

361: 6 Operational Shifts Play Café Owners Are Making in 2026

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, we’re breaking down 6 "micro-trends" or shifts some play cafes are quietly making behind-the-scenes as we go through 2026. BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/simplify-your-play-cafe These aren’t big flashy trends—but they’re the small operational shifts that can have a huge impact on your day-to-day, your team, and ultimately your quality of life as an owner. Because at a certain point, it’s not just about adding more. It’s about simplifying what you’re already doing so your business actually feels manageable to run. In this episode, we cover: Going cashless Collecting party payments in advance Simplifying or eliminating drip coffee Short-term or seasonal memberships Encouraging or requiring reservations Positioning your space as a “third space” or community hub If you’ve been feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or like your business is more complicated than it needs to be, this episode will help you start thinking differently about what to streamline, what to rethink, and what actually makes sense for your space. (Episode 49) Adding An Automatic Service Charge To Parties: https://bit.ly/4cme8Pr (Esisode 203) How To Create A Summer/Seasonal Membership Offer: https://bit.ly/3NXe4MQ OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

March 30, 20261 hr 10 min

360: How Hangtime Play Café Hit 250+ Members in Just 2 Months

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Erin and Justin, the owners of Hangtime Play Café in Arlington, Washington—an indoor playground and play café that scaled to over 250 members just two months after opening. We break down how they pre-sold over 100 memberships before they even opened, the exact strategies they used to build demand early, and how they created strong recurring revenue from day one. We also dive into how they designed a smaller 2,500 sq ft space to feel bigger, more premium, and highly functional—maximizing every square foot to support open play, memberships, and birthday parties without sacrificing the customer experience. Plus, we discuss what’s actually driving revenue in their play café business, including how their café is contributing a significant portion of total sales, how they’re balancing memberships, open play, and private parties, and what they’ve learned about capacity, pricing, and operations in their first few months. We also cover a major build-out challenge—a delayed play structure shipment—and how they used that time to build hype, collect leads, and strengthen their brand before fully opening. If you’re starting or growing an indoor playground, play café, or kids’ activity center, this episode is packed with real-world insights on membership growth, play café design, revenue streams, and what it actually takes to launch and scale successfully. WATCH on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2acgncX70Rk BLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/founding-members-play-cafe Hangtime Play Cafe IG: https://www.instagram.com/hangtimeplaycafe/ Hangtime Play Cafe Website: https://www.hangtimeplaycafe.com/ Hangtime Play Cafe TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hangtime_playcafe OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

March 19, 202635 min

359: Feeling Like You Can't Compete With "Free"?: How to Sell Out Paid Events at Your Indoor Playground

If you’ve ever opened social media and thought, “How am I supposed to compete with all these FREE events and classes?”—this episode is for you. BLOG for this episode-- click here! In this episode, I break down why indoor playgrounds and play cafés don’t actually compete with free events—and how to position your paid classes, camps, and events so they consistently sell out. Free events often come with crowds, long lines, and unpredictable experiences, while paid events offer structure, convenience, and a higher-quality experience that many families are happy to pay for. We’ll cover: Why you don’t need to compete with free events at all The mindset shift that changes everything for your marketing How to attract the right customers (not everyone) Why smaller, curated events can be more profitable How to position your events as premium, not optional If you’ve been second-guessing your pricing or struggling to fill events, this episode will help you reframe your strategy and sell with confidence. OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS: Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS