The Profitable Play Podcast

Hosted by Michele Caruana

Business Entrepreneurship

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375

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Jun 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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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 openingPitching landlords and investors on a play café conceptWhy café revenue was slower than expectedHow character meet-and-greets became a huge successCommunity vendor events that increased visibility and bookingsBirthday party package changes she made after openingStaffing, training, and trial shiftsDesigning a more accessible and parent-friendly spacePolicies she added after openingThe importance of constantly tweaking systems instead of expecting perfection on day oneIf 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/pressplaycafeOTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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 businessesThe automated campaigns that are actually driving birthday bookings and repeat visitsHow birthday, half-birthday, bounce-back, and review request campaigns work in practiceSubject lines, timing, and messaging strategies that are getting parents to engage right nowThe biggest mistakes play café owners make with email marketingHow to segment your customer list in a simple, manageable wayHow to “sell” naturally without sounding overly promotionalRealistic ways busy owners can implement these systems without adding more overwhelmIf 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 HEREBook A Demo With Aluvii: Click HEREOTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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-rulesIn 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 2026Common review tactics that are now violationsWhat “review gating” is and why it’s bannedWhether you can still share your Google review link (and how to do it correctly)The new role of AI in detecting review manipulationHow to build a compliant, system-driven review strategyPractical ways to still get consistent, high-quality reviewsGOOGLE'S POLICIES: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=enOTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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-cafeWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HwetKpdryvQKate 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 streamsCreating a nonprofit arm within your play café businessUsing local sponsorships to fund your startup ($55K raised)Turning a play café into a true community hub for familiesHow faith can shape your business decisions and missionReal revenue breakdowns: memberships, open play, retail, and caféWhy birthday parties may not perform as expectedLessons from opening with no prior business experienceBalancing motherhood and entrepreneurshipBuilding a business with long-term sustainability and purposeWebsite: https://www.sunshineindoorplay.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineindoorplay/OTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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-cafeThese 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 cashlessCollecting party payments in advanceSimplifying or eliminating drip coffeeShort-term or seasonal membershipsEncouraging or requiring reservationsPositioning your space as a “third space” or community hubIf 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/3NXe4MQOTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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/2acgncX70RkBLOG for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/founding-members-play-cafeHangtime 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_playcafeOTHER RESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree 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 allThe mindset shift that changes everything for your marketingHow to attract the right customers (not everyone)Why smaller, curated events can be more profitableHow to position your events as premium, not optionalIf 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 SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

March 2, 202655 min

358: From Speech Therapist to Multi-Location Inclusive Play Space Founder With Lindsay

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m joined by Lindsay, the founder of Spirited Play Labs—an inclusive, membership-based indoor play space in the San Francisco Bay Area designed to support neurodivergent children and their families.Lindsay is a former speech therapist, a parent of a neurodivergent child, and she now identifies as neurodivergent herself—so this conversation blends real-life inclusion, sustainable operations, and multi-location growth.We talk about how Lindsay scaled from one location to three (with a fourth planned), how she built a team structure that allows her to stay out of daily operations, and why her staff and culture are the most defensible part of her business model.We also cover the behind-the-scenes of becoming a vendor with California’s Regional Center so certain families can have memberships covered—creating a B2B revenue stream and a strong referral engine.If you want practical ideas around membership models, inclusive play design, staff training, customer experience consistency, and scaling beyond one location, this episode is for you.BLOG with top 12 takeaways: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/spirited-play-labs-interviewIn this episode, Lindsay and I cover:How she launched Spirited Play Labs after COVID and the needs she saw in her communityWhat it looks like to build an inclusive indoor playground that supports neurodivergent kids without feeling clinicalWhy she chose a membership-based model and how her first-time visit process worksHow she scaled from 1 to 3 locations (and what changed operationally as she grew)The staffing structure behind her locations: managers, training, and culture consistencyThe real lessons she learned about real estate, buildouts, and overspending early onHow she became a Regional Center vendor in California and what “B2B memberships” can look likeHow she thinks about behavior, regulation, and safety without relying on strict “rules boards”The referral engines that actually work in the disability community (and why she spends very little on ads)How being neurodivergent impacts her leadership, energy, and long-term sustainability as an ownerSimple ways traditional play cafés can become more inclusive—starting with who you listen to and who you hireConnect with Lindsay / Spirited Play LabsInstagram: Spirited Play LabsEmail: lindsay@spiritedplaylabs.comWebsite: https://spiritedplaylabs.com/Blog for this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/spirited-play-labs-interviewRESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

February 23, 202654 min

357: 9 Sneaky Reasons I See Play Cafés Struggle to Grow

n this episode, I’m sharing 11 sneaky patterns I consistently see holding play cafés and indoor playgrounds back—not because owners aren’t working hard, but because these habits are easy to miss when you’re in the day-to-day.BLOG For this Episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/why-play-cafes-struggle-to-growI explain how inconsistent boundaries, unclear systems, staffing challenges, and operational habits quietly limit revenue, increase stress, and prevent businesses from reaching their full potential.These issues are incredibly common—but once you identify them, they are entirely fixable.In this episode, I explain:The most common operational patterns I see holding play cafés backHow inconsistent policies reduce customer trust and retentionThe systems mistakes I see that quietly reduce bookingsWhy staffing and training directly impact profitabilityThe leadership habits I see that separate struggling and thriving ownersHow small operational decisions compound into major growth limitationsThis episode is especially helpful if you:Feel stuck despite working hardWant to increase profitability without working more hoursAre trying to scale your play café or indoor playgroundWant to build a more stable, sustainable businessRESOURCES:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS

February 11, 202648 min

356: Buying, Running, and Pivoting a Play Café: Hard Lessons, Smart Decisions, and What Comes Next with Kaylinn

What’s it really like to buy an existing play café instead of starting from scratch?In this candid conversation, I sit down with Kaylinn from Kay’s Play Days — former owner of Monkey Around Play Café and now floor manager at Wise Wonders Children’s Museum — to talk through the real behind-the-scenes of purchasing, running, and ultimately closing a play space.Watch on YouTube instead: https://youtu.be/FV7nwc-nBZAShe shares what she wishes she had verified before buying, lessons around finances and leases, and the operational realities that don’t always show up in a business plan. We also talk about the personal side of ownership — how the long hours and stress impacted her family — and why stepping into a museum leadership role has given her more balance without leaving the industry she loves.If you’re considering buying, selling, or simply questioning whether ownership is right for you, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and practical lessons you can apply immediately.We Cover:• Buying vs. starting from scratch• Due diligence and financial transparency• Lease and landlord challenges• Hidden operational realities of ownership• Why she’d skip bounce houses next time• Simple ways to empower your team• Creative staffing partnerships• The personal and family impact of ownership• Pivoting into a museum leadership roleConnect with KaylinnFollow @kaysplaydays on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and FacebookReady to Open Your Own Play Café?Get the complete step-by-step blueprint inside Play Café Academy + a free month of Play Maker Society.Start here!More Resources:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyGetting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist]What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 GuideFund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training]Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting WaitlistMichele’s InstagramMichele’s WebsitePlay Cafe Academy YouTube ChannelETSY Template ShopPrepare Your Indoor Playground For a RecessionPlay Cafe Academy & Play Makers SocietyQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fDQuestions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com TOOLS:Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!)Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLivingActive Campaign Free TrialFree Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS