Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/231459
r e t a i l i n g t o d a y More bounce sky zone wants to open 50 trampoline centers in retail centers S By Beth Mattson-Teig ky Zone says that when it comes to rolling out sites, it is leaping ahead of the competition. Last year this Los angeles–based trampoline park franchiser grew to about 50 facilities from 30, and by the end of this year, the company says it expects to have about 100 trampoline parks in operation. "I think it is the combination of mixing fun and fitness that makes our business unique and is driving the consumer demand," said Ceo Jeff Platt. sky Zone operates in 25 states and also has four parks in Canada. the company has franchise agreements for development in Mexico, australia and new Zealand. sky Zone has come a long way since its launch nearly a decade ago. Platt's father, Rick, had sold his scrap-metal business and was looking for a new venture when he came across a group trying to introduce a sport to be played entirely on trampolines. Intrigued, Rick Platt came to realize that the bigger potential was not so 20 SCt / J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4 much in the sport as in inventing a new type of playing field. he had built a test trampoline play "court" in a researchand-development center in Las Vegas. then he opened it to the public to see if it would work as a trampoline park. "It was a total accident, and it worked," said Jeff Platt. about 1,000 trampoline jumpers showed up in the first month, and twice that many the next, and soon the number multiplied to 10,000 customers. "suddenly, there was a large business there that had a lot of potential." sky Zone began franchising in 2009, and it is the franchise demand that is fueling growth. the firm has two sites corporately owned and managed — in sacramento, Calif., and st. Louis — and the rest are owned and managed by franchisees. though most of the patrons are