Inspiring Conversations with Cecil Harris of P&J’S Bounce House

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecil Harris.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My business begin about 15 years ago my youngest daughter Olivia Harris aka (Judy) was 2 years old. My oldest daughter Monica Harris aka (Peaches) was 9 years old she said “Dad I know what Olivia wants for her birthday” 🎂. I said “what ?” She said a bounce house. So I got online and I ended up buying 2 bounce houses on a credit card 💳. I set it up for her party some neighbors and family members came over and begin to spread the word. The July 4th weekend my father had a party at his house and asked me to bring a bounce house for the kids. I said “ hhmmmm Let me put a banner on this since my father lives on a busy street. That day I received 8 phone 📞 calls and the business was started. “ Family , friends , and Neighbors being to spread the word that I had bounce houses and then Peaches 🍑 asked me to buy a water 💦 slide and after that the calls really began to come in. I only had a facebook page for the first 10 years with 2,500 followers then the page was hacked. Since then I created a new facebook page but it’s not the same but when the facebook page went down I created a website and the business never missed a beat!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well once you get accustom to something you don’t want to ever settle for less. For example After 15 years of service… if I don’t make 1k Every weekend between April to September its a problem. But when I started my goal was 1k extra income a month. The goal post moves as your business grows and makes progression.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about P&J’S Bounce House?
I’m an inflatable bounce house, Waterslide and Obstacle Course company in Cincinnati Ohio. We now have 43 different products that people call to rent out on weekends for church events, birthday parties, holidays, family gatherings and more. We provide new products that you will definitely enjoy.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Well I’m in the process of joining BNI a social networking group. This group meets weekly and other small business owners bounce ideas off of each other. I attend an Annual event called IAAPA in Orlando Florida. I call it the bounce house convention where I get ideas from other companies throughout the country.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.pjbouncehouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecweaz87
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KkXhN5AY6/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecil-harris-pjbouncehouse-moproperties
• Twitter: @pjbouncehouse
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/Ft-XyXxxT8k
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/RxHPGRlq4A