Today we’d like to introduce you to Don Ballard.
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?
Our story starts back in 2015. I was working as a contract consultant and could not find jobs local in Ashtabula county. So when the contract I was on ended we scraped up everything we could to start a business. We had seen indoor play centers in Alaska where we lived before so we thought we would bring that to our community. the only thing left to decide was the name. For that we named it Big Dog Bounce after our malamute. That way we could put our family into our business without putting everything in the public sphere. That also gave us a ready theme in the Alaskan big dog and his friends.
The first year was slow as we grew our customer base and figured out who we were as a business. That was when we adopted our core values of integrity, value, and healthy fun. It is amazing how simple words can clarify decisions. For every new endeavor we ask “is this honest?, are we providing value for what we charge?, and will this strengthen families?” In 2017 we added a rental and event business to the Big Dog family to diversify our business and spread out the busy seasons. Our rental operation has thrived. We grew from a handful of inflatables to take to peoples houses to a sizeable rental inventory including lots of inflatables and branched into other amusements like a rock wall, event tents, and portable ice skating rink.
Covid hitting in 2020 hurt us but didn’t end us due to strategic planning. Our rental business carried us through 2020 when we had to suspend indoor operations and while we waited for customers to feel safe to come out again. In fact our rental business gained market share in the 2020 season and led big growth in 2021 when things started getting back to normal.
After 9 years of looking we found and purchased a former church building to move our business into. Now with the stability that owning our own space brings we are excited about what we can bring to our indoor center.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No it has not. The first two years were a struggle as we worked to build a customer base and grow. Then in 2020 we were forced to close our indoor center for most of the year due to covid-19 orders.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I worked in the finance industry and as an consultant analyst. I brought the skills and habits I learned at fortune 500 companies to Big Dog Bounce. We have always worked to lift families up and the commitment has brought us success.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I am doing this for family. I started this business to make myself a local job so that my family would not have to move.
Pricing:
- general admission $12
- Party $165
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bigdogbounce.com
- Instagram: @bigdogbounce
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigDogBounce
