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

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/ [https://pressplaycafe.ca/] Follow Press Play Café on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressplaycafe [https://www.instagram.com/pressplaycafe] OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU] [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide [http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS] Fund Your Indoor Play Business [http://bit.ly/38KbYbz] [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist [http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI] Michele’s Instagram [https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK] Michele’s Website [https://www.michelecaruana.com/] Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel [https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7] ETSY Template Shop [https://bit.ly/40RF5D4] Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession [https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep] Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com [Support@michelecaruana.com]  TOOLS: Play Space Brain [https://playspacebrain.com] (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving [https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy] Active Campaign Free Trial [https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG] Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy]

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 [https://aluvii.com/data-sheets/5-automated-campaigns-for-play-cafes?utm_source=profitable-play-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=5-automated-campaigns-for-play-cafes] Book A Demo With Aluvii: Click HERE [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy] OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU] [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide [http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS] Fund Your Indoor Play Business [http://bit.ly/38KbYbz] [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist [http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI] Michele’s Instagram [https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK] Michele’s Website [https://www.michelecaruana.com/] Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel [https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7] ETSY Template Shop [https://bit.ly/40RF5D4] Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession [https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep] Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com [Support@michelecaruana.com]  TOOLS: Play Space Brain [https://playspacebrain.com] (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving [https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy] Active Campaign Free Trial [https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG] Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy]

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 [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU] [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide [http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS] Fund Your Indoor Play Business [http://bit.ly/38KbYbz] [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist [http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI] Michele’s Instagram [https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK] Michele’s Website [https://www.michelecaruana.com/] Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel [https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7] ETSY Template Shop [https://bit.ly/40RF5D4] Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession [https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep] Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com [Support@michelecaruana.com]  TOOLS: Play Space Brain [https://playspacebrain.com] (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving [https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy] Active Campaign Free Trial [https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG] Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy]

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/ [https://www.sunshineindoorplay.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineindoorplay/ [https://www.instagram.com/sunshineindoorplay/] OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU] [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide [http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS] Fund Your Indoor Play Business [http://bit.ly/38KbYbz] [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist [http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI] Michele’s Instagram [https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK] Michele’s Website [https://www.michelecaruana.com/] Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel [https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7] ETSY Template Shop [https://bit.ly/40RF5D4] Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession [https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep] Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com [Support@michelecaruana.com]  TOOLS: Play Space Brain [https://playspacebrain.com] (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving [https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy] Active Campaign Free Trial [https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG] Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy]

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 [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfYkEnvPJdo&list=PLKNxpFOU7ITc6BrH_EHl4DuHqWqdUoTZU] [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide [http://bit.ly/3GwXQAS] Fund Your Indoor Play Business [http://bit.ly/38KbYbz] [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist [http://bit.ly/3N7bPAI] Michele’s Instagram [https://bit.ly/3Ia4PTK] Michele’s Website [https://www.michelecaruana.com/] Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel [https://bit.ly/3JDkSe7] ETSY Template Shop [https://bit.ly/40RF5D4] Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession [https://www.michelecaruana.com/recessionprep] Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com  TOOLS & OTHER LINKS: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD [http://bit.ly/3HES7fD] Questions and Support: Support@michelecaruana.com [Support@michelecaruana.com]  TOOLS: Play Space Brain [https://playspacebrain.com] (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving [https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy] Active Campaign Free Trial [https://www.activecampaign.com/?_r=D6IYK3HG] Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS [https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy]