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Gigantic mazes, pirate ships, and princess castles, who hasn't daydreamed in front of the numerous inflatables that delight kids of all ages as soon as the weather warms up? Beach soccer, enormous bouncy slides, inflatable obstacle courses, and many more, but whether it's a standard bouncy castle or a specially crafted design, purchasing a professional inflatable is no child's play. Although inflatables are a key asset for events with large crowds, it is still important to take your time when selecting the inflatable that best meets your requirements. But how can you be certain you're selecting the BEST pick when there are so many different players on the market and inflatables available online? Regardless of your level of experience, there are numerous factors to consider when selecting THE quality inflatable that will live up to your expectations.
6 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING YOUR INFLATABLE
CONTENTS
- What kind of inflatable games should I offer to my visitors?
- What is the users' average age?
- How do I choose a quality inflatable?
- How much does an inflatable cost?
- What are the themes available for my inflatable?
- Can my inflatable be custom-made?
WHAT KIND OF INFLATABLE GAMES SHOULD I OFFER TO MY VISITORS?
The world of inflatables includes a wide range of structures with different activity zones. Bouncy castles, inflatable trampolines, multi-activity bouncy castles, bouncy slides, inflatable water obstacle courses and many others: there are many models that could meet your needs. Choosing the right inflatable means first and foremost defining the type of activities you want to offer your visitors.
1. The bouncy castle: a favourite with kids!
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Particularly popular with young children, the bouncy castle is a classic among inflatable playgrounds. The trampoline bouncy castle is particularly recommended for children aged 1 and over.
It has a trampoline area on its base and sometimes includes inflatable obstacles or figures. It is very easy to set up and takes up very little space: maximum fun for the children, maximum peace of mind for the operators! Bouncy castles are usually decorated with cheerful cartoon illustrations that will delight the youngest.
Kids can play, bounce and fall in complete safety under the watchful eye of their parents.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT BOUNCY CASTLES
- Ideal for children from 1 year of age
- Playful design that will appeal to the youngest
- A classic of inflatable play areas
2. The bouncy slide: endless fun all summer long!
Inflatable bouncy slides are towering attractions that can be seen from a great distance and are suitable for a wide range of visitors, from younger children to teenagers.
Some models, such as the Giant Bouncy Slides, are particularly popular with teenagers, who can slide down dozens of metres with their friends.
In addition, the inflatable slides operate in a continuous flow. This means that a large number of players can be accommodated without long queues.
Adults and children alike will enjoy speeding down these large slides for the ultimate sliding experience.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT BOUNCY SLIDES
- Visible from afar thanks to its height: the highlight of an inflatable play park
- A wide range of structures, from inflatable slides for children as young as 3 years old, to giant inflatables that will appeal to adults.
- High capacity: continuous-flow operation
3. The inflatable obstacle course: the outdoor sports adventure!
Inflatable obstacle courses are inflatable games with many different activity zones that players must navigate as quickly as possible. Typical activities include: tunnels, trampolines, vertical and horizontal inflatable obstacles, climbing areas, slides and more.
These multi-activity obstacle courses take up a lot of space and bring together a large number of participants in a continuous flow. Players love these fun, original and demanding adventure courses where falls, slides and bounces reign supreme.
The inflatable obstacle course's little extra: a large inflatable track full of pitfalls, often illustrated and colourful.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT INFLATABLE OBSTACLE COURSES
- Activity-packed large inflatable games
- Multi-activity course from age 3
- High capacity: continuous-flow operation
4. Sports Inflatables: a favourite with older children!
Are you looking for an inflatable game that will appeal to fans of strength, fitness and endurance? Choose one of our sports inflatables: these attractions are aimed mainly at young people and adults and allow you to organise top-quality sporting events such as Olympics, sports competitions and many others, between two or more players.
There is a wide range of inflatable games dedicated to sports: fighting games such as Sumo, Gladiator Duel, strength games such as the pull-up ladder, inflatables directly inspired by popular team sports such as football or rugby. It's up to you to decide which will be the most popular with your visitors.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT SPORTS INFLATABLES
- Inflatable games that involve competition, strength and endurance
- Inflatables suitable for children aged 12 and over
- Ideal for Olympics, sports competitions and much more!
5. Mechanical Inflatables: fairground style!
This category of inflatables includes all our motorised inflatables. From fairground rides like the Flying Chairs to must-see attractions such as the Inflatable Last One Standing or the Mechanical Rodeo Bungee Bull, these original and fun games allow for a unique combination of inflatables and fairground attractions for hours of fun.
These activities must be supervised by a professional in order to ensure safety on site.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MECHANICAL GAMES
- Popular games that have already proved their worth
- Suitable for a wide demographic ranging from 3-year-olds to adults
6. The water playground: for cool fun!
Inflatable aqua parks are a must for outdoor summer activities. With the arrival of the warm weather, players, both children and adults, will be looking for a refreshing and fun attraction for water games and laughs galore.
Whether it's an inflatable that can be placed on a body of water (pools, lakes etc.), the large inflatable water park with its bouncy slides and large pools or the famous slip’n slide inflatable track: you have a wide choice of attractions that are becoming increasingly popular with summer visitors.
Inflatables are ideal for an outdoor play area in a seaside resort or city beach.
KEY POINTS ABOUT INFLATABLE WATER PARKS
- Ideal for large outdoor play areas during the summer holidays
- Wide range of inflatables available in all sizes, designs and ages
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF PLAYERS?
Selecting an inflatable also means knowing your visitors and their average age. For example, some of you may want intergenerational inflatables dedicated to families, while others may prefer playgrounds dedicated to young children or teenagers only. This information will help you decide which inflatables you should offer in your play park. Note: Inflatable play parks generally have two types of visitors: chaperones and players, so be sure to include something to entertain the accompanying adults in your search for the best inflatable.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A QUALITY INFLATABLE?
The inflatable industry is made up of a large number of suppliers. With so many different products and services available, it's critical to ensure that the inflatable you're purchasing has a professional finish and meets the most important market standards (EN14960). Furthermore, market professionals frequently provide a wide range of additional services to ensure the longevity of your investment (warranty, after-sales service, winterisation, cleaning, maintenance, repair and many others).
HOW MUCH DOES AN INFLATABLE COST?
The price of a professional inflatable can range from €700 to over €60,000 for giant models and custom-made inflatables. Defining your initial budget will help you find the right inflatable(s) among the many products available on the market. But what should I consider when planning my budget? Don't panic, here is a list of best practices.
1. Set budget ranges
To start with, if you do not have a clear and precise budget, we recommend that you set a price range. For example, your budget could be between €1,000 and €2,500 excluding VAT, or between €2,500 and €5,000 excluding VAT, or even more if it is an important structure for your business. This budget range will give you an initial idea of the most suitable inflatables.
2. A budget that varies according to the type of customer
Useful tip: the budget for purchasing an inflatable is not the same if your customers are mainly local authorities or private individuals.
Which inflatable for private customers?
If your clientele is made up of individual private customers, you should buy smaller bouncy castles (4x5m), such as the Fortress Bouncy Castle or the Circus Bouncy Castle, which will be very popular at birthday parties, weddings and all private events that are unique moments of festivity and conviviality with family or friends.
And for local authorities?
Town halls and city municipalities, on the other hand, regularly organise events that showcase the highlights of their town and bring together a large number of residents. They need inflatable structures, such as inflatable obstacle courses, that can accommodate players of all ages and, of course, have good outdoor visibility (large format structure). Like public authorities, large event agencies will also tend to favour a massive inflatable game, which will have a real 'wow' factor to their event. Games such as the Inflatable Jungle Obstacle Course or the Aqualand Water Park are bestsellers for this type of client.
3. How to buy a bargain bouncer?
Are you looking to buy a professional quality inflatable but are on a budget? Major companies in the inflatable market regularly offer low-cost inflatables and second-hand inflatables that combine premium finishes with unbeatable prices.
4. Is it possible to rent an inflatable for a long period of time?
In addition to budget and profitability, it is also important to consider the seasonality of your activity. If you only need the inflatable for 3 months of the year, it may be worth considering a long-term rental instead of buying an inflatable.
Long-term hire allows you to :
- Spread the payment over several monthly instalments
- Avoid the hassle of repairs, cleaning and winterisation
- Invest in impressive structures, as they are more accessible when rented than when purchased
- Safeguard your investment by testing a first year's rental. If the choice was not successful, you can always change the structure the following year.
- Offer something new each season. However, if novelty is not important to your client, it is clearly preferable to buy the inflatable and rent it back to them each year. As a reminder, a top-quality professional inflatable has a lifespan of 5-7 years.
What are the themes available for my inflatable?
Pirates, buccaneers, Christmas, birthdays, animals, circus, snow and much more: the world of leisure and entertainment offers a wide range of attractive themes to make children of all ages dream. Do you have a favourite theme? Do you want to introduce a new theme to your indoor park or simply add an inflatable attraction to an existing theme? Choose the theme that suits you and will give your inflatable play park a boost.
Also consider the many different types of entertainment that can be provided around your inflatable depending on the theme you select: privateer pirates, clowns, balloon sculptors and many other activities that your visitors are sure to enjoy.
Can my inflatable be custom-made?
Are you wondering about creating a bespoke inflatable? The creation of a tailor-made inflatable has very specific objectives:
- Have an inflatable in your company's colours
- Offer an original design not yet available on the market
In this context, it is important to have the support of a market expert who can help you specify all of your requirements, ensure operational follow-up (production, logistics), and direct you in your decision-making. This partner will provide you with guidance on the creation of your custom inflatable, acting as a true project manager. In order to effectively build a Premium quality inflatable that complies with all the standards in force on the market, including the choice of design, format, and activities, their know-how will accompany you from A to Z in the most crucial stages of your project.
