The Story of Putts Perfect
In August 2009, during one of my many trips to China, I was talking with an American friend of mine, Hunter, that is living in Qingdao, China. Hunter is a very talented website and graphics designer. Check him out at www.daddydesign.com .
During our conversation, he casually wondered why no one had created an inflatable mini golf course that would be easy to set up and transport from various locations. It was a great idea.
Well, our conversation immediately turned into that particular topic and whether or not it could be done. As I have been designing and building inflatable games for about 20 years, it seemed like a challenge that I wanted to pursue. He and I both started to pencil out some designs.
Since I was at a factory in Southern China that I felt could build this for me, I immediately contacted another friend of mine near Shanghai that is also an extremely well versed designer in creating 3D design drawings for inflatable products.
The next day, we had our first design ideas in hand, and I immediately went to the design department at the factory I was in and asked them whether or not this could be done. At this point, I got my first real education on what can, and cannot, be done with various types of materials and sealed air.
3 days later our first prototype was completed, and needless to say, it was not going to work. But, we were going in the right direction, and we knew the changes that needed to be made, and we could visualize the finished product.
Over the next 2 weeks, we continued to test different materials and manufacturing methods to try to get the airframe to a point that a good carpet could fit inside of it, and a golf ball would not get stuck under the rails. We were also concerned with weight and durability. Once we accomplished all of the main objectives, we set about designing 9 unique layouts to create a 9 hole package.
During this time, I was also trying to figure out a name for the game. This is not a simple task when you are trying to name a new golf putting product. Golf is a very mature product, and just about every name I could think of was taken. I wanted a simple name that was easy to remember, and could be crafted into a brand. Mind you, Hunter and I were checking domain names to figure out what to call the product, because without the domain name, there is no brand. So, after about 50 trys, I came up with Putts Perfect. We typed it in, and BINGO, it was available. I bought the domain, and now we had the name for our brand.
Hunter and I discussed this farther, and we both knew the product had a huge mass market appeal. I decided that we should go all out and brand the product in its entirety to give it a finished corporate look. This included a very cool logo, with a proper color scheme, and imprinted logo on virtually every part of the product including the balls, putters, bags, pumps, airframes, etc… Hunter excels in this area, and he created a really top notch look for the game.
Now, that we had the concept, the name, and the branded look, as well as all of our initial accessories in place, it was time to make a production prototype and take it to the 2009 IAAPA trade show in Las Vegas to see the response of the customers.
The response was fantastic. We sold quite a few at the show.
We also listened to the customer’s comments very closely.
After all, this game is for them, not us. So, the needs of the customers are what we focused on during the show. Also, we only offered one hole at the show. In hindsight, we should have had the entire 9 holes, but there was no time to have done them properly, and after listening to all the feedback, we then knew what we needed to change, and all of these changes were incorporated into the 9 holes.
Some of the biggest comments and questions were, “Do you have more than one hole?” “How many holes do you have?”, “What does it include?”, “Does it need to be so wide?”, “Can it be used outdoors?”, “How long does it take to set up?”, “Do I need a truck?”, “Can I have my name printed on it?”, “Can I get custom colors made?”, “Do you have any obstacles?”, etc… and many others.
After compiling all of the questions and comments, I came back to China in December 2009 to set about making the modifications and finalizing the 1st generation of the product.
At the same time we were doing this, we needed to create some exposure for the product and develop a sales system.
I started contacting associates of mine to develop a reseller network of dealers and distributors in the US. I found a high acceptance level from resellers, and there will soon be many companies in the states that will be reselling the Putts Perfect product into many different markets. We are bringing in container loads of the Putts Perfect packages and stocking them for the US Market in our fulfillment center in Los Angeles, CA.
Richard Taylor of Bounceabouts in the UK approached me at IAAPA to secure the rights to act as our distributor in the UK, and he has also further developed Italian and French distributors.
Mark Rubiolo of Bubbling with Energy in Sydney, Australia is handling Australia as well, so we have quickly established a reach into various parts of the world.
So, with all of this said, we are now shipping our first containers of the Putts Perfect games.
During this time, we have also been testing the game at various events and continuing to improve the product. Nothing starts out 100% perfect, although we have tried greatly with this product.
We hope you decide to purchase a Putts Perfect for your event inventory. We will continue to improve the product as we continue to receive feedback from our customers. Please feel free to share your experiences with us about your events.
Thanks again, and we wish you very good times and a great Putts Perfect experience!
Mark Anastasia
Putts Perfect, Inc.
President
The Benefits of Adding a Portable Mini Golf Course to Your Party Rental Business
Putts Perfect Inflatable Portable Mini Golf Course
When the economy is bad a good business owner knows that he has to react to customer needs if he wants to keep his business growing. What does this mean to a party rental business owner? It basically means that he needs to offer products that fit his customers needs AND his budget. A portable mini golf course is an excellent way to do this!
One of the biggest causes for loss of sales in 2009 was corporate event budget cuts. When you’re laying off employees you generally tend to cut down on company picnics, holiday parties and huge customer appreciation parties. But, most corporate employers realize that they still have to do something to keep morale up and this is where your portable miniature golf course can come in.
Even though the company picnic might be out this year, there will still be team building activities and meetings where the employees need some relaxation time. A mini golf course is an easy way to offer this and still stay within most budgets.
Especially when you offer 1 hole, 3 hole or 9 hole packages.
The downside of portable mini golf courses used to be that they weren’t really all that portable. Yes, they came on carts with wheels but even the aluminum ones were heavy and required a minimum of two people and a number of hours for set up. And they were darned expensive.
With the innovation of the new sealed airframe mini golf course, ALL the problems to renting a portable mini golf course are solved. These new courses are versatile in terms of layout and obstacles, each hole sets up in about 3 minutes AND the prices are amazingly affordable. There is no pressure to buy 9 holes. Actually, you can start with just one (although most companies seem to be starting with three).
Almost everyone who owns a TIPPS (Truly Innovative Portable Putting System) is thrilled with the fact that the units can be transported without owning a truck or trailer.
Although a corporate event is a great place for your new mini golf course, that certainly isn’t the only place you’ll be renting it. Consider:
• Fundraisers
• Store Openings
• Backyard Birthday Parties
• Block Parties
• Church Youth Leagues
• College Events
• Trade Shows
And those are just a few. Once you’ve added a sealed airframe mini golf course to your rental inventory, you’ll have a product that is not only popular, but can be used at basically EVERY type of event and will fit into most budgets.
What more could any party rental business owner ask for!
The Perfect Gift for Golfers
Finding the perfect gift for golfers can be a little tricky, even though it might seem like a no brainer at first. I mean, they’re golfers, so you can get them golf stuff, right? The problem is that golf stuff encompasses thousands upon thousands of possible gifts, so you can easily become overwhelmed trying to find the one that’s just right.
Golf tends to become an all consuming near obsession for any serious golfer, which makes finding the perfect gift for golfers a little tricky because these golfers have a depth of knowledge that a non golfer can’t even try to match. You can try and get them a gift certificate or you can buy them something at random and hope for the best.
Of course, you can also just ask them what they want, but some of the fun of buying someone a gift is going to be eroded by them knowing that you’re getting them something. Having said all that, there is a great new choice that is the perfect gift for golfers in your life.
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in Southern California, most of us have to deal with winter. Winter means snow at worst, and bad weather at the best, and for much of the world it means that you’re not going to be golfing for a decent chunk of the year. If you’re a hardcore golfer, this is going to be pure torture, but it does open up a new possibility when you are searching for that unique gift!
What you can get your favorite golfer is one of the new inflatable portable mini golf courses. These can be set up anywhere, and although I mentioned winter above, they can be used year round to give your golfer his fix when he can’t get to the links for a full game. This is the perfect option for any golfer who takes his game seriously.
There is actually wide variety of putting courses, and the only manufacturer I’ve found for these great games is continually releasing new courses, with the aim of making their way up to a full eighteen hole course. Right now, though their three hole courses are the most popular, and will probably provide your golfer with the variety they need while not taking up too much space or too much cash. Due to the high demand, they now are offering the option of purchasing one hole at a time and are coming out with a new, smaller consumer version in a few months.
The mini courses are actually pretty cool. Basically, they have an inflatable frame that provides the shape of the course, along with the green and the hole. This means that they arte extremely portable, making this not just the perfect gift for golfers but a great gift for their significant others as well. Each mini green can be changed by adding pieces under the green…or just moving the hole.
Of course, these courses aren’t just a gift for golfers, they can also be a great addition to any household, allowing you to set up your own miniature golf course. You can also have them imprinted with business logo, if you’re the entrepreneurial type. Renting an inflatable mini golf course to area businesses can be the start of a whole new career!
If you’re interested in getting the perfect gift for golfers that you know and love, then you should definitely check out http://www.puttsperfect.com to see what they have to offer. There is sure to be something there for any golfer.
How to Make Money with Putts Perfect!
Here is a recent letter to a customer helping them understand how people are making money with the Putts Perfect game:
Hi Bob,
Here is a sure fire way to make money with a PP-3H Putts Perfect game package.
It should be marketed as an add on item, in addition to just a stand alone event with every bounce house rental that goes out. What do the parents have to play with while the kids are bouncing. Putts Perfect is a perfect game for parents and kids to enjoy together.
Most people may not want, or need, to book a 3 hole package for a backyard party, but they would certainly consider a single hole with little additional thought. It would be less money and less space for the customer, and it is less than a 5 minute set up for your operator.
The way the game has been designed, packaged and sold, it is able to be divided and sent into any configuration desired.
In other words, each hole is completely self contained and can go to different events.
If the same crew is doing all of the set ups, then you can use a single blower. Otherwise, you may need to have an additional blower to inflate the airframe if you have 2 different crews setting up bounces. We have additional hand pumps and electric pumps available ranging in price from $20 to $40.
If you have a PP-3H 3 hole course, then you may rent it for between $150-$300 once or twice a month depending on your market. However, if you take that same 3 hole package and offer only single holes out with each bounce house for an additional $35, you could realistically rent all 3 holes once or twice each weekend. Again, it depends on your market, but this game could generate an extra $400 – $600 a month quite easily and pay for itself very quickly.
Putts Perfect is an activity that both the parents and the kids will enjoy together.
I know you understand this probably more than me, so I will let you consider it.
I just wanted to point that out as you as you are evaluating its worth.
I look forward to your comments.
Mark Anastasia
President
Putts Perfect, Inc.
Pittsfield Home Show
Carr Hardware of Pittsfield, MA rented a PP-TS to their Local Chamber of Commerce for the annual Home Show. The game was a huge success as many people stopped by to test just how perfect their putt was! The Putts Perfect is loads of fun and unlike anything else on the market today.
Be The Match Foundation Event
On February 24th, 2010 the Be The Match Foundation held a successful Putts Perfect event at the Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. Participants had a lot of fun and raised a tidy sum of money for their foundation.
Young Survival Coalition Event
On February 6, 2010 the Young Survival Coalition used a Putts Perfect game during one of their events. The best overall score won prizes.
