Rockin’ Jump franchisee Steven Rodier hedged his bets when he left his job at a financial data and software company to open a trampoline park in Trumbull, CT.
With a daughter participating in trampoline gymnastics, Rodier understood the potential appeal of bringing a trampoline park to his area. He purchased the franchise rights for Trumbull, CT in July 2013 from Rockin’ Jump and was open and running by May 2014, complete with wall-to-wall trampolines, a foam pit, basketball hoops and a dodge ball arena.
Rodier was already committed to the idea of opening his own business. The prospect of spending the rest of his life behind a desk in a corporate job was his driving force to find something in the recreational and active lifestyle industry. While researching a specific trampoline manufacturer, that manufacturer provided him with Rockin’ Jump as a reference. When Rodier called Rockin’ Jump for a reference check, the owner he spoke with told him the company was about to start franchising.
What attracted Rodier to Rockin’ Jump was the sense that they were really looking for franchise “partners” vs. just people with money. They showed early on how prepared they were to provide him with the comprehensive support he wanted.
“I thought it was a good idea to go with them to save myself some of the headaches and mistakes that I’d probably be doomed to make,” Rodier said during a recent interview from Trumbull. “I wanted to do something fun and family oriented that would also be a good workout for people,” he explained.
Although he admits he currently works more hours now than before starting this business, he hasn’t noticed the added hours because he’s having so much fun at work now.
He also knows that as the park gets more established, he’ll be able to work fewer hours and focus more on fine tuning the business.
Once Rodier made the decision to go with Rockin’ Jump franchise, their corporate support team was in touch with him daily and helped him with every aspect of getting started.
Finding a suitable location was the most difficult first step. Once Rodier narrowed down the prospective locations, he told Rockin' Jump about his preferred choice and their people provided him with reports about the demographics of the area and helped determine if it would likely be a good location. They also gave him recommendations and support throughout the negotiating process.
“So they’re there every step of the way to help you with that process,” Rodier said.
And once the location was set, Rockin’ Jump also helped out with recommendations for contractors and vendors. The company’s vendor program is well organized, the franchisee said, and each vendor knows what a franchisee will need as soon as they call.
While the park was being built out, Rodier and the general manager he hired flew out to Rockin’ Jump’s headquarters in Pleasanton, CA for an intensive training program.
After returning from this training, the company representatives have made themselves available for any questions Rodier has had since he started with them. They have answers, recommendations and advice for their new franchisees, he said, and he gives the company two thumbs up.
“I would highly recommend it. Whenever I have an issue or a question or just want to talk, they’ve been quick to respond,” he said. “I think the system they have in place is excellent.”
