As Competition folds, PLAYTIME grows to serve more markets

September 1, 2009

“We are uniquely positioned for growth. We’ve had numerous competitors in the past 10 years and they are all gone,” says Mike Evans, founder and CEO of PLAYTIME, LLC. “It’s not just about our unique indoor, outdoor and water play products, but also about the team of people and the experience we bring to each and every client. We keep them happy.”

PLAYTIME is in an enviable position: The soft play equipment company has good news to share in a market when such news is sparse.

Already serving U.S. and international markets as far flung as South Africa, China and Dubai, PLAYTIME is expanding its location and its ability to serve more markets and more types of industries. The company’s products (think of the busy, colorful kids play areas found in shopping centers, McDonald’s restaurants and water parks) have always been a proven differentiator for the clients that install them.

Now, armed with a new building, a new logo and a new website (www.ExperiencePlaytime.com), PLAYTIME is poised to reach into more markets with more products.

According to Mike Evans, the new logo better conveys the company’s simple yet dynamic approach to its products and customers: “We believe kids should be able to have safe, healthy fun wherever they go.”

The new website is extremely versatile and improves PLAYTIME’s ability to capture and steward sales leads. ExperiencePlaytime.com features a large photo gallery and video gallery, and links to new EXPERIENCE PLAYTIME Facebook channel and EXPERIENCE PLAYTIME YouTube channel, where user-generated video of PLAYTIME kids play areas are found.

But perhaps the most impactful advancement is the company’s new, 65,000-square-foot building, located south of Metro Denver, at 13310 James E Casey Avenue, Englewood, CO 80112.

Grant Walter, Executive Vice President, says, “This building is a great canvass where we can demonstrate all of our capabilities. It showcases the breadth and depth of the play experience that we can deliver, the creativity and the manufacturing muscle that we have.”

Evans agrees, saying that PLAYTIME will encourage client visits to the new facility.

“I think this is one of the most creative offices in all of Denver,” says Evans. “One of our greatest business challenges is that our clients’ architects think our products are too cartoony, too whimsical. This building, the art studio and the manufacturing shop show how creative we are. They’ll walk in and think, ‘Wow. I just walked into a serious, artistic and creative endeavor.”

In fact, in a down economic year, PLAYTIME has seen 50-60% growth in its quick-serve restaurant market and expects to be well positioned when the retail market regains its footing. Walter says that more industries, such as fitness clubs and daycare centers, are beginning to consider PLAYTIME’s products.

“Our play areas truly deliver business value to our customers,” he says. “We create a differentiated, marketable tool for them to get more customers in the door, keep them staying longer and to drive more revenue.”