IAAPA Vienna Europe

 

IAAPA Vienna Europe  Sept 25-28, 2023 

 Booth A-2423

#iPlayCO #IAAPA2023 #CustomDesigns #weBUILDfun

IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida - November 2022

Drop by and see us at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando Florida
We are located at booth 4069.

iPlayCO booth 4069

iPlayCO Celebrates 20 years of Fun

iPlayCO Celebrates 20 years of Fun

iPlayCO, a leading manufacturer of safe, fun play structures enjoyed by children of all ages, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary.  Founded in 1999 in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, iPlayCO has installed play structures in over 70 countries and employs over 150 team members at offices in Canada, Italy, Bulgaria and the Philippines.

iPlayCO’s first project, completed in April 1999, was for a restaurant in San Jose, Costa Rica. Twenty years later, we have completed over 4,000 installations, ranging in value from approximately ten thousand dollars to over two million dollars.  Our largest playground order, the 24,938 square foot play center in the Mall of Dharan, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest children’s soft-play area ever built.

iPlayCO’s success is founded on the drive and creativity of its employees.  We are one of very few companies in our industry with the ability to custom-design projects when a customer envisions a play center with elements currently unavailable “off the shelf” from any supplier. iPlayCO designs, manufactures and installs play structures, providing a personalized experience from initial concept to the day a new facility opens its doors to welcome local children for the first time.

The past 24 months have been some of the most satisfying in iPlayCO’s history, as the company shifts its strategy from heavy reliance on a single strategic partner to developing a more balanced, multinational sales mix.  Acquisitions in Europe brought local marketing and service capabilities that would have been difficult to establish on our own.

iPlayCO’s manufacturing facility in the Philippines keeps our team current on industry trends in the Asian market and complements the companies North American and European facilities when we work on special projects.   Strengthening demand for iPlayCO products in Asia is an important part of our strategy going forward.

iPlayCO’s headquarters and core operations remain in Langley, where approximately 60 employees manage responsibilities from design to production planning, manufacturing to installation, and the majority of our senior management functions.  In 2015, we expanded our floor space to approximately 60,000 square feet to facilitate faster delivery times and greater design flexibility.  The increasingly international nature of iPlayCO’s business now sees managers in a variety of roles traveling extensively for marketing, production and other purposes.  It is a sign that we are not only growing but maturing into a truly multinational supplier in our industry.

“Today’s anniversary marks a milestone in iPlayCO’s development that everyone on our team can take great pride in,” said Scott Forbes, iPlayCO’s President, CEO and Director.  “When we think of the millions of families that have enjoyed our play structures, it reminds us why we started this business two decades ago.  I am happy to lead a team that has its eye on product quality and business results, while keeping foremost in mind our mission to provide children with an environment in which to have fun and develop through new challenges.  That is why we have grown and continue to welcome both repeat business and new clients year after year.  It is a credit to our team, and we are only just beginning to realize what this group can achieve.”

Follow iPlayCO Online

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/IPLAYCO
Twitter:           https://twitter.com/IPLAYCO
YouTube:         https://www.youtube.com/user/Iplayco
LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-play-company-inc-

iPlayCO is a Conference Sponsor at the IAAPA FEC Summit 2019

iPlayCO is a Conference Sponsor at the IAAPA FEC Summit 2019

Join us for the IAAPA FEC Summit 2019, held in Austin, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort from Jan. 27-29, 2019, with optional post-tour on Jan. 30. Family entertainment center (FEC) operators from around the globe gather at this yearly event to learn the latest best practices and share ideas. Register today!

Why Attend

IAAPA FEC Summit 2019 is an educational event for FEC owners and operators with a specific focus on building the skill sets necessary for success in the attractions industry. The seminars and sessions are particularly relevant to entrepreneurs.

What to Expect

Experience three days of learning and fun! Start preparing now—registration requires approval; facility operators will learn their status within 48 hours of registration. There will be a limited number of non-sponsor manufacturer, supplier, and consultant registrations available.

Register Here

Hope to see you there.

Drop by and see us at #IAAPA - booth 4063

Drop by and see us at #IAAPA - booth 4063

Come see our Super Hero designed booth.

Also ask us about our new "Adrenaline Parks".

Changes in Indoor Playgrounds

Changes in Indoor Playgrounds

The birth of soft modular play, or contained play as referred to by some, started with supplies to Quick Service Restaurants and soon grew to Children Entertainment Centers and Family Entertainment Centers
to have safer places for children to play.

iPlayCO was there from the beginning and has been adapting its products to follow the growth in the business and the now sophisticated customer. Now clients choose colors, activities, theming, brands and many more features, once not an option. However the standard basis of all iPlayCO playgrounds remains…SAFETY. All materials and designs are created with safety being the number one factor. The European norms are all followed and the customer knows that purchasing a iPlayCO product means certification of materials and of installation.

In the last few years designs have become more and more intricate with activities that take into account ages so that an FEC can have play structures or play zones for different age groups (0-3/4-10, 11-14, etc) or a school can have a dedicated age appropriate play area.

The look and feel of the playground has developed the most in the last 10 years with 2D and 3D theming creating a wow effect upon seeing the play area. iPlayCO designers not only design the activities in the playground to custom fit the area in which it will be built, but also are specialized in graphic work to study how to best attract customers upon entering the area. Children in particular become loyal customers when the area is associated to a character or mascot. So now even small play centers look like a theme park upon entering. This is an important competitive advantage that creates loyal customers which is important for your business.

What other businesses can benefit from having a playground?
The following are some of the sectors that have benefited after adding a play corner or a play area:

• Play Centers
• Shopping Centers
• Retail stores
• Airports
• Water Parks
• Restaurants
• Schools
• Amusement Parks
• FECs
• Cruise Lines and Ferries
• Bowling Centers
• Movie Theaters
• Fitness Centers
• Children's Ministries
• Roller Skating Centers
• Medical Offices and Hospitals
• Aquariums
• Museums

iPlayCO Group of Companies:

iPlayCO  ~  Play Mart International  ~  The Great Escape  ~  IREC  ~  Play Planet

How to Plan For a Kids Indoor Playground for Your Facility

How to Plan For a Kids Indoor Playground for Your Facility

Indoor playgrounds are a great addition for businesses who want to add more fun to their day. And if you have already thought of having one, it’s actually simpler than you ever thought. Indoor playgrounds are actually spreading like wildfire since it can be associated with different businesses.

If you look around, there a number of restaurants around town have playground partners. This means that these establishments have created recreational areas for kids to have fun before or after having a bite. Before starting with having your own indoor playground, better make sure to plan it well with these simple guidelines.

Do your Research

Before starting, you should gather information on your prospect neighbourhood. Here are simple questions to get started on doing your research:

Any specific neighborhoods in mind?

Any target location in mind within the neighborhoods you have chosen?

How many children are between ages 0-12

How many competitors within the neighborhood?

If there are, how will you be able to market yours?

How much will be the costing in total?

How big the space needed for the playground?

What is the purpose of the playground?

Even though these are simple questions, these questions help in providing a concrete picture on the progress of your indoor playground. It will also help you establish your own business plan that you will eventually show your potential investors.

Create a Business Plan

After answering the questions above, you can now start with the serious stuff. Creating a business plan is essential to starting a business. Along with the information generated from the questions above, this is where you will indicate calculations and simple analysis of the business: examples are break-even analysis, start-up expenses, and 3-year projections. Moreover, having a business plan can help in convincing investors to invest in the business.

Preparation and Production

After finally deciding on the finances, location and theme of the playground, it’s time to prepare the equipment. There are a lot of playground manufacturers who are skilled in creating safe and high-quality equipment that is recognized by international organizations. Of course, safety is a number one concern of parents.

Playgrounds are a place of fun and friendship for children. That is why safety and quality of materials should be considered in order to lessen the worries of parents and let the kids roam around at their own free will. And when it comes to manufacturing and installing playground equipment, IPLAYCO has been creating FUN since 1999, planning, and designing kid’s indoor playground for any type of business and is recognized by many international organizations. For interested establishments, call +1 604-607-1111 or email sales@iplayco.com or our website at www.iplayco.com 

Family Entertainment Center - FEC Development

Add a Ballistic Ballocity Arena to your location

Don't forget about a Toddler Play Area

IAAPA 2016 - Drop by and see us at 3862

We are at the IAAPA IAE Orlando, FL
trade show event this week

September trade shows

We are busy in September

International Play is at the
following trade shows:

 

International Aquarium Congress
Vancouver, BC

 

IATP - Trampoline Parks
Nashville, TN

 

WFX Church show
Louisville, KY

 

IAAPA EAS
Global Exhibitor
Barcelona, Spain

We BUILD Fun - our NEW newsletter - Hot off the press!

We now have a "We Build Fun" newsletter

Just email us at  WeBuildFun@iplayco.com

We will add you to our list of Fun.

Just need your Name, email address and Country

Theming - Spark the Imagination

Did you read the article in FunWorld put out by IAAPA?

Theming - Spark the Imagination

“One of the biggest things for FECs now is to separate themselves from others,” says Dave Romano, COO of Iplayco Corp. in Langley, Canada. “The big players use theming in a dramatic fashion to create an environment people want to go back to, and that does translate into the smaller facilities. It creates an atmosphere of being a destination location if it’s done properly.”

One of the biggest things for FECs now is to separate themselves from others,” says Dave Romano, COO of Iplayco Corp. in Langley, Canada. “The big players use theming in a dramatic fashion to create an environment people want to go back to, and that does translate into the smaller facilities. It creates an atmosphere of being a destination location if it’s done properly.” - See more at: http://www.iaapa.org/news/funworld/funworld-magazine/spark-the-imagination---october-2015?utm_content=buffer13457&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.xNqJmmvj.dpuf

“One of the biggest things for FECs now is to separate themselves from others,” says Dave Romano, COO of Iplayco Corp. in Langley, Canada. “The big players use theming in a dramatic fashion to create an environment people want to go back to, and that does translate into the smaller facilities. It creates an atmosphere of being a destination location if it’s done properly.” - See more at: http://www.iaapa.org/news/funworld/funworld-magazine/spark-the-imagination---october-2015?utm_content=buffer13457&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.xNqJmmvj.dpuf

“One of the biggest things for FECs now is to separate themselves from others,” says Dave Romano, COO of Iplayco Corp. in Langley, Canada. “The big players use theming in a dramatic fashion to create an environment people want to go back to, and that does translate into the smaller facilities. It creates an atmosphere of being a destination location if it’s done properly.” - See more at: http://www.iaapa.org/news/funworld/funworld-magazine/spark-the-imagination---october-2015?utm_content=buffer13457&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.xNqJmmvj.dpuf

“One of the biggest things for FECs now is to separate themselves from others,” says Dave Romano, COO of Iplayco Corp. in Langley, Canada. “The big players use theming in a dramatic fashion to create an environment people want to go back to, and that does translate into the smaller facilities. It creates an atmosphere of being a destination location if it’s done properly.” - See more at: http://www.iaapa.org/news/funworld/funworld-magazine/spark-the-imagination---october-2015?utm_content=buffer13457&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.xNqJmmvj.dpuf

We will be at the following shows in November 2015

We will be at the following shows in November 2015:

IAAPA ORLANDO, FL

WFX for CHURCH LEADERS

ATHLETIC BUSINESS CONFERENCE & EXPO

We have been creating fun since 1999.

IAAPA 2013 - Drop by booth #2667

International Play Company will be at
IAAPA 2013 in Orlando, Florida

Booth# 2667

#Commercial #Indoor #Play #Equipment and #Play #Structures

The Innovators since 1999

IAAPA EAS show in Singapore - Drop by booth #Iplayco #1215 - Commercial Play Designs

Drop by our booth at the
IAAPA AAE show in Singapore.

Booth #1215

Commercial Play Structures for Family Friendly Businesses

FEC Family Entertainment Center - Award Winning Customers of Iplayco - IAAPA ~ PPA ~ Export Award ~

IAAPA Commercial Orlando - Iplayco at booth # 2662

International Play Company will be at booth# 2662.

Drop by and see us. 

FEC Development

Implementation from Start to Finish

Turnkey Solutions

Custom Theming

We do it all!
Design, manufacture & install worldwide

Working with your project team, 

our Iplayco sales and CAD designers 

makes your project easier and saves your money

Indoor Playground Equipment by Iplayco - City of Edina

Large themed indoor playground at the City of Edina.

Funderdome on South Florida's NBC Affiliate

Funderdome on South Florida's NBC Affiliate
Congrats to Funderdome, our customer in Florida.

FUNWORLD ARTICLE - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

Almost two years ago Iplayco Inc. (International Play Company) added another page to its business plan. The manufacturer of children’s indoor and outdoor play structures for playgrounds, family entertainment centers (FECs), and other facilities took the unusual step and opened The Great Escape right down the road.

Its all-ages FEC features a wide range of rides and attractions, including laser tag, climbing walls, an indoor playground, a suspended obstacle course, and mini-bowling. (Iplayco, headquartered in Langley, Canada, integrates products other than its own here.)

While the facility turns a nice profit, that’s not the only reason the company built it, says Scott Forbes, the company’s president. In fact, The Great Escape (www.thege.ca) serves a couple different roles.

Iplayco (www.iplayco.com) uses the FEC for research and development purposes to see which of its products guests enjoy most, and maybe more important, it’s a training site for people considering opening a similar facility. Dozens of customers, some from as far away as Mexico and Europe, have visited The Great Escape to learn firsthand how to run an FEC.

Iplayco offers a vast turnkey service that covers the business plan, financing, operations, design, training, and marketing. “We take care of the whole thing,” Forbes says, adding the relationship could continue for questions that pop up after the doors open.

The real-world model proves to be a strong selling point, Forbes says. The Great Escape staff can show clients exactly how to run a successful birthday party, what are the best seating ratios and setup for traffic flow, and even offer numbers that they can use for banking and financing purposes.

“We can give them all the right answers,” he says. “Whatever you need from us—if you want a turnkey FEC, just some advice, or a playground, we are here for you.”

Creative Minds - Forbes admits he can’t draw a straight line. “The designers quite often laugh at my pencil sketches,” jokes the 44-year-old father of two boys.

Luckily, he didn’t require an art degree when he cofounded Iplayco Inc. in 1999 with partner Franco Aquila.

By mixing interactivity and theming as well as putting an equal importance on creativity and aesthetics, Iplayco has earned a loyal customer base, he says. Its products can be found in more than 60 countries around the world.

“We just try to take it the next level,” Forbes says.

Years ago, play structures were simple and straightforward: ball pits, slides, things like that, Forbes notes. The level of participation by the child was relatively low.

In founding Iplayco, he wanted to break away from the norm to provide a more rewarding experience for kids.

“Let’s create things that are good for the children to interact with and let their minds be creative,” he says, explaining the company’s philosophy. “That’s a big part of what we do, whether its theming, unique shapes, or play events.”

With one of its tree-climb attractions, for example, young guests climb from level to level, doing something along each step of way. It could be making a sound effect or wiggling the nose on the tree character’s “head.” Its latest series of play structures, called Quantum Curve, takes a nonstandard approach, he describes. Gone are the standard rigid lines and 90-degree angles.

“We put an interesting curvature to the equipment,” says Forbes, who recently built one such innovative structure at Kuwait’s 360 Mall. “It looks like a piece of architecture.”

Iplayco worked closely with the mall’s management to develop Infunity. “We try to take the customers’ needs and feedback and not be taken back by it,” he says. “This is a creative process. We start with something that looks like a truck and it ends up like a race car.”

Forbes also looks for “the story” a facility wants to tell. If it’s a fairy tale, he would work to create a structure that would blend in with that particular theme, like a castle in this case.

He attributes much of the success of Iplayco, which boasts 80 to 100 employees depending on the season, to its team of designers. They frequently participate in roundtable brainstorming discussions and even take Forbes’ rough doodles and turn them into polished finished products.

“We have created some pretty wonderful play environments for kids over the years,” he says proudly.

Contributing Editor Mike Bederka at mbederka@IAAPA.org