You ’ ve owned a paintball field since 1983 ( second longest running field in the world ). What ’ s your secret to longevity ?
We were “ field paint only ” from the start and never deviated . It didn ’ t make sense that a profit center for the business would abdicate that . Do bars let you bring in your own bottle so you can drink cheaper ? Do ice cream parlors let you enjoy their setting and infrastructure while bringing in your own ice cream ? Never understood the concept .
We stopped giving away stuff . I wish I had all the money back from free paint , admission , C02 and other stuff that was given away in the early days . Remember friends are friends and customers are customers and both need to pay .
We have always been the most expensive place to play in the area . We are because we provide a great value to our guests . The lower your price the sooner you are out of business .
Prior to internet and email ( yes , we have been around that long ) the only way to reach out to existing customers was mail / postcards . Everyone that ever played at our field was on that list and they were touched frequently . Obviously now with social media and email the method has changed--but the goal is the same . Treat your existing customers well and keep them coming back . Capture every e-mail of every player and inquiry--that ’ s gold .
We learned early on that allowing a field team to be a “ HOME team ” was not the right way for us to go . It led to team members feeling entitled and it led to paying customers feeling beat up by more experienced players . It didn ’ t work for us on any level .
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