The Big Air family is growing! In just a few short months, Big Air Trampoline Park will open its doors in Spartanburg, South Carolina. When local franchise owner Dustin Pelletier isn’t working hard to finalize plans for the trampoline park, you can find him spending time with his family or dreaming up new ideas for his famous Christmas light display (600,000 lights – synced to music and fireworks!).
We sat down with Dustin to discuss what he brings to the Big Air team and his thoughts on the trampoline park industry, as well as what families in the greater Greenville area can expect to experience this fall.
BA: What did you do before joining the Big Air team?
DP: I worked for my father for years, doing concrete construction, and discovered that I actually enjoyed it. Eventually, he put me in charge as the VP, overseeing all Operations. I bought that big business from him about eight years ago and served as the owner before I decided that I really didn’t want to be in the construction industry for the rest of my life. The industry survived hard times, but if there was another recession, I didn’t want to go through that again.
We sold that business at the end of 2015. My wife and I wanted to do something more family-oriented – something she could get involved in and our kids would enjoy. We always loved going to trampoline parks with our kids, so we knew right away that we wanted to open an indoor trampoline park.
BA: What made you choose Big Air’s franchise program?
DP: We did a lot of research before deciding that there was just too much involved in the process of starting an indoor trampoline park to do it on our own. We wanted to find a franchise that was well established, so that we could lean on that management team’s expertise and not re-invent the wheel. Big Air stood out above the rest.
Other concepts don’t navigate the marketplace with as much expertise as Big Air does. Big Air approaches their marketing with so much insight. They strategically cater to the birthday crowd, and they creatively pursue the benefits of a “parent-centric” amusement park experience. I couldn’t find those things anywhere else.
BA: What excites you the most about opening a Big Air franchise?
DP: I’m a dad. I love to be fun, innovative and create new things. I think my playful attitude will be my greatest asset as an indoor trampoline park owner-operator. I see a huge opportunity to connect with employees and the community on a deeper level, as well as create experiences that will enrich their faith and their character. Additionally, there’s such a great market opportunity in the Spartanburg area – our location is right in the middle of a huge retail center. The Big Air concept is so dynamic and engaging that I just know the community will embrace it as an entertainment destination.
BA: Any advice you’d share with a potential franchise owner?
DP: If anyone’s interested in Big Air, they need to visit their locations in California. We knew we would sign on early on in our process, but being able to see Big Air’s flagship facility – including how they deal with their guests and approach everything they do with professionalism – really sealed the deal for us. Sit down and really get to know the management team. Get a sense of what drives their action and decision-making. I’m really glad we took the time to do that.
The countdown is on until Big Air Spartanburg – set to open at 660 Spartanburg Boulevard in Fall 2016. Thinking about leaping into the indoor trampoline park industry? Download our Free Franchise Report to learn more about how Big Air’s support and structure stands out from the rest!