Meet Neil Granberry of Nashville Bubble Ball

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Granberry.

Hi Neil, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In college, I majored in mechanical engineering at Auburn University. After school, I worked in the auto industry as an engineer at Kia in West Point, Georgia, and then Toyota in Huntsville, Alabama.

During Covid, I got the entrepreneurial itch and decided to pursue it in two ways. First I applied to business school at Vanderbilt, then I began the search for small businesses that I could run simultaneously with business school. I found out I was accepted to Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt in December of 2020, and a few months later I put in an offer for Nashville Bubble and put in my notice at Toyota at the same time.

Since taking over, Nashville Bubble Ball has hit new milestones such as a new logo and website release, new employees hired and trained. I’m excited to continue tackling this challenge and applying the knowledge gained at Vanderbilt to create opportunities for Nashville Bubble Ball.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our #1 challenge is increasing how many events we are booking. We are focused on getting our name out there so people know what Bubble Ball is, how to book it, and how much fun it will be!

I’m experimenting with different forms of ads, marketing, and outreach; I am constantly adjusting our strategy to try to maximize our opportunities. We know that the total addressable market for our service is significantly larger than our current penetration, and all of my focus is that.

Hiring has been somewhat of a challenge in 2021, as many small businesses can attest, but our competitive hourly rates allow us to attract enough attention that we have found a couple of all-star employees so far.

Operationally, we have had some challenges finding indoor venues that are price competitive. This will be more important heading into the winter so that we can continue booking events. Churches and schools will usually have their own, but private events often need some help finding a venue and options seem to be limited. I’d be happy to hear from any readers that have ideas or suggestions!

We’ve been impressed with Nashville Bubble Ball, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We do fun, good clean fun.
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Become the favorite parent, youth minister, or teacher.

We cater to kids 8+ as well as adults. ​

Celebrate a birthday, sports season, or graduation in style.

Nashville Bubble Ball will be set up at a venue of your choice.

Live up to your best man title.

Make your bachelor party unique and unforgettable.​

Plan a memorable team-building event with us.

We can match your business’s needs.

We handle the hard parts.

You show up for the fun!

What does success mean to you?
As a company we define success in three ways:

Customer Focus: First off we want to make the booking process as easy and informative as possible. Then we want to ensure that we are punctual and professional during the communication and set-up before the event. Once the event starts, we prioritize fun, adaptability, and safety. We want to leave a strong impression that leads to reoccurring customers and long-term relationships.

Employee Focus: I cannot do it alone, so treating our contract employees with respect is critical to our success. We pay an industry-leading $20 an hour, have flexible hours, and have a bonus structure that allows employees to make 10% of all referrals. They have also been a source of some great business ideas so far!

Financial Success: I know that if we can execute on our customer and employee focus, that the finances will trend in the right direction. I am focused on maintaining our margins, increasing our event volume, and minimizing costs. We are working on creating partnerships with other organizations to help with these goals.

Pricing:

• 1 Hour Event = $295 (8-16 Players)
• 2 Hour Event = $420 (12-32 Players)
• 3 Hour Event = $650 (30-60 Players)
• 4 Hour Event = $750 (40-100 Players)

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: nashvillebubbleball.com
• Instagram: @nashvillebubbleball
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleBubbles
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nashville-bubble-ball-nashville