JumpinJax Bounce Arena, the child-centered recreation business formed by two DeWitt moms, has been named the Best Small Business by the Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center (MSBTDC). It was selected from small businesses throughout the six counties surrounding the Capital region.
“There are so many people out there with great ideas who are actually working them, despite the economy,” says Kelly Ramirez, who owns the business with Joan Blackmer.
Ramirez and Blackmer are two such entrepreneurs, growing their indoor inflatables business to seven employees, showing 10 percent growth, and finally giving themselves small salaries.
They advertise mostly by word of mouth, apparently successfully. One day last winter, they had 150 people inside their bounce house at 1475 Lake Lansing Rd. and had to turn some away.
“When we moms get a hold of something good, we want everyone to know about it,” she says.
They plan to expand the 10,000 square-foot former hockey arena space and add more inflatables, but are moving cautiously.
Ramirez credits their husbands, a contractor and an attorney, with helping them get started, but it is Kellie Hanford, their counselor with the MSBTDC, who continues to advise them. Hanford was particularly welcoming to them as mothers, making their children comfortable at meetings.
“Being a mom entrepreneur is a struggle. While you’re building a business, you’re multitasking with your regular mom job.”
“We could not have done this without her.”
Source: Kelly Ramirez, JumpinJax Bounce Arena
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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