issue 16

Inflated News, Bouncy castles, Bouncy Castle Show, TIPE, Inflated News Trade Show,

Issue 16December 2008 Inflated News / TIPE recognises the work of the following organisations

Peter Grand Owner/Editor Inflated News So here we are with our Christmas edition and another year comes to a close. 2008 was a mixed bag as the weather continued to create havoc as wet ground forced a number of larger shows to be abandoned. Then in September we were hit by the so called ‘credit crunch’ which resulted in many holding back. September was LIW and many were disappointed that so few inflatable manufacturers were in attendance. For ourselves we were extremely busy for all three days and met many new companies and old friends. You can read a full report on LIW 2008 in this edition from page 10. Now for the really exciting news. Inflated News is organising its first ever trade show and it will be held on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2009 at the Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre near Coventry. This is a massive project for the Inflated News team and plans are now well under way. We have a designated web site , www.bouncycastleshow.co.uk, to keep you up to date with developments. See page 30 for full story Finally all of the team at Inflated News wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Peter Grand Editor The next edition of Inflated News will be in March 2009 & will also act as the show catalogue for our trade show Send in your comments, suggestions or questions and we will include as many as possible Closing date for copy 28th January 2008 Please send your comments, suggestions, questions or requests to us at: Inflated News First Floor 41 Roseheath Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP1 2NG or send by email to editor@inflatednews.co.uk Unauthorised reproduction/distribution by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this publication and all advertisements and articles that appear are accepted in good faith, Grand Affairs Group / Inflated News / employees and editor, cannot accept legal liability for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies, nor responsibility for the actions of advertisers or any organisation mentioned in the text Grand Affairs Group / Inflated News do not endorse any of the services or products advertised Printed in the UK © 2006-2009 Grand Affairs Group All rights reserved inflatednews.co.uk 3

On the 9th September 2008 the inflatable play industry was shaken by the surprise announcement that Jumbo Inflatables Ltd had ceased trading. The Inflated News office was inundated with calls asking if the rumours were true and we were finally able to confirm the fact at 4.00pm that day. Jumbo Inflatables had been one of the leading UK manufacturers for many years and the liquidation caught staff completely by surprise. Former employee Gavin O’Toole told Inflated News,“ we all turned up for work as normal and the next thing we knew was that we were told to collect our personal belongings and leave the factory. It was a complete shock.” Fortunately for Gavin he has managed to find a new position as Sales Manager with Bounceabouts Leisure Ltd and he looks forward to serving his old customers and new in his new post. At a meeting of members and creditors on the 30th September, in London, Kingston Smith & Partners LLP were appointed as Liquidators of the Company. Jumbo Inflatables Ltd started life as Jumbo Promotions Ltd in September 1980. In 1998 the company was acquired by Jumbo International Ltd, which also acquired Supabounce, Pleasure & Leisure, Leapfrog, The Inflatable Fun Factory and Play Concepts. These companies continued to trade as a separate companies until 2003. In 2003 all of the acquired companies were transferred and the name was changed to Jumbo Inflatables Ltd. In 2004 the company transferred its five operating sites to the one site in Leicestershire. The main reasons for the failure of Jumbo has been put down to the following: Competition from cheaper imports - Poor summer weather - increased litigation culture - more health and safety requirements. In 2004 the companies turnover was £2.55 million but by the end of 2007 this had fallen to £1.7 million. During 2007 the company lost around £300,000 and this was funded by an additional investment from the owner. In 2008 sales fell again and a reduction in turnover for the first seven months of £270,000 against the previous year was recorded. This was attributed to a further fall in export orders and another poor summer in the UK.. It was obvious that the company could not continue to trade without further investment and this was not forthcoming. Without the further capital investment the Directors decided that trading should cease and the company place in liquidation. Following the appointment of the liquidators it has been released that the assets should realise £136,726 and once the preferential creditors have been paid there will be a deficit of £1,513,791.00. The industry will miss Jumbo and wish all of their former employees all the best for the future. See more on page 8 4 inflatednews.co.uk JUMBO INFLATABLES CEASE TRADING

GS ENGINEERING Check out our new website at www.gseng.co.uk Light Chaser £3,495.00 + vat Our new game is designed to test a player’s speed of reaction With the player standing under the four-legged archway, they must touch the randomly lit red targets as quickly as they can The winner is the player who puts out the most lights within the 60-second countdown Easy to dismantle and transport, the Light Chaser operates from a 13-amp power supply Buffalo Billy £4,495.00 + vat Our new ride is specially designed with children in mind Lightweight and easy to transport, it’s ideal for birthday parties and other family events Offered with either an inflatable safety mat, or a soft play mat, this ride gives the operator the flexibility of it being either a portable or permanent attraction GS ENGINEERING LTD Markfield, Leicestershire. Call us on +44 (0)1530 243111 • Email: info@gseng.co.uk

JUMBO INFLATABLES IN LIQUIDATION 8 inflatednews.co.uk Asfare Business Park Hinckley Road Wolvey Hinckley Leicestershire LE10 3HQ Ref: Jumbo Inflatables Ltd – In Liquidation Please note that Jumbo Inflatables ceased trading and were placed into liquidation on September 30th 2008. All financial enquiries, in relation to the above, should be made to Liam Short of Kingston Smith & Partners – Telephone 0207 566 4020. Bounceabouts Leisure Ltd has acquired all the finished stock along with the design rights to the Jumbo range of products. I am pleased to offer Bounceabouts’ excellent services and products to any Jumbo customers. We are also delighted to welcome to our sales team, Gavin O’Toole, formerly the sales manager at Jumbo. Gavin is looking forward to continuing his existing relationships and would welcome the opportunity to discuss any requirements you may have and the extended range of products now available. For details on the special offer Jumbo stock and Bounceabouts range please contact either Richard Taylor or Gavin O’Toole on the contact numbers provided. Kind Regards Richard Taylor Richard Taylor Gavin O’Toole Sales Director Sales Manager Email:rtaylor@bounceabouts.co.ukEmail:gavin.otoole@bounceabouts.co.uk Mob: 07876 740636 Mob: 07824 353040 Inflated News has received the following press release from Bounceabouts Leisure Ltd in Hinkley regarding the details of which parts of the Jumbo business they have acquired from the liquidators. Inflated News would like to hear from any operators that have been affected by the closure or who have lost any deposits paid. Contact the Inflated News office or contact Mr Liam Short of Kingston Smith & Partners (appointed liquidators) on 0207 566 4020. Press Release

10 inflatednews.co.uk September saw the annual Leisure Industry Week (LIW) at the Birmingham NEC and for the third consecutive year Inflated News /TIPE was in attendance. The show was extremely successful for the Inflated News team and our only disappointment was that we were unable to spend more time with you all. Our little get together on the Wednesday evening proved very successful with twenty or so enjoying a rather nice meal in a Meriden restaurant. This year we were joined by Noel Harris (RPII), Clive Moss (PIPA) and various TIPE subscribers. All were on hand to pass on information to those with specific questions. A big thank you to all who worked with the Inflated News team to make the show such a success for us. Our picture, right, shows the Inflated News Stand ready for business prior to the show opening. Another regular at LIW was GS Engineering. This year they moved from their usual spot within the shell scheme to an open plan space. I thought this was a good move as you were able to get around the exhibit easier. The GS team had put a lot of effort into their display and for me it really paid of for them. As well as their popular rodeo bull, surf machine and gold cup they had two new products on display. The first was a smaller version of the rodeo bull specifically designed for younger riders and the second was a ‘reaction’ machine,which was the centre of a competition to find a name.(See the result on page A little farther up the hall we found Super Sumo who went for open space for the first time. Their display was built around an enclosed inflatable Sumo area which again showed off their products extremely well. On display was their full range of Sumo suits including the various themes, a range of soft play and the inflatable Sumo ring. Once again I felt their exhibit was far better using the open plan space as it definitely allowed them to present their products in a less cluttered manner. Leisure Industry Week 2008 - Review

Leisure Industry Week 2008 - Review As I moved around the exhibition I could not wait to see the Jumpjump stand. In the last few shows they have built up a reputation of coming up with something different and this year was to prove to be no exception. You can see from our picture that on display was a double slide. The entrance was in the centre where there was an inflatable bed and then the user could choose which slide to use to exit. I should point out that the exhibition unit was built to fit the stand space so the run off on the slides had not been included. The design that is sold to customers includes the required run offs. Unfortunately it is quite a difficult unit to photograph so we asked jumpjump to provide additional photographs in order that readers could get a better idea of the concept. The entrance Slide left and right Complete with run off Another different style of exhibit was that of Bounceabouts Leisure. They decided not to display an actual unit but instead had an inflatable advertising wall demonstrating another great use of inflatables other than jumping all over. They also used two display boards showing some of their products and an endless supply of catalogues. Personally I would have preferred to see a unit on display but was just as happy to see the team at the show. I was also happy to learn that Gavin O’Toole, former sales manager at Jumbo Inflatables before their closure, had managed to secure a position with Bounceabouts Leisure. LIW is not only about inflatables and the show is spread over three halls. Within Family Land there is a wide range of other equipment that some operators include in their hire stock. Laser games, climbing walls, pedal carts and temporary tattoos to name a few. continued on page 12 inflatednews.co.uk 11

12 inflatednews.co.uk There is little doubt that the most impressive display at this years show was that of Inflatable World Leisure and their sister company Air Inflatables. The layout of the stands was cleverly linked by two inflatable arches that meant visitors walked straight through the middle of the two displays as they followed the main walkway. On the Inflatable World Leisure side was one of the best assault courses I had seen for a long time. The art work was absolutely stunning and must have taken hours of work by the artists involved. Our picture, left does not adequately show the complexity of the artwork. There was also a very clever discount on offer where if you placed an order you spun the Wheel Of Fortune and whatever figure it stopped on this equated to a corresponding discount on your order On the other side Air Inflatables had a selection of units on display and these generated a tremendous amount of interest. This latest version of their product range was slightly different from the range launched at LIW 2007 in that the artwork had been toned down a little. An improvement that many operators welcomed. Our picture, right, shows the Air Inflatables side of the display and the arches linking the two displays. Gibbons fans were also to be found with a display of fans, petrol fans and generators on display. I noticed a number of operators leaving the exhibition hall with a fan or two in tow and I know Scott, sales manager at Gibbons, much prefers to sell the display stock rather than re pack everything and return it to stock. No doubt there one or two bargains to be had. Leisure Industry Week 2008 - Review Continued

Leisure Industry Week 2008 - Review Continued inflatednews.co.uk 13 Another regular at LIW was Airquee, the Bristol based manufacturer, and once again they displayed their Sports Zone . Airquee have a vast range of specialised units within their product portfolio and have a large client base. In 2006 Airquee purchased the inflatable side of Kit 4 Kids and they now run the Romanian factory as well as two factories in the UK. Our picture, right, shows Sorts Zone. Unfortunately there were no pictures available of their stand Another favourite with a number of operators is Innovative Leisure. Here is a company that specialises in bringing in new products for activity centres and indoor play centres and have adapted a number of their products for the mobile operation. Their climbing walls can be found all over the UK and beyond and this year they have introduced the leisure industry to Digi Wall, an interactive climbing wall. This is a very interesting concept and one larger operators will be keeping their eye on Slightly hidden at the back of the hall was Ready Steady Bounce and Sumo Suits Direct. It was rather amusing to see a couple of members of their staff running around the aisles of the NEC in Sumo costumes and the like. Quite a clever marketing idea I thought. Also at the back of the hall were Pineapple Leisure displaying their slide combi unit and a number of promotional banners another area of their business. They shared their stand with the BIHA. Unfortunately no picture was available at the time of going to press. Once again LIW produced some interesting exhibits and many visitors went away with new ideas buzzing around their head.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 14 inflatednews.co.uk If you have any comments, requests or information send your letters, emails or call the Editor at the Inflated News office. We will include as many as we can in each edition. Telephone call:“I have been asked by a local hall to provide them with a copy of my EIC or EU certificate and I have told them that I only have a manufacturers certificate. They have told me that without this certificate I will not be able to set up my bouncy castle in the hall. Can you please tell me where I can get this certificate?” Telephone number supplied Editors reply: Having never heard of these certificates the team made some investigation and eventually contacted the management at the hall in question. As a result of this certain information came to light and then we then spoke to another authority about the information we had received. We are now able to confirm that there is no such certificate and if any reader has been asked for this or something similar then please contact the Inflated News office and we will pass the information on. The full story on these certificated will be reported in a later issue of Inflated News. Question from Trading Standards officer:“I am investigating a complaint regarding a company who sold an 18’ x 18’ bouncy castle that, when measured on delivery, was only 17’ x 14.5’. The company stated that the safety steps were included in the measurements. In addition, their web site states that all dimensions are approximate and within industry tolerance. I would appreciate it if would let me know what the industry tolerance is that they refer to, and also provide an opinion as to whether it is standard policy to include safety steps in the measurements.” Editors reply:I have spoken with several manufacturers and all agree that the size that they quote includes the step. This is completely logical to me I have also spoken with several RPII inspectors who are required to measure units as part of a test procedure carried out to BS EN 14960:2006 and all state that when they measure the unit, which is part of the registration requirements, this is done with the unit inflated and includes the step or any other parts of the unit. It excludes the length of the inflation tube. With regard to there being an ‘industry tolerance’ there are no laid down guidelines. When units are constructed they will shrink in width when inflated. They will also shrink less on a hot day as the fabric will expand further. The degree of decrease in size will depend on the amount of panels used in the construction. Comment: When purchasing a new unit it is well worth checking with the manufacturer whether the size quoted is the bed size or footprint size. There is then no confusion.

PRICESPRICESSSTTAARRTTAATTOONLNLYY££4995.04995.000++VVAATT WWeeooffferferaacchhoicoiceeofof44momoddelsels AAllllmmododelselsavailableavailablefromfromstocstockk NoNoaaddvanvanceceddeepositspositsrequirerequiredd 22yyearsearswarrantwarrantyy PRICES START AT ONLY£4995.00+ VAT • We offer a choice of 4 models • All models available from stock • No advance deposits required • 2 years warranty • FFrreeeeseserrvicvice ande andrree-t-teesstt after 12 monthsafter 12 months Free service and re-test after 12 months FINANCE PACKAGE S START AT ONLY £28 .82 +VAT PER WE EK SUBJE CT TO STAT USGS ENGINEERING LTD Markfield, Leicestershire Call us on +44 (0)1530) 243111 • Email: info@gseng.co.uk Visit our website: www.gseng.co.uk MUMULLTI RIDESTI RIDESMULTI RIDES

SUPER SUMO DESTROYED BY FIRE 16 inflatednews.co.uk Late on Wednesday 29th October 2008 the Super Sumo premises in Loughborough were completely destroyed by fire. A neighbouring firm was also severely damaged. A police spokesman said,”It was a very severe fire and that has made it difficult to establish the exact cause. We are not ruling out that it could have been started deliberately.”Anyone with information on the fire should call Detective Sergeant Shale Marshall on 0116 222 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. This is not the first fire on this particular industrial estate over the last couple of years. Whilst this was bad enough for Super Sumo they were fairly fortunate as they were in the process of moving into new premises and some of their plant and stock had already been transferred. In addition an amount of stock had already dispatched to the USA for the forthcoming IAAPA show at which they are exhibiting. Unfortunately almost all of their hire stock was lost in the fire and they are busy replacing it as fast as they can. Paul Hannah, managing director of Super Sumo, issued the following statement, “Let me say a great thank you to all the companies and customers who showed their sup- port for the devastating fire that we experienced at our headquarters in Loughborough on the evening of Wednesday October 29th 2008. Within two days of the inferno we were able to resume manufacturing at an alternative site in Wymeswold, north Leicestershire, with the aid of our material suppliers and, in particular, Childs Play Leisure who allowed us use of their sewing machines and storage facilities. Fortunately all our computer and communication systems are backed up and functioning. Supersumo Ltd has grown as a manufacturing company since 1991 and like many of the businesses we supply in the UK, Europe and beyond we have experienced great success and some set backs. We are committed as a UK manufacturer to grow, 2008 has been our best trading year, and we are even more motivated to sell our successful brand of products here and abroad. Once more thanks to all who showed their support and we look forward to seeing you di- rectly at the US trade show in November and the Inflated News Trade Show in March 2009. Paul Hanna Managing Director Supersumo Ltd” I’m sure that all readers that know Paul wish him all the best as he rebuilds his business. ‘

TRAINING FOR INSPECTORS OF INFLATABLE PLAY EQUIPMENT The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) regularly organise one day training courses for candidates wishing to take the RPII examination Inspecting Inflatable Play Equipment. The courses cover all aspects of the syllabus. The syllabus is designed to conform to BS EN 14960:2006 the European Standard for the manufacture, operating and testing of some inflatable play equipment. Specifically inflatable units that are ‘bounced’ or ‘slid’ on. Successful candidates who meet the required criteria are then added to the list of registered inspectors. These registered inspectors are those used by the PIPA scheme to tag and test units. COST OF COURSE IPMA MEMBERS - AIMODS MEMBERS - TIPE SUBSCRIBERS £165.00 ALL OTHER APPLICANTS. £195.00 Full payment to be made with the completed course form FOR DETAILS ON THE NEXT COURSE OR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT NOEL HARRIS RPII, FEDERATION HOUSE STONELEIGH PARK, WARWICKSHIRE, CV8 2RF TEL: 02476 693787 www.playinspectors.com

18 inflatednews.co.uk BOUNCING WITH SAFETY! The RPII updates Inflated News readers on Inflatable Play Standards Inflatable play structures for bouncing or sliding have had a new standard for two-years. Called ‘BS EN 14960:2006 Inflatable Play Equipment Safety Requirements and Test Methods’ it applies to equipment used in the European Union, wherever made and replaces the HSE’s earlier PM76. It is written in an easy-to-understand, common-sense style and language. This current standard is there to ensure user safety. This it does by guiding manufacturers with best practice in design, materials and fabrication. One section also requires manufacturers to provide operators with information on their product, its installation, operation and maintenance. That includes a formula for safely anchoring any given size of inflatable structure for play or games. Play safety inspectors use the standard to check that equipment is made properly, of the correct material and of the right strength. Due in the near future is a small change on slide run out to maintain safety while enabling more scope in design and manufacture. Slide run out distance will have to be half the height of the highest platform of the slide. Inflatable Play Manufacturers Association (IPMA) and PIPA have already adopted this change. More information and assistance. Copies of BS EN 14960 are available from the British Standards Institution (BSI) www.bsi-global.com and assistance from IPMA (Inflatable Play Manufacturers Association) www.ipma.uk.com or PIPA (Pertexa Inflatable Play Accreditation)www.pipa.org.uk or the RPII (Register of Play Inspectors)www.playinspectors.com Test being carried out by RPII inspector

INFLATED NEWS TRADE SHOW Part time staff required to assist with the presentation of the show Positions available Car Park Attendants Show Attendants Registration/office Assistants Full or part days available Contact the Inflated News office on 01442 245700 to discuss further Interviews to be held 18th December 2008 Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre

22 inflatednews.co.uk NEW FORUM FOR INDUSTRY Earlier this year Microsoft announced that it was closing the dated MSN Forum and that from February 2009 this would no longer be available as it would be launching a new service. MSN also announced that it would be possible to migrate the group to its partner for online groups, Multiply. This decision directly affects the forum known as MSN Group British Inflatable Hirers Association which was started by Mark Jerram in 2000 but has been run as an independent board, despite retaining its name, since 2002. After a lot of research and effort the current manager Tracey Christie has decided not to migrate to Multiply but to set up a new forum to be known as INFLATABLE HIRERS.co.uk. Tracey told Inflated News,”I had been concerned about the forum for some time. Its name did not reflect its true identity and the lack of a search facility meant that users had to trawl through pages of posts to see if anything was there. In effect this meant that threads on similar subjects kept being repeated. The group has been running for almost 8 years so much of the earlier information is now out of date. There are also a number of registered users whom we do not know the true identity of. When MSN announced that they were closing the service it gave me an opportunity to take a closer look at the group and how I could improve it. I looked at the way a migration to Multiply would work and it became apparent that this was more of a social networking group rather than a traditional forum. Once I realised this and the fact that any migration would just transfer the inherent problems we experience with the forum I searched for a new forum and eventually came up with INFLATABLE HIRERS.co.uk. I believe that the new forum offers far more facilities than the MSN group” Tracey continued,“ I have spent numerous hours setting up the new forum. I also approached other users on the MSN group and am pleased to say that a couple have agreed to assist me as moderators. Existing users of the MSN group will need to sign up to the new forum and it is, of course, open to all with an interest in the industry. The existing MSN Group is now closed and no further posts are possible.” Inflated News would like to wish Tracey and her moderators every success with the new forum and we have already registered. There is also another industry forum at www.independentcastlehirers.co.uk and this and www.inflatablehirers.co.uk are free to anyone who cares to sign up.

Public Liability Up to £5,000,000 Employers Liability £10,000,000 (optional) Property Damage Replacement Values (optional) Legal Expenses £50,000 for HMRC Investigation £2,000 for Aspect Enquiries Business Legal Help line BOUNCEINSURE ® The insurance scheme for Inflatable Hirers Bouncy Castles Inflatable Slides Bouncy Boxing/Sumo Suits Surf Machines Bucking Bronco/Multi rides Soft play & more Phone For Quote NOW! 0870 6066668 … And Get A Real Insurance Bargain!! We can cater for both dry hire and wet hire. Underwritten by UK based insurer No ridiculous conditions for Licensed Premises Bespoke packages can be arranged to meet your requirements G M Imber & Sons Ltd are regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority. Great Service at a Great Price Grange House, Grange Walk, London SE1 3DT Phone: 0870 6066668 Fax: 020 7252 3656 Or visit our web site at : www.gmisl.co.uk

TIPE LATEST 24 tipe.co.uk TIPE LATEST For those receiving Inflated News for the first time, The Inflatable Play Enterprise (TIPE), is a subscription service run by the team at Inflated News and full details of benefits can be found at www.tipe.co.uk or see our advertisement opposite. Current subscription is £40.00 per year including VAT. If you require further information then please contact the Inflated News Office. TIPE is now over one year old and the TIPE office has been celebrating as all, bar two, of the initial subscribers have renewed their subscription for a second year. This is a testament to the dedicated team who have worked tirelessly to ensure that subscribers get accurate timely information and support. In 2008 the team produced no less than twenty nine information sheets covering a wide range of topics from basic industry jargon explanation to the forthcoming ISA’s and will continue to produce and update these as necessary. In August 2008 the Inflatable Play Manufacturers Association (IPMA) recognised the value that TIPE had for the industry and we now have many IPMA members as subscribers to TIPE. TIPE has also received the backing of the Association of Inflatable Manufacturers, Operators, Designers and Suppliers (AIMODS) and the Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII). Included in the TIPE subscription is inclusion in the Inflated News online directory. As part of the continual appraisal of the services offered it was felt that our current directory was not particularly good and ways of improving this were discussed. The team looked at what other directories were available and decided that rather than set up another on line directory it would be much better to work with an existing directory. With this in mind in October discussions were opened with localbouncycastlehire.com. In November 2008 TIPE concluded negotiations withlocalbouncycastlehire.com and TIPE subscribers now enjoy a featured listing on the site. Once all TIPE subscribers are registered Inflated News will be removing its own directory. Readers should note that registration forall bouncy castle hire companies is free and you can register on line atwww.localbouncycastlehire.com. It only takes five minutes. TIPE is being continually recognised as a source of reliable information by outside organisations. In recent months we have advised a number of Local Authorities and have worked with two Health and Safety Executive officers. In addition TIPE has provided information for both BBC radio and television. In September TIPE was promoted at LIW and some of the TIPE subscribers made themselves available to talk to businesses about their experience of TIPE. They will again be at the Inflated News Trade Show in March. They look forward to sharing their experience with you.

inflatednews.co.uk 37 When you want... expert advice on a topic of concern someone to talk to about a niggling issue to know what is about to happen in your industry Ÿguidance on the next step to take in growing your business ... call someone who knows With over 20 years experience and contacts in the industry you can be sure of a reliable answer from TIPE For just £40 (inclusive VAT) a year you will receive: Additional costs may be incurred in resolving disputes. Free advertising is dependent on availability of space Other conditions may apply TIPE is grateful for the support of the following companies: FML Insurance Services - Inflatable World Leisure - Air Inflatables - Justinflatables - Jumpjump - North East Inflatables - Gibbons Fans TIPE, First Floor, 41 Roseheath, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2NG T: 01442 245700 M: 07850 843005 E: info@tipe.co.uk W: www.tipe.co.uk arbitration service 24 hour emergency advice line telephone and email support information sheets on the latest issue e:mail alerts Ÿbusiness forms inclusion in on-line directories free advertising for secondhand equipment on line and in Inflated News free use of logo Ÿaccess to special offers as available

26 inflatednews.co.uk OPERATOR GUILTY OF FRAUD East Yorkshire businessman Terrence Platts failed to declare his earnings from his bouncy castle hire and wedding car companies to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Platts, 41 from Woodmansey, also under declared his total income when claiming text credits only declaring what he earned as a caretaker for Hull City Council. Platts, who pleaded guilty to the offences, which amounted to £25000, was given a six months suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service. The court heard that Platts, married with four children, had given interviews and posed for photographs for the local press to gain advertising for his businesses. This alerted HMRC officers who launched an investigation. The charges - being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of income tax and knowingly concerned in a fraudulent payment of tax credits - related to a period between 2000 and 2005. Sentencing Platts, recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker said,“The under declaration of income and non payment of income tax, along with the tax credit overpayments, results in honest tax payers being overburdened.” Senior investigation officer for HMRC, Stephen Taylor, said, “This was a combination of serious frauds against honest tax payers over a number of years. The minority of people who think they can cheat the system and gain unfair advantages over everyone else without consideration or second thought should be worried. HMRC will seek them out with determination and persistence and bring them to justice.” This case highlights the need for all operators to keep full and accurate records of their business no matter how small. Bouncy castles are an attractive way of getting a second income and there are several thousand operators in the UK. Since the introduction of BS EN 14960:2006 authorities have taken a greater interest in the way companies operate and it therefore follows that more cases will end up in the courts. In many instances, smaller operators, will find that their income generated by a second source will not attract additional tax payment. However, all income, no matter how small needs to be declared at the end of each financial year. It is always worth seeking professional advice when completing tax returns etc. Operators should also be aware that when operating a business from home you may require ‘planning permission’ to get change of use and may also need to pay business rates. In most instances this would not apply but bear in mind if your business grows.

Tel: 01491 573100 / 07841 872907 email: funfactor74@hotmail.co.uk website: www.fun-factor.co.uk REPAIR SERVICE PIPA QUALIFIED TESTER ARTWORK TOUCH UPS AND ALTERATIONS NEW UNITS MADE TO YOUR SPECIFICATION

28 inflatednews.co.uk GS ENGINEERING WINNER DECEMBER COMPETITION At LIW 2009 GS Engineering from Leicester held a competition to name its latest game with a £500 voucher going to the winner. In October Peter Grand, editor of Inflated News, travelled to the GS Engineering showroom in Leicestershire to draw the winner from all the entries. Under the watch full eye of Meredith Clark, and from GS Engineering the draw was made and the winner was Neil Gossage of Bounce Time in Kettering GS Engineering told Inflated News, “ out of the many suggestions we received for our new Light Game we chose LIGHT CHASER. This actually came from one of our staff and as they were excluded we made the draw anyway. We are grateful to Peter Grand for making the draw for us and trust that Neil will enjoy spending his voucher. We look forward to meeting many Inflated News readers on our stand at the trade show in March” Here’s a little Christmas bonus for a lucky reader. Some where within this issue is a deliberate mistake. If you can spot it email us with your answer tocompetition@inflatednews.co.uk putting December Competition in the subject line. All winning entries will be put into the draw and the first one out will get a 1.5 fan donated by Gibbons Fans Ltd. The winner will be notified by email and announced in the March issue of Inflated News. Closing date for entries is 31st January 2009 Employees of Inflated News and Gibbons Fans Ltd are excluded from the competition. Our thanks go to Gibbons Fans for providing this prize and readers will be able to view their full product range at the Inflated News Trade Show in March.

PUBLIC LIABILITY EMPLOYERS LIABILITY PRODUCTS LIABILITY PROPERTY DAMAGE INFLATABLES Ÿ Bouncy Castles Ÿ Slides Ÿ Bungee Runs Ÿ Penalty Shootouts Ÿ Gladiator Jousts Ÿ Assault Courses CORPORATE Ÿ Rodeo Bulls Ÿ Bungee Trampolines Ÿ Climbing Walls Ÿ Mini Quads / Karts Ÿ Wall To Wall Football Ÿ Surf Sims / Multirides Inflatable Manufacturers PIPA Testers Rodeo Bull Manufacturers Marquee Hirers Discounts available for PIPA Tested Bouncy Castles / Slides Contact us NOW for a FREE quotation 01702 437 800 enquiries@fmlinsurance.com FML Insurance Services Ltd Low Minimum PremiumsNew 2008 Insurance Rates

Inflated News is pleased to announce the launch of its first Trade Show for the inflatable play industry which will take place at Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Centre Coventry on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2009. This is our most ambitious project yet and one we have been considering for a couple of years. In recent years we have seen a decline in the number of inflatable manufacturers exhibiting at LIW and 2008 was very disappointing with only six present. A number of manufacturers had suggested that we should organise an industry show as they would not be attending LIW again. After conducting a quick poll it was apparent that a show was needed and after some pressure we agreed to stage the inaugural show in 2009. Following visits to a number of venues it was decided to use Stoneleigh Park because of its central location and good links by road, rail and air. In addition it has both indoor and outdoor facilities and plenty of room for expansion in future years. For 2009 we have 3100 square metres of indoor space and approximately 5000 square metres of outdoor space. There are currently 20 exhibitors booked in and others deciding how much space they need. This will certainly be the largest display of bouncy castles and inflatables in the UK in 2009, if not in Europe. Early indications are that there will be at least 50 units on display, some of which will be making their debut. The outside area gives manufacturers an ideal opportunity to display larger units that they would normally not display. In addition we hope to be announcing a very special unit that will be on display. Full details will be in our March issue. The show web site can be found atwww.bouncycastleshow.co.uk and this is updated regularly so do keep an eye on it. After talking to a number of operators the show will be open from 12.00 noon - 9.00pm on Friday 20th March and from 10.00am - 4.30pm on Saturday 21st March. This should give ample opportunity for all to attend. Entrance and parking is free and readers can register on line via the show web site. Registering on line will enable you to get a fast track entry to the show. For those travelling there is some accommodation on site including hotel, hostel, caravan park and camp site. The links for all of these are on the show web site This show is a must for all operators, activity centres, indoor play centres, farm attractions management, showmen, Local Authorities and all involved in inflatable play. As well as the inflatables on display there will be other manufacturers and industry bodies exhibiting. The RPII, AIMODS, IPMA and TIPE will be in attendance to answer specific related questions. 30 inflatednewsshow.co.uk INFLATED NEWS LAUNCHES NEW INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW

INFLATED NEWS LAUNCHES NEW INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW The picture, left, shows the main entrance to indoor display at Stoneleigh Park. This is a purpose built facility and car parking is just a few hundred yards away. Our car park attendants will direct you to the designated parking areas which are adjacent to the main exhibition entrance. . Do not be tempted to park at the massive outdoor display which will greet you as you drive onto site. Cars parked outside of our designated area will be removed by the venue management. Unlike many shows car parking is FREE for the duration of your stay no matter how long that may be. The Inflated News team is working hard to make this show an enjoyable experience for exhibitors and visitors alike and our picture right shows the massive exhibition hall that has been booked to house this new show. There is also a massive outdoor area where exhibitors will have the opportunity to display even larger units if they wish. This should prove to be of considerable interest to showmen and theme park management. It will also give hire companies an opportunity to see what it is possible to attain using inflatable technology. We are hoping to have information on specific exhibits in our March issue. As stated earlier this is the most ambitious and largest project that the Inflated News team have ever undertaken. To ensure the success of the show we are recruiting additional staff for the event and this may be an ideal opportunity for operators local to Stoneleigh Park to earn some additional income. See our advertisement on page 19 One of the objectives we have set ourselves is to ensure that both exhibitors and visitors have an enjoyable experience at the show. For exhibitors we have tried to remove as many hidden costs as we can and we believe we have very attractive packages available. Continued on page 32 bouncycastleshow.co.uk 31

INFLATED NEWS TRADE SHOW 32 bouncycastleshow.co.uk For visitors there is the opportunity to meet a variety of manufacturers from across the UK, get insurance and testing advice from other exhibitors and see the huge display of inflatables. This will range from the popular slide combi to giant slides and galleons. In addition we are arranging some interactive activities for visitors to help you relax and have some fun. We will give more details of these in our March issue. Exhibitors to date: At the time of going to press the following companies have signed up to the show and further companies are considering joining us. Up to date list is available on the show web sitewww.bouncycastleshow.co.uk AIMODS -Association of Inflatable Manufacturers, Operators, Designers and Suppliers AIR INFLATABLES - The sister company of Inflatable World Leisure providing units for the start up companies AIRQUEE - Bristol based manufacturer providing full range of inflatables BOUNCEABOUTS LEISURE - Long established Leicester based company providing full range of inflatables. BOUNCE-A-LOT - Midlands based manufacturer providing full range of products. Try their sumo wrestling ring. All bets to be placed before bouts commence. COATING APPLICATIONS GROUP- Manufacturer of material used by many manufacturers DMK PRODUCTS - This Wales based company manufactures the full range of inflatables. FML INSURANCE SERVICES - Insurance for operators GAZ INFLATABLES DIRECT - Supplier of full range of inflatables GIBBONS FANS - One of the most well known of the fans used to inflate units. GS ENGINEERING - Manufacturers of rodeo bulls, surf simulators, high striker, gold cup and many more fun games. INFLATABLE WORLD LEISURE - This Nottingham based company have been manufacturing for a number of years and are sure to put on a good display. IMBER INSURANCE SERVICES - Insurance for operators JUMPJUMP - Leicester based company purchased three years ago by an operator. Bringing something a little different to the show which will be of specific interest to sports centres and gymnastic clubs as well as a range of other inflatables

bouncycastleshow.co.uk 33 JUSTINFLATABLES - A long established manufacturer supplying the full range of inflatables have not exhibited in the UK for a couple of years. Bringing a number of units to the show. RPII - Register of Play Inspectors International SILVER ARROW ARCHERY - Providers of archery equipment for entertainment companies and staff training courses. SUPER SUMO - Sumo suits, character suits and soft play Our picture,right, shows the first of the outdoor areas, 2400 square metres, and below the second area 1900 square metres. Admission and parking to the show is FREE and you can register on line at www.bouncycastleshow.co.uk. By registering on line you will avoid having to queue to enter the show. Once registered your show pass will be sent to you approximately two weeks before the show. This show is growing daily with many exciting discussions taking place as we go to press. All developments are reported on the show web site so ensure that you visit regularly to get all the latest information. INFLATED NEWS TRADE SHOW main entrance to indoor display↓ Just two examples of the types of units you can expect to see at the show.

HIRER HITS THE JACKPOT AT SHOWMANS SHOW 34 inflatednews.co.uk The Showmans Show is held at the Newbury show ground each October which is primarily for the outdoor event industry. I have attended this show for a number of years and whilst it is not inflatable orientated there is plenty to see and to get new ideas from. This show is almost a hundred percent outdoors and usually attracts the odd shower or two but this year we managed to get a bright sunny day for the most part. Another aspect that made the day even more enjoyable was that I was saved the toil of the drive down the M4 as I was driven by Steve Barlow from Huff & Puff Bouncy Castles in Welwyn Garden City who offered to include a stop at Hemel Hempstead on his way to the show. The drive down gave me an opportunity to discuss the season and how it had transpired and I was pleased to learn that in this case bookings were a little up on the previous year. This was to be Steve’s first visit to the Showman’s Show so it would be of particular interest to me to see what his impressions were. Once we negotiated our way through the registration area we toured the main pavilion picking up various leaflets and information on a number of products that I thought may be of interest. Steve’s bag seem to be filling a lot quicker than mine. Then it was onwards to the massive outdoor site featuring aisle after aisle of marquees, generators, exhibition unit and all the ingredients for outdoor events. It wasn’t long before the mobile was ringing and we soon tied up with Steve and Kate from Party Time Leisure in Chester and after a quick coffee break we found ourselves in front of a display by Graham Fishers Its A Knockout display along with a challenge to complete a soft play puzzle in 30 seconds presented by Keith Chegwin (fully clothed I might add). Needless to say we encouraged Steve (Party Time Leisure) to have a go and with just one second remaining he achieved his goal and won £200 in the process. You can guess who bought lunch. Our photograph, right, shows Steve after he had been transformed into a scuba diver by a couple of extremely clever balloon modellers we came across. He assured us that the balloons were for his young son but to be honest I was not convinced. On our travels around the site we ran into a number other hirers and two even exhibiting. Funtime Hire from Essex and Melody Corporation from Crewe. Also in attendance was The Performance Textile Association and I took the opportunity to discuss various issues with Clive Moss. This show is a very interesting show for operators so long as you do not expect to see dozens of inflatables. Certainly worth making a note in the diary.

A member of the Inflated News team picked up the following article from a PE teacher at a school recently. It makes very interesting reading and the report concurs with the thoughts of many organisations involved with children at play. This is an interesting article which shows the importance of play in the development and well being of youngsters. There are also other studies that show that youngsters are developing far more slowly because of the lack of play. Operators may well find that as providers of play equipment the information in this article could prove a useful marketing tool “Children 'tire of playing after two minutes due to health and safety restrictions' Some children get so little exercise because of health and safety restrictions that they can manage just two minutes of play before stopping, according to a new study.” By Kate Devlin - Medical Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph “Over protective parents, child care workers and teachers are also putting children's health at risk by "leaving them fearful of the outdoors", researchers warned. Given the chance, most children enjoyed playing outside, the study found. Those who did also tended to be fitter and able to run for longer. The study asked childcare professionals for their views of the children they looked after. It found that some reported children with "very poor" fitness levels who were "often unable to play active games for more than two minutes". After that, the children preferred to stand around and chat. By contrast, children given more opportunity to exercise tended to be "fitter and more coordinated", the research found. Bridget Clark, who led the study at the University of Stirling, said: "An entire generation is growing up without the basic exercise that their parents generation took for granted and this is putting their health in later life at grave risk. "If we are not careful the nearest these children will get to the Olympic games is watching it on television." The research, reported in Public Money and Management magazine, looked at children in Scotland, but the researchers believe that the same results are found across Britain. Last week council leaders called for the return of traditional playground games like British bulldog, to help cut the rate of childhood obesity. “ All too often we hear the excuse of Health & Safety being used as a reason why children are prevented from taking part in activities. Generally this is not the case and most things are possible providing the right precautions are taken. THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY 36 inflatednews.co.uk

Want to see the largest display of inflatables in the UK in 2009.. Slides, domes, fun runs, slide combis, bouncy castles, gymnastic runs and many others Rodeo bulls, surf simulators, sumo wrestling, fans, material Free admission & parking ŸFree advice on insurance, testing and repairs ... then visit the Inflated News Trade Show Iinflated News First Floor, 41 Roseheath, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2NG T: 01442 245700 M: 07850 843005 E: show@inflatednews.co.uk W: wwwbouncycastleshow.co.uk STONELEIGH PARK EXHIBITION CENTRE COVENTRY CV8 2LZ FRIDAY MARCH 20TH 2009 - 12.00NOON - 9.00PM SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 2009 - 10.00AM - 4.30PM TO BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS REGISTER ON LINE AT WWW.BOUNCYCASTLESHOW.CO.UK OVER 20 MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS EXHIBITING OVER 50 UNITS ON DISPLAY IN 8000 SQUARE METRES OF SPACE INDOOR & OUTDOOR DISPLAY AREAS

AreYou RoHS Compliant? 38 stolenbouncycastles.co.uk RoHS is a relatively new piece of environmental legislation. It stands for the ‘Restrictionof the use of CertainHazardousSubstances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment’ (EEE). Its objective is to protect the environment by controlling the amount of restricted substances entering the waste stream. The RoHS Directive applies to any producer of electric or electronic equipment. It targets a number of substances which have been identified as potentially harmful to human health or the environment. The legislation came into force on 1st July 2006, so any EEE within the scope of RoHS placed on the market after this date is subject to these Regulations. If a ‘producer’ brings electrical equipment that falls within the scope of RoHS to market they are responsible for complying with the Regulations. A producer is defined as any professional person who: o manufactures and sells EEE under their own brand o resells EEE under their own brand o imports or exports EEE into the EU. The RoHS Regulations restrict the following substances, with a limit of 0.1% by weight in a homogenous material: 1)Lead (lead in solder is a common offender and something to look out for) 2)Mercury 3)Hexavalent chromium (used as a corrosion coating – has an oily, brassy appearance) 4)Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB – a flame retardant) 5)Polybrominated dipehnyl ethers (PBDE – a flame retardant) 6)Cadmiumhas a limit of 0.01%. The RoHS Enforcement Authority is working in the leisure sector at present. They attended Leisure Industry Week 2008 and told us that they had concerns that there was limited knowledge in some areas of the leisure sector. If you are a supplier of electronic equipment then you may be considered a producer under these regulations and you may have a number of obligations you were not previously aware of. We have included a leaflet supplied by the authority with this issue and further information and a useful enquiry line are available at http://www.rohs.gov.uk/

Have-a-go Archery package Archery is a popular option at events - you can offer it for corporate days - or run it on a pay-as-you-go basis at fetes, etc. Rough guide to prices you can charge: Corporate event: £350 per half day Have-a-go basis: £2 for 6 arrows Archery package includes:3 targets and stands plus target faces Backstop netting Seven bows (mix of adult/junior left/right) 48 arrows Accessories Package price: £1500plus VAT and delivery Training day We will visit your premises and teach you how to set up the equipment, how to lay out the shooting area, safety requirements and basic shooting technique. Training day price: £250 for up to 5 staff plus VAT and travelling costs • • • • • Address: Units 4 & 5 Sparrow Hall Farm Edlesborough Beds LU6 2ES Tel: 01442 409632 Mob: 07889 645797 Web: www.silverarrowarchery.co.uk Email: sue@silverarrowarchery.co.uk