August 31st, 2010
admin
It’s pretty safe to say that we’ve all been to a party or gathering that featured a totally awesome bounce castle, competitive inflatable or other such custom inflatable. I’m sure everyone at the party had a great time hanging out and bouncing around with no other cares in the world. Well, unfortunately, that relaxing feeling is a little bit uneasy this week.
A report from the Epoch Times out of California is saying that California’s attorney general Jerry Brown has launched a massive lawsuit against manufacturers of bounce houses. The lawsuit, which was announced last Wednesday, names several manufacturers who rent out bounce houses and/or inflatable toys that exceed the amount of lead allowed by federal and state law.
“Brown’s office received notices from the Center for the Environmental Health, who said that the vinyl contained 5,000 parts per million (ppm) lead to 29,000 ppm lead. Children’s products can have a maximum of 90 ppm for lead in painted surfaces and 300 ppm everywhere else, according to federal guidelines.
Brown said the suit is designed to keep companies from selling the contaminated toys. Meanwhile, he said party rental companies need to place warnings that bounce houses may have elevated levels of lead.”
The lead on the vinyl can be transferred to the child by hand to mouth, the report says. Although unlikely to cause lead poisoning, the levels in the vinyl could cause long term health problems.
Inflatable 2000, a leader in rental inflatables in California, released a statement saying “OUR INFLATABLE RIDES AND GAMES ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT PROP. 65 AND CPSIA WITH RESPECT TO THE MAXIMUM VALUE ALLOWED FOR LEAD (PPM) IN THE VINYL THAT OUR INFLATABLE PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED WITH.”
August 26th, 2010
admin
Inflatables are popping up all over the place nowadays and it seems that they aren’t being used just as advertisement anymore (even though they are incredibly effective). In previous posts, I’ve written about the advent of inflatable buildings and tools, like pubs and computer mice, but today I’ve found an inflatable structure that is incredibly important to the wellbeing of many people. Inflatable hospitals!
Although the concept of mobile hospitals is nothing new, only the most recent technology has been used to prepare inflatable hospitals for the rigors of constant usage in poor areas. According to this article, inflatable hospitals were actually used as far back as the 1940s, but obviously weren’t as effective as the setups that organizations now use.
Currently, in disaster-stricken Haiti, the non-profit Doctors Without Borders has inflatable hospitals set up with complex structuring:
“The inflatable, plug-and-play hospital that MSF set up in Haiti consisted of 9 tents – each more than 1,000 square feet, according to Hocine Bouhabib, a logistics director at MSF. The tents have plastic-tile flooring, and are made from the same fabric used for inflatable lifeboats. Interior and exterior walls are constructed of nylon and space is left between them so air can be pumped in for an insulating effect.”
This photo gallery shows the effort and massive undertaking necessary for setting up an inflatable hospital. The process is certainly time-consuming, but definitely rewarding in the long run, particularly if people without medical care can receive help when needed. Doctors Without Borders has had a lot of success with inflatable hospitals around the world, but there are drawbacks.
It is possible for these structures to be punctured with debris (or shrapnel in war zones), but the infrastructure offered by inflatable hospitals shouldn’t be overlooked. They are self-contained and feature an entire electrical network with plugs for all of the necessary medical equipment. In the short run, inflatable hospitals are a great replacement for areas that do not have permanent medical establishments.
August 19th, 2010
admin
As everyone has probably heard by now, last week, a JetBlue flight attendant used an inflatable slide to exit an airplane after a scuffle with a passenger. He exited the plane by grabbing two beers, quitting over the intercom and making his grand exodus out of the plane by way of inflatable slide. Since I’m sure that you’re sick of hearing about this ‘folk hero,’ I figured that we need a roundup of all the other inflatable-themed news happening around the world.
-The world’s largest inflatable slide was blown up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for an event. The dual lane slide takes up the span of two football fields and according to this article, more than 30,000 people are expected to show up for a ride. The 500 foot long slide is taking up an entire street in Grand Rapids.
-In Scotland’s Royal Highland Centre, a festival of sorts was taking place that included an inflatable pub, which are gaining popularity at all kinds of events. This particular pub was actually stolen when it wasn’t in use, lifted by at least a few thieves. This article says that the pub weighed at least 350 kilos (about 800 pounds) and it simply vanished after being a mainstay at Truckfest.
-This isn’t news so much as it is a funny story. In South London’s Croydon, a small fox was found lounging on an inflatable in a family’s backyard pool. This piece says that the fox jumped on the inflatable and lounged out in the pool until John and Ann Barnes finally got him to leave.
Hopefully by the time next week rolls around, everyone will have stopped talking about the JetBlue guy. We need some newer inflatable stories in the news.
August 10th, 2010
admin
So, a few weeks ago we talked about some of the strangest inflatables that the web had to offer. I can just imagine some people inside an inflatable pub or church and how silly that would probably be. The same goes for the inflatable computer mouse that is functional – just another ridiculous inflatable. But what happens when a useful inflatable is used in a silly way?
Well, I guess everyone in the media picks up the story. What am I talking about?
Take a disgruntled JetBlue flight attendant, an angry passenger and an airplane’s inflatable safety slide and what do you get? A JetBlue flight attendant in jail. Right now, the internet is ablaze with the story of Steven Slater, a JetBlue employee who decided to quit his job and leave the plane he was on by inflating the safety slide, sliding down and getting in his car and driving home.
According to the article linked above, Slater got into a heated argument with a passenger who swore at him, then cursed out the man on the intercom, quit his job, grabbed two beers, inflated the slide and jumped down it. It’s definitely a rare type of story, saved for only the slowest of news days.
It is kind of sad that the only time people get to use an airplane’s inflatable slide is when there is a rare emergency, so maybe this guy was onto something. At the same time, now he’s in jail. If you would like to see this man being led into a police van with handcuffs, check out this YouTube video.How dumb do you have to be? I mean, inflatables are a ton of fun, but you probably shouldn’t use them on the job.
July 27th, 2010
admin
There is nothing like a little healthy competition to get your adrenaline pumping. Competitive inflatables can be an excellent way to build team unity, but are also an effective form of exercise for school functions and activities. Adding the element of a contest or “battle” to the enjoyment already implicit with inflatables just amplifies the joy that children (and even adults) will experience.
Inflatable 2000
offers a myriad of various obstacle and game inflatables, including:
•Race to the Top – Strap on protective head gear – this inflatable is one crazy team challenge. Two to four players enter and each line up at one of four lanes. Each player must climb up the inflatable by rope and grab one of two colored batons matched up to their respective lane. Once obtained, the baton must be placed at the starting position along a strip of Velcro. The second baton must be retrieved the same way and returned the same way as the first. The first person to return both batons is the winner – you can customize the game to make it the first team to return the batons wins. The mountain can be made more difficult for older kids or adults by adjusting the air pressure.
•Gladiator – If you’re looking for a good old fashioned obstacle course, you won’t find many better than Gladiator, a perfect inflatable for timed challenges. Contenders enter the giant Coliseum ring up a difficult curved climb against the humongous gladiator figure and slide down into the action. Never mind the other team – pop-out obstacles are the main competition in this arena. You might want to face the lion’s mesh belly, if you can stomach the pressure.
•Justice League Double Challenge – The Justice League Double Challenge is an inflatable focused on true comic book heroes, like Batman, Superman, The Flash and Green Lantern. Two kids must make their way through respective sides of the inflatable, dodging pop-ups and quickly speeding through crawl spaces. Featuring a center climb slide, the opponents exit on different colored slides.
July 23rd, 2010
admin
Bouncy houses and castles are pretty awesome. So are water slides. And don’t forget about inflatable obstacle courses. It would be pretty hard to make this stuff any cooler than they already are. In fact, there are few things more exciting than things that are inflatable. We’ve all seen the stuff that I just mentioned, so how about some weirder stuff?
The first inflatable on this page is very strange – an inflatable church! I wonder if people actually want to be married in an inflatable structure. Would it even be possible to have a whole ceremony in there? Number five, an inflatable pub, is also rather peculiar. Where are the taps and barstools going to go? The weirdest of them all is number 9 – inflatable toast? What is the meaning of this randomness? I’m not even sure I can describe it while doing it justice!
Now here’s a useful inflatable innovation – an inflatable mouse that actually works with your computer! I think this mouse might actually be very comfortable to use – it would give your hand a cushion. Speaking of comfortable, this multimedia massage chair is definitely a great way to enjoy inflatables – you can actually plug your TV or MP3 player into the headrest, which has speakers.
My personal favorite has to be in this YouTube video called “Inflatable Trash Monsters”. Apparently an artist named Joshua Allen used only tape, garbage bags and subway exhaust to create these really remarkable creatures that formed whenever subway cars passed by the grates. This is really creative, innovative inflatable artistry that you probably won’t see anywhere but in a place like New York City. You may not be able to jump on them like you can with bouncy houses, but they are certainly fun to look at!
July 14th, 2010
admin
Bouncy rides have become a staple of any good children’s party. Kids really enjoy being able to bounce around on their favorite type of house or even cartoon character. Who are we kidding – adults love them too! But recently, some concerns about inflatable bouncy house safety have called the lack of restrictions surrounding bounce-style rides into question.
These matters aren’t entirely unfounded – as recently as this past April, three young children (ages 2, 5 and 7) in El Paso, Texas, were injured when a bounce house they were playing in, was blown up ten feet into the air and across the street from their yard. This article says that at least two of the children were seriously injured because the house was not tethered properly to the ground.
A group in Wichita, Kansas, is currently looking to put an ordinance into place that would circumvent major safety concerns about the security of such bouncy rides. The current ordinance only covers companies that rent or permanently own inflatable bounce rides at events, but as more families begin to own inflatable amusement rides, officials believe that a new set of rules and provisions should be put into place. Some of these would potentially include:
- Inflatables would have to be inspected several times a year – not just once.
- Training measures would become much stricter – non-profit groups that own bouncy rides and families that would privately rent inflatables would have to receive training, even if professionals would be running the rides.
- Ride inspections would have to be more specific and connected to a harsher set of guidelines.
- Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol would be banned from getting on such an inflatable.
These new rules may not be a bad idea, if only to remind people to be safe when operating such rides. So remember to always have safety concerns on mind when holding an event featuring a bouncy castle or Spongebob Squarepants. First comes safety, then comes the fun!
July 9th, 2010
admin
The heat wave currently sweeping over the country is pretty intense – triple digit temperatures, crazy heat indexes and muggy, humid air are all driving people to stay inside. The air conditioner is our best friend at the moment, but how are we supposed to have fun? The cool indoors is ok, but this is the summer – time for all kinds of parties and gatherings – and it’s not too awesome to chill out in your house all day. There is a perfect solution for this conundrum…you should rent an inflatable water slide for your next weekend shindig.
A staple of backyard parties for years, an inflatable water slide is a sensational, safe and slippery way to cool down during this sweltering heat wave. Blow it up, soak it with water and let the excitement begin – kids and adults will be clamoring to fly down the intense slide into a pool of cold, sun-defeating water. But the water is not the only awesome feature of inflatable water slides, you’re going to have to find yourself a theme as well. Here’s just a few:
• Giant Double Tube Water Slide – Race your friends down this huge water slide! Can you get wet and wild before they do?
• Finding Nemo Front Load Slide – Chill out with Nemo and his pals on this exciting ride of a slide!
• Hurricane Water Slide – You’ll have a blast riding out the storm on this adrenaline-pumping water ride!
If you get a water slide for your next party or gathering, everyone you know (and the neighbors you don’t) will be clamoring for an invite. Let the kids play all day while you relax and just wait until they’re all tuckered out – it’s the adults’ turn to ride the slide! There is no more fun, exciting and drenching way to overcome the summer sun.
May 24th, 2010
admin
Getting a message out about a product or service is paramount to having a successful business. While not everyone will agree on how best to go about marketing or advertising a service or product there is no doubt that the more people see a particular brand or company the more likely they are to remember that name when buying time comes. However, there is a fine line between mass media and niche marketing and finding your place in the promotional advertising field takes knowing your business, the market and how best to reach the people who will use your product or service.
Promotional advertising, through blimps, balloons, party rental jumpers and other inflatable products, is one way to effectively market your business to a wide variety of people. Usually used at carnivals, trade shows, conventions and outdoor festivals these inflatable advertising vehicles are available in a tremendous variety of shapes and sizes including large cartoon characters, custom designed logos and mascots, product replicas and a host of other popular designs. When you make your brand part of something fun and in some cases interactive and engaging you take some of the hard sell off the marketing campaign and give your business a softer, more human side that people respect and value.
The trick to being effective with promotional advertising is to get your message out in a subtle but clear way that doesn’t seem pushy or aggressive. Studies indicate people are more likely NOT to buy a product if they feel it has been pushed on them. Pop-up ads, blaring radio commercials and aggravating promotions full of flyers, handouts and hordes of street teams can be a big turn-off for a large segment of the buying public so you want to make sure your campaign does not blow up in your face with an overexposure backlash.
May 24th, 2010
admin
How effective different methods of advertising are is always a tough measure. From television commercials and direct mail to PPC and coupon codes there are plenty of ways to advertise and of course a number of ways to measure the effectiveness of such ads. Another thing to consider when judging the success of a campaign is to note the influence of a particular vehicle used to market a product. Direct mail and promotional flyers can reach a lot of people but rarely do these cards have lasting impact with the recipient. Think about what you remember when considering buying a product and chances are the things you buy are because of the influence a particular advertising or marketing campaign had on you.
Influence is achieved in many ways. A slogan or logo may appeal to a certain demographic and be a big hit with pop culture. A quirky or unusual video can have a rocket rise on Youtube and become an “Internet sensation”. Or you can simply have a clever and catchy promotional vehicle such as an inflatable blimp or blow up product replica that grabs the attention of people passing by and stays with them for awhile.
With large inflatable balloons, blimps, product replicas, tents and cartoon character spokespeople you can add a bit of humor and a lot of color to your main advertising vehicle. These large inflatable advertising products are great for trade shows, conventions, outdoor festivals, road sides, store openings and other events that will attract a wide, large and diverse audience. Having your brand or company logo hovering over any crowded outdoor event is always a bonus and tends to be remembered long after the event has closes.
