In the heart of Kansas, two close-knit families saw an opportunity to turn a ten-year-old inflatable rental business into something extraordinary. Together, they formed Karnival Fun, a company that brings unforgettable excitement to local events with bounce houses, water slides, obstacle courses, and interactive games.
Led by Samuel McVay, this family-run business has become a staple in their community - serving birthdays, school functions, corporate events, and church gatherings with joy and reliability. But as demand grew, so did the challenges of managing it all.
Relying solely on Google Calendar and phone calls, Karnival Fun faced significant challenges in tracking inventory, communicating pricing, and gathering insights about their most popular rental products. That’s when Booqable stepped in, changing how they run their inflatable rental business with powerful online booking features, helpful reporting, and teamwork tools.
Hassle-free bookings, 24/7
Before Booqable, booking an inflatable rental meant lengthy phone conversations, endless back-and-forth checking of availability, and potential customers’ frustration with waiting for manual confirmation. This became a time-consuming process that often resulted in lost bookings and created unnecessary stress for both staff and customers.
Switching to Booqable transformed the way Karnival Fun operates. By connecting their website to Booqable’s rental software, they created a seamless online experience for their customers - complete with real-time product availability, an intuitive date picker, and a clean checkout process.
This setup allowed them to show live product availability in real-time, letting them reserve products instantly in their back office. Suddenly, customers could browse, book, and pay without waiting for a callback.
“It’s nice not to have to call and see exactly what is available” became one of the most common customer reactions.
Behind the scenes, Booqable automatically added bookings to the calendar, tracked pickups and returns, processed payments, and stored customer details - all without manual input. What once took hours now happens in seconds.
Empowering the whole team
As a family-run business with two sets of parents running the show, Karnival Fun needed a flexible solution that could support multiple team members while keeping things clear and controlled. With different family members handling everything from customer service to inventory management, a collaborative yet secure system was crucial.
With a team of four – the two sets of parents who own the business – Booqable’s team seats feature worked wonders. They could now access their rental system from five different devices, switching easily between desktop and mobile apps. The mobile app made it simple to charge customers, track drop-offs, and manage pickups from anywhere.
The permission settings meant each team member could have the right access levels, ensuring both flexibility and security in how they work. This team approach totally changed how they managed their inflatable rental business.
Making data-driven decisions with reports
Karnival Fun isn’t just about fun, they’re serious about growing their business. With Booqable’s reporting tools, they now track revenue, monitor product performance, and uncover trends that help them make smarter decisions.
Availability reports made handling phone inquiries easy, while product performance insights helped them decide which items to invest in next.
“We want to triple our revenue and maybe even open a second location,” Samuel shared. “Understanding what’s working helps us make smarter decisions.”
Samuel noted that understanding their product performance would be key to their five-year goal of growing bigger.
From challenges to growth
Booqable gave Karnival Fun more than a booking system, it gave them the foundation to scale confidently.
With smoother operations, happier customers, and powerful insights, this two-family business has turned what was once a logistical headache into a well-oiled machine. As they look to the future, with dreams of expansion and increased revenue, they credit Booqable as a key part of their journey.
“Moving over to Booqable and transacting online has been amazing,” says Samuel. “It’s made our website a true engine for growth.”
The Results?
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More bookings: Customers can book anytime, anywhere, without enquiry waiting times.
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Fewer errors: Booqable’s automation reduced manual mistakes and human error.
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Stronger teamwork: Everyone’s on the same page, from their desktop or mobile.
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Better decisions: Reporting insights guide future investment and product expansion.
