352: 2026 Trend Predictions For The Indoor Play Industry (Part 2- Operations and Day-to-Day)
The Profitable Play PodcastShow Notes
This is Part 2 of my annual indoor playground and play café industry trends episode — a series I’ve released every single year since 2019. Part 1 focused on business design and planning.
Part 2 is about operations, systems, and the decisions owners are making behind the scenes that will quietly determine who is still standing in 3–5 years.
These aren’t “ideas to try.” These are structural shifts happening right now inside profitable, sustainable play businesses. And if you miss them They’re expensive to fix later.
In this episode, I break down the operational and ownership trends shaping 2026, including: Why owners are stepping back earlier — and how systems (not hustle) are making it possible The rise of businesses designed to function without the owner present Why you cannot out-market a broken layout, bad flow, or poorly designed space How intentional design decisions reduce staffing costs, customer friction, and burnout Why some owners are quietly cutting hours — and increasing profit The shift toward making money during downtime, not just peak hours How smarter owners are evaluating revenue streams based on profitability and energy, not ego Why “just add more offerings” is becoming a dangerous strategy The growing gap between owners who track numbers weekly and those who “feel busy” How over-reliance on AI without real-world context is already costing new owners time and money
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
BLOG For This Episode Little Play Avenue Episode 105: Call Forwarding Systems To Better Customer Service Episode 84: Making Money As A UGC Creator Episode 349: Business Sponsorships with Jayci from Tiny Play Episode 341: Lead Your Team Better in 2026 Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society
OTHER RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS: Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS
More from The Profitable Play Podcast
Why do some indoor playgrounds and play cafés become profitable, sustainable businesses while others stay stuck, even when they have similar concepts, markets and opportunities?
After more than a decade in the indoor playground industry, I've developed a little bit of a sixth sense for decisions that look great on opening day but can become expensive, inefficient or incredibly frustrating later.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Steve and Dave from Lilliput Playhomes to talk about what really goes into designing and building play equipment for commercial spaces.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Charlotte from Children’s Factory to talk all about designing indoor play spaces that are intentional, engaging, durable, and built for the way children actually play.
In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms, a design firm specializing in creating intentional play spaces for both homes and commercial facilities. We explore what makes a truly great play environment and how thoughtful design can encourage independence, spark imagination, support child development, and create a better experience for both children and their caregivers.