Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Thorpe.
Hi Mariah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story started in 2019 as I began to plan for our daughter’s first birthday. I had big hopes for how we would celebrate her. I remember hopping on Pinterest every day to look up fun and exciting ideas for her celebration. I was quickly disappointed that we kept reaching dead ends when it felt like the search had just started. The only options in our area for children’s parties were the indoor play areas and giant bouncy houses. As a parent, you’re always searching for new, engaging, and unforgettable experiences for your children. Birthdays were a huge deal when I was growing up! So it was only natural that I wanted to pass this tradition on to my child. After searching online for safe and age-appropriate event rentals, I came across Cardi B’s Instagram story. Her daughter, Kulture, was wading through a giant ball pit in what looked like a play area full of foam equipment. That’s how I was introduced to the world of soft play!
I knew that my husband and I couldn’t be the only parents feeling this lack in the Triangle area. It didn’t take long for me to convenience him that this was the move to make. It wasn’t long before we purchased our first play equipment set and launched JAM Kids Co, making us the first soft play rental company in the state.
Imagine yourself at a wedding, party, or event and not having to lug your little one around on your hip the entire night! Amazing, right?
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My husband, Jordan, has always been one of my biggest supporters. The road has been bumpy as I’ve grown over the years. Five months after we launched, COVID-19 shut the world down as everyone scrambled to make sense of the pandemic. I remember crying to my husband, thinking that we had chosen the worst time in our lives to launch a business. I’d used a large portion of my savings to purchase our first ball pit and climber set, and I couldn’t imagine how we would see a return on our investment. So, I prayed about it and decided to find a way for my business to adapt to this new change! Luckily, I realized that as a mobile event rental company, we could offer local families safe, clean, and fun play areas that allowed them the ability to celebrate their little one’s big day still.
We also faced the issue of connecting with our customers and learning what it means to be a functional business. In our early days, I did a lot of footwork. Passing out flyers and doing free-play days at local parks was big for spreading the word about who we were because soft-play was such a new concept.
I eventually signed up for a program offered by Helius NC called Launch Durham. They took a cohort of upcoming entrepreneurs and gave a crash course on business! Through this program, I was able to network and grow. It was excellent, and I credit a lot of my growth to Geraurd Staton, who worked with us by teaching us the basics of writing a business plan, finding your target audience, understanding finances, and more.
Now we’re at a steady pace and growing each day. We were even a part of the Durham SOUP pitch competition and won a miro grant to help us expand even more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
JAM Kids Co is a unique business that offers exciting, memorable experiences to local RDU families through our mobile soft play spaces. Not a lot of people know what soft play is yet, because we’re so new. It’s foam-padded play equipment primarily for crawlers to five-year-olds, and it is great for a structured, stimulating, and safe play environment. Most importantly, hours of interactive entertainment.
We are most known for our super famous white ball pit, toddler bounce houses, soft play mats and climbers, and a gated play area. What sets us apart from other rental businesses, and soft play companies is that we have the experience, expertise, and energy! Our playtime experts have been creating unforgettable moments for our customers for 3 years now. Plus, we offer several different rentals in our party packages.
I’m most proud of our brands ability to connect with our community. We love the soft play equipment, but what we’re really hoping to do is help local families by spreading joy. Our rentals are safe, clean, and fun so parents don’t have to stress about their child’s birthday, children with special/medical needs can party hard in a safe space, brides can have a child friendly wedding and not have to worry about their loved ones missing out, families can host the hottest BBQ of the summer without toddler melthdowns! We offer peace of mind above all else.
This is why I do what I do. I love my city and all the families in it.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve had many supporters and mentors, mostly my family members, such as my older sister, who always shares my posts online and tells her friends adamantly about what I do. I am also blessed to say my mother, Nigirlya Harvey, is a passionate and ambitious woman who has continually cheered me on and prayed for me on my journey to discovering myself and my dreams.
I have to mention my uncle, Bobby Harvey. He’s the owner of Harvey’s Moving Company in Goldsboro, NC, and without his guidance, I doubt I would’ve made it past the planning phase. I’ve always looked up to his attitude and willingness to go the extra mile. We spent many days on the phone talking through things like how to get business insurance, grants and funding, and pep talks when I wasn’t sure what direction to take. Seeing his own business grow gave me the encouragement that I could do it too.
Above all, my husband and children, Ari and Koda, are my biggest supporters. There is never a day when I’ve felt a lack of their love, support, and never-ending affection. Not to get mushy, but he treats me like a queen, making chasing my dream that much easier! When I was knee-deep in trying to launch JAM Kids Co and take off, he took time out of work to watch our children and was a stay-at-home dad. Now we’re getting closer than ever to being full-time entrepreneurs.
Pricing:
- Packages prices start between $285-$365
Contact Info:
- Email: jamkidsco@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jamkidsplay
- Facebook: facebook.com/jamkidsplay
- Other: Phone: 919-886-9914
Image Credits
Woodmansee Photography Mnemonic Auras Photography- Sh’Maughn Wright
