Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Miller.
Hi Brian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship and knew it was something I wanted to pursue. However, my dream of serving in the military came first, and as a Marine, my options were limited to “passive” entrepreneurship. I tried real estate investing initially but found that it is a slower grind than I was looking for. So, when my time in the military came to an end, I decided to pursue an MBA to learn more about business, make valuable connections, and secure a job that would provide me with valuable experience.
While completing my MBA, my desire to own and grow a business became even stronger, and I began actively looking for opportunities to enter the entrepreneurial world. In September 2022, I narrowed my focus to acquiring an existing business rather than starting one from scratch, as this would reduce the time burden and give me a solid starting point to apply my newly gained business knowledge in the shortest period of time. To guide my search, I developed a list of criteria that my ideal (failing) business would need to meet.
I didn’t have a specific preference for an indoor playground or anything children-related. In fact, I would have been open to just about anything that aligned with my criteria. It just so happened that I came across the Playhouse Children’s Museum, which not only met my requirements but also showed great potential.
What made the Playhouse Children’s Museum particularly appealing was that it fit well with my family life as my wife Courtney and two kids could be involved. It also allowed me to leverage my creative abilities in offering new products and services, re-designing and building out the space, and developing a marketing plan. This combination of factors made The Playhouse a perfect fit for my entrepreneurial journey, and I tendered an offer in November 2022.
After a fairly smooth due diligence and closing process, I took ownership on January 6th and immediately went to work. I chose to make minor changes in January and February as I learned about the business, confirmed some of my assumptions, and determined priorities. By the beginning of March, we had introduced a cafe to sell coffee and light snacks, added several new toys to the space, and began growing a social media following. With these two months under my belt, I was confident in closing the business for nearly two weeks in March to complete renovations.
I aligned construction with my MBA spring break and was able to conduct just about all the work myself with some help from my team. I re-arranged the “town,” constructed a Police Station, a Theatre, and a Tree House, and partitioned the active play space from the cafe to provide parents with a place to sit and relax. Our re-opening and rebranding to Piney Town took place on March 17th, and we have continued to make tweaks and improvements since then.
My ultimate goal is to create a space that provides enough entertainment and variety that kids and parents want to come back to over and over. We have invested every penny of profit back into the business and will continue to do so until we have created a truly unique and sustainable business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had anticipated some challenges, and I was not disappointed! Most of these, such as time management and balance and managerial decision-making, are not unique to my business, and I feel fortunate for how my staff and the community have received our efforts to improve Piney Town.
The biggest challenge I see on the horizon is how to effectively turn operations over to a manager as I transition into my full-time business consulting role in October. Finding the right person who I can trust to carry the ball forward as my attention shifts is not an easy process, and effectively compensating this person in financial uncertainty requires a high level of faith in the business model.
As you know, we’re big fans of Piney Town Playhouse. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
What is Piney Town? An enriching indoor playground open to the general public for play, parties, and events.
Our mission is to provide a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for children ages 0-6 to learn, explore, and play. We are dedicated to fostering creativity, imagination, and social skills through a variety of play experiences, including dramatic, physical, cooperative, and sensory play. Our commitment to excellence extends to all aspects of our business, from our carefully designed play spaces and high-quality equipment to our friendly and engaging staff and exceptional customer service. Whether you join us for a birthday party, playgroup, holiday event, or simply grab a cup of coffee while your child explores our immersive play space, we strive to create a welcoming and fun-filled experience for families of our community.
Come and Play!
Let your child’s imagination run free at Piney Town Playhouse!
Our nine-play structures will keep your child entertained for hours.
Playhouses
Our playhouses are designed to encourage pretend play and spark imagination!
Mechanic Shop (with mini car to work on)
Barn
Construction Site
Grocery Store
Doctor’s Office
Play House
Police Station
Theatre
Tree House
Other Activities
We offer a variety of other stations and activities that will appeal to all ages!
Dedicated Toddler Section
Foam Construction Blocks
Light Table
Dress ups
Reading Nook
Florist Cart with Felt Flowers
Mail Station
Play Ice Cream Cart
Why We’re Different
We offer the safe, fun environment of a large museum with the benefit of the comfortable and clean personal touch of a small town.
Exciting Event Schedule (see here)
Relaxing and Enjoyable Environment
Perfect for Playdates!
Easily host stress-free Parties!
Top-notch Coffee and Espresso Drinks
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think the path to living my fullest life requires me to take calculated risks early and often. I have the highest level of respect for those who challenge themselves and are thus prepared to evaluate and seize an opportunity as it presents itself. Risk mitigation is all about gathering information, planning, and skillful execution and someone who is experienced in all three will have a much greater chance of success. That same person who has built a strong foundation will also have a stronger recovery if things do not go as planned. Piney Town, for me, is meant to develop my skills and grow my confidence to pursue larger projects in the future.
Pricing:
- Daily play pass: $14
- Private parties: $399+
- Memberships: $28+
- Summer Camp: $96/week
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pineytown.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pineytownplayhouse
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pineytownplayhouse
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrmiller12/
