Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Marriott.
Hi Adam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started about 6 years ago with the idea to open a snow cone trailer. We opened Snowie in June of 2018. Shortly after that, a gentleman sold his inflatable rental business. We thought this would be a great fit, so we purchased it in September 2018, renaming it to A&M Amusements Inc. We ran both businesses and in 2020, I partnered with my friends at the Axe Factor to open my third business, Illuminate Entertainment. All three businesses ran 2020-2022. In 2023, I purchased a bar in Maryville, Missouri, The Pub. We also leased a building in St. Joe to move A&M Amusements Inc. to and opened a new indoor play facility, Time Out Entertainment. With the 2 new businesses, we did not have time to run the snow cone trailer along with the other businesses, and we decided to shut down the original snow cone business to focus on the larger businesses. In late 2023, we decided to purchase the building in St. Joe. We moved to and remodeled the entire space to open an event venue, Time Out Event Center. Now, I am 6 years into entrepreneurship and involved in 5 businesses. It all started with a $20,000 investment into a snow cone trailer.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I would not classify it as smooth. Every small business owner will tell you there are constant challenges. The top three plaguing my businesses are cash flow, finding help, and time management. I have to wear almost all the hats in 3 businesses, which runs me thin on time. Unfortunately, they do not make enough to pay people a great wage, so it is hard to find trustworthy, hard-working people to employ. Another big frustration is that my small businesses are held to the same expectations as huge corporations. This is the same for government, such as taxes, fees, licenses, and customer perception. Some people understand the struggles of small business ownership, but there are more that do not, which can be difficult. Their expectation of my small business is the same as a multi-billion dollar company that can afford to pay their employees more, lower their margin, and afford huge national marketing campaigns.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A&M Amusements is a full-service inflatable and party rental shop. We specialize in medium to large events. We have the largest inventory in NW Missouri. We pride ourselves on customer service, clean and safe units, and timely delivery. It isn’t easy to differentiate yourself in this type of business, but we try to keep it simple. Be honest, do what you promise, and only promise what you can do, underpromise and over-deliver. Time Out Entertainment Center is our indoor play facility branch of the business. It was a natural progression for us to find a space to have a year-round inflatable playground set up, especially during the cold winter months. With this business, we were very cautious to make ourselves stand out. We offered the largest square foot area, the most attractions, and the best value. No place else in NW Missouri can you have your birthday party at a space as large as ours, with the number of inflatables and games set up for the price we charge. I am proud of all my businesses and brands. I want to think that when someone uses one of my businesses, they know that they will get integrity, honesty, great value, and overall, I hope they come away satisfied with their purchase.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people to mention. The most important to mention is my wife, Ashley. She is the person who keeps me going. With her support, I would have passed the snow cone trailer.
Some honorable mentions:
- Doug Sutton- A great friend and business mentor
- My brothers at the Axe Factor. Matt, Bruce, Mike, and PJ
- My partner in The Pub, Doug Meyers- a great friend and mentor
- My partner, JC Watts- Is an excellent numbers guy who keeps me sane.
- Kermit Lager- The gentleman from whom I bought the inflatable business. A great mentor and has always answered the phone when I need help.
There are 100 other names I could give of people who have lent a hand and provided advice or guidance. It would also be impossible for the people who trust me with their business. My customers keep this all going; without them, I would be just another average Joe working a 9-5 helping with another person’s dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aandmamusements.com / www.timeoutentertainmentcenter.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amamusements / https://www.facebook.com/TimeoutEntertainmentCenter/
