We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Ueberfluss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

After COVID, I, like so many others, realized just how important it was to bring people together in a meaningful way. I noticed a growing trend: outdoor events were becoming more popular as people sought safe and enjoyable ways to reconnect with family and friends. This got me thinking about how I could contribute to these gatherings and make them even more memorable.

One day, after I met with a friend who owned an event rental company, it hit me—why not turn my love for outdoor family fun into a business? The idea seemed so simple, yet the potential was enormous. We knew that people were craving interaction and fun, and our games could be the perfect catalyst for that. The excitement of bringing people together, of seeing smiles and laughter, of creating memories—that’s what got us hooked on the idea.

We also recognized that, at the time, there weren’t many businesses offering what we envisioned: a full-service yard game rental experience that could cater to all types of events. It wasn’t just about renting games; it was about providing a service that could enhance any gathering, from weddings to corporate events to birthday parties and backyard BBQs. This unique approach, combined with the timing and the clear demand for outdoor entertainment, made us confident that this was a worthwhile endeavor. We weren’t just filling a gap in the market; we were helping to create moments that people would cherish long after the event was over.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Jessie, a proud mom of three, and the owner of Yard Games MKE. My journey into this industry started with a love for hosting events and a strong desire to bring people together, especially after the isolating effects of COVID. We recognized the growing popularity of outdoor events and saw a unique opportunity to enhance those gatherings with fun, interactive games.

Yard Games MKE offers a wide range of rental games, from classic to giant-sized, designed to make any event memorable. What truly sets us apart is our commitment to quality and service—we’re fully insured, and we can handle everything from delivery to setup and takedown, ensuring our clients can focus on enjoying their event.

This business is a family affair. My husband, Mark, who is an engineer, has been instrumental in crafting many of our custom games. Our oldest, now 20, assists with deliveries, while our 15-year-old handles loading, unloading, and cleaning the items upon their return. Even our youngest, who is 12, has taken an active role by learning to sand and paint our wooden games and showing a keen interest in the marketing and branding side of the business.

I’m incredibly proud of how Yard Games MKE has become a family endeavor, bringing us closer together while allowing us to bring joy to others. When potential clients consider us, I want them to know that they’re not just renting games—they’re getting a service backed by a dedicated, hardworking family who truly cares about making their event special.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I started Yard Games MKE, I made a personal investment of $1,600. This initial capital allowed us to buy the materials to craft our first games, such as the Giant Tumbling Tower and Cornhole. We also purchased our first sets of giant games with this investment. Remarkably, we made that money back after just our first month in business. For our first season, and the one that followed, we made the strategic decision to reinvest most of our income back into the business. This reinvestment allowed us to expand our inventory to keep up with the growing demand for our games. It was a gradual, calculated approach, but it ensured that we could scale the business sustainably while meeting our customers’ needs.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I started building an audience for Yard Games MKE on social media, I wasn’t new to the business world. About 1.5 years earlier, I had launched a small social media company after leaving my previous career in retail management to pursue entrepreneurship. My experience in social media and marketing made the transition into promoting Yard Games MKE a natural one. I quickly built an online community, starting with the support of friends and family. From there, I expanded by developing relationships with other local businesses and entities. Collaborating with others has been a key factor in growing our online presence. Today, social media accounts for the majority of our sales. For those just starting to build their social media presence, my advice is to leverage your existing network, be consistent, and don’t hesitate to collaborate with others in your community. Building genuine relationships and engaging content is crucial to growing your audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yardgamesmke.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yardgamesmke
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/yardgamesmke

Image Credits

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