Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leia Avery. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned how to design card games by attending a Toy and Game Expo seminar. . They offered a list of recommended manufacturers and taught us the importance of test plays. They also shared the ideal size and colors that attract the most attention.

My design skills improved overtime, practice certainly makes perfect. I would create the habit of doing the most, having too much going on with the wording and/or design.

Now all my designs are so top notch, people always ask me “who did the design?”

Leia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Founder of Just Play Entertainment, a full service game and event production company. We produce card games and host unforgettable events. Experience. Nostalgic. Fun! Just Play hosts a variety of fun filled games to celebrate private events both virtually and/or in person. You can find our services in Chicago, Nashville and Atlanta. “Just Play started off hosting monthly game nights featuring your favorite childhood games and spotlighting a game I invented called Hip Hop Charades. We also featured card games created by black game inventors. Just Play Entertainment was rated 1 of the top 10 businesses to celebrate special occasions during the Pandemic from Chicago Now Magazine. Just Play also facilitates team building activities to boost employee morale and help increase a corporation’s bottom line. Recent clients include; Google, McDonald’s, Dell, Deloitte, Phillip Morris and many more.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the Pandemic, we lost all business until a previous customer reached out to see if we can host virtual baby shower games. That was my sign to pivot to virtual events! People needed a way to see and connect with family and friends while stuck at home. What better way than with fun and games? Not only did we pivot, we also added more games, prizes and customized virtual backgrounds to offer more value and enhance the experience. Now we offer both virtual and in person events allowing teams from different cities to engage and increase productivity within the organization.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the notion that I can do it all by myself. There is no way possible to scale an entire business without a team. I did the marketing, design, sales and hosting all by myself. I had to learn the importance of working on my business and not in it. I have been working as an employee for my business since 2016. I would travel between Chicago, Atlanta and Nashville every month to host events, tiring myself out. Although it can be a challenge to find the right employees, it’s well worth the effort. I was forced to hire game host during the pandemic since we would get double booked. Most of them did great but some employees arrived late (yes to a virtual event) which made my company look bad. This showed me that I needed to train my employees better and try other practices like using google calendar to remind them of any upcoming events, etc. We now have at least 2 game show hosts in each city plus a business consultant to hold me accountable and help us reach our goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justplayentertainment.com
• Instagram: @justplayentertainment
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/justplayent
• Twitter: @justplayent