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

Robin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My hero is my angel, my mom, Eloise Hoskins. When you think of someone that’s loving, kind, straightforward, trustworthy, determined, & hardworking; you would think of her. She faced numerous challenges in life, including battling illness, yet she never gave up. Even in her toughest moments, like when she was fighting cancer, she remained one of the sweetest and most determined individuals I’ve ever known.

Seven years have passed since she left us, but her impact on my life is still profound. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think about her strength and resilience. Her memory pushes me to keep going, reminding me to approach challenges with grace and determination, just as she did.

Meeting people who knew her and hearing them speak so fondly of her reaffirms the incredible person she was. She continues to inspire me every day, and when I’m faced with difficult decisions, I often find myself asking, ‘What would my mom do?’ Her legacy of perseverance and kindness guides me in both my personal and professional life.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Robin Hoskins and I’m a mother of two young boys, who are the reasons behind the start of my business. Tots Play World. I started Tots Play World in 2019 with the idea of a safe & fun toddler entertainment option in lieu of the big bounce houses that most toddlers are afraid to play in. Tots Play World is a toddler entertainment service that provides soft foam playgrounds, known as Soft Play, ballpits, slides, kids size tables & chairs, and party decorations. I found this entertainment solution to be helpful with my own children and just knew I wanted to provide these services to other parents and caregivers in my community. Our vision is to bring creativity and innovation through experiences that imprint memories, whether that’s for birthdays in the backyard, family gatherings at event spaces, or family, fun events within the community parks. Our mission is to transform playdates into unforgettable memories, birthdays into spectacular celebrations, and rainy days into indoor escapades. Our promise to the community is to provide kids with the most epic, bouncing, sliding, and exploring experience ever, all while making sure parents can kick back, relax, and enjoy the moment. We’ve been servicing the Memphis, TN area for over four years now with our mobile equipment rental services and I’m now proud to say that we’ve expanded into offering the community an indoor play space. We’ve received numerous inquires about an indoor play area from prospective customers throughout the years and can now finally expand our offerings beyond just entertainment services. Our new playroom opened in late February 2024 and offers educational & creative play to help toddlers with physical, cognitive, and social development. Our indoor play space is the place for parents and caregivers to work while being able to see their children play, watch their children socialize, meet a friend, or just get out of the house and play in a new space throughout the week. On the weekends, we will offer the space for celebrations.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My career in the agriculture tech industry was thriving, but everything changed when our team faced layoffs. Suddenly, I found myself at a crossroads, uncertain about the future. However, I had a glimmer of hope in my side business—Tots Play World, the toddler party rental company, that I had nurtured alongside my corporate job.

As the reality of the layoff sunk in, I knew I had to make a pivotal decision. I could either search for another job in the same industry or take a leap of faith and turn my passion for creating magical experiences for toddlers into my full-time venture. After not too much contemplation and with the support of my loved ones, I chose the latter.

Transitioning from a structured corporate environment to the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship was daunting, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I poured my heart and soul into expanding my party rental business, refining my offerings, and connecting with my community. Within five months after my layoff, I found the perfect space to expand my dreams for the indoor play space offering. I’m leveraging my skills from my previous career to streamline operations, manage finances, and market my mobile & stationary services effectively.

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. I faced uncertainties, financial pressures, and moments of self-doubt. However, my determination to succeed, coupled with the inspiration I drew from my mom’s resilience, kept me going. I immersed myself in learning, seeking guidance from mentors, and adapting to the ever-changing business landscape.

Today, my toddler party rental business has flourished beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve created a brand that is synonymous with joy, creativity, and exceptional service. My expansion of the indoor playroom offering is slowly began to flourish with a Ribbon Cutting coming up in March 2024.

Looking back, I realize that the layoff was a blessing in disguise. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and propelled me toward a path that has brought me fulfillment and purpose. My journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and embracing new opportunities, even in the face of uncertainty.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building my reputation in the toddler party rental market has been a result of several strategic approaches. However, the most impactable factor in my reputation are my customers. Word of mouth goes along way & I make sure I provide each customer & potential customer with excellent customer service. I ensure that every interaction ( in person, text messages, social media, email, etc.) with my customers & their guests are positive and memorable. Their guests not only witness our products, but see my personality and great customer experience that I have to offer & that’s what build my business’ brand. Also, the commitment to punctuality has also been crucial, as I always strive to deliver our rental items on time, every time.

Finding like minded business owners, that also offer great customer services, quality products, and our end goal is to ensure our customer has a great, memorable event are the keys to connecting with competitors & helping building my brand with the market. These connects with competitors and other aligned businesses, such as party planners, balloons artist, & event owners has led to referrals for my business as well as us referring their business. As we sometimes would work an event solely or together.

Furthermore, we believe in the importance of offering quality products and a wide variety of options to cater to different themes and preferences. This, coupled with our professionalism and reliability, has helped us establish a reputation for excellence in our market.

Overall, our reputation is a result of our commitment to providing exceptional service, building strong relationships, and constantly striving for improvement in all aspects of our business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.totsplayworld.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/totsplayworld
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/totsplayworld901
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tots-play-world-memphis