Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Valerie Block. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Valerie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2017, I was teaching first grade at our local Elementary School, in the fall my husband and I welcomed our first child. As our child grew I began dreaming of a place where we could go to imagine, create, spend meaningful time together while also meeting other parents and their children. In my searches the closest indoor facility was 45 minutes away. While I was used to traveling to and from Columbus and Centerville to visit our families I didn’t love doing it all the time to “have fun”. That was when I started asking friends and others in the Springfield community if it would be something they could see their families frequenting. In 2019, my husband went back to school to obtain his second masters and PhD at the Ohio State University… so I remained in the teaching profession to support our growing family (now pregnant with our second child), while still dreaming of a space in our community where I could take our children. In 2022, my husband graduated and I decided THEN was the perfect time to take a step back from teaching and follow my new dream!
When beginning the process of my business plan, I knew that Building Block Play Studio could offer something unique to our community and the surrounding areas. I knew that my background in PK-3rd grade and Special education could help me create a space that was open ended, easily accessible for all, welcoming, and focused on imaginative play (which is sometimes easily be overlooked in the entertainment world!) I knew deep down that kids need play, imagination, and a place to be kids as long as possible. During my market research phase of the business plan I noticed that there was nothing out there like what I was creating and that Springfield was seriously lacking a place for children. Although the town was growing, there were still not many places for children… especially indoors! After much planning, meeting with our local SBDC, obtaining a small business loan, finding the perfect location, and designing the space I was on my way to making the dream a reality! In August 2022, we received the keys to the space and began renovations! There were many late nights with my husband and children by my side helping in more ways than imagined.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, I am Valerie Block! Owner and Operator of Building Block Play Studio, a place that focuses on imaginative play experiences for children of all ages. Building Block Play studio is located in Springfield, Ohio in the heart of downtown in the historic Tuttle Brothers Building!
I originally came to Springfield in 2008 as a student at Wittenberg University (Tiger Up!). Although my family and extended family were from Springfield and some were still residents of Springfield, I grew up in the suburbs of Columbus. I knew the second I looked into attending Wittenberg University, that I wanted to attend… it was the only place that I wanted to study, I felt at home in a city that was new to me as a resident. The very first day of classes at Witt, I met a super handsome, intelligent, kind man… who is now my husband! We dated all through college, in 2011 my now husband graduated and decided to stay in Springfield another year waiting for me to graduate! I began teaching at a local elementary school as a student teacher and fell in love! We decided to make Springfield our permanent home, there was something so special about the community and it was growing! The next 11 years as passed and we welcomed a family. Springfield desperately needed more indoor places for kids to play and adults to connect with each other! Springfield was once a booming industrial town but years of big businesses leaving took away many of the places for families, since families were leaving for job opportunities elsewhere! It was my passion to create an indoor space where children would be creative and safe to explore and play indoors… and also where parents could feel comfortable relaxing and letting their child explore without having to follow them around! Building Block Play Studio opened in December of 2022… over the past two (going on three) years so much has been added and I am excited to continue to grow! I love to share that Building Block has something for every child… whether your child likes to build, draw, or play trains… climb and slide… drive around on our little road in cute cars… or play pretend in our 8 structure tiny town… you are free to explore, imagine, and create together. We also offer a cozy little corner for our tiniest of friends to safely play with carefully chosen toys to engage littles in the beginnings of play! Something special that Building Block also provides is a completely accessible space for children of all abilities, we are located on the first floor of our building, have an accessible bathroom, a private room for sensory needs or breastfeeding moms, and have invested in toys that are friendly to children with all needs. We also have no “age limit” I feel that as long as children will enjoy the play spaces that I have created they are welcome to play as long as they are respectful to all other children playing!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When beginning the funding process for Building Block Play studio, our local SBDC was an integral part to the “start up” phase. They helped formalize our business plan and pointed us in the right direction of loan officers. During the start up phase and the first year of business, I had a business partner. Together we decided that we wanted to take out as little as possible. Since my husband and I are handy, we did all of the renovations and building, which saved us a great deal of money! With the help of the SBDC we took out a loan through their organization and Huntington Bank which they partnered with and did a match of a percent of the loan from the bank. Unfortunately, we hit a bump in the “loan” process where the bank employee who was working on our small business loan left and did not leave our loan paperwork with anyone… so it got over looked. We decided to open in December of 2022, without our largest climbing structure… it was a risk but the community held us up and put their faith in the space immediately booking birthday parties and coming to play during winter break! FINALLY in February of 2023, almost 6 months after the loan process began we finally were given access to our loan and could order our large play structure! Until that point my former business partner and I paid for everything out of our own personal funds and savings… 3,000 square feet of flooring, paint, toys, tables, desk, internet, rent, etc. I had generous family members donate money and items that the studio needed to keep the business afloat as well! When we got the loan we were able to “pay our selves back”. It was a tough stretch of time operating without our loan and without all of the items that we planned to have initially, but we made it work and our guests were so kind to stick with us in the growing phase! Last April 2024, my business partner wanted to move on from the business and also work towards getting closer to family, so I bought her portion of the business and became sole owner/operator. At this time, I chose to switch loan providers due to the fact that my Small Business Loan was an unfixed rate. I now work with New Carlisle Federal Bank for my funding with a fixed interest rate!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
When Building Block first opened I remember thinking “most of our marketing will be from social platforms”. I thought that if a strong following was built on social media that it would be all I needed to do. That is not the case… even almost 3 years later there are still people coming by for the first time saying “I didn’t even know you were here!” What I learned is that you also have to put time into print media, hitting the pavement, advertising for yourself, setting up at local events to talk about what you provide, and just keep “pushing” to grow your foot traffic! Getting into different magazines, online spaces such as Voyage Ohio, and local newspapers has been instrumental as well. I would still probably have to admit that “word of mouth” from happy little guests and their families has been the best source of new clients for the play studio! When someone has a great time in the studio and they notice how clean and safe the space is, or the unique variety of play spaces that I offer for kids, they tell their friends and their friends stop in! Birthday parties are also a great source of new “friends” that come again to play… when a child hosts their birthday party in the space it is a private space rental where I say “the space is yours to enjoy”, families really love to invite their guests and feel at home in our space without feeling rushed or crowded sharing with other visitors or parties! Party guests are introduced to the space and they come back to play again during open play hours! Birthday parties, events, and classes have brought people from all over the Dayton area and beyond and I hope to keep growing our guests so that I can share the beauty of Springfield through my space!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buildingblockplaystudio.com
- Instagram: @buildingblockplay
- Facebook: Building Block Play Studio
- Other: tiktok (Just beginning TikTok journey)
@buildingblockplay2251
Image Credits
Snow White provided for an event from Fairy God Mother Events
Photography by Kayla Ward
Photography by Mackenzie Sweatland