When Brady Ravenelle first heard about Busy Bee Jumpers, it wasn’t from a sales pitch. It was through a family connection with a co-worker who suggested he meet Busy Bee founder Sal Longo. That introduction set in motion a career change that would take Ravenelle from insurance and prep school maintenance work to the world of bounce houses and party rentals.
“I sat with Sal and his team, and it was just an easy choice,” Ravenelle said. “They’re so positive and easy to get along with. The systems and infrastructure they have through routing, the ERS system, the social marketing techniques — they know what they’re doing. They’re a leader in their field, and it was extremely easy to make the switch. I could really see myself doing it.”
The combination of an established franchise system and a supportive leadership team gave him the confidence to take the leap. He knew he was stepping into an industry leader, not a startup that was still trying to figure things out. That level of stability made the risk feel worth it.
Ravenelle spent years on the baseball diamond before starting his career. The lessons of competition and teamwork stuck with him and now guide how he runs his business. “There’s definitely a competitive nature that comes from sports,” he said. “But there’s also just a team nature of running a business and having employees and creating a positive workplace.”
He sees his staff not just as employees but as teammates working toward a shared goal. Just like a baseball season, there are ups and downs, but the culture you build determines how far you can go.
Like many first-time franchisees, Ravenelle entered the business with little direct experience. “Before March, I had never even touched a bouncy house,” he said. Learning the ropes came quickly, though, thanks to Busy Bee’s support team.
“There are always little logistical things — routing, scheduling — that you figure out as you go,” he said. “But the good news is, nothing major has come up. And whenever we have a question, Sal and his team are right there to answer. We don’t feel like we’re on our own.”
That sense of support made the transition less overwhelming. Instead of navigating the challenges alone, Ravenelle had access to experienced mentors who had already solved the same problems.
Ravenelle has always felt tied to Central Massachusetts, and opening a business there gives him another reason to stay rooted. What excites him most is the chance to be part of the celebrations that shape family life in his community.
“I’ve lived in Webster and the surrounding area my whole life,” he said. “It feels excellent to build something here. This is a family-friendly business — it’s for kids, birthdays, graduations, fun times. To have a warehouse and a business in town that contributes to the community is really meaningful.”
Every bounce house Ravenelle sets up and every event he supports feels like another way to give back to the community that raised him.
Ravenelle says what sets Busy Bee apart locally is both the professionalism of the team and the quality of the equipment.
“This year we brought in 60 brand-new pieces and it's our responsibility to keep those pieces nice,” he said. “We also put a big emphasis on communication — being prompt with ETAs, keeping clients informed. It’s those little things that build trust.”
In an industry where parents want reliability above all else, strong communication makes a huge difference. Families want to know their party setup will arrive on time and in great condition, and Ravenelle makes sure his team delivers on that promise.
What has impressed Ravenelle most is the ongoing support from leadership.
“Sal and his team are never satisfied — they’re always working in the background to make the website better, to make traffic better,” he said. “Even 190 days in, you can see how much they’re still working for us. It’s very uplifting.”
The improvements happening behind the scenes keep franchisees competitive and allow them to focus on customer service and growth.
For those thinking about franchising, Ravenelle encourages doing your homework but also trusting the process.
“Franchising is a great opportunity in a lot of industries,” he said. “The biggest thing is educating yourself on what you’re getting into and what you want to get out of it. For me, the value of Busy Bee is that I’m buying into the 25 years of lessons Sal and his team have already learned. As a first-time business owner, that guidance is huge.”
Ravenelle didn’t know everything going in, but he didn’t need to. The franchise already had systems in place, and he leaned on that. For him, that made the difference between just taking a risk and building something he felt confident about.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/busy-bee-jumpers.
Busy Bee Jumpers
SPONSORED
After an amateur baseball career and a job in insurance, Ravenelle returns to his Central Massachusetts roots to bring joy to his community as the new Busy Bee Jumpers franchisee in Worcester.
When Brady Ravenelle first heard about Busy Bee Jumpers, it wasn’t from a sales pitch. It was through a family connection with a co-worker who suggested he meet Busy Bee founder Sal Longo. That introduction set in motion a career change that would take Ravenelle from insurance and prep school maintenance work to the world of bounce houses and party rentals.
“I sat with Sal and his team, and it was just an easy choice,” Ravenelle said. “They’re so positive and easy to get along with. The systems and infrastructure they have through routing, the ERS system, the social marketing techniques — they know what they’re doing. They’re a leader in their field, and it was extremely easy to make the switch. I could really see myself doing it.”
The combination of an established franchise system and a supportive leadership team gave him the confidence to take the leap. He knew he was stepping into an industry leader, not a startup that was still trying to figure things out. That level of stability made the risk feel worth it.
Ravenelle spent years on the baseball diamond before starting his career. The lessons of competition and teamwork stuck with him and now guide how he runs his business. “There’s definitely a competitive nature that comes from sports,” he said. “But there’s also just a team nature of running a business and having employees and creating a positive workplace.”
He sees his staff not just as employees but as teammates working toward a shared goal. Just like a baseball season, there are ups and downs, but the culture you build determines how far you can go.
Like many first-time franchisees, Ravenelle entered the business with little direct experience. “Before March, I had never even touched a bouncy house,” he said. Learning the ropes came quickly, though, thanks to Busy Bee’s support team.
“There are always little logistical things — routing, scheduling — that you figure out as you go,” he said. “But the good news is, nothing major has come up. And whenever we have a question, Sal and his team are right there to answer. We don’t feel like we’re on our own.”
That sense of support made the transition less overwhelming. Instead of navigating the challenges alone, Ravenelle had access to experienced mentors who had already solved the same problems.
Ravenelle has always felt tied to Central Massachusetts, and opening a business there gives him another reason to stay rooted. What excites him most is the chance to be part of the celebrations that shape family life in his community.
“I’ve lived in Webster and the surrounding area my whole life,” he said. “It feels excellent to build something here. This is a family-friendly business — it’s for kids, birthdays, graduations, fun times. To have a warehouse and a business in town that contributes to the community is really meaningful.”
Every bounce house Ravenelle sets up and every event he supports feels like another way to give back to the community that raised him.
Ravenelle says what sets Busy Bee apart locally is both the professionalism of the team and the quality of the equipment.
“This year we brought in 60 brand-new pieces and it's our responsibility to keep those pieces nice,” he said. “We also put a big emphasis on communication — being prompt with ETAs, keeping clients informed. It’s those little things that build trust.”
In an industry where parents want reliability above all else, strong communication makes a huge difference. Families want to know their party setup will arrive on time and in great condition, and Ravenelle makes sure his team delivers on that promise.
What has impressed Ravenelle most is the ongoing support from leadership.
“Sal and his team are never satisfied — they’re always working in the background to make the website better, to make traffic better,” he said. “Even 190 days in, you can see how much they’re still working for us. It’s very uplifting.”
The improvements happening behind the scenes keep franchisees competitive and allow them to focus on customer service and growth.
For those thinking about franchising, Ravenelle encourages doing your homework but also trusting the process.
“Franchising is a great opportunity in a lot of industries,” he said. “The biggest thing is educating yourself on what you’re getting into and what you want to get out of it. For me, the value of Busy Bee is that I’m buying into the 25 years of lessons Sal and his team have already learned. As a first-time business owner, that guidance is huge.”
Ravenelle didn’t know everything going in, but he didn’t need to. The franchise already had systems in place, and he leaned on that. For him, that made the difference between just taking a risk and building something he felt confident about.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/busy-bee-jumpers.
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