1851

The COVID-19 crisis has put a universal strain on businesses across the globe. It’s especially challenging for brands that are built on in-person services—to survive the pandemic and continue to engage customers, these businesses have been forced to pivot their operations and make changes in weeks that are typically done in months or even years.&nbsp;One brand that’s changed its operations throughout this crisis is <a href="https://www.skyzone.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-sky-zone-franchise-is-surviving-the-covid-19-pandemic-2713136" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sky Zone</a>. When the pandemic started to spread rapidly, CMO Josh Cole says the trampoline park franchise immediately reevaluated what needed to be done in order to provide support for its guests, ultimately helping to secure business for franchisees down the line.Cole noted, “Our first instincts were to ask two questions: how can we help our Guests in a moment of anxiety and need? And, how can we continue to connect with our Guests so we stay a part of their lives even if our parks are temporarily closed?”To answer those questions, Sky Zone rolled out three strategies. First, the brand introduced free virtual birthday parties via Zoom video calls that are coordinated and led by expert Party Pros. Second, Sky Zone began creating content, including a catalog of active play ideas for parents and kids to do while stuck at home and social media contests. Lastly, the brand rolled out a new Sky Zone mobile game that’s available for free through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.“An underlying theme to these initiatives was the knowledge that if we could offer genuine value and utility during a challenging moment, we’d make a positive contribution to our Guests’ current lives while also building long-term goodwill for the Sky Zone brand,” said Cole.Another way in which Sky Zone is surviving COVID-19 is by thinking long-term and preparing to reopen on the other side of the crisis. Cole added, “We are actively preparing for upcoming reopenings so our Franchise Partners are well-positioned to have highly-successful starts. The reopening plans cross all functional lines—marketing is tightly aligned with operations, training, finance to create well-coordinated and clearly communicated plans for our Franchise Partners and their park Guests. In addition, we are constantly working closely with the relevant health departments, in compliance with their required protocol to ensure Guest safety and health.”While Sky Zone is doing all that it can to set franchisees, employees and guests up for success on the other side of COVID-19, Cole acknowledges that there are still a lot of unknowns as to what the business landscape will look like moving forward.“There remain many unanswered questions that will impact every business,” said Cole. “Will employment bounce back? Will family budgets be extra tight while paying off debt? On the other hand, will we see higher ends of the market stay local this summer instead of traveling? If so, that will result in more spending at local entertainment venues. We have begun and will continue conducting guest research to understand the answers to these questions better and will stay nimble to change course as needed.”&nbsp;Ultimately, Cole and the Sky Zone team are remaining optimistic when it comes to the future of franchising. While the timing is uncertain, they predict the industry will make a strong comeback.“Overall though, financially challenging times often lead to an increased interest in franchising,” said Cole. “Layoffs and uncertainty in general causes people to question career paths and look for new directions. This creates an opportunity for strong networks to expand with new franchisees.”

How the Sky Zone Franchise is Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic

1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise sat down with the trampoline park franchise’s CMO, Josh Cole, to learn how the brand is navigating the current situation, supporting franchisees and preparing to reopen on the other side of the crisis.

how-the-sky-zone-franchise-is-surviving-the-covid-19-pandemic

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

How the Sky Zone Franchise is Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS