Ever wonder how consumers feel about your franchise? Franchise Times editorial staffers check out three brands in a different genre each month, and report back in FT Undercover.
From left, embrace your inner artist with Board & Brush, Sandbox VR provides premium virtual reality gaming and Flight Club’s games are good for all skill levels.
Follow-along craft classes such as the ones offered at Board & Brush are perfect for the wannabe artist or, in this case, for the complete non-artist. Unlike a traditional paint-and-sip class with students painting step by step, Board & Brush uses stencils, paint and wood. The resulting projects make perfect gifts and are easy to create, while still looking professional-ish. Board & Brush franchisees will bring the creative studio to you, as was the case when Franchise Times held a company event at its Minneapolis office. The brand offers workshops at its studios and can style its activities for birthdays, corporate team outings and more, giving franchisees a range of revenue channels. Prescheduled workshops offer a choice of medium and design, like wall hangings, welcome signs and more. The price is $74 per person, which includes all the necessary supplies. At a time when companies are trying to get their employees back in the office, Board & Brush and similar franchises can serve as one enticement. FT went the winter theme route during its event, with helpful staff guiding the group to ensure everyone walked away with a lovely wooden sign.
The upshot: Board & Brush was a hit among FT colleagues, and a local shop has bachelorette and birthday parties on its schedule. —E.W.
Screams marked a good time at a new Sandbox VR location near Minneapolis. The virtual reality franchise has 34 units in the United States and features several games. Sandbox charges $55 a head, which sounds pricey, but VR headsets are expensive. Each session is 45 minutes and, while not marketed as a workout, you will get sweaty. This group of three chose zombie-themed Deadwood Mansion, and it was a blast, thanks in part to full-body equipment that isn’t clunky. It eases you into the VR experience before ramping up the challenge. As a first-timer for virtual reality, walking in the gear and easing motion sickness takes practice, but this was smooth. This location earned a repeat customer, one who can’t wait to see what other adventures are in store. A short video provided at the end even captured the hilarity of the session, as we fought off zombies only we could see. The initial investment can approach $2 million, making Sandbox VR among the more costly experiential franchises. Average unit volume last year among 23 stores was $1.9 million, though, so maybe that high cost proves worthwhile.
The upshot: At $55 a person, Sandbox VR isn’t the cheapest way to spend 45 minutes, but it’s affordable in virtual reality terms and provides a quality experience. —M.G.
Are there places to play darts that don’t involve dingy bars with sticky floors and the foul smell of stale beer and cigarettes? Apparently, as Flight Club proved with its polished English parlour feel, range of high-end cocktails and a food menu that leans more elevated with the likes of pork belly bao buns and lobster elote dip. This location near Chicago’s Riverwalk was bustling on a Thursday afternoon as happy hour kicked into gear. The semi-private dart board areas offer plush seating and multi-player digital games such as Demolition and Quack Shot, played using metal-tipped darts. For novices and dart snipers alike, the experience is on point. Action replays captured throughout each game yield more entertainment and are emailed later as Flight Club Stories, adding a social and shareable factor. Venues take small group bookings of two to 12 people at $15 per person for a 90-minute session. Private event packages are available. With locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston and Las Vegas, plus outlets in the United Kingdom and Australia, Flight Club is growing in major markets.
The upshot: Even beginners can enjoy the Flight Club experience thanks to interactive games and an atmosphere made all the more enjoyable with top-tier food and drinks. —L.M.