Food industry management junior Damon Grace saw a video online that “really sparked” his interest. Little did he know, this interest would lead him to open up and become the co-owner of Bumpin’ Bubbles, a statewide bubble soccer rental company that has served more than 250 events.
High school friend and Western Michigan University student Luke Andrews is the other owner of Bumpin’ Bubbles and helps Grace run events on the west side of the state, mostly in the Kalamazoo region.
Grace’s idea to start the company gained traction when he was awarded $3,000 from the Forest Akers Trust. The trust works to help undergraduate MSU entrepreneurs achieve their dreams of owning and operating their own company.
The West Bloomfield natives launched the company as Bubble Soccer Detroit until changing the name to Bumpin’ Bubbles in May 2015.
According to the company’s website, a total of zero participants have suffered an injury at a Bumpin’ Bubbles event.
“It’s cool because you can’t get hurt,” University of Michigan junior Karen Qin said “People a lot bigger than you can run into you and you’ll go flying but you land on the bubble so you’re protected.”
Qin was a participant in one of Bumpin’ Bubbles events.
Lucas Strom, who participated in a Bumpin’ Bubbles event Sunday at noon, said his Bumpin’ Bubbles experience was unique.
“It is very tight and it is very hot, it (the bubble) fogs up pretty quickly and it is very hard to see,” Strom said. “I think this is all about fun, not more than two or three of us have played soccer, but we are here having fun.”
Qin said she thinks the company’s events have the ability to draw interest from people of all ages.
The company has the capability to provide bubbles of all sizes, Grace said.
Colleen Fitzgerald, parent teacher organization member at Robert Scranton Middle School in Brighton, said the Bumpin’ Bubbles event held in the Robert Scranton Middle School’s gym was the parent teacher organization’s largest event yet with more than 300 students participating.
Fitzgerald said the event also drew interest from teachers, who played a bubble soccer game of their own.
The cost per hour to rent Bumpin’ Bubbles is $250. This includes 10 bubbles, soccer ball, soccer nets, along with a full set up and tear down.
For a larger party, a 20 bubble option is available for $350 per hour.
Purchasing possibilities are also available. The range to buy a Bumpin’ Bubbles set starts at six bubbles, one air pump and a guide on how to properly inflate and clean the bubbles for $1,750.
At the highest end, a 20 bubble option is available for $5,870.
Future plans to expand Bumpin’ Bubbles are to franchise into other cities and states, Grace said. A potential franchise city for Bumpin’ Bubbles is Milwaukee.
Other expansion ideas include, a permanent store to house bubble soccer fields and laser tag for children birthday parties, Grace said.
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