Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Preslar.
Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our Story: How a Ball Pit Became a Business: The Party Play Factory
It all started with a simple observation at our niece’s first birthday party. Amidst the balloons and cake, there was a soft play setup, and the pure, unadulterated joy of the children playing in it planted a seed. My husband, Josh, and I looked at each other, and a silent understanding passed between us—this was something we could do. The idea of creating safe, fun, and engaging spaces for little ones to celebrate felt like a perfect side hustle, a way to bring more joy into the world.
A few months passed, and the idea remained just that—an idea. Then, a gift from my mother-in-law, Lori-Dawn, changed everything. She gave our son, Everett, a ball pit, and watching him play with such delight brought the spark of our idea roaring back to life. I sent Lori a tentative text: “I have something I want to talk to you about, but I need to pray on it first. Please keep an open mind.”
When we finally sat down to talk, Lori was not just open-minded; she was all in. With her enthusiastic support and financial backing, our dream suddenly had wings. We placed an order for our first 3 commercial soft play units and, while they made their way to us from overseas, we got busy. We brainstormed a name, developed a business plan, and dreamed about the future.
During those exciting conversations, Lori and Josh voiced a shared ambition. They didn’t want to be niche; they envisioned something bigger. Our little soft play side hustle quickly blossomed into a full-blown party rental business. We expanded our inventory to include bounce houses, water slides, tents, tables, chairs, a 360-degree photo booth, and a variety of party games. We wanted to be a one-stop-shop for celebrations of all kinds.
With such a large-scale vision, we knew we would need help. The perfect partners were already a part of our daily lives: Josh’s sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Nathan. We called a family meeting and laid out our adventure. We asked if they wanted to join us, to build this business together.
They said yes. As we formalized the partnership, it was important to all of us that the structure was fair and balanced. This led to a significant and proud outcome: with Lori, Jennifer, and myself (Ashley) holding a combined 54 percent ownership, The Party Play Factory was established as a majority female-owned company. This isn’t just a statistic for us; it’s a core part of our identity and a source of immense pride.
The day the first shipment of equipment arrived felt like Christmas morning. Unboxing the vibrant soft play units and inflating the first bounce house made it all real. We were no longer just planning; we were doing. Our family rolled up our sleeves and learned every aspect of the business together—from the most efficient way to set up a water slide to the meticulous process of cleaning and sanitizing every single piece of equipment after an event. Safety and cleanliness weren’t just policies; they became our family’s promise to yours.
Our first few events were a whirlwind of excitement and learning. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces as they explored a world we had built for them was the ultimate reward. It brought us right back to that first birthday party, but this time, it was our family bringing the joy. Every laugh, every new friendship made in a bounce house, and every sigh of relief from parents who could relax for a moment reaffirmed our mission. We aren’t just renting out equipment; we are delivering the building blocks for happy memories.
As we navigated our first year, the community rallied around us in a way we could have only dreamed of. We believe that trust was earned by our commitment to doing things the right way from day one. Being fully inspected and insured to meet the requirements of the State of Texas—a standard that is unfortunately rare in an unregulated industry—became our hallmark. That first year certainly had its ups and downs, but through it all, we are proud of how our family came together. We never wavered in our mission, always bringing our best for every client and treating their special day like it was the only thing that mattered.
One of the most unexpected joys of this journey has been watching our children shine. Jennifer and Nathan’s daughters, Kaitlyn and Hannah, who were just 12 and 8 when we started, jumped right in, always eager to help. We never shied away from bringing them along, letting them be a part of what we were building. We often had our own 7-month-old, Everett, with us on setups. Seeing the business through their eyes makes us feel like we are truly creating something special and bigger than ourselves. It all circles back to Lori-Dawn. None of this would have been possible without her saying yes and being all in from that very first conversation. Our deepest hope is to repay her faith in us tenfold and help provide her with a secure and well-deserved retirement.
As the year went on, there was also a shift in our thinking, a deepening of our purpose. As a Christian family, we began to see this business not as something we owned, but as a blessing from God that we were meant to steward. This changed everything. We knew we had to honor Him with the opportunity we’d been given, which led to an important family decision: giving back would become a core part of our mission. We established a company policy to donate as much as we can, setting a yearly cap and focusing our giving solely on our church and our family—the communities that sustain us spiritually and personally.
Looking to the future, our hope is to grow organically while never losing sight of what matters most: community. We’ve learned that a party rental company is needed more than we ever realized. We are the bridge that makes it easy for family and friends to get together and celebrate life’s big moments. We fundamentally believe that parties build community, and community is essential for better mental health. As researcher Brené Brown says, “Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” That is the connection we hope to foster with every event we are a part of. We’re not just in the party business; we’re in the business of creating joy and building a stronger, happier community, one celebration at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While the first year was filled with gratitude and success, it was definitely not a smooth ride. Some of the biggest struggles included:
Balancing Family and Business: Juggling the intense demands of a new business while raising a 7-month-old baby was a significant personal challenge.
Navigating a Saturated Market: Competing in a crowded market was tough, especially against businesses that don’t follow the state’s rules and regulations. This created unfair competition, as those businesses could “low-ball” their prices because they weren’t paying for large insurance policies and official inspections.
Logistical Hurdles: Finding a suitable place to store very large, commercial-grade equipment was a major logistical problem to solve.
Maintaining Family Relationships: The biggest challenge of all was navigating the complexities of a family business. It required constant effort to manage business disagreements and stress without letting it negatively impact the close family relationships that are the foundation of the company.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Specific Catalyst: While the idea came from a niece’s party, the true turning point was a specific gift: the ball pit Lori-Dawn gave to her grandson, Everett. This tangible object is what moved the idea from a dream to a prayer and then into an actual conversation.
The Shift in Vision: The business didn’t start with the grand vision it has now. It was Lori and Josh who pushed the idea from a niche, toddler-focused side hustle into a full-scale party rental company.
A Majority Female-Owned Business: This is a crucial part of your identity. The story clearly states that Ashley, Jennifer, and Lori hold a combined 54% of the company, which is a significant and proud detail.
Faith is Central to Your Mission: The story shows a clear evolution from a business focused on creating joy to one that sees itself as a form of stewardship. The decision to give back to the church and family stems directly from your Christian faith and the belief that the business is a blessing from God.
Your “Why” is Multi-layered:
For Lori-Dawn: A major goal is to repay her faith and investment, providing for her retirement.
For the Children: It’s about building something bigger than yourselves and seeing the next generation find joy and purpose in it.
For the Community: It’s about being the “bridge” that fosters connection, community, and better mental health through celebration.
Your Competitive Edge: You’ve explicitly defined your advantage in a tough market: being fully inspected and insured. This is presented as a non-negotiable standard of professionalism and safety that builds trust with customers.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Initially, we dreamed of a party rental business, but we discovered we’re not just renting out equipment—we’re building the framework for community.
The profound realization is that our company serves a vital role in people’s lives by making it easy for them to come together, celebrate, and strengthen their bonds. This act of fostering connection is directly linked to improving mental health and well-being. So, the most important lesson is that God is using The Party Play Factory as an instrument to build happier, healthier, and more connected communities, one party at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thepartyplayfactory.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepartyplayfactory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560940478783
Image Credits
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