1. The $17 Gap That Changes Everything
Average U.S. birthday spend sits at $22 per child (pizza + decor). Activate Games VR add-on pushes revenue to $39—a $17 incremental that flows at 94 % gross margin. Across 40 parties/month that is $27,360 extra profit annually from a single 400 sq ft room.
2. Package Anatomy – 90 Minutes, 12 Minutes VR, 100 % Wow
- 00:00 – RFID check-in, branded wristband
- 00:10 – Safety briefing video (2 min) + helmet fitting
- 00:15 – 360° Zombie Dome (12 min shared session)
- 00:27 – Haptic floor “Lava Tiles” (8 min)
- 00:35 – Instant photo print + leaderboard signing
- 00:40 – Pizza / cake (parent supplied)
- 01:10 – Gift-opening, digital-coin redemption
- 01:20 – Exit through gift shop (78 % conversion)
Total staff needed: 1 operator + 1 server (overlap with normal FOH roster).
3. Pricing Matrix – Good, Better, Best
| Tier | Price/Child | Inclusions | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | $29 | VR dome only, 8 min | 88 % |
| Better | $34 | Add haptic floor, photo | 91 % |
| Best | $39 | Add custom skin, plush, coin | 94 % |
Upsell funnel: email 7 days prior → SMS 24 h → on-site tablet. 58 % of parents upgrade from Good to Best.
4. Activate Games Digital-Coin Economy – 78 % Redemption, $4.80 Extra Basket
Children earn 50 digital coins inside the game; kiosk displays:
- Unicorn plush – 45 coins ($8 cost, $12 sale)
- Key-chain photo – 20 coins ($1.2 cost, $5 sale)
- Parent spectator ticket – 10 coins ($3 sale)
Average basket: $4.80, 78 % redemption, zero inventory risk (plush ordered on demand).
5. Staff Script – 45-Second Upsell That Converts at 68 %
“Hi Sarah! While the pizzas bake, the kids can hop into our 360° Zombie Dome—12 minutes, totally safe, and they’ll earn digital coins for a free plush. Should I add the $17 upgrade to your tab?”
Objection handling:
- Safety? – Helmets weigh 280 g, foam padding, 5-point strap.
- Too scary? – Cartoon zombies, brightness dial, instant exit button.
- Cost? – Compare to Build-A-Bear ($25) you get VR + plush + photo.
Role-play videos supplied in the Activate Games portal.
6. Case Files – Real FEC P&L Snapshots
Site A – California (400 sq ft party room)
- Parties/month: 42
- Avg kids/party: 14
- Upgrade rate: 61 %
- Extra annual profit: $86,420
- Payback on VR hardware: 5.2 months
Site B – Texas indoor trampoline park
- Parties: 55
- Basket upsell: $6.10
- Incremental profit: $112,650/year
- ROI: 4.8 months
Scanned P&L available under NDA via Activate Games investor portal.
7. Marketing Toolkit – Canva Templates, SMS Sequences, Hashtags
Activate Games supplies:
- Canva invitation – drag logo, auto-generates 5×7 print + IG story
- Email copy – 3-touch drip, 91 % open rate template
- SMS reminders – 24 h + 2 h before event, 8 % click-to-buy
- Hashtag cloud – #ActivateBirthday #VRParty #ZombieDome
Geo-targeted ads: $50 budget reaches 2,800 parents within 5-mile radius, CPM $1.80, CTR 2.4 %.
8. Safety & Insurance: ASTM F24 Compliant, $2M GL Policy
- Helmets: EN 1078, 280 g, quick-release buckle
- Software: brightness limit 80 %, instant pause button
- Hardware: 5 V DC haptic motors, finger-safe gaps
- Insurance: $2M general liability, Activate Games named additional insured
Claims history: zero lost-time injuries across 800 sites (2020-2024).
9. Technology Roadmap 2025-2026
- AI difficulty scaler – real-time heart-rate ups difficulty
- Parent mobile app – live camera, digital coin balance
- AR invitation filter – birthday child shoots zombies in selfie
All upgrades push over-the-air at no cost.
10. Call to Action – Lock 2025 Party Pricing Before Tariffs Hit
- Download the 25-page Birthday VR Upsell Playbook (PDF)
- Book a 20-min Zoom training for your party hosts
- Secure a $500 hardware credit on your first VR dome before June steel surcharge
