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Every day is a party in Bill Scullin’s business.

Tucked into a Middleburg Heights business park amid shipping companies and electrical wholesalers, you’ll find streams of children and parents nearly every day entering Pump It Up, the national children’s birthday party franchise owned by Mr. Scullin and his wife, Aimee. It’s a place where kids can jump in Pump It Up’s indoor inflatable playground, then enjoy pizza and cake with the birthday child.

Northeast Ohio franchisees and entrepreneurs like the Scullins are tapping into a growing demand from parents for fun, safe and unique kids’ birthday party experiences. Driving that demand, say the Scullins and others, are the busy schedules and disposable cash of today’s two-income families, along with a healthy dose of suburban parental competition.

“There’s definitely some keeping-up-with-the-Joneses going on,” laughed Mr. Scullin, who also owns the Pump It Up in Avon.

Joel Libava has steered a number of area business owners into kid-related ventures through his firm, Franchise Selection Specialists of Beachwood, and said he sees enormous potential for the birthday party market.

{Courtesy of Crain's Cleveland Business}