Franchisor of Pump it Up and BounceU Names New VP of Marketing

By: Pump It Up | 55 Shares 336 Reads

Joe Kendra Joins the Party at Nation's `Leaders of Fun'

November 02, 2010 // Franchising.com // Tempe, AZ – PIU Management, LLC, the nation's largest multi-brand franchisor of indoor inflatable playgrounds Pump It Up and BounceU, announced today it has hired respected national marketing executive Joe Kendra as its new Vice President of Marketing.

Kendra offers PIU Management more than 25 years of experience in all facets of marketing and branding, including research, creative, public relations, field marketing, pricing, website development, direct marketing, and new product development with well-known brands such as Cold Stone Creamery, Pizza Hut, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, and Long John Silvers.

Pump It Up and BounceU, both specializing in interactive, indoor private parties for birthdays and other events, as well as a variety of children's enrichment programs, are known as leaders in the active children's entertainment segment. Kendra's key responsibilities will be to build on that recognition through strategies that will clearly define the two brands in the marketplace.

Kendra's creative marketing tactics were credited with helping increase Cold Stone Creamery's sales by 10 percent in four consecutive years. Also during his tenure, Cold Stone grew from 130 stores to more than 1,000, and was named one of the Top 50 brands in the United States by Ad Age.

"Joe is an incredibly creative thinker who can clearly envision how a brand needs to evolve, and how to devise and execute strategies that deliver outstanding results," said Lee Knowlton, President & CEO of PIU Management, LLC. "He has the experience and skill set necessary to capitalize on our strong birthday business, build a strong brand connection among consumers, and develop innovative and achievable ways for our franchise owners to capitalize on opportunities to grow new areas of their business."

Kendra said he looks forward to working with a company whose core offering is fun experiences for children and families.

"Here, we're not just selling a product or a service, but an experience where people are staying active and having fun," he noted. "It's exciting and personally rewarding to be a part of something so positive. My goal is to work on defining the brands so that consumers clearly connect with us, and also develop new programs and initiatives that help our franchise owners grow and be successful."

About PIU Management, LLC

A clear leader in the active children's party industry, PIU Management is the parent company of PIU Holdings, LLC and BU Holdings, LLC. Both Pump It Up and BounceU, clear leaders in the active children's party industry, were created as fun, safe, clean places for children and adults to enjoy. Private parties for birthdays, team, school events, etc. are available to everyone from toddlers to adults and should be reserved in advance. Trained staff provides guests with supervision, food and beverage set-up, and clean-up services, to ensure everyone has fun. For more information, please visit pumpitupparty.com or bounceu.com.

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