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Recent Posts
- Our April Leisure eNewsletter is now available April 19, 2022
- Our March Leisure eNewsletter is now available March 14, 2022
- The February edition of our Leisure eNewsletter is now available  February 15, 2022
- What they fail to explain about vaccines, Delta, and masks September 13, 2021
- No, the pandemic hasn’t ended. It’s still having a significant impact on indoor family and children’s venues July 8, 2021
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Author Archives: Randy White
Our April Leisure eNewsletter is now available
Our April Leisure eNewsletter has these interesting and informative articles: There are only five ways to grow a location-based business New hayride safety standards The pandemic’s economic divide and the impact of inflation on discretionary consumer spending Downtown Flavortown Pigeon … Continue reading
Our March Leisure eNewsletter is now available
This month’s issue looks at what past and current trends indicate the “new normal” may be for out-of-home entertainment in the post-pandemic world. It’s for sure we won’t be going back to the pre-pandemic 2019 normal. The two-year pandemic has … Continue reading
The February edition of our Leisure eNewsletter is now available 
Articles: The popularity of golf-tainment The post-pandemic future of out-of-home entertainment Leisure and sports time used by Gen X and Millennials; differences across time https://www.whitehutchinson.com/news/lenews/2022/february/
What they fail to explain about vaccines, Delta, and masks
It’s disappointing that the Federal government, especially the CDC, and the press are doing such a poor job of informing us about the factors that affect the risk of catching the new more dangerous Delta variant and what we really need to do to stay as safe as possible. Continue reading
No, the pandemic hasn’t ended. It’s still having a significant impact on indoor family and children’s venues
Parents continue to be concerned about attending indoor leisure venues with younger children that don’t require masks. Continue reading
Update on the current surge and comfort going out
Is the current surge a temporary phenomenon? Are regulars more likely to return? Continue reading
Comfort going out continues to increase, but beware of the un-masked un-vaccinated
As comfort going out increases, mask mandates are still important for entertainment and arts venues. Continue reading
Comfort continues to increase for out-of-home leisure activities
A return to normal, but a new one might not be that far away. Continue reading
How the CDC has failed us and probably hurt the economic recovery
The CDC, in their new short-sighted new mask guidance, may very well have prolonged the pandemic and its toll on Americans as well as slowed the economic recovery for many location-based businesses, including entertainment and cultural ones. Continue reading
The importance of human connection to Americans’ happiness
Post-pandemic, many people will find their happiness by maintaining their social connections with family and friends at home and less than in the past at location-based leisure venues. Continue reading
More on the importance of a mandatory mask requirement
Here’s some more current data on peoples’ beliefs and behaviors concerning masks. Continue reading
How vital are mask mandates for location-based leisure venues?
Here’s the latest research on whether location-based leisure venues should still have mandatory mask requirements. Continue reading
Marketing in today’s world to personal brands; perception matters more than substance
This is something every business should consider in their marketing. Continue reading
The relationship of loving to cook, getting the Covid vaccine, and visiting restaurants
The implications of people who love/like to cook being almost twice as comfortable getting the Covid-19 vaccine compared to people who don’t like to cook. Continue reading
The consumers that went into the pandemic aren’t the same ones coming out
The consumers that location-based leisure venues knew in 2019 are gone and never coming back, even when things are fully open. Continue reading
This may increase Wave 4 Covid infections
When I was digging deep in the April 2-4 Harris poll for any interesting new insights, some data jumped out at me. It indicates there is a definite risk of a significant widespread surge in Covid infections even as vaccinations are proceeding at a fast pace. Continue reading
Will vaccinations create a roaring rebound to attending in-person events?
What affect will vaccinations have on the return to in-person events, including dining in restaurants and attending entertainment and cultural events? Continue reading
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter
As infections decline and vaccinations increase, comfort in going to restaurants and out-of-home entertainment & arts is trending upward. Continue reading
Is a return to out-of-home entertainment and its previous normal on the horizon or a mirage?
Major changes that took place with consumers during the pandemic will have a long enduring impact on the post-pandemic location-based entertainment competitive landscape. Continue reading
Some bad and some good news
Here’s some bad and good new about people returning to out-of-home entertainment and arts venues Continue reading
The latest on the comfort visiting out-of-home entertainment & arts
Here’s the latest survey results on adults’ comfort visiting different out-of-home entertainment venues right now. Continue reading
Don’t miss ShowUp starting on Monday
ShowUp, a 3-day virtual conference for the location-based entertainment industry, is something you don’t want to miss out attending. Continue reading
Will we need post-coronavirus resocialization lessons?
Will we need post-coronavirus resocialization lessons? Continue reading
Changes in restaurant foot traffic by state a possible indicator of changes in attendance for out-of-home entertainment and arts.
Changes in restaurant foot traffic by state a possible indicator of changes in attendance for out-of-home entertainment and arts.
Continue reading
We’ve re-activated our Leisure eNewsletter today with articles on 27 trends that will reshape location-based entertainment & arts in the post-pandemic era
We’ve re-activated our Leisure eNewsletter today with articles on 27 trends that will reshape location-based entertainment & arts in the post-pandemic era. Continue reading
An update on when we might reach herd immunity and post-pan normality
Although the percentage of Americans who will need to become immune to Covid-19 to reach herd immunity may be higher than originally anticipated, a new survey on the willingness to get vaccinated indicates it still appears plausible in 2021. Continue reading
The other side of accelerated economic inequality – Americans who have become better off during the pandemic and its implications for out-of-home entertainment & arts
There will be two Americas in the post-pandemic world. There will be the people currently going through financial hell and there will be Americans who have become better off during the pandemic. Continue reading
Millennials reach all-time high in comfort going to many out-of-home entertainment and arts venues
Millennials reach all-time high in comfort going to many out-of-home entertainment and arts venues.
Continue reading
When will the out-of-home entertainment and arts industry recover?
Here’s discussion and my projections on when and to what extent the out-of-home entertainment and arts industry will recover. Continue reading
When will we be able to take our masks off and return to normalcy? – part 2
Here are several caveats to if and when we might reach herd immunity based on the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines. Continue reading
When will we be able to take our masks off and return to normalcy?
When can we stop social distancing, take our face masks off and again safely return to school, workplaces and public places to socialize, party, play, be entertained, shop, exercise and dine and drink? Continue reading
Prepare for the 21st Century’s roaring 20s. The human desire to socialize and have fun IRL will survive the pandemic.
If history is a guide, we should eventually make it to our own Roaring 20s when consumption and out-of-home socialization will come back with a vengeance Continue reading
The surge in coronavirus infections is causing increased concern for in-person gatherings and public activities
The surge in coronavirus infections is causing increased concern for in-person gatherings and public activities Continue reading
Will increased cooking at home, restaurant takeout, and meal delivery become the post-pandemic future normal? If so, what are its implications for location-based entertainment?
How the pandemic has changed our dining behaviors and its impact on our post-pandemic dining and visits to location-based entertainment venues. Continue reading
Hometainment’s impact on the post-pandemic entertainment landscape
When the risk of the coronavirus finally disappears, will our current levels of hometainment continue or will our out-of-home entertainment return to its 2019 levels? Continue reading
Using slices of Swiss cheese to make people feel safe from catching the coronavirus at public places?
The coronavirus is an existential threat for getting people to participate in public activities. How Swiss cheese to make them more comfortable to attend. Continue reading
Virus infections spike, comfort levels visiting public activities, including LBEs, drops
The current surge in coronavirus infections is decreasing the number of people comfortable visiting location-based entertainment, including FECs. Continue reading
What can the comfort of returning to concerts tell us about the comfort of returning to other type LBEs?
Research on concert attendees offers insights on who is most likely to return to location-based entertainment, including FECs. Continue reading
Covid-time restaurant preferences and concerns
While people’s food and drink preferences are continually changing, some things remain the same as pre-pandemic for dining out during the coronavirus, while others have changed. Continue reading
The great location-based entertainment decimation event
The pandemic and its continuation into 2021 are a genuine existential threat to location-based entertainment and FECs. Continue reading
The gentrification of marriage and weddings and the popularity of farm venues
Growing trends – gentrification of marriages and farm-based weddings and receptions. Continue reading
Comfort levels going to public places creeping up
Since lows in August, comfort levels going to different out-of-home public activities is now creeping up Continue reading
Covid-19 accelerates the socioeconomic bifurcation of out-of-home entertainment and arts
If you thought the 2019 out-of-home entertainment and arts market was gentrified, just wait for how gentrified the post-pandemic market becomes Continue reading
Covid’s impact on pumpkin time out-of-home public activities
Lots of people are going stir-crazy and craving some sort of ‘safe’ out-of-home entertainment they can visit. This fall it look like agritainment/agritourism will be the winner. Continue reading
Increase in work-at-home creates a shift in site selection strategies for location-based entertainment
More people working at home has shifted site selection strategies for location-based entertainment. Continue reading
A shift in parents’ emotional drivers and the meaning of family time
The pandemic as accelerated a trend that began several years ago – parents increasingly putting themselves first instead of their kids as their Gen X parents did.
Continue reading
The false dawn – a vaccine will get us back to normal
Unfortunately, most government and public-health officials are not preparing the public and businesses for the likely scenario following when a vaccine for coronavirus is available. Continue reading
The gap in comfort between millennials and all adults starts to widen for some activities.
We’re seeing an uptick in Millennials’ comfort visiting different out-of-home entertainment and cultural activities Continue reading
Location-based entertainment venue food & drink during the Covid-era
LBEs that make the guest dining and drinking experience as safe and positive as possible and broadly communicate their health and safety measures to guests will be able to maximize their attendance and revenues during these trying times. They might even get a competitive leg up on restaurants, peoples’ top choice to return to. Continue reading
There’s a nesting trend underway
Location-based entertainment and cultural venues face new headwinds from the nesting trend. Continue reading
When will people return to restaurants, museums, and location-based entertainment?
The data indicates that we won’t be getting back close to 2019 levels of visitation and attendance at out-of-home dining, social, cultural and entertainment activities any time soon. Continue reading
Will Uber-Bunkering, an acceleration of a decades old trend, stay uber post-pandemic?
Time at home has been on the increase for decades. The pandemic has caused an abrupt and dramatic acceleration of that trend. Now, almost all socialization, entertainment and cultural activities take place at home. Post-pandemic, will things go back to the old normal? Continue reading
People’s comfort returning to out-of-home activities continues its decline
People’s comfort returning to out-of-home activities continues its decline Continue reading
People’s comfort returning to out-of-home activities on the decline
Here’s the most current poll results on people’s comfort levels and intentions on returning to out-of-home leisure activities. Continue reading
Should location-based leisure businesses have strict mandatory face mask requirements?
This blog contains a lot of data from research and polls on the face mask requirements location-based leisure businesses should adopt to become the most successful during corona-time. Continue reading
How Covid-19 is reshaping the out-of-home leisure competitive landscape
The pandemic has reshaped the competitive out-of-home leisure competitive landscape, changing the leisure activities people will choose to do. Continue reading
A little corona levity
A little corona levity Continue reading
What does death of the buffets mean for location-based entertainment?
What does death of the buffet mean for location-based entertainment? Continue reading
Less than 1/3rd of previous bowlers are ready to return
Due to the coronaviruses, less than 1/3rd of previous bowlers are ready to go bowling again Continue reading
The illusion that a vaccine is the magic bullet to the post-pandemic era (and if it is, the timeline is much longer than anticipated)
The illusion that a vaccine is the magic bullet to the post-pandemic era (and if it is, the timeline is much longer than anticipated)
Continue reading
Comfort for visiting leisure, entertainment and cultural destinations continues to decline
Morning Consult has been polling Americans every two weeks on their comfort levels of engaging in different out-of-home leisure activities. For every activity tracked, the comfort level was on an upswing into the second week in June, after which it … Continue reading
The post-Covid out-of-home entertainment competitive landscape
Pre-Covid LBE and FEC business models are all facing a true existential threat. Their existing business models will all suffer accelerated Darwinism if they don’t adapt and innovate for the new post-pandemic future with customers who are fundamentally different than the ones we knew before. Continue reading
Is Chuck E. Cheese’s bankruptcy a bellwether for the decimation of the LBE/FEC industry?
The Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating for the location-based entertainment (LBE) industry. Why I predict that at least 30% of FECs will go out of business and be permanently closed by the end of 2021, perhaps sooner. Continue reading
Increasing concern about Covid-19 impacting attendance at entertainment and cultural venues
Multiple polls show an increase in Americans’ concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and fear of getting sick. The worsening situation is sure to slow or postpone the reopening of entertainment and cultural venues of all types, including family entertainment centers (FECs)
Continue reading
Consumers’ comfort visiting leisure activities falls with Covid-19 infection surge
Consumers’ comfort levels visiting leisure and entertainment activities has declined with the Covid-19 infection surge. Continue reading
What’s the future look like for movie theaters?
Both AMC and Regal, respectively the country’s largest and second-largest theater chains, are set to reopen in the coming months to the extent that different lockdown regulations permit. But they, along with all the other movie theaters in the U.S., … Continue reading
What impact will the Covid-19 pandemic have on births?
If you thought all the people stuck at home with their romantic partners during the lockdown and/or self-quarantining would reverse the trend and lead to a baby boom, you are probably wrong based on the lessons from history and what researchers are predicting. Continue reading
It’s a long road ahead for location-based entertainment to recover to pre-pandemic business levels
There’s been a lot of press coverage on consumers returning to reopened restaurants, location-based entertainment (LBE) and other businesses. Yes, the trend is up with increasing attendance. However, moving up from zero attendance doesn’t mean you will soon be at 100%. Here’s what all the polls and research is telling us about a recovery. Continue reading
To recover the fastest, location-based businesses need mandatory mask wearing
Now that businesses are being allowed to reopen, they need to make sure they are doing everything possible to attract customers back as soon as possible. In the coronavirus era, that includes a new criterion, “Is it safe to visit? … Continue reading
Peoples’ Covid-19 fears and its impact on out-of-home entertainment & dining activities
Following is some very recent polling data that I sorted through from multiple sources on the current state of consumers’ fears that they or a member of their family will catch coronavirus and the impact of this fear on their … Continue reading
Who will be the first to return to which out-of-home leisure/entertainment activities?
Here’s my latest research and thoughts on which customers will be the first to return, to which out-of-home entertainment/leisure activities, and at what frequency. Continue reading
When will people return to out-of-home entertainment and dining based on their income, education, generation & age?
Here’s some very recent data on when adults expect to return to restaurants and out-of-home (OOH) entertainment and cultural venues based on their incomes, education, generation and age. Continue reading
When, if ever, will location-based entertainment become profitable again?
There are a number of factors that will determine when LBEs will be profitable again including the share of the population at high risk of Covid-19. Here’s the latest data and predictions. Continue reading
The economics of operating location-based entertainment in corona-time
As stay-in-place orders are lifted, reopening LBEs will face financial challenges. Continue reading
What out-of-home activities consumers are now willing to do?
We’re seeing improvement in the percent of consumers ready to return to out-of-home entertainment, but it isn’t where we need to be. Continue reading
Readiness to return to out-of-home entertainment, arts and dining based on income and education
A May 5-9 poll gives us insight on whether and how peoples’ incomes and education will affect how soon they will return to restaurants and location-based entertainment and cultural attractions. Continue reading
Who’s ready to return to out-of-home entertainment and cultural experiences?
Now that states are starting to allow businesses to open and the lockdown is winding down, will people return to out-of-home (OOH) entertainment and cultural experiences? Our company has access to a large number of national U.S. polls with very current data. So, I dug into the data of some of them to see what people are saying. Continue reading
The accelerated digitalization of place is disrupting the real estate landscape
It was first back in 2015 in our company’s Leisure eNewsletter that we wrote about the growing trend of the digitalization of place – that the internet and digital technology is making it possible to acquire things or to have experiences at-home … Continue reading
The inconvenient truth – almost all location-based entertainment business models are now obsolete
Our company prides itself in using research to identify trends and guide our clients to future-proof their location-based entertainment centers (LBEs), which includes the categories of family entertainment centers (FECs), social eatertainment venues and agritainment/agritourism farms. As they say in … Continue reading
Will no longer doing some things we used to do pre-Covid become a permanent habit?
While bunkered down at home, I’ve been taking long walks everyday whenever the weather permits. Here in Kansas City in the Spring, it’s a great time to take walks as all the greenery is emerging. Winters here are very gray. … Continue reading
Will your entertainment or cultural venue be ready for the post-lockdown guests?
Now is the time to start thinking about what changes need to be made to both facility design and operations to attract the post-lockdown consumer. Continue reading
A nightclub virtual experience with conspicuous leisure value
Virtual entertainment experiences are starting to take on the conspicuous leisure value of out-of-home ones. Continue reading
Predictions on the post-pandemic location-based entertainment landscape
What will the post-pandemic out-of-home entertainment competitive landscape look like? Continue reading
The impact of virtual entertainment experiences during the lockdown on the post-pandemic entertainment landscape
What might the long-term impact be on our out-of-home entertainment behavior once the corona-crisis is over? Continue reading
Free 13-part webinar on building the perfect business plan
Build A Business just started a free 13-part daily webinar on building the perfect business plan in 13 slides. Continue reading
The post-pandemic future of America’s location-based entertainment
The coronavirus is likely to devastate large portions of the location-based entertainment industry. Businesses that survive should expect a less-saturated market with a changed consumer base and market size. Continue reading
The out-of-home entertainment blood bath
There is massive over expansion of out-of-home entertainment options occurring in many markets. At the same time, in-home entertainment options are becoming more alluring. Jim Kessler, owner and operator of two Lasertron venues, just posted a blog on what it … Continue reading
Digital disruption changes industry definitions
This year two major trade organizations changed the definition of their industries. Both are telltale signs of the major digital disruption that is occurring to all types of out-of-home (OOH) B2C businesses, including OOH leisure and entertainment. According to the National … Continue reading
The overexpansion of CLVs, especially FECs, is sheer folly
It’s really getting hard to understand if there is any sanity left in the out-of-home (OOH) community leisure venue (CLV) industry, especially for developers of the classic formula family entertainment centers (FECs). We’re seeing daily announcements of all types of … Continue reading
Are you appealing to the Conscientious Consumer? Budweiser does.
Offering the coolest bowling or entertainment and/or the tastiest, trendiest burger or flatbread no longer cuts it. Continue reading
Dave & Buster’s continues its decline
Yesterday Dave & Buster’s reported record revenues in the third quarter, up 12.9%. Sounds all rosy, but it really isn’t when you drill down into the results. The revenue increase is attributable to an increase in the number of stores. … Continue reading
The craziness of X, Y and Z stereotyping
It time to stop continually stereotyping generations (GenX, GenY, GenZ and Baby Boomers) as if everyone in them is the same. . . . Continue reading
Where have all the babies gone?
Our recent issue of our Leisure eNewsletter included the article, Where have all the babies gone, that discusses the continuing baby bust, the continuing decline in the birth rate since 2007 that has resulted in the birth of 4.9 million … Continue reading
Nascent new technology will be a game changer
Live streaming 360 virtual reality isn’t just an exciting new technology. It’s a new type of media and a game changer that has high potential to change the way we live, especially our leisure lives. Continue reading
First mover gets better by default
Back in November, in my blog, First mover doesn’t succeed unless its also best mover, I compared two first mover community-leisure center (CLV) chains that are rolling out centers across the country, Main Event Entertainment with its new model, and … Continue reading
First mover doesn’t succeed unless its also best mover
The conventional wisdom is that first to market can establish a stronghold in the market, a first mover advantage, making it difficult for later entrants to capture market share. However, a first mover advantage is never a sure thing. Being a first mover at the expense of being the best mover will often lead to a competitive disadvantage. Continue reading
Pokémon Go introduces a new disruptive entertainment technology
Pokémon Go introduces a totally new disruptive technology to the consumer entertainment landscape Continue reading
