Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Fowler.
Hi Tamara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve dedicated my career to babies, children, and their families. As Founder and CEO of Wiggle Giggle Playtorium, this indoor playground and event venue is just the latest of my pursuits to help children develop and to support their families. With Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Nursing and a Master’s in Secondary Education, I have done everything from teaching high school Chemistry and Physics to Nursing in Labor and Delivery and Fertility and Family Planning. Raised in Roswell, Georgia, I was a student-athlete in high school and attended Spring Hill College on a basketball scholarship. I also coached various sports when I taught at Stone Mountain High School and was a leader for Black Girls Run in its early days. Thus, I know firsthand that children are being exposed to community building, networking, empowerment, and mutual support in the time they spend playing and interacting with newfound friends. As a wife and mom to an almost four-year-old, when I created Wiggle Giggle, I did so with a vision of kids having a safe space to learn, grow, and play all day while their parents expanded their community by exchanging stories and tips with others who relate to their lived experiences.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The most challenging part of opening a brand new brick-and-mortar business is the unexpected delays that come with things like shipping materials from customs and receiving permits/approvals from local officials. More than once, I had to do my own digging, researching, and investigating to figure out how to move the process along. I lost about 45 days, delaying the opening of my business from December of 2022 to February of 2023. And unfortunately, rent and financing payments are still due even when income isn’t being earned. So, it was definitely a challenging time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The experiences I’ve had in my career taught me firsthand that children learn more than the techniques of a game and the use of motor skills through play. They’re being exposed to community building, networking, empowerment, and mutual support in the time they spend interacting with newfound friends. Moreover, parents benefit from the same thing. While their kids imagine big adventures, they’re exchanging stories and tips and finding people who understand their lived experiences as parents.
When my partner and I returned to Georgia with an almost two-year-old after spending seven years away, living in California, Virginia, and then Maryland, respectively during that time, we began exploring places where our daughter could practice using her courage and social skills, and we could engage in dialogue with other parents. This often meant we spent a lot of time commuting with a toddler to interactive play spaces that were miles away from our home. With Wiggle Giggle as the only indoor playground within a 10-mile radius, I recognized and seized the opportunity to fill this need that other parents in my immediate area seemed to share. With party bookings taking place before Wiggle Giggle’s doors were opened by neighbors and classmates from our daughter’s school, attendance of over 400 people at the facility’s grand opening, a collaborative partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, private event reservations from my fellow Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. members, local public figures, and more, Wiggle Giggle has received an outpouring of support, and we’re overwhelmed with gratitude for being embraced by our community.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the most common and best points of positive feedback Wiggle Giggle receives is about how clean it is. Inevitably, children are germ spreaders. Thus, every hour, we disinfect high-touch zones throughout our indoor playground. Each time a family leaves our facility, we wipe down and disinfect the table they occupied. We have hand sanitizers at all registers and along several walls within the building. And, each morning, we use a disinfecting cleanser in our wet-vacuum and to clean our restrooms. We want parents to feel confident that we’re doing everything we can to maintain a safe and clean environment where their children can explore, learn, and play.
Pricing:
- Open Play: $18 Single Admission; $16 Sibling Admission; $15 Happy Hour & a Half Admission
- Monthly Memberships: $45/month Single Membership; $35/month Sibling Membership
- Annual Memberships: $450/year Single Membership; $380/year Sibling Membership
- Full Service Party Packages Ranging from $380-$780
- Room Rental: $200 per hour + $15 per entry (Full Facility Rental Pricing Provided Upon Request)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wigglegiggleatl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wigglegiggleatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WiggleGiggleATL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wiggle-giggle/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wiggle-giggle-marietta
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wigglegiggleatl
