Meet Amy Philip

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Philip. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.

Amy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

After spending my first 9 years out of college in a big Fortune 500 company and learning a great deal from them, I wasn’t feeling like my time was doing anything of real impact and while I enjoyed a lot of aspects of that career I knew it was time for a change and a chance to really challenge myself. I. laughably so, thought I was getting to an age that I needed to make the change or be “stuck” in that career forever. So without a plan, I gave my 2 weeks notice and decided to take off and explore the country on a road trip. For the next 2 months I got to see some amazing places, catch up with good friends, and began thinking about my next step in my professional career. Both my parents have worked independently and owned their own businesses and I figured it was time to see what I could do in that entrepreneurial space. During my travels, I came across a business I had never heard of, Escape Rooms, and thought it was really interesting and unique and living in Portland, OR, we like interesting and unique so I figured it would be a hit here. With the first 9 years of my professional career being so focused on sales and the bottom line, this seemed like a huge shift in thinking that my job was now to make players think and communicate and in the end, hopefully have a blast while being with their friends, family, co workers, ect. I was now in the business of making people smile. And I have now grown that concept to have a company that specializes in interactive entertainment. Escape Rooms, Axe Throwing, Bar and Restaurant and most recently, a Christmas adventure company for families. My purpose has now become twofold, to still make people smile and to also help my employees to enjoy their work and hopefully gain new skillsets that help them in their future careers.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am still passionate about creating unique and engaging experiences for our guests. Service was one thing I have always kept top of mind and instilled into my team. It is the easiest way to differentiate yourself and prove to your patrons that you actually care about them and are grateful for their support in your business.

Everything I do, I want it to be a great way for people to connect and have fun together, and hopefully create some lasting memories. One of my biggest compliments is that we have people that have my escape rooms, or axe throwing and now our North Pole Adventureland, part of their family traditions. That, for me, is the pinnacle of what I have achieved thus far. My next goal would be to venture out into the consulting arena and help other small businesses launch or expand-its not for the faint of heart but can be so wildly rewarding, that helping others achieve their goal and hopefully avoid some of the painful lessons I learned the hard way, would be a fantastic next professional step for me.

Our brand is all about providing high-quality entertainment experiences that are fun, challenging, and memorable. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests. My businesses are also involved in the local community, supporting various charities and events with over $52,000 in gift card donations, countless hours spent volunteering for local organizations, and being a supporter of other local, small businesses to help grow the community.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Team. Service. Humility.
I try to put my team top of mind, and sometimes I fail but without them, I don’t get to expand and keep creating fun businesses. I have a background in HR and it has very much helped me source great talent and if we aren’t a great match, I am also good and making that decision quickly too. Providing great guest service was instilled in me early on and I have tried to make sure we never lose sight of that and also that each of my team also knows that we do what we need to make it right for our guests. That doesn’t just mean that the customer is always right because a lot of times they aren’t but we still work to find a resolution if needed but more so that we try to give a stellar experience for every guest that comes in everytime. If it wasn’t for our guests, we wouldn’t have a business to run and we know people have a lot of options these days on where to spend their entertainment dollars and we are thankful when they choose to spend their money and time with us. I also learned very early on that there are no stupid questions, just ask for help but in a way that shows you tried to learn or get the answers and that you are interested in learning how to get better and not just asking something to fix something for you. I know I don’t know a whole heck of a lot even after 10 years in business for myself. I don’t have a big ego and love learning from others that know more than I do and in turn, I hope I can share the things I do know and what I excel at with others too so we all get better. Ask for help and ask early and often, learn from it and never stop trying to get better!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

There is no doubt in my mind that if my parents hadn’t helped me along the way, and really from childhood, that I could be where I am today (which is actually out of the country for 3 weeks!). They always, always believed in me, even when I came home and told them I had quit my steady, high paying, career with no plans. My mom was a little less enthused but my dad said if I thought it was the best decisions for myself, then he agreed and would help with whatever he could. That happened to be flying out to Nashville early on to help with the rollout of my first Escape Game company and then he helped with the buildout for my next 3 locations, and became my business partner on this last Holiday Adventure Company business! My mom eventually came around and became my biggest marketer telling everyone who would listen about my company and how awesome it was. My siblings and I all joke that they got really lucky with some incredible kids but the truth is, we hit the family jackpot with them as parents and I will forever be grateful for that fact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.firehouseaxes.com