Business View Magazine l January 2023

176 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 time together is the goal of each Fun Factory location. “The word family resonates throughout everything we do. Not only are we a family business, but with all these families that are our customers, we relate with them. They are our friends and neighbors, and we see them every day. It is a very close relationship, and we take it very seriously,” says Fernandez. Keeping up to date on the newest innovations in the industry and staying aware of what their customers are looking for is important for the image of Fun Factory, and the company is always on the lookout for new entertainment options. “Whether it is the latest in VR, or it’s a brand- new concept of some sort of entertainment, we are always searching for those things. Some new things will be coming online, but I can’t tell you about it yet,” she hints. With 12 locations in Hawaii and 5 on the mainland, Fernandez notes, “We are a Hawaiian company that has expanded into the mainland over the last 25 years. Most companies start on the mainland and expand to Hawaii, but we did it backward.” Although the company has plans to continue building a presence on the mainland, she acknowledges, “Hawaii is our focus, it is our family, it is our guiding light. So, it is the mother of everything else that we do.” This is evidenced by the growth Fun Factory is experiencing in the state, including a brand- new store in Mililani, which had outgrown its current location, and was doubled in size. An expansion is also underway for the Maui store, which Fernandez reports will soon be twice its current size. As for the mainland, she adds, “We are negotiating with developers in several cities in the mainland and we hope to be opening a new store or two within the next year or so. It is all very exciting.” Each Fun Factory location is uniquely tailored to the surrounding community, with consideration to the population and demographics of the area. “What we are trying to do is to build a Fun Factory in relation to its community environment. So, if the community is small, we will size it accordingly. Let’s say the average household has four kids. Well, now we know that we need more products and equipment geared to this age group. “In some communities, there might be a lot of young professionals. So, we will have design Scott Fernandez, President, E.K. Fernandez Shows, Inc.