Amberg Entertainment adds St. Louis office

The Springfield firm that specializes in corporate and private parties has added an office in a new city three years in a row.

On Feb. 3, Amberg Entertainment opened a St. Louis office; the company added a Denver office in 2005 and a Bentonville, Ark., office last year.

President and owner Ted Amberg calls St. Louis his “gateway to the East,” adding that the company already had several clients in that area.

“That’s going to open up our market,” he said of offering attractions that range from an inflatable moon bounce for children to casino nights for adults. “Right now, we work regionally. Just from (the Springfield) location, we work in 11 different states. That is going to open up all the way out to Georgia for us.”

The growth streak may continue; Amberg said he’s eyeing opportunities in North Carolina, Florida and Oregon.

Springfield had been the company’s only location from its 1996 inception until the Denver office opened.

“I have a real, renewed vigor for this whole thing,” Amberg said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with where we’re at. There’s always more that we can do to grow this company.”

The St. Louis office, 5541 S. Telegraph Road, Ste. 194, is led by 28-year-old St. Louis native Jeff Dulle, who was working as a branch manager for a finance company when he contacted Amberg about the job in October. He learned of the opportunity through a mutual friend. “So far, everything has been fantastic,” said Dulle, who added that marketing has been the biggest challenge.

Party time

St. Louis, which will only have a few full-time employees at its office during its first year, could be the first city other than Springfield to get The Party Place, a division of Amberg Entertainment that plays host to children’s birthday parties.

Amberg opened the first The Party Place when he moved the headquarters in July 2005 to 2025 E. Chestnut Expressway. He’s now looking to franchise that division, with hopes of 50 locations coast-to-coast within five years.

Other endeavors

Amberg recently signed a contract for his company to provide exclusive service to the Springfield Cardinals for five years.

Amberg wouldn’t disclose the value of the contract, which spells out that Amberg Entertainment would provide a disc jockey for post-game group receptions and inflatable play areas for children on Hammons Field concourses during games, among other things. It provided similar services for the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks in Ozark for two seasons.

“It’s terrific exposure,” Amberg said. “With having an office in St. Louis, this is a great way to showcase ourselves to the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Amberg said he plans to negotiate a contract with the major league baseball club next season.

He has also launched two other divisions: Inflatable Boot Camp and Out Of This World Games.

Inflatable Boot Camp, established in November, provides training to other entertainment and party companies.

Amberg insists he’s not training his enemies to topple him. He’ll only tutor clients in cities – such as Toronto and Boise, Idaho – where he has no plans to expand.

Out Of This World Games, launched in February, designs original toys and attractions, which are manufactured by a California company. That division’s first products are adult-size tricycles dubbed Wacky Trikes.[[In-content Ad]]