Staff Photo by Ellis Smith/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Insane Paintball off Amnicola Highway is in the top three indoor/outdoor arenas in the United States, according to co-owner Jared Powell.• Name: Insane Paintball
• Location: On Wisdom Street, just off Amnicola Highway
• Products/services: The store carries all types of paintball guns and gear, from entry-level equipment to tournament-level products. Insane Paintball also carries related products, including hats, belts, shirts, vests and even drinks. The store sells vast quantities of paintballs, according to co-owner Jared Powell, and even carries airsoft products. Players can compete against each other onsite inside a cavernous warehouse outfitted for indoor play, or on one of three outdoor courses, including a tournament-level course. There also is a scenario-based course with castles, forts and obstacles, and a wooded course.
• Age: 10 years old
• Startup investment: $250,000, not including renovation costs
• Annual sales: $500,000 per year
• Target market: Children ages 10 to 15 and young adults in their 20s are the primary demographic, but Powell also serves large church, corporate and youth groups, as well as birthday parties and other events.
• Biggest hurdle: In starting the business from scratch, the "legalities, jumping through all the legal hurdles, and doing the paperwork" at the age of 16 were a big challenge, Powell said.
• Biggest reward: Seeing the business grow from a 1,000-square-foot operation to a six-acre site, one of the top three in the U.S., has been its own reward, he said.
• Challenges in the future: Paintball has fallen somewhat in popularity, according to reports.
• Lesson learned: Focus more on recreational players.
• Five-year goal: To keep changing things up, keep the experience fresh.