In one year, Pig’s Entertainment has grown from one claw machine to 20, providing new sources of revenue to local businesses

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of profile pieces about the 2024 Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) mini-grant recipients. SPEDA awards four $2,500 mini-grants annually to businesses with plans to innovate and expand their operations.

Pig is more than a nickname for Travis Hood. It’s his identity.

“I will always carry it with me,” said Hood, a gamer from a young age. Listening to him describe his gaming crew growing up — his gaming tag was “Pig,” his brother went by “Rooster,” his cousin, practically a brother, was known as “Snake” — you can tell how important the name, and the hobby, is to him.

“When it came time to name my business, there was no question. It had to be Pig’s,” Hood said.

That business, Pig’s Entertainment, was born from Hood’s passion for gaming. After two decades of working for a local manufacturing facility, Hood took the leap to turn that passion into a thriving side hustle. Pig’s Entertainment is a claw machine venture, providing local businesses with new entertainment options for their customers and new sources of revenue. 

In just one year, Pig’s Entertainment has expanded from a single claw machine to 20 machines and 10 locations across Pulaski County, aided by a Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) mini-grant. Hood’s grant helped fund a machine for one of those new locations, Eubank Pizza. 

Hood said his company’s growth has been driven by strategic social media advertising and a commitment to personalized customer care. Pig’s Entertainment is a family venture — Hood and his fiancé, Celeste Bradley, manage the business and service machines in addition to their full-time jobs, and their daughter designed the company’s logo. But they are also building a family of loyal customers they have nicknamed “Little Piggies,” a marketing strategy customers have embraced. Browsing Pig’s social media channels, you can see Hood and Bradley actively engaging with the Pig’s community, offering new promotions and celebrating when lucky customers score new plushies or clutch lockbox prizes in claw machines across Pulaski County. 

“This combination of effective marketing and dedicated service has propelled our rapid growth and solidified our brand in the market,” Hood said.

The customer service piece has been crucial, Hood said. By placing claw machines in local businesses, Pig’s fosters a collaborative ecosystem that benefits both his business and the host establishments. Pig’s Entertainment is a revenue-share model — businesses that house a claw machine receive a percentage of earnings, and through Pig’s marketing of those locations to their followers, those businesses receive increased foot traffic as a result. 

Hood and Bradley refill the claw machines themselves and are committed to ensuring people know the machines are there. And they encourage local residents and visitors to support their partners.

“By supporting local enterprises, you contribute to the economic vitality of Pulaski County, helping to strengthen the community and promote a culture of local entrepreneurship,” Hood said. “It is a win-win, bringing fun and excitement to more customers while maximizing earnings for both partners.”

Eubank Pizza owners Chris and April Robinson are great examples of this partnership, Hood said, and it is a reason the machines at now both restaurant locations are thriving.

“I am grateful for the collaborative spirit of local business owners like Chris and April, who have played a pivotal role in our growth,” Hood said.

Starting their own business hasn’t been without challenges, but Hood and Bradley have faced them head-on and are learning as they go. Ongoing upkeep as Pig’s continues to grow is increasingly difficult with full-time jobs, but the couple is committed to excellence in customer service. 

“We consistently fulfill our obligations, ensuring that at least one of us is present each week, as promised,” Hood said. “This journey has proven to me that with passion and perseverance, I can achieve more than I ever imagined. Embrace your dreams, and you can create a life you love.”

Funding has also presented a challenge for a start-up business, Hood said, which is why he is grateful for resources like the SPEDA mini-grant program. 

“Starting as a small business without investors and funding everything from our paychecks posed significant challenges,” Hood said. “The SPEDA grant provided a crucial boost, enabling us to acquire an additional machine, facilitating our growth. We view the grant as an invaluable resource for any local business seeking to gain a competitive edge.”

With challenges, however, come exciting moments of overcoming adversity and experiencing success, which has been incredibly rewarding for this local couple.

“Every success reinforces the idea that our small family business will grow into much more, and we will have this for our kids to start out in life,” Hood said. “Each machine I set up represents not just a business but a testament to my determination to pursue what I love.”