Tyler Martin (middle) alongside his daughters, Arabella, 10, and Ellora, 8. The sisters are the inspiration behind Backyard Birdies, an entertainment company offering rentable portable mini golf holes and yard games. Photos: Backyard Birdies
A father and his daughters created a growing golf business.
For Backyard Birdies founder Tyler Martin, running a business is truly a family effort. In fact, the business itself was the idea of his daughters Arabella, 10, and Ellora, 8. The girls are not only the inspiration behind the business, but they help with as many facets as they can.
Backyard Birdies is a new entertainment company in Woodbury, offering rentals for portable mini golf holes and yard games. The golf holes, which are the main attraction, can be customized for birthdays, corporate events, weddings and any other occasion. The business began last summer after Tyler built one for personal use. “I was already building a mini golf hole for us to keep ourselves entertained at home, and [Arabella and Ellora] had the bright idea to rent these for parties,” Tyler says. “This was really their undertaking.”
When it comes to delivering the rentals, Arabella and Ellora help with setting up the courses and teaching customers how to play. Behind the scenes, they help with marketing flyers, creating videos and coming up with new golf hole designs. “I like setting up the courses,” Ellora says. “I really enjoy that because it’s really fun, and also when it’s done, it makes me feel happy. I also like meeting different people.”
While Arabella has had dreams of being a teacher and Ellora a doctor and chef, both girls are now interested in the entrepreneurship of running a business. They’ve quickly gained a wealth of experience and exposure to the business world at their young ages. Starting with running lemonade stands and selling handmade bracelets, Tyler always saw an entrepreneurial side to his daughters and wanted to provide them with unique opportunities. Enter: Backyard Birdies.
The Backyard Birdies’ portable mini golf hole makes an evening gala all the more entertaining. Photo: Jeffrey Schmieg Photography
Less than one year into running the business, Arabella and Ellora became members of the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce, attended their first chamber meeting and spoke in front of around 40 area business owners. During their speech, the girls even had the room laughing at their quips. Explaining the growth from their roadside lemonade sales to where they are now, Arabella shared with the chamber, “The lemonade stands weren’t really cutting it in the economy.” Tyler says, “The support throughout the chamber in Woodbury is incredible. The networking that happens [means] everybody is excited to support other businesses.”
While the girls enjoy learning how to run a business, Tyler is focused on giving them opportunities and learning experiences early in life. Admittedly, he also loves using it as a reason to spend more time with them.
What started as a backyard family game has turned into lessons in entrepreneurship and life skills. In the end, the future is in the girls’ hands. “They might decide [being] a chef or doctor or teacher is right for them,” Tyler says. “But I think it’s cool for them to learn this stuff and have an entrepreneur mindset, so in the future, at least they know what’s out there.”
Backyard Birdies
Instagram: @backyardbirdiesmn
