From employment to her own VR park in three months

About the partner

Elvira worked as a warehouse manager. She came to visit her daughter in Tyumen and ended up at WARPOINT for the first time.

I remember it like yesterday — 9 February 2023, and that was it. I knew: this is mine!

Elvira, partner in Novy Urengoy

Picture yourself driving a locomotive, at the head of the train. I have been in different carriages: in tears and in doubt, and now there are 33 carriages behind me, packed with customers, experience and the will to grow.

Elvira, partner in Novy Urengoy

How the launch went

Elvira never planned to work in VR. For years she was a warehouse manager in Novy Urengoy, and every holiday was a chance to rest. During one such trip to Tyumen her children surprised her with a visit to a WARPOINT VR park. At first she was sceptical about the game because of all the safety instructions, but after watching her children play she decided to try it herself.

The immersion exceeded every expectation, and back home Elvira wanted to know how to open the same park in her own city, where nothing like it existed. She contacted the management company straight away and signed the contract for her own VR park on 9 March 2023. Preparations moved fast, though not without trouble: the refurbishment, sceptical looks from those around her, the pressure of launching a business she had never run before. Even so, the park opened on 6 May and took $480 on its very first day. For a city of 107,000 people that is a good result.

The park paid for itself within a year, which gave Elvira the confidence to go further: she began planning a second arena with a lounge zone for even more guests.

My daughter believed in me and in WARPOINT, and soon we had a small team, including my younger daughter. I was still employed elsewhere, driving 80 km from Stary Urengoy to Novy every day. Despite everything, on 5 May we spent the night at the venue installing screens and slept on the carpet. And on 6 May we welcomed our first guests. We did it!

Elvira, partner in Novy Urengoy

Strengths and the fine points of running a park

A family business became the foundation of the park's success. Elvira's daughters threw themselves into the work and contributed to every process — from preparation and refurbishment to talking with guests and managing the venue. One daughter even did an internship in Yekaterinburg to understand WARPOINT's processes, starting as an administrator and ending with the owner's duties.

Elvira built relationships with large regional employers — trade unions and local companies — offering them tournament and corporate programmes. Summer camps became another important channel: in the summer of 2023 more than 650 children visited the park as part of summer programmes, which partly offset the seasonal dip in attendance.

Cleanliness and service are the team's priority. The park pays constant attention to cleaning, to sanitising the equipment and to how guests are treated. That quickly made it one of the most sought-after venues for events and team-building in a city with few entertainment options.

The partner's best practices

Elvira pays close attention to customer service and actively uses the methods suggested by the management company, including business-process setup and management advice from partner managers. She is convinced that success requires developing service and staying in constant contact with customers. She also runs active PR through social media and organises regular events — tournaments and collaborations with summer camps that attract both children and their parents.

Another practice Elvira introduced is free game sessions for socially vulnerable groups twice a month. It makes the park a more open and accessible place for everyone in the city.

Elvira's story shows that determination and a drive for results overcome any obstacle. Support from the management company, clear recommendations and ready-made business processes turned her VR park into a popular destination.