UD grad starts entertainment company

Business Name:

Liftoff Entertainment, Dayton

What the Business Does:

Jay Nigro of Dayton owns Liftoff Entertainment and offers DJ and photo booth services to individuals and companies throughout the Miami Valley area. “I offer both the DJ and photo booth services combined,” Nigro said. “This is a really unique thing and gives area brides a package price, especially since the photo booths are becoming more and more popular at weddings and parties.”

What Makes the Business Stand Out:

Nigro’s company has grown through word of mouth and referrals and his photo booth offering has helped him grow. “I have expanded to other opportunities beyond weddings,” Nigro said. “I purchased the photo booth the year after I started the business, and it’s just been an awesome addition.” The photo booth, according to Nigro, adds something tangible to his business. “It gives folks something they can hold in their hands,” he said. “They can take home a 4 x 6 print, and I’m not limited to just the booth. I can do backdrops, overlays and logos. It ends up being a cool takeaway to help promote a business.” The photo booth also has an iPad application that allows emails to be sent immediately to customers from the photo booth. “90 percent of the packages I book are DJ and photo booth combined,” Nigro said.

How the Business Got Started:

After graduating from the University of Dayton in 2006 with two business degrees, Nigro, a St. Louis native, took a marketing job and traveled for three years. After being on the road for 210 days in a year, he decided to return to UD and pursue his MBA. “I loved the UD experience and enjoyed being in Dayton and decided to start my company because it sounded like something fun to do,” he said. “I figured if it worked, I would keep going.” In 2010, Liftoff Entertainment got its name while Nigro was sitting on his couch with his friends and “it just started taking off.”

Nigro said the UD and Dayton communities have really helped his business grow. “The Dayton area for me is the perfect area,” he said. “There are three major cities within a two-hour drive so the possibility to expand is there. I just need to figure out how I want to do it.

Contact Liftoff Entertainment on Facebook.com/liftoffentertainment. www.Liftoffentertainment.com

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