CONTENTS
VOL 24.9
THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
6 ISSUE AT HAND
18 COVER STORY
Speaking Pokémon
The Ying and Yang of Bowling
By Scott Frager
A look into the world of the Asian bowling market. By Paul Lane
8 SHORTS • Amber Collier joins Intercard. • Bowler’s Ed grants given to 28 schools and organizations. • Paul Lane challenges old pin boys. • GameTime and Intercard show support for OneOrlando Fund.
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26 FEATURE Raising Your Bar Without a Rescue The latest in bar management. By Robert Sax
32 IN MY OWN WORDS Flood Impact Marc Pater shares the story of the recent ‘Quiet Katrina’ in Louisiana.
12 REGIONAL TRADESHOWS 32
By Marc Pater
Both coasts gear up for their annual October tradeshows. By David Garber and Patty Heath
35 PROFILE The Houses That Jack Built The Tate family celebrates 70 years of Jack Tate’s bowling center ownership in Enid, OK.
14 TRENDING Time to Pokémon GO! The new Pokémon GO virtual game app is turning the world on its head, and BECs have a great opportunity to cash in. By Sean Krainert
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garber@bowlingindustry.com
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS David Garber Patty Heath Sean Krainert Paul Lane Mark Miller Marc Pater Robert Sax
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Fred Groh fredgroh@bowlingindustry.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
FOUNDER Allen Crown (1933-2002)
By Patty Heath
Tools for Success
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David Garber
By Mark Miller
12655 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 789-2695(BOWL) Fax (818) 789-2812 info@bowlingindustry.com
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 818-789-2695 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2015, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
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40 Classifieds 46 Showcase
THE ISSUE AT HAND
Speaking Pokémon Back in July, I was going about my normal business at the bowling center one morning when one of my young front desk teammates, Cody, gave me the news, “Hey, boss, we’re now a Pokémon Gym!” He had a huge grin on his face and he was so proud. I took a moment, stopped to process what I had heard, and then considered what my response should be. I could feign my elation and then continue on with my day-today duties. Or, I could do the right thing and ask, ‘What in the heck are you talking about?’ which is ultimately what I did. Cody proceeded to explain how our center had been chosen as a Pokémon Gym on Pokémon GO. Then he showed me an image from his phone. There it was, a Pokémon character hovering above our lane 16. Cody continued to explain how Pokémon players come to the Gym and capture Pokémon and/or release them in the center for others to capture. Our center apparently had even been captured by different teams and changed colors several times that very day. Fast forward 10 minutes and Cody was still speaking Pokémon. I had to politely stop him as I was forever lost in this deep, makebelieve ethereal world called Pokémon Go. I was smart enough to know that even though I had no clue about this game, I had to do something to take advantage of this new fad. And, once again, I turned to one of my young and valued teammates, Kaitlin, one of our professional party coordinators. With Kaitlin’s help, we came up with an idea to
have a special Pokémon Go party at Pinz. We wanted to see if Pokémon Go could actually drive traffic to our center. We offered some weekday discounts and promoted it just within our social media ecosphere. Wouldn’t you know it, we had approximately 40 guests stop by to play Pokémon Go and then bowl. The players ranged from 8 to 38, and they were all thrilled with being able to play their game at our center. We even secured a child’s birthday party from a mom who had never been to Pinz before. The bowling business taught me more grand lessons that day: Just because I don’t “get it” doesn’t mean it’s not a great idea. And, I better keep my mind open and pay close attention to the young crew. I may not speak their language, but I should certainly hear them out. Now it’s your turn to participate in Pokémon Go, IBI style. Hidden within the pages of this issue are Pokémon characters. Be the first to email me the locations of all the Pokémon by September 15 at frager@bowlingindustry.com and you can win a $100 VISA card.
DO YOU KNOW HOW
TO SPEAK
POKÉMON?
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
4THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com October is trade show month: West Coast Bowling Convention, October 16-18, at the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino, in Reno; and East Coast Bowling Centers Convention, at the Golden Nugget, October 24-26, in Atlantic City. If you missed Bowl Expo, held this past June in Las Vegas, either of these shows is a must. To prepare your own wish list of things to look into, Bowling Industry Online is one of the places to go to look for suppliers, views of centers that have upgraded for ideas, and a list of proprietors with whom to connect. To scan photos for suppliers and interesting venues, go to www.bowlingindustry.com and then click on Photos. There are over 2,800 inspiring and informative shots to shift through. If you are not a member, now is the time to take care of that. It is free and chocked full of good ideas, contacts and news.
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SHORTS
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS Hollywood Bowl, across the pond in Middlebrook, UK, is refurbishing this Americanstyle, 26-lane center. Based on film icons, four new and exclusive VIP lanes will be labeled Marilyn Monroe, Han Solo, Audrey Hepburn and Elvis Presley. A Hollywood diner will serve hot dogs, burgers and freshly made shakes served in milk bottles and retro glasses.
Going west and leaping the other pond, Sydney, Australia will once again have bowling after Heather Lanes closed six years ago. Financed by Membertou First Nation, the new 16-lane center, as yet to be named, is part of a larger project situated near the Trade and Convention Centre. It is expected to open in spring 2017.
Back home in Hoboken, NY, local builders are finalizing plans that will include two new residential towers, a hotel, and a bowling center. The 32,000-square-foot center will be on a lower level and feature a restaurant and occasional live music similar to Brooklyn Bowl. The 14-story hotel would be built above the center.
Round One opened a new location in Grapevine, TX. It was the 10th partnership for Round One and Embed, a worldwide revenue management systems provider. Embed’s cashless system will operate nearly 500 games and attractions, while Embed’s Point of Sale (emPOS) and Redemption Pro will manage the extensive redemption center.
The owners of the once Holiday Bowl, Chattanooga, TN, refer to their remodel as a “funstruction zone,” as it rebrands as Sparetime Family Fun Center. Opening in the fall, it will include a laser tag arena, a 90-game arcade, and a full-service restaurant and bar. To incorporate the new additions, the lanes will go from 40 to 25 lanes.
Merri Bowl in Livonia, MI, has a new outlook on life. It recently finished upgrading just about everything. New bathrooms, carpets and the addition of an outside patio and remodeled bar, Ziggy’s Bar and Grill, are just some of the changes. The major renovation was in the scoring which New Center Consulting revamped.
Westside Lanes & Fun Center, a 36-lane facility, the only bowling center in Missoula, MT, has applied for permits to build an additional 10 lanes and expand the parking lot to meet increased customer demands. Included in the expansion would be more trees, as required by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. 8
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CANDLEPIN BOWLING IN WYOMING, OHIO Candlepin Bowling Lanes in Wyoming, OH, is 68 years young and has finally done a little sprucing up. The old wooden lanes have been replaced, but that is all that is new. Located in the basement of Wyoming Civic Center, this six-lane center, really an alley, still has the vintage Brunswick equipment that was installed in 1948. Besides being old, it is and has been a dedicated candlepin bowling center. In fact, it is one of the few places west of the Alleghenies where you can play the game. New England is candlepin country and even there it is dwindling.
Photo credit: Jeremy Kramer
CINERGY IS ON A ROLL Dallas-based Cinergy Entertainment Group Inc. has been changing the entertainment landscape of Texas. It will be opening its third venue this fall in Odessa. The anchor for this location will be bowling and family entertainment. But it doesn’t stop there. Jeffrey and Jamie Benson, co-founders and CEOs, along with Neil Hupfauer, president and COO, are in the midst of planning two more, one in Tyler and one in Amarillo, both of which will open in 2017. While cinema-anchored entertainment centers began the Cinergy portfolio, bowling has become a big push for these three up and coming centers. The Amarillo site will be a hybrid of both the large auditorium offerings and family entertainment activities. There will be 10 state-ofthe-art EPIC auditoriums with seat-side ordering, 16 lanes of upscale bowling, four billiard tables, a fullyloaded game floor with more than 110 interactive games, dining choices, a multi-level laser tag arena, and Sky Walker, a zip line and overhead ropes course. The Tyler complex will boast more than 20 bowling lanes of upscale glow-in-the-dark bowling, a full-service bar, expansive dining options with a chef-driven menu, multiple event rooms, billiard tables, a fully-loaded game floor, redemption store, and also the multi-level laser tag arena and Sky Walker.
SHORTS
PEOPLEWATCHING
Editor’s Note Pinboys Step Forward IBI received a letter from the industry’s roving ambassador Paul Lane in response to Remember When’s “Pin Boys” in the July issue. He said, “I liked your piece about pinboys. That’s where I started back in 1954, and I maintain that anyone who [hasn’t] set pins has not served a real apprenticeship in the bowling business. I was paid 7¢ a game, often setting two leagues an evening on a pair of lanes, making $42.00 for 60 games in about five hours. I thought I had something. “It might be fun to ask folks out there who started as a pinboy to share their stories, telling us where their career in bowling went from there.” I hear a challenge there. Do you? Step forward pin boys, wherever you are. A photo, a story, a center…let’s hear from you. I can be reached at heath@bowlingindustry.com. [A note, while not the origination of the term “pin money,” tips given to industrious pinboys became referred to as pin money.]
GOODWILL CENTRAL
Intercard, Inc., per its press release, recently hired Amber Collier for U.S. domestic sales. In this newly created position, Collier will focus on U.S.-based business opportunities, where Intercard has experienced double-digit growth for the past three years. Collier started her career in 2009 as president and owner of The Zone Family Fun Center in Kalispell, MT, which she developed and built from the ground up. Later, she worked for Apex Parks Group as general Amber Collier manager of Boomers in Fresno, CA. Collier served on IAAPA’s Family Entertainment Center Committee, its FEC Education Committee, and was the lead for the association’s Laser Tag Task Force Subcommittee. She also authors expert opinion pieces for FEC trade media. In her new position, Colllier will be based in Fresno.
Bowling for Rhinos is everywhere. Of course, due to the number of zoos across the country and the public’s interest in saving endangered animals, it is not surprising. The Dallas Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), hosted its annual Bowling for Rhinos event at Alley Cats in Arlington, TX. The Virginia bowling event was held at Pinboys at the Beach in Virginia Beach, VA. Sometimes on a national level and sometimes just down to person to person, bowlers rally to help. In Clare, MI, Lisa Jaco-Mitchell broke her leg and had to undergo surgery. Being a frequent bowler at Gateway Lanes, Jack Gross, proprietor, held a fundraiser to help offset her medical bills. A classic car show and ten bands taking turns entertaining was just part of a fundraiser held at Suburban Lanes in Bucyrus, OH. This is the fifth year that manager Butch Pangallo has organized the event. This year, proceeds will benefit members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1078. The National Brain Tumor Society was the recipient of a fundraiser organized by the Topeka, KS, Kotich family, honoring A. J. Kotich, a longtime public servant and Kansas lawyer. The event was held at West Ridge Lanes and Family Fun Center in Topeka. The sixth annual Bowling Against Bullying event was held at Nutmeg Bowl, Fairfield, CT. The Center for Family Justice programs, reaching more than 2,000 local students last year, are supported in this event. Dave Corbett of Marathon Sports Mashpee and The Lanes Bowl & Bistro in Mashpee, MA, held a bowling fundraiser to benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Currently, there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma. This was in coordination with Corbett’s charity run at the Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City. The Meridian Food Bank teamed up with Big Al’s in Meridian, ID, to host Knock Down Hunger!, a community bowling event to raise money to help the food bank carry out its mission of providing food for those who might otherwise go hungry. In 2015, more than one million pounds of food were distributed to help more than 54,000 recipients. Chacko’s Family Bowling Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, is the spot for a bowl-a-thon benefitting the Pulmonary Hypertension Association which is based in Silver Spring, MD. This medical condition is produced when the pressure in the arteries that connect the heart to the lungs is too high. What is your center doing? Email Patty Heath at heath@bowlingindustry.com.
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SHORTS
ß BITS & PIECES ß ß ß SCN and Rolltech Merge
Sports Challenge Network (SCN), known for XBowling, and Rolltech have merged with SCN as the parent company. For the near future, the focus will be on two products: Action Bowling and Mobilizer. Action Bowling is a mobile product that lets league bowlers compete in virtual contests for real cash. Mobilizer is designed for bowling centers, providing a custom app and backend system to manage all aspects of a center’s business.
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß Ventola Projects Ltd. Lights up Doha, UEA, project
UK electrical installation company, Ventola Projects Ltd., announced the completion of its recent project at a private leisure facility in Doha, United Arab Emirates. Ventola was brought onboard to carry out the project for Aida Leisure, a new leisure facility at the Royal Palace of Sheikh Al Thani. Ventola designed, manufactured, supplied and assisted with the installation of its accredited VAvR LED lighting range, giving a fully functioning, high-end lighting system to the leisure facility and bowling lanes.
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß Motion Analytics Improves Bowling
Stonington, CT-based Body Biolytics, LLC, an innovator in activity recognition and motion analytics using wearables, has announced a performance improvement solution for bowling called the Plus20TM
Shot Analyzer, comprised of a motion sensor-enabled wrist band and smartphone mobile application. The Plus20 records motion data from wrist band sensors and displays key bowling shot metrics to help bowlers perform more consistently.
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß Register Now for IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), which represents nearly 5,000 attractions, suppliers, and individual members from 99 countries, will gather Nov. 14-18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, for Attractions Expo 2016. In addition to nine miles of aisles packed with new ideas and industry solutions, this year’s expo will offer more than 80 educational experiences, from behind-the-scenes EDUTours, to professional development institutes and one-on-one consulting sessions. For information and registration go to www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo or contact Jessica Gelsinon at jgelsinon@IAAPA.org.
ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß Bowler’s Ed Kits Awarded
USBC announced that Bowler’s Ed grants have been awarded to 28 schools and organizations through International Bowling Campus Youth Development. The grants are comprised of Bowler’s Ed kits which cost $1,450 each and provide mobile bowling equipment and curriculum to help teach children the sport of bowling. Go to BOWL.com/YouthResource-Center and click on Bowler’s Ed section to learn how schools and organizations can benefit.
GAMETIME AND INTERCARD SUPPORT VICTIMS OF PULSE TRAGEDY Intercard, Inc. released its latest endeavor which is directed to help victims’ families and survivors of the Pulse tragedy in Orlando, FL. Donations will be facilitated through game card purchases, with the assistance of GameTime and family entertainment centers in Florida. GameTime guests have the option of making a donation when purchasing their game card, with 100% of these guest-driven donations going directly to the OneOrlando Fund, which will ensure that the funds are distributed directly to victims’ families and survivors in an open and transparent manner. Intercard donated 66,000 account numbers for game cards. “We expect to get $1 to $2 per game card, which will enable us to donate at least $66,000,” said Mike Abecassis, CEO of GameTime. “We’re honored that Mike and his team approached us with the idea and the opportunity to support the cause,” said Scott Sherrod, CEO of Intercard. 10
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REGIONAL TRADE SHOWS
By David Garber and Patty Heath
TOOLS FOR SUCCESS Both coasts gear up for their annual October tradeshows.
ECBCC
Y
ou can’t keep a good trade show down. Hurricane Joaquin tried in 2015 and had momentary success. The Eastern seaboard suffered greatly from Joaquin. The East Coast Bowling Centers Convention, after much soul-searching and concern for attendees and exhibitors, realized that the best course of action was to cease and desist. Now, it’s 2016 and the ECBCC is looking forward to greeting proprietors and exhibitors with a trade show worth waiting for. The Golden Nugget in Atlantic City will once again be home base and October 24 – 26 will be the dates. The registration price of $125, which will include all educational seminars, trade show, food, and social networking functions, is a reduction to compensate for any hardship suffered from last year’s cancellation. “Our ECBCC committee has really looked closely at the issues that our industry faces daily to determine topics for our speakers for this convention. They have selected speakers with innovative and effective ideas that our attendees can take home with them and implement for results,” says Jack Moran, committee chairman of the ECBCC. The beauty of the regional trade show is the variety of seminars that allows proprietors to learn and participate and make personal
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connections with those whose expertise is critical for their business. This year there are seminars for just about every aspect of a center’s business: 4Pricing and package pricing. 4Social media and Facebook as a window into a center. 4Step to “Yes” in applying for a loan. 4Food and beverage, plus the importance of upscaling beer offerings. 4Hiring as it pertains to the younger generations. If that doesn’t fill your mind with Jack Moran, chairman of the East Coast Bowling possibilities, there will be a keynote Center Convention committee. address by Vickie Sanderson, aimed at nurturing your better self and creating a positive environment at your work place. Amy Arcuri will be reviewing the Smart Buy program that every center should be using. Also, if you haven’t received your Pepsi re-sign bonus yet, you will receive it at the end of this session when you sign the new Pepsi agreement. No trade show would be complete without fun and networking: Brunswick will sponsor a reception to welcome attendees and allow for that camaraderie that makes the bowling industry a close-knit family; while QubicaAMF will host a Roast for Tom Martino, BPAA’s retired president. The ECBCC has always been a go-to event for providers as well as proprietors. After the disappointment of last year, the 2016 ECBCC is winding up to be a no-miss show. The deadline for registration is October 1. For more information, to go www.bpaa.com/ecbcc.
REGIONAL TRADE SHOWS
WCBC
O
ctober is a great month for regional trade shows that proprietors can take advantage of if you missed Bowl Expo. The West Coast Bowling Convention once again will be held in Reno NV, at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino, October 16th-18th. The registration price is $199 for the first person and $99 for every other person from the same center. This is a great price for all the benefits you will receive, which include, educational seminars, trade show, two breakfasts and one lunch. Everything kicks off on Sunday evening at the National Bowling Stadium, inside the Kingpin Club, with a festive reception and Jim Decker, chairman of the West Coast fun bowling event. Then the work begins on Bowling Convention committee. Monday with seminars that help with hiring practices for your center followed by key information you may not know about
health insurance. The trade show will open up with a wide variety of exhibitors which can help make you and/or save your business money. The afternoon winds down with education about selling bowling online. Lastly, the ever popular Bingo game finishes off Monday. Tuesday begins with a return to the trade show floor followed by networking round tables discussions lead by key people in the industry. “We are going to focus on customer service, inhouse marketing, online bookings, all in a round table, networking environment,� said Jim Decker, chairman of the West Coast Bowling Convention. To register or become an exhibitor contact Sandi Thompson at 925-485-1855 or email at sandit@norcalbowling.com.
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TRENDING
The new Pokémon GO virtual game is turning the world on it’s head, and BECs have a great opportunity to cash in. By Sean Krainert
B
owling entertaintment centers (BECs) are continuously looking for new ways to drive more customers through their front doors, and keep them there longer. The BEC structure already has the innate benefit of having multiple features in one facility attracting several target markets. But what if there were a worldwide virtual game that BEC owners could tap into and utilize to enhance their already robust marketing structure? At first, it may seem impractical that a video game would have a direct impact on businesses across the nation and around the world. But Pokémon GO is not just any video game. On July 6, 2016, Pokémon released its newest and seventh generation Pokémon GO, a multiplayer, location-based, augmented reality game. The speed at which the game has gained momentum is unprecedented, with downloads and use exceeding that of long-time top notch social and game apps. Its initial surge in popularity is booming, with a strong prognosis to outlive naysayers tagging it as a fad. The game ignited over 20 million U.S. users in just the first week of its release. That is 20 million reasons why BEC owners should be quickly gathering their marketing teams to tap into this new target market. The unique characteristics of this
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particular game are pumping up small businesses and BECs across the country, immediately generating new ways to increase customer base, with an ROI that’s off the charts.
How is the Evolution of Gaming Related to BECs? Until now, gaming has traditionally been associated with the seclusion and inactivity of individuals who increasingly become disassociated with the real world. However, the blanketing phenomena of Pokémon GO is already rewriting the rules for the future of gaming and erasing the stigma attached to it. The game thrives on the physical proximity of other players urging them to get up, get moving and to create a future of public and shared experiences. To understand how to make that connection between this craze and potential business, it’s best to understand the basics of the game and how it can work in favor for an BEC.
How to Play the Game Pokémon GO can be played on both iOS and Android devices. In other words, if you have a phone, you’re in. The collaboration between Nintendo, The Pokémon Company and Niantic Inc., crafted a free software application, generating their revenue through in-app purchases.
TRENDING When a player opens their app, they can see a real-world map of where they are that helps them locate Pokémon or locations of interest in the game. In order to reach these creatures and desired locations in the game, they have to physically walk there in real life. The app utilizes the device’s camera, video and GPS capabilities to put the players in a real-world scenario at all times, with an option to see the game world through the eyes of their surroundings. In other words, Pokémon has crafted an unparalleled sensory experience in the gaming world.
How to Make the Connection BECs and small businesses are already harnessing Pokémon GO’s international economic power to create not only an instant financial boost but an opportunity to make business relationships with customers that could fuel the future. Here’s how. Once a player reaches level five, they can then join one of three teams. There are two main types of locations in the game that exist at real world locations determined by Niantic Inc.: PokéStops are great for picking up virtual items needed for the game, whereas Gyms are where people congregate to fight against other players’ Pokémon and can only be controlled by one team. Hence, the mass gatherings at Gyms to overtake the location. While these two types of locations are predetermined by the game makers, they can easily be identified by opening the app and looking around, or by a backdoor into Niantic’s predecessor game, Ingress, that has the same identical locations on its game that determine where Pokémon GO’s hot spots are today. While the option to sign up a business as a PokéStop or Gym is not yet available, it is in the works. Businesses can submit a request to have their location considered as a Gym or PokéStop via the support page on the Niantic Inc. website.
How BECs can Interact with the Game There are two main ways that businesses can directly interact with the game. The first is to use the in-app purchase called a Lure Modual. When the Lure Modual is activated, it increases the rate of Pokémon generation in the area around the PokéStop, where they're placed for one half hour. So whether or not a business is a designated PokéStop, it still can control bringing traffic directly to the business area. For a little more than a dollar an hour during open business hours, where else can you find a virtual tool that guarantees crowds to a business for 30 solid minutes of time? The other way to drive Pokémon GO traffic to a business is a bit more creative than pressing a button. Besides PokéStops, Gyms are the other large gathering areas for players. Again, by opening the app, the Gyms are visible. While you can’t use the Lure feature for this, good old-fashioned marketing techniques will do. BECs and small businesses throughout the country are funneling this game energy straight into the core of their marketing and promotions teams. Instead of being put off by the crowds in the parking lot or the dozens of people crammed in the entryway, encourage it by welcoming the players and tailoring an experience just for them. This can open up the door to record high amounts of foot traffic that can essentially be turned into customers. 16
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Social media can be a way to show off how Pokémon-friendly a business is by not only advertising promotions, but by actively taking ingame screenshots and posting them, inviting players to come catch Pokémon at that BEC. Creating a Pokémon drink special or menu item or offering discounts for proof of Pokémon GO on the customer’s device is also a popular angle. Another great way to harness the Pokémon power is to advertise Pokémon GO playing areas at a business that offers all players drink discounts or food specials while they play. By creating incentive programs, players will come back again and again to play, increasing return rates for the future. Early adopters are already setting the bar high for promotions linked to Pokémon GO with creative and innovate ideas. You can now purchase Pokémon bowling balls, key chains, shoes, head phones, shift knobs, and believe it or not, Pokémon engagement rings! It is a chotchkies and collectors frenzy. BECs aren’t the only ones jumping onboard. Visiting the online Amazon bookstore can lead businesses to reading multiple e-books on how to drive more Pokémon GO traffic in their direction. Players themselves are initiating Pokémon pub crawls, bowling center events, singles activities, BBQs and a number of other massive gatherings to interact and play the game together while enjoying food and activities. These can be prime opportunities for BECs.
GO Beyond! In less than a week from the launch date, Pokémon GO became the most popular game in history. For businesses that thrive on capitalizing on big shifts in cultural society, Pokémon Go has the strength to generate unprecedented and untapped traffic, creating strong and lasting emotional bonds to their brand for years to come. ❖
Sean Krainert is a freelance copywriter living in the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in real estate, hospitality and mental health writing. He is also an alumni of the Wichita State Shocker bowling program.
COVER STORY
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COVER STORY By Paul Lane
T
A look into the world of the Asian bowling market.
he intriguing Far East region of Asia has long been established as a major market for bowling. It is a market that is decidedly different in many regards to Europe or North America. Presently, there are about 1,800 centers housing 39,000 lanes in the 12 Asian countries featured in this report. Of these, 835 centers and 24,241 lanes are in Japan. The average size center in the region is 21.5 lanes, with Japan at the top of the list with an average of 29 lanes per center. In both the region, and certainly Japan, the average size center is substantially larger than in Europe. A study of eighteen European markets in 2015 determined that the average size center houses 11 lanes, with Austria and the UK topping the list at 16. The region, however, is about on par with the U.S.A. at roughly 21 lanes per center. Winding back the clock for a moment, we can’t forget when Japan installed 115,608 lanes in 3,495 centers between 1965 and 1972. That’s 500 new centers a year for over 7 years. Adding those to the 202 centers built between 1960 and 1965, the Japanese market peaked at more than 120,000 lanes. Obviously it was destined to collapse, and it was reduced to 880 centers housing 24,218 lanes by 1976. Happily, unlike many other markets that had a boom period, that number is similar to the Japanese market today. For the most part, closures since 1976 have been replaced with new centers, and Japan is still the world's second largest bowling market. During the 1960s, other countries throughout the region also began to introduce bowling, but at a much slower pace. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the territory of Hong Kong, to name but a few, became new markets for the bowling industry. While Japan is probably remembered for its boom and bust, other Asian markets are perhaps better known outside of Asia for their bowlers who started winning events like the annual Bowling World Cup tournament, and for collecting a myriad of medals in FIQ/WTBA regional and world championships. Bowlers like Bong Coo and Paeng Nepomuceno from the Philippines, both of whom are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning more tournaments than any other bowlers anywhere. More recently, the success of the helicopter bowlers from Taiwan, who overcame adverse lane conditions by imparting excessive top-spin to lightweight balls to steal titles and prize money from the more classic stylists of the day. The good news is that most countries in Southeast Asia enjoy support from their local governments and Olympic Committees. This means that those countries that have bowling qualify to participate in the Southeast Asian Games, also known as the SEA Games. The SEA Games are a biennial, multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games are under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation and supervised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia. Singapore hosted the games in 2015 when men and women bowlers participated in ten events, including Team, Singles and a Masters, all vying for gold, silver and bronze medals in their respective divisions. For example, while family entertainment centers (FECs) and bowling entertainment centers (BECs) are slowly developing, existing facilities are better described as standard sport bowling centers, regardless of whether IBI
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COVER STORY
Dan Borgie Vice President of International Sales, Brunswick Bowling Products Many Asian countries experienced explosive growth in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Bowling became a popular business to be in, with a fast payback. However, it wasn't sustainable, and we experienced a cliff event and many centers closed. This hurt the reputation of bowling as a business, and many countries have been stable for some time, but there is great opportunity for growth. We still see proprietors choosing the wrong markets, not doing their due diligence, which leads to closures. At Brunswick, we made the commitment several years ago to grow markets, but to do so in a sustainable manner. It is a goal to sell our products, but it is better to do so for many years to come and make sure, as markets grow, the investment in the business is long term and attractive. Unlike many mature markets, there is great opportunity in Asia for not only the newer business models, such as FECs and boutique centers, but also for the sport of bowling. As the leader in developing new business models since 1901, our commitment to growing the sport has never wavered. We continue to grow the sport by assisting in the development of venues dedicated to the sport of bowling.
in many Far East markets. For example, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand have all been impacted by increases in leases, labor costs and reduced levels of disposable income. This is true especially for centers that are located in shopping complexes and malls which have been affected by the decline in retail and service industries. In Taiwan, the economy has been flat over the past 10 years, forcing consumers to cut back on recreational expenses. This, in turn, Juan Cabezas forced proprietors to cut back on their President and Chief Growth Officer, spending, too, in order to survive. Sadly, this resulted in fewer staff, a reduction in QubicaAMF Worldwide maintenance costs, lower game fees, and a Across many parts of Asia, we are noticeable drop in the overall standard and seeing an increasing trend toward image of many centers. entertainment bowling and a convergence Happily, new investors in Taiwan are getting of some of the more traditional bowling into the bowling business, mostly with used centers with other entertainment facilities. equipment, but with new scoring systems and Centers are modernizing their facilities overlays on the lanes, new fixtures, fittings primarily focusing on new lanes, bowler and furniture, and an overall new and entertainment systems and mini bowling, improved image. In the long term, the success in an effort to offer a variety of game and of these new investors will serve as a role entertainment options that appeal to model and they are the key to regenerating various customer segments. This shift the industry. and the modernization of facilities are allowing centers to charge Japan was greatly affected by the more for bowling, and they are often experiencing an increase in bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008, food and beverage revenue as a result. In addition, sport bowling leaving the economy sluggish. continues to remain strong in this region. We are excited to bring the Consumers tightened their 52nd Bowling World Cup to Hao’s Bowling Center in Shanghai, China, purse strings, especially in October. We are looking forward to welcoming bowlers from all over when it came to spending the world to the region. It seems to be very exciting times for this part hard earned money on
they are catering to open bowling or competition (league and tournament) customers. In the coming decade, the general consensus is that the number of sport bowling centers will decline as more hybrid business models—FECs, BECs and boutique-style centers—gain in popularity and viability. With few exceptions, the economic climate has taken its toll
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COVER STORY
Pierce Murray Managing Director, ABS Bowling Pte, Ltd., Singapore In more than 45 years in the bowling industry, previously with AMF and today as president of ABS, my own full-service distribution company, I have been privileged to have worked extensively in the Southeast Asian markets. The centers are larger than in Europe, with an average of 21 lanes and above, but food and beverage income is only 20% of the bowling revenue. Good operators like Ee Fook Choy in Singapore and Christina Koo in Indonesia managed to fill the lanes with league and tournament bowlers. A bright spot in the market is that the bowlers federations managed to get the Olympics committees involved in bowling. Today, in some markets, bowling is accepted in schools, and some have installed bowling centers on campus. While most centers are old-sport bowling facilities, new centers in the region are following the FEC and boutique approach found in the U.S. and European markets, which will have a huge, positive impact in the marketplace.
entertainment and recreation. Proprietors in the Philippines and South Korea tell us they have not been affected quite as much. The economy in the Philippines has been somewhat stable over the past decade, and the bowling industry has recovered slightly from the slump of previous years. We hear similar comments from South Korea, where the market had already stabilized following the global financial crisis in 2008. At the same time, the major manufacturers and their representatives in the Far East are looking forward to the next decade. Realistic growth and regeneration in most markets looks to be a reality. With carefully orchestrated growth programs that are sustainable in the long term, an increase is expected. The boom periods of the past (e.g., in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea) are unlikely to reoccur and will not be encouraged. The global history of the industry has clearly demonstrated that boom and bust go hand in hand. Sustainable growth will be driven by manufacturers working more closely with new investors, ensuring the demographics in 22
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the catchment area of the proposed locations match the size and type of the planned venue (e.g. sport, FEC, or boutique). This approach by the major equipment manufacturers will reduce the number of centers being built in the wrong location, with little chance of survival in the long term. Boom markets have a history of quick sales to the wrong people, for the wrong reason and in the wrong location. Sustainable growth will also be helped by the technology of today’s equipment (modern scoring systems and graphics, special effects lighting, video masking units, etc.) that provides sales and marketing tools necessary to help make the venues more successful. Modernization programs will enable existing centers to be more competitive with alternative forms of entertainment and recreation
Frank Zhao Founder and Owner, Longmarch Bowling, Shanghai, China There seems to be much interest from the international community regarding the bowling industry in China. Of course, some will remember when 30,000 plus lanes were installed between 1994 and 2000. The next decade was a period of closures and by 2008 the number of lanes was reduced to about 3,000. Starting in 2009, a few new centers were built, including the first Longmarch facility with 14 lanes. After that, a few new centers have been built every year, including by a chain operator from Taiwan who now has three centers and will open another later this year. These are all FEC-type centers, offering a variety of amenities. About 20 new centers were built in 2014-2015, mostly traditional centers, but some are FECs. Uptown Alley from the U.S.A. is building its first center with 37 lanes, plus restaurants, bars and games, that is due to open in October 2016. Today there are about 3,500 lanes in about 250 centers, and I estimate that there will be 20 new centers in 2017, with a steady growth in the years to follow. In short, there is a healthy resurgence in the industry in China.
COVER STORY A year ago we did a report on the European market where games prices Mike Quitter ranged from $3.80 a game (Belgium and International Sales (retired), the Netherlands) to $6.85 in France and Ebonite International $9.30 in the UK. Presently the low-end The Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese price in Europe is the high-end in Asia. markets are dominated by high performance The future, which is headed towards products made by all of the U.S. manufacturers. multi-amenity hybrid business models (FECs U.S. manufacturers probably have a 90%+ and boutiques), with more emphasis on share of the performance ball market in Japan family and entertainment activities, is and Korea. The rest of Asia, including Singapore, expected to change and revive the industry Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and throughout the Far East region. Thailand are excellent markets that are primarily For example, with a couple of exceptions, sport bowling dominated. Bowlers, particularly presently glow bowling only has a 15 in Singapore, Malaysia, and Korea, have percent market penetration. And arcades enjoyed excellent success on the world stage. are almost non-existent, although in some This is a result of the fact that bowling is viewed as a sport in these markets markets arcades may be prohibited. In and receives support in the form of government grants. These countries also Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, understand the need for excellent coaching and have employed some of the anywhere from 60-100 percent of the best coaches from around the world. The success that these guys have centers have bumper bowling, whereas the enjoyed shows what can be done with the support of the powers that be. remainder of the Asian markets average at no more than 15 percent. Interestingly, throughout the region, fullservice pro-shops are much more prevalent than in any European available in the marketplace. market or the U.S. Countries like South Korea, Malaysia, As more hybrid model FECs and boutiques are introduced Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are good examples, where into the marketplace, their success will serve as a role model 60 to 100 percent of centers include full-service pro-shops, for the industry and will attract even more new investors. most of which are leased. Some initial forecasts for the next decade indicate there will Overall, the Far East’s reputation for excellent customer be anywhere from 250 to 450+ new centers throughout the Far service with good marketing programs, leaves no doubt that the Eastern markets (with the lions share being installed in China), industry in Asia will be revitalized, and the downturn as a result and FECs and boutiques will be the majority in most markets. of the economy of the past decade will soon be forgotten. ❖ The forecast for China indicates that there will be between 80 to 120 new centers in the next decade, 80 percent of which will be FECs. And the forecast for Japan is in the range of 20 to 30 new centers, with all of them expected to be FECs. We wish to thank the following for contributing to this story: Unlike the U.S., where glow bowling has been a feature for Juan Cabezas and Stephanie Darby and the team at QubicaAMF more than 20 years, only a very small percentage of centers Brent Perrier and Dan Borgie and the team at feature black light/glow bowling, and in some countries in Brunswick Bowling Products the region there is none. It’s a concept that’s never really Pierce Murray of ABS Singapore caught on in Asia. Mike Quitter of Ebonite International In the future, as FECs and boutique centers include additional and attractive amenities to their facilities, (sports bars, mini-lanes, Frank Zhao of Longmarch Bowling Products arcades, laser tag, private party rooms, etc.), and existing centers modernize, they will bypass glow bowling and move directly to DMX Controlled programmable LED special effects lighting providing Red/Blue/Green effects for every occasion Paul Lane is former Director of Marketing and Marketing Services for AMF Bowling, Inc. He has been the director of (birthday parties, corporate functions, holiday themes, etc.). Put 18 AMF World Cups, an officer in national and international all this together and these new hybrid business models will trade associations, and a pro bowler during a career that create an opportunity to increase game fees, which have been spans more than 60 countries and 50 years. fairly stagnant in recent years, and generally much lower than we typically see in Europe and the U.S. IBI
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FEATURE
RAISING YOUR BAR WITHOUT A RESCUE The Latest in Bar Management By Robert Sax f you have a bar in your center, you have probably watched the reality TV show “Bar Rescue,” in which feisty guru Jon Taffer uses expertise and tough love to turn around a failing bar. Although your bar might not need a rescue, you would like to increase profits. What can you do to make your bar business even better? Restaurant consultant Mike Auger of Trifecta Management Group breaks down bar success into several key areas that include environment, product and staff. Environment describes all the things you can do to make your bar attractive to customers. Does it encourage them to come in to socialize and drink? “If you look at the successful bars out there, at least in the entertainment category, having spaces that are connected and properly placed within the venue is extremely important,” says Auger. He notes that today’s younger customers prefer bars that are in the midst of the action, not separated from it. “If you look back to the old bowling centers of the 1970s,” says Auger, “the lounges are tucked away behind a wall and you have to go in a door. I don’t think the experience Mike Auger becomes as social as a bar should be.” David Small owns five centers in Indiana and has redone the food and beverage operations in two of them. At Championship Lanes in Anderson, Small renovated a kitchen and bar that lacked personality. “There was no identity there. We turned it into what we now call “Blaze.” It’s a cross between a high energy evening out with food that has a kick to it,” says
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Small. “We try to match the concept to the particular marketplace we’re in.” Developing a strong brand can build business by differentiating your bar from those in other centers, as well as other independent bars. At the three Aloma Bowl centers that Trifecta manages in Orlando, Florida, it rebranded all the bars under the “Brooklyn South” concept. The new name, look and menu lead to a big jump in revenues without cannibalizing bowling and game sales. “A lot of it has to do with the fact they we have the right concept,” says Auger. “We’re competitive with what’s out there.” Entertainment is another key ingredient in making your bar an exciting and attractive environment for customers. “You have to have some form of entertainment associated with the bar to create that energy,” says Auger. Many things can work, from televised sports to live music and comedy to trivia nights.
GO BEYOND THE OLD STANDBYS The right product mix is also essential. Do you have the beverages and brands your customers are looking for? Beer is America’s most popular
FEATURE alcoholic beverage and offering the leading domestic beers is a given at most centers. But due to the craft beer movement, serving just the tried-and-true brands is no longer enough to satisfy many customers. Many proprietors say you have to diversify your inventory and carry a lot of the handcrafted beers that are so popular now. At Forest View Lanes in Temperance, MI, Rich Kenny has enjoyed significant success by catering to fans of craft beer. A few years ago Kenny started out with four craft beers on draft and kept adding new ones. He currently offers forty beers on tap that are rotated daily. The renovated bar at Tony Sands’ Jewel City Bowl in Glendale, CA, has multiple taps devoted to local craft beer, and Sands plans to add 20 or 30 taps in the makeover of his other center, Matador Lanes. Special beer-themed programs can expand recognition and business beyond your regular customers. Kenny offers tap takeovers by local craft brewers and a daylong beer festival that drew 1,000 people from as far as thirty miles away. He also instituted an exclusive “mug club,” offering patrons a special beer mug and a variety of perks including special pricing and early admission to special beer events. “It really helped us grow our bar business” says Kenny. “We’ve got a loyal following that talks about the place every day to their friends.” You also need to keep up on trends in wine, spirits and cocktails so potential customers won’t reject your place simply because they can’t get their favorite drink. Asking customers what they want is crucial. “A quarter of my inventory comes from guests’ [suggestions]” says Jared Lutes, bar manager of Hey Day Entertainment in Norman, OK. Many owners and managers agree that you have to put in time and effort to keep up with trends. Ask your liquor vendors what’s hot, read trade and consumer media and check out the local Jared Lutes competition. “Once a month, I do a liquor tasting to see any of the new items that are coming in from our distributors,” says Lutes. Phil Blouin of Azbar Plus provides management controls and products to more than 35 centers in North America and constantly canvases his clients for trends and ideas. He says naming a signature cocktail for your bar is a popular way to promote your drinks and your venue. That’s why David Small’s Blaze bar features an eponymous cocktail with a secret recipe. “I’m not going to tell you what’s in it, of course,” says Small, “but we actually put a little Bacardi 151 on top and when it’s served, it’s served on fire to the Phil Blouin customer. They love it.”
POUR COST AND PROFIT Besides having the right product mix, experts stress maximizing the value of a bar’s inventory by reducing waste and shrinkage as much as possible. “Bars are likely to have lost potential profits due to careless draft beer pouring by bartenders, unauthorized giveaways, over-pouring liquor shots to boost tips, cash skimming and outright product theft,” says consultant Mark Flaschner of Alcohol Controls in Atlanta. Bar owners evaluate business performance based on the cost of goods sold, referred to in the bar business as “pour cost.” At its most basic level, pour cost is calculated by adding up the cost of the product and dividing it by total sales. For example, if a bar used $5,000 of liquor one month and had sales of $25,000, the pour cost for that month would be 20% ($5,000 ÷ $25,000). Many Mark Flaschner 28
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FEATURE owners and managers simply figure out the previous month’s pour cost and try to match it the next month. But in reality it’s a more complex equation, with soft drinks, liquor, beer and wine each having individual pour costs ranging from 6% for sodas to as much as 40% for premium wines. Tracking those different pour costs separately will give a better indication of your bar’s performance, although it does make for a lot more inventory and analysis work. Keeping an accurate inventory means regularly counting wine and beer bottles and weighing kegs and liquor bottles, so it’s no surprise that owners and managers generally hate it. Fortunately there are a number of products and vendors available to make the job more pleasant and manageable, from smartphone apps to consulting firms that do it for you. All have their associated costs, but they are almost certain to save you money in the long run by reducing waste. One such vendor is Sculpture Hospitality, a franchised inventory management service for bars. One of Sculpture’s clients, the Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City, was able to cut its pour cost by 50 percent and bring the cost of product down by almost $2,000 a week. In addition, Sculpture provided trend spotting reports that helped the bar become more competitive in its local market. Ian Foster, Sculpture’s vice president of national accounts, notes that bars are different from many other businesses because the bartender collects the money and also has complete control over making and serving the product. This increases the chance of waste and theft, including bartenders who don’t ring up sales or sell drinks from smuggled bottles of their own and pocket the cash. “[Bartenders] know that most management teams are Ian Foster managing on their pour cost. They know that at the end of the month, the only number the manager is going to look at is a percentage,” says Foster. “So there’s plenty of room for them to give drinks away or overpour and know there’s no way they will get caught unless someone is actually watching them, and even that’s hard. It’s hard to tell the difference between [pouring] an ounce-and-a-half and two ounces just by watching.” Many bars use training aids like the Exacto-Pour liquid calibration system, a blind test, to help their bartenders develop and maintain their pouring skills. Jared Lutes requires his bartenders to do a pour test before each shift. “It really prepares them to be consistent throughout their shift,” he says. There are a wealth of automated beverage and liquor control systems that make pouring and mixing drinks faster, easier and more accurate for bartenders. Many will track the amount of liquor served and integrate it with POS systems for sales and inventory reports. The technology has become very advanced, including wireless systems that offer the benefits of beverage control while allowing the free pour style that many customers prefer when ordering premium brands and cocktails.
ITʼS THE STAFF THAT BUILD RELATIONSHIPS The last and perhaps most important element in your bar’s success is your staff. Hiring people who can build rapport and develop regular customers 30
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is crucial to running a successful bar operation. Tony Sands stresses personality, believing you can teach customer service and mixology but can’t teach that special something that makes a bartender likeable. “Graduates of bartending school are very rarely prepared to bartend in the real world,” says Sands. “They haven’t been involved with customers yet. We look for personality before we look for anything else.” When hiring for his Tavern+Bowl group of boutique bowling bars, Daniel Hurd focuses on how long the prospect worked at previous jobs. To him the most important thing is career stability. “The best person in the world, if they jump jobs every year or two years, I’m concerned we’re going to spend all this time training them and all of sudden they are on their Daniel Hurd way” says Hurd. “When you find somebody good, you wrap your arms around them and do whatever it takes to keep them.” Jared Lutes agrees. “Take care of your staff, and they will take care of you. They’re the ones that are going to be interacting with the customers that come in to your bar every day.” He also knows the value of sitting down and listening to feedback from his staff. “They are the ones that deal with the day-to-day operations,” he says. “They see things [managers] don’t.” Proprietors of today’s sophisticated BEC and FEC operations are learning that there’s more to a successful bar than having enough cold beer on hand. Environment, product mix and staff are all crucial ingredients in building another profit center. Get the mix right and you won’t have to worry about seeing Jon Taffer in your bar, unless he’s on the TV. ❖
Robert Sax is a writer and PR consultant in Los Angeles. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, the home of five-pin bowling.
IN MY OWN WORDS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHARES THE STORY By Marc Pater
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dirty. It damages everything and is worse than anything you ear Fellow Proprietors, Staff and Bowlers: can imagine. While national coverage has been hit or miss, I This was practically another Katrina. Over 60,000, yes, am writing to let you know that Louisiana is in 60,000 homes and businesses were flooded. The worst part is, emergency mode due to flooding from west of you can’t prepare for it. It is not like a hurricane. This water came New Orleans to the Texas borderline and up to up so fast, people just left and prayed. Hovering drones Alexandria. The heavy rains were forecasted to dump only about showed homes where the roof was the only thing showing 6-8 inches, which would have caused localized flooding in during the peak flood. Neighborhood after neighborhood, low-lying areas. However, a low pressure system came in and businesses, and interstates were closed. People were stuck on sat on top of us for two days, dumping over 24 inches in most of south Louisiana. This was unexpected and caught everyone off RAINFALL TOTALS: AUGUST 11-13, 2016 guard. The rivers started to rise, became overloaded, and that’s where the problem began. The smaller creeks and bayous, that take water to the larger rivers and then out to the gulf, were already full, so the smaller tributaries could only do one thing— OVERFLOW into areas that had never flooded before. I’m talking entire towns flooded. Baton Rouge was probably 50% under water, with homes that had never experienced flooding, taking on 46 feet of water. If you have never had your home flooded, it’s not a pretty picture when the water leaves. It stinks. It pops up your wood floors. It picks up and moves your furniture around. And, it’s
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IN MY OWN WORDS their roofs for 24 hours before helicopters could drop food and water to them. Search and rescues from homes like you saw on TV from Katrina were everywhere, getting people from roofs and taking them to shelters. Over 20,000 people were sheltered at some point. Water is still flooding homes as it pushes south. Many of the bayous started flowing backwards Thank God for people in Louisiana who own a boat. They came out in droves to help and rescue people from homes taking on water. Remember, these places never flood. Seeing hundreds of boats on our city streets was unbelievable. Some people that were interviewed were victims of Katrina who moved to the Greater Baton Rouge area, only to flood out again in what is called an historic 500-year flood. I am fortunate to live in an area in Baton Rouge that was high enough not to flood, but I had prepared to evacuate as we didn’t know where the water from Jones Creek, which is less than a ½ mile from us, would stop. I have many friends, employees and bowlers who lost everything. It didn’t matter what your home was worth, if you were close enough to these bayous and creeks, you got water in your home. A very prickly problem is that much of the area is listed as “not in a flood area,” so flood insurance is not required. Many people did not have insurance due to that stipulation. However, water doesn’t go by maps. When there is
How the insides of homes look now.
nowhere else to go except over the banks, then it flows and goes everywhere. I’ve been in contact with many proprietors in south Louisiana and most have survived with little damage to any buildings. However, many centers have been either closed or can’t open, due to the emotional stress that leaves few wanting to go bowling. Just one more way businesses are affected. I have seen terrible things like wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning strikes, but this is like a slime slithering towards your home, and you are given very little time to get out. It’s hard to leave, but you must make that decision or take your chances. With this flood, there was no wind, so people could get out in boats to get those stranded, which probably saved thousands of people and pets. You’ve lived in your home for 40 years and it has never 34
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flooded, and then 24 inches of rain falls everywhere around your entire state, 40 trillion gallons of water flows down into homes and streets, and everywhere you look, it’s flooded. But it is when you return home that you see the real damage inside: refrigerators moved and laying on countertops, sofas on top of chairs, pianos tossed like toys. It is sad. Count your blessings if you have never had this or some Stranded by the flood.
other catastrophe happen to you. Pater’s assistant manager’s home. What do you do when so many other people need to get their places repaired, causing you to be displaced for months? Who helps the elderly who can’t help themselves and who have no family? However, people can and do help people in distress. What I have seen over the last few days here in Baton Rouge is really what our people are about in times of crisis. Everyone helped everyone, no matter the race. As you know from the news, we had issues with racial strife a month ago. However, when it comes to this, we pull together to help everyone. We ask for prayers and understanding. A quiet Katrina has occurred without powerful winds, causing a life-changing event that’s hard to fathom. Thanks for reading. Take care and stay dry. ❖ Born and raised in New Iberia, LA, Marc is a true Cajun gentleman. He has been in the bowling world all his life. He is district manager for Malco and executive director of the Louisiana Bowling Proprietor Association.
PROFILE
THE HOUSES THAT JACK BUILT The Tate family celebrates 70 years of Jack Tate’s bowling center ownership in Enid, OK. By Mark Miller
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n August 14th, members of the Enid, OK, bowling community held a major celebration. They gathered to honor someone who truly has lived the American dream as the patriarch of the sport and business of bowling in their quintessential American city 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Orville Glenn (O.G.) Tate, long known to friends and family as Jack, reached 70 years in the industry. It came just three weeks after he turned 95. Among those who were there were his son Jim and daughter-in-law Sandy who continue to carry on his legacy at the 40-lane Oakwood Bowl five years since he stopped coming in every day. “We are Enid’s family fun center,” said Jim, 65. “That’s what we are.” And that’s what Jack Tate wanted for all of his centers – four overall and three at one time in the mid-1970s.
It’s what his family continues striving for at the lone, current location on the west side of town.
The History
This story dates back to 1946, one year after the end of World War II. Jack Tate and then-wife Arlene were living down the road in Tulsa where he was trying to make a career as a certified public accountant. Unfortunately things weren’t working out the way he hoped. Jack recollected his career from the home he shares with second wife Virginia, whom he married after Arlene died of cancer. “My family was growing faster than my income. When we [Arlene and I] were first married, we were just a few blocks from a 16-lane bowling center in Tulsa. They had a ping-pong table that didn’t cost anything, so we’d play until we got tired and watched them bowl. During this time, we got to be real, real good friends with the manager, Mr. Grant. IBI
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PROFILE He told me ‘Jack, there’s a gentleman out there working to perfect an automatic pinsetter. When that happens bowling will explode’ and I took that to heart.” So the young couple followed the old ‘Go West Young Man’ philosophy, stopping first in Ponca City. While the owner there wasn’t interested in selling, he had heard a rumor that someone in Enid might be. This time the answer was different. “The owner there said, ‘The two things I wouldn’t sell are my pet horse and my wife. Everything else is negotiable,’ ” Jack recalled. Soon thereafter, the Tates were owners of Enid Recreation Center, an eight-lane establishment upstairs in a building in downtown Enid, which at the time had about 30,000 residents. It definitely was not an immediate cash cow. “There wasn’t a lot of money at that time, so I opened and closed,” Jack said. However everything turned around enough so that in 1957 he was able to build Trail Lanes, an 18-laner on South Jackson Street near the middle of town. Once Trail Lanes was established and flourishing, he closed Enid Recreation. Then in 1960 Jack built Shamrock Bowl, a 20laner on the north side. “Shamrock was my crown jewel,” Jack said. “People flocked in there like you can’t believe. We had a legal pad where we put people on the waiting list all the way down and sometimes onto
Kira Mathis, Sandy Tate, Jack Tate, Jim Tate, Sean Mathis.
two decades, helping to oversee some out-of-town restaurants Jack and some partners bought. He returned to Shamrock Lanes in 1993, where he met and then married Sandy in 1996. Their combined family consists of four children and six grandchildren. Sandy’s daughter Kira Mathis and her husband Sean both work at the center, with Kira helping with payroll and marketing while Sean works on and behind the lanes. “We all do everything,” said Sandy, a member of the Enid USBC board of directors. Jim and Sandy continue to follow several of Jack’s mantras. One mantra is to open every day of the year at 9 a.m. and to close when the last customer has left. Another is to always keep updating, modernizing, and implementing new ideas. Jack was constantly picking up ideas while religiously attending state, regional and national bowling conventions. “I lost my wife in 1990 to cancer and she said ‘There’s no way he can drive by a bowling alley without stopping,’ and, you know what, she was right. The joke was the car automatically pulled in.” Jack continued, “I was always looking for ideas. You might have to stop at a halfdozen or a dozen places, but if you get one idea, you’re ahead of the game.” Jack said his best idea came during International Bowl Expo in Orlando, FL, about 30 years ago. “A proprietor gave a speech on after-school bus programs. I thought, oh my God, that would work perfect for us,” Jack said. “As luck would have it, one of my bowling partners was a school teacher, and I contacted him and told him what I found out. So we started talking to teachers. Every one of them liked the idea, saying we need something for kids to do.”
“I tried to treat the less fortunate the same as I treat everyone else. It’s been a fun and very rewarding career.” a second column. That’s how busy we were. It was unreal. It was so much nicer than they had been used to: it had coffee leagues for women in the mornings and two sessions of leagues Monday through Friday. The only time for open bowling was on the weekends.” Such success prompted Jack to open Oakwood Bowl on the west side in 1976 with the-then 24-laner plus Shamrock catering to leagues while Trail focused on open bowling. At that time Enid was an oil town, home of Champlin Oil. But when that industry went bust in 1984-85, the population dropped from about 54,000 to 42,000 people, prompting the closing of Trail and a couple years later of Shamrock. Trail Lanes’ best 16 lanes were reinstalled and repurposed at Oakwood Lanes to make a total of 40 lanes.
The Recent History
Son Jim, along with brothers Gary and Roger, started working at Shamrock while in high school. After school, Jim left town for more than 36
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PROFILE
The idea has been a reality since 1993 and today Jim still drives an old school bus to transport students from three or four schools every Monday through Thursday during the school year. “When you have something that’s advantageous, it’s a winner for everyone,” Jack said. “Whenever I ran across something new, my first question to myself was, will it work in Enid? If I thought it would work in Enid, I would get busy on it the next morning.” The project three years ago was updating the settee area, most notably with upholstered, metal bench seats in the shape of bowling pins. They were designed and built by Sandy’s father, Bud Mast of Eads, CO, a welder for more than 50 years. “You think it’s an old bowling center, but it looks like a new one,” Jim said. “We’re always putting money back into the center. Our project this summer is going to be installing Qubica BES X scoring.” The Tates also spend plenty of time helping their 60 youth bowlers. According to Jim, Oakwood has raised more scholarship money than any other center in the state for the past 18 years – about $17,000 in the 2015-16 season. The center hosts several high school teams plus has about 500 adult league bowlers. After so many years in the business, the Tates still enjoy what they do. “We went to a [BPAA regional] meeting where the speaker said, ‘If you’re running a bowling center and not having any fun, do something else,’ ” said Jim, who averages as high as 215. “So I took that to heart. I’m having fun. I bowl three nights a week. I like to bowl and I think everyone else should like to bowl too.” In between working, Sandy also bowls three times a week with a high average of 184. “It’s had its frustrating times, but we’ve had great times too,” Sandy said. “I stay in it because Jack has done such a great job of keeping this business up, and he just wants us to do it. We want to please him and do what’s best for business. That’s why I stay in it. I do it for Jack.” Though Jack stopped actively participating in the business about five years ago, he stays involved from home. “It’s impossible for him not to be involved,” Sandy said. “We still visit him and take the P&Ls over so he can look them over. He still gives input on where we need to spend our money.” Mentally he’s fine, but physically, he’s limited and home 38
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bound. “It pains me I can’t do more,” Jack said. “I do the best I can which is very, very little.” What’s been the best thing for Jack Tate these 70 years? “The mix of people of all categories I’ve come
Oakwood Bowl has a unique style, illustrated by the custom pin-style settees designed and built by Bud Mast, Sandy Tate's father.
in contact with,” he said. “I tried to treat the less fortunate the same as I treat everyone else. It’s been a fun and very rewarding career.” ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public relations specialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the author of Bowling: America's Greatest Indoor Pastime available at Amazon.com or directly from him at markmywordstexas@gmail.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK
SEL L
BUY
Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com
www.tuckerbowling.com
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Complete 16-lane Brunswick GSX system (2001-2002); light use for 5 years; professionally un-installed & stored in dry storage since 2008. Full package including pinsetters, ball returns, synthetic lanes, under-flooring, electronics, balls, shoes, extensive spare parts, etc. Located in Colorado. $10K/Lane OBO. Contact Bob @ rkorzekwa@msn.com. Like new 24-lane Anvil pkg., foul line forward w/deck; installation. Approach sand/screen available. 16-lane Steltronic pkg. 24-lane AS90 or AMF Excel. 22-lane American Bowling Hood/Rack. Brunswick & AMF powerlifts. 16lane Brunswick bumper/gutter. 20 lanes Media Mask w/ speakers. Blacklight bulbs, $4 ea. Installation available. Email knotritellc@gmail.com. For Sale: Complete AMF AccuScore Plus scoring system with monitors & 40 Frame Game for 12-lane center. $15,000 OBO. Must pick up. Call Ryan (574) 583-7358. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751.
EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Call (608) 764-1464.
SERVICES AVAILABLE AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchange your tired or damaged chassis for an upgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted and ready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround. Lifetime guarantee. References available. [Lazy mechanics & clueless owners, please call someone else.] CHASSIS DOCTOR (330) 314-8951. Bowlingtrader.com is YOUR FREE bowling buy and sell site. Sponsored by Redline Foul Lights. Tel: 1 (888) 569-7845. Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
EDUCATION & TRAINING PRO SHOP TRAINING. Classes always forming. Jayhawk Bowling Supply (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. 42
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CLASSIFIEDS PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges
LOCKER KEYS FAST! All Keys done by code # Locks and Master Keys E-mail: huff@inreach.com TOLL FREE
1-800-700-4539
MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576
MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black Light/Traditional/Pro Putter.
202 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
CENTERS FOR SALE NORTHERN GULF COAST: 24-lane, split 16/8, FEC. Built in 2006. 2.5 acres and 28,000 s/f building. Brunswick GSX, well maintained. New Brunswick scoring system and Aloha cash register systems in 2014. Fully enclosed bar/restaurant, full kitchen, walk-in freezer/cooler and pizza oven. Kegel lane machine and new ball drilling equipment. Call Pete, (228) 348-6921 or email: prburns11@cableone.net. NEW YORK: Foothills of the Adirondacks: Multi-Channel Income Streams defines this opportunity! Thriving diner, tavern & recreation center, including bowling, sand volleyball and card leagues awaits. This turn key business is located on the main thoroughfare just minutes to Utica Nano, SUNY Polytech, Rome & Utica metro areas. On the snowmobile trail as well! John (315) 534-1925. CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane Brunswick center with Anvil lanes, 50-seat restaurant with Drive-Thru Window. All new appliances. Only bowling center within 60 miles. Call (775) 720-2726. APPRAISALS: LARRY DOBBS MAI, ASA. (214) 674-8187. Bowlingvaluations@yahoo.com.
Felix Erickson Co., Inc. Strike Zone © Family of Lane Products Strike Zone© Next Generation LC 5 gal case $105 Envi-Cide II Disinfectant Shoe sparay 12/15 oz $87.95 Solve-It © Orange Foam Cleaner 12/18 oz $69.95 FESI Solve-IT © Ball Wheel Liner 22’ $90 NEW RM 107 Rubber/Cork Wheel Liner $29.95/Roll 000-024-604 Gray Ball Lift Belt $195 ea. Exclusive Phenolic Kickback Plates Front F128D 16” x 33” $88 ea. Rear F129 19” x 23 3/4” $88 ea. F132T 15" x 50" $130 ea. All plates include screws and instructions 800-445-1090 (F) 609-267-4669 festrikezone.com Resurfacing - Repairs - Supplies - Synthetics 44
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AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC board repair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fast turnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service 5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054 Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695) Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon) E-mail: wb8yjf@sbcglobal.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
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VIRTUAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE NEEDED Are you a creative marketing associate, skilled at assessing bowling and family entertainment center operations and marketing to determine where there are opportunities to grow the business and increase revenue? QubicaAMF, a leader in the recreation and entertainment business for over 50 years, is seeking a Virtual Marketing Associate to work with our customers to identify opportunities for growth and develop an action plan to deliver on those opportunities. We are seeking a self-motivated professional with polished communication skills, who pays attention to details, is a great listener and is able to empathize with customers. The ideal candidate will have practical marketing planning and strategy experience, a deep understanding of bowling center operations and be customer service focused. Experience working with Conqueror Pro in an operating environment and working with CorelDraw is highly preferred. Additionally, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, general cloud knowledge and calendar and data management is required. This position will be responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing action plans, coaching clients to execute the action plan and providing successful and proven solutions to challenges. We offer a competitive compensation package which includes medical and a 401K plan.
Could this be the ideal position for you? Want to learn more? If you have the desire to work for the market leader in the industry, please send your resume along with a cover letter detailing your experience to Rosa Katz at rkatz@qubicaamf.us.
SELL YOUR CENTER (818) 789-2695 IBI
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SHOWCASE INTELLIGENT LANE MACHINE
Brunswick’s Envoy lane machine is a state-of-the-art system; an intelligent machine that is simple to operate, has everything a center needs with the ability to create any shot bowlers expect. Envoy delivers industryleading performance with Brunswick’s Direct+ conditioning system that provides individual board-by-board application for superior pattern consistency. Its Graphical User Interface (GUI) has easy-to-read color displays and provides programming in units, making customizing the patterns a snap. The Enoy’s FlexPower system gives you the choice of two types of battery power or AC operation. For more information, visit brunswickbowling.com/products/lane-machines/envoy/.
LED LIGHTING SYSTEMS
ZOT Pinsetter Parts, Inc., has announced an expanded line of special LED lighting systems, ZOT ColorSplash. The ColorSplash line includes an LED pindeck lighting system, LED cap light system, and LED RGBW and UV overhead lane light fixture. These custom dynamic products offer literally millions of color combinations and special effects, plus substantial cost savings in energy consumption and
TOUCH SCREEN CONSOLE
Steltronic introduces its latest touch screen console, a stylish replacement for existing keypad consoles. This model uses a commercial grade 19-inch touch screen for easier use and visibility. This industrial strength hardware will hold up to public use and have fewer problems. The console features all the basic needs for interaction with the scoring system, plus built-in Facebook posting gives your center the advertising it deserves. “We are YOUR bowling center management specialists.” For more information, call (800) 942-5939 or email info@steltronicscoring.com.
reduced maintenance costs. For more information, go to zotcolorsplash.com; call PJ Rosendahl at (303)824-1031; or email pjrosendahl@zotcolorsplash.com.
SELFIE GRIDS
QubicaAMF’s BES X entertainment system provides a unique experience for customers of all ages. The BES X Selfie Grids make customers feel right at home and allow them to take a selfie on the camera-equipped SuperTouch LCD bowler console. They will love seeing their selfie, in HD, on the overhead monitor and bowler console. Centers will love seeing those customers come back again and again. Change the experience and grow your business and revenue with BES X. Go to www.qubicaamf.com/experiencebesx.
GLOW SOCKS RULE!
Expert Hosiery/Funtime Footwear encourages Crazy Sock Nights that are turning socks into profits! Check out the New GLOW design for midnight bowling, in crews and knee highs for girls and guys. Multi-Color Pack: Black, Turquoise, Lime and by the Dozen: Pink. Funtime Footwear is THE athletic footwear supplier for bowling, skating and FECs. Mix and match GLOW Ball & Pin Socks and Basics by the dozen. For more information, call (919) 799-7707; or go to www.funtimefootwear.com.
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VIRAL VIDEOS
Bowling center and bar owners understand that keeping people around translates into more sales. Locations with CHIVE TV know that because it gets their customers to stay. CHIVE TV has been installed in over 900+ locations in its first six months. What is CHIVE TV? CHIVE TV is free programming that features the best jaw-dropping, viral videos from the most entertaining website in the world, theCHIVE.com. Unique and attention grabbing, find out more at http://chive.tv.