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Vol.3,
No.7 — April 14, 2006
| BCA |
:: QUALITY CONNECTIONS ... Although it's common for non-Vegas Expos to generate less foot traffic inside the hall, fewer local distractions in Houston turned the hotel lounge into a different kind of hotspot. A quick turn through the Hilton lobby each night showed dozens of connections being made by old and new friends alike. One exhibitor commented on the value of an opportunity to chat with a retailer he'd be "courting" for 12 years. The next day, the retailer stopped by his booth and placed a large order!
 "This kind of interaction is what it's all about," said BCA past president Skip Nemecek. "In cities like Houston and Kansas City, everybody sticks around the hotel and really gets to chance to know one another."
Lighter foot traffic in the hall still managed to translate into a quality sales event for some, if not for others. President and CEO of McDermott Billiards, Claude Napier, noted "I was very pleasantly surprised. The attendance was light, as I had expected, but the business written far exceeded my expectations. I polled my dealers prior to the show and the majority of them indicated that they were going to wait until the August show to do their business. Based on that, I anticipated attending the show at a net loss but in full support of the BCA. To my surprise, we actually doubled my expectations and our business equaled 60% of the business from last year’s show."
At the closing press conference, show managers from WT Glasgow reported that just over 1840 buyers had toured the floor over the three day period. A total of 234 exhibitors claimed 1272 booths to conduct what turned out to be highly-targeted business in the 22 hours of open floor time. Many exhibitors expressed concern about the smaller numbers (compared to Las Vegas turnouts), but several also observed that those in attendance were savvy – and serious – buyers.
 “Although foot traffic was lighter than we would like to see, we heard from several exhibitors that their sales have equaled previous years.” stated the BCA Board’s Second Vice-President and Trade Show Committee Chairman, Ivan Lee. “It’s no surprise that we see larger numbers of attendees in Las Vegas, but we know that sales volume for our exhibitors can remain steady in other venues.” [ press release | photo gallery ]
Although there's a certain "comfort level" with a crowded show floor, some of the veteran exhibitors didn't flinch. Cue & Case Sales' CEO Mike Baggett no longer looks at sales numbers, but this year focused on building relationships and showing new product to dealers that were (more often than not) internet dealers. Brunswick's Sean Cummings also noted that while west coast dealers were absent, a new class of buyer - the Sam’s Club, internet companies and “Big Box” retailers - were on hand. His booth was overstaffed, but he had more quality time with prospective buyers.
But the debate surrounding the show date continues, and the BCA Board and staff remain committed to working with exhibitors and buyers to try to develop trade show solutions — like the August "Back to Billiards" kickoff — that can generate solid business leads, and profitability, for everyone.
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| :: BACK TO BILLIARDS TAKES CENTER STAGE |
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 The August Trade Show in Baltimore ... now takes top-billing over all things "expo", with an extended Early-Bird deadline of April 21 for exhibitors to download a contract and save — PLUS a reminder to attendees that the badge order deadline is May 15. BCA members should sign up now while badges are still FREE!
The Back to Billiards Preseason Kickoff for Everything Billiards will be restricted to certified dealers and room operators, while a separate lineup of special events will generate billiard excitement for the public. Players will be able to view an official Guinness World Record attempt by Dave Pearson "The Ginger Wizard", plus watch world-champion trick-shot artists and take instructional clinics. Also on the lineup will be the new EnjoyPool.com Battle of the BCA Champions, featuring the 16 top male and female professionals, with final matches taped for television! [ more ] |
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STRUCK IT RICH ... with FREE flights to Vegas from the BCA |
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 THREE LUCKY WINNERS ... were selected to receive travel certificates, redeemable for a free flight to the Expo in Las Vegas next April. Buyers who followed yellow balloons marking Show Only Specials were entered into the nightly drawing when they made a purchase and delivered their ticket to the BCA booth by 3:30 each day. BCA Executive Director Stephen Ducoff did the honors, and picked winners from near and far.
To kick off the show, Thursday night's winner was Robert Quenneville of AcCue Rate Billiard Supply in Pelham, New Hampshire, who purchased his Show Only Special from the BCA (which had offered the "How to Play Pool Right" series of instructional materials). On Friday, Lori Dawn Hart (pictured above left) of The Corner Pocket in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada was selected to receive the day's grand prize. The final pick of the series went to Stephen Summers of A.J. Gill Billiard Supply in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. Both Hart and Summers had purchased their special from Viking Cue Mfg., Inc. |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE |
| No fooling around in April ... The team at Alan Taylor Communications is working all the media angles with billiard personalities, holiday pitches, publication and broadcast follow-ups and special interest projects like these: |
- Pitched Earl Strickland to national and Houston-based media regarding Hall of Fame.
- Generated interest from The Howard Stern Radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
- Secured numerous segments with “Good Day New York” (WNYW-TV, FOX) for Tuesday, April 18 outside Blatt Billiards. Tony Robles will provide a trick shot demonstration, as well as how-to tips to the anchors.
- Pitching various billiard products for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Gift Guides.
- Secured a game room segment with ESPN 2’s Cold Pizza on Tuesday, March 21
- Finalizing ESPN logistics for episode of “Rome Is Burning”, featuring Jennifer Barretta in the show’s daily “Correspondent” segment during the San Diego Classic (April 19-23).
- Continuing overall pitch on “How to Build the Perfect Room” to consumer magazines
- Outreach to Christian media; segment producer Molly Young of the 700 Club is reviewing a DVD from Steve Lillis and the Gospel Trick Shot Ministry.
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 Help ATC pitch your line
... Want to see your company in the news? All
BCA Business Members are encouraged to submit their latest product
news to Tom Cosentino.
He’ll use your information to design a
pitch for the best possible fit, and print and
broadcast media will make their own final selections
on which items to feature.
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MEMBER MARKETING
101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game" |
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TIP № 21 |
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Create strategic partnerships to tap into the new home buyer market |
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STRATEGY: |
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Team up with builders to offer turnkey billiard room packages for their model homes that are highlighted in the spring. These partnerships essentially expand your sales force and promote your products to people you know can afford the money and space required for a pool table. |
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EXECUTION: |
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- Target three to five companies to work with
- Create a customer presentation folder that includes ... The advantages of a billiard room (family recreation, guest entertainment, etc.) ... Color photos of various billiard rooms ... Tips on designing a billiard room ... Tips on buying a table or cue ... A showcase of tables and accessories ... A discount coupon for a table or accessories
- Provide game room products for model homes as well as signs, brochures and business cards
- Build your mailing list with drawings to win a cue, a table or even an entire billiard room
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BCA BOARD BUSINESS |
Five Board Members ... were elected by the BCA general membership, with the results announced at the membership meeting in Houston, on April 5. From the votes cast, newly or re-elected board members to accept three-year terms were: Mike Baggett (Cue & Case Sales), Kathy Etheridge (Showcase Billiards), Bob Radford (Antique Billiard Supply) and Eric Weber (CueStix International). Sean Cummings (Brunswick) will serve a two-year term. [ platforms ]
Board members (l-r): Barry Hart, John Nusser and Gregg Hovey welcome Kathy Etheridge. |
Both Mike Baggett and Eric Weber extended current terms with re-appointments to the board, while Kathy Etheridge kept it “all in the family” by picking up where Clay Etheridge left off, following his lengthy term of service. Former board member Bob Radford re-claimed a seat, and Sean Cummings will begin learning the ropes as a newcomer in his first term. [ press release ]
Call for Committee Members! Committee membership is also open to those not currently serving on the BCA Board of Directors. If you are interested in being named to a committee, please send an email to BCA Executive Director Stephen Ducoff by Friday, April 21, 2006. |
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| :: BEST BOOTH WINNERS |
After all the transport, setup, dust-off and polishing ... a total of 14 “best booth” winners in three size categories were named at the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo in Houston last week, following a formal two-day round of judging by a panel of show managers from W.T. Glasgow.
 Large green “Best Booth Award” ribbons were presented by BCA President Gregg Hovey and Executive Director Stephen Ducoff, for display on the booths through tear-down. The winners were:
- 1-2 Booth Category: Artisan House, International Trading, KillerSpin, PALKO PTY Ltd.
- 3-9 Booth Category: American Family Products, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Dart World, Hood Leather Goods, Saluc SA
- 10+ Booth Category: AMF Billiards & Games, KASSON, Embassy Entertainment (pictured), Tempo Industries, Inc., World of Leisure
Find more photos of best booth winners in the follow-up "Media & Photo Gallery" webpage. |
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| :: BCA MEMBER NEWS |
:: BCA PROFILE |
QBall Promotions ... In the wake of the deep-pocket IPT, one BCA member company is trying to make an equally big splash in amateur competition, with a high-stakes, year-long series of playoffs called the Cujoroho Challenge. QBall Promotions traveled to the recent Expo in Houston to pitch the idea to sponsors and players alike. |
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According to the company website, the Cujoroho Challenge Series™ is the first amateur-only pool/billiards match-play system in the U.S. to offer a $1,000,000.00 prize to a single winning player. Each player in every authorized location will have their shot to qualify for the Cujoroho Challenge Series™ 9-Ball Final Event in Las Vegas, Nevada where one player will enter the pool/billiards history books and walk away with $1,000,000.00 (before taxes, of course).
Competition begins May 1, 2006 with forty-eight (48) weekly local qualifier matches held in locations nationwide. At least two (2) players from each of these locations will earn a spot in the final event and play for the million dollar top prize.
Find out more about this new project, or pre-register online, at www.qballpromotions.com. |
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 SEAN CUMMINGS ... is the President of Brunswick Billiards with 20 years of business development and marketing experience. He believes the billiard industry can benefit by working together to expand the general public’s awareness of this great game, leading to increased sales and profits for all manufactures and retailers.
Mr. Cummings spent 10 years at Mercury Marine in various capacities including the Vice President of Marketing where he worked with U.S. and Canadian associations on successful industry-wide growth initiatives. He believes industry associations have an obligation to “grow the pie” while providing all members with practical solutions to overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
Elected to his first term on the BCA Board of Directors last week, Mr. Cummings brings two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Northwestern University in Chicago, and is certain to become a valuable addition to the administrative group over the coming years. [ press release ]
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:: BCA PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |
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ONLINE DATA CORP ... has provided industry leadership since 1984, by providing faster transaction approval and easier settlement of all non-cash transactions, including ACH, credit, debit business, foreign and purchasing card payments. At the recent Expo, Henry and Maria Cunier were on hand to explain all about how to take advantage of this valuable member benefit.
Offered to businesses of all sizes, their clients include e-commerce merchants, retailers, direct marketers, restaurants, hotels, medical professionals and others. Among the first to specialize in e-commerce processing, the company's scope is national and its team of experts is widely regarded within the industry as the leader in marketing, technical and operational quality. Browse the company website to find out more about how this BCA corporate partner can help your business thrive. |
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| :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS |
| BREAKING NEWS ... |
... McDermott Custom Cues ... has been named the official cue sponsor of the EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships in Las Vegas, May 14-20, 2006. [ more ]
... Lou Sardo's comedy routine was a tough act to follow ... but Janet Shimel rose to the occasion at the induction of Earl Strickland into the BCA Hall of Fame on April 6. Earlier that day, she had mislaid her notes for the speech she was scheduled to deliver in Earl's honor, and by showtime they still hadn't turned up. Unfazed, Mrs. Shimel took the stage and delivered her moving comments off the cuff, to the delight of the audience. |
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| Hall of Famer Loree Jon Jones (right) congratulates Janet on a job well-done. Photo: Amy Long. |
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MARCH/APRIL BREAK |
The BCA BREAK ... debuted a new look with the March/April edition. BCA graphic designer Ginni Francis recently re-tooled the nameplate for the bi-monthly, four-page newsletter. [ download a PDF ] |
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| DAV DONATON PAYS OFF |
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The Disabled American Veterans ... contacted the BCA earlier in the year, seeking a donation to support a special event. Executive Director Stephen Ducoff replied with a cue and case, and Karen Corr volunteered to conduct an exhibition for the DAV in Plainville, Mass.
 A photo essay of appeared in the March/April issue of the DAV magazine, which has a circulation of over two million veterans.
Click on the image above to read the page, or follow the magazine link to page 31 of the edition for the full write-up. |
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 An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business
Members, the
BCA
Member Update
is announced via email twice monthly and
archived
online. Please print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel
free to submit your comments
or contributions to BCA Executive Director
Stephen D. Ducoff
or Director of Communications/Editor Linda Mojer. |
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Copyright © Billiard Congress of America |
NEXT
ISSUE: Vol. 3, No. 8 – April 28, 2006 |
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