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Vol.3,
No.16 — August 18, 2006
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:: NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIRED ... The BCA has confirmed the hire of Rob Johnson as its new Executive Director, to follow the retirement of Stephen Ducoff at the end of this month. Johnson will take over the helm at the national office in Colorado Springs on September 5. [ press release ]
The news was issued in an online report posted on the Billiards Digest website, that began: "In a move that Billiard Congress of America directors hope will put the association’s desire to become more of a marketing arm for the industry on a fast track, the BCA announced the selection of veteran motorsports executive Rob Johnson as its new executive director.
Johnson, whose most recent duties as executive vice president/general manager of Sutton International Motorsports included the staging and marketing of the Grand Prix of Denver, was unanimously confirmed by the BCA board of directors at its meeting in Baltimore, Aug. 13.
At Sutton, Johnson managed sales, marketing and public relations initiatives for NASCAR, Baja and Champ Car projects. In 2002, Johnson formed Professional Sports Management, a company that managed and operated the Pikes Peak International Raceway, a 1,200-acre, 42,000-seat motorsports complex that hosted major events, including NASCAR and Indy Racing League." [ full story ]
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| :: BACK TO BILLIARDS |
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A fun-filled three days ... was enjoyed by all who attended the recent Back to Billiards Pre-Season Kickoff for Everything Billiards in Baltimore. In the cozy east-coast setting, exhibitors and buyers did brisk business to stock up for the coming season, then enjoyed beautiful weather, local fare and a chance to see some of the biggest names on the pro tours. At the close-of-business on Saturday afternoon, a run on giveaways at the door showed that well over 500 enthusiasts had attended the separate Ballbusters events that were open to the public.
 "Team Irresistible" wins the Ultimate Pool Party ... Vivian Villarreal, Charlie Williams and recent IPT big winner Thorsten Hohmann (pictured at left) dubbed themselves "Team Irresistible" when they squared off against first-round opponents Johnny Archer, Karen Corr and Julie Kelly - "The Favorites" - at the Ultimate Pool Party.
Each of the 3-person teams adopted a name, and in the second semi-final, the "Dream Team" of Corey Deuel, Jeanette Lee and Ralf Souquet advanced to the final with a win over "the Tag team" of Alison Fisher, Gerda Hofstatter and Tony Robles. All three of the Saturday afternoon team 8-ball playoffs were taped for later broadcast by ESPN, on a set designed to look like a well-appointed home game room, in front of packed studio audiences.
Another World Record by Pearson ... Just prior to the pro team final, "The Ginger Wizard" Dave Pearson warmed up the crowd with an exciting attempt to best his own Guinness World Book speed pool record, by running 10 racks of 15 balls on two side-by-side tables in just under nine minutes [08:58]. Racing the digital clock, he out-did himself by seven seconds, to re-set the mark at 0:08:51:88 for the feat. Congratulations! |
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| ::
ESPN PULSE TALKS TO LEE IN BALTIMORE |
 The Black Widow promoted the Ultimate Pool Party ... on ESPN's "The Pulse" with a seven-minute interview on August 12. In it she previewed the pro lineup for the Ultimate Pool Party, promo-ed the World Record attempt, explained speed pool competition, spoke about her career and background, then answered internet questions from the audience. It's a great clip, and the latest to be added to the BCA video log, under the Marketing tab > Image Campaign > videostreams dropdown. If you have a high-speed connection, this is definitely worth a look.
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PUBLIC RELATIONS UPDATE |
PROMOTIONS GALORE ... in Baltimore helped Alan Taylor secure big media numbers for the BCA and billiards, starting with an unprecedented preview in the Associated Press local daybook. Every media outlet in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area refers to the AP daybook to find news stories on any given day, and the ATC tip was a great success in securing local coverage for the BCA in a major market. |
- Secured a feature interview with Jeannette Lee on ESPN News' The Pulse on August 12 from the ESPN Zone in Baltimore to promote the Back To Billiards Ballbusters event.
- Had WJZ-TV (CBS) send a crew out to shoot video of the activities
- Secured a featured listing for Ballbusters with the City Paper weekly outlet in Baltimore
- Having discussions with Jeannette Lee's representatives regarding her serving as a guest commentator on Rome Is Burning
- Developing outreach campaign to national business outlets regarding opening of Olhausen facility in Tennessee
- Outreaching to Las Vegas media for upcoming "9-Ball" movie event in Las Vegas
- Held additional discussions with 700 Club regarding potential feature on Steve Lillis and his Gospel Trick Shot Ministry, tentatively looking at late September.
- Contacting long lead magazines for holiday gift guide submissions
- Continuing outreach for television opportunities with Anna Kostanian and Austin Murphy
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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 № 34 |
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Sponsor “My Dream Recreation Room” display to draw traffic and motivate buyers |
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STRATEGY: |
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People are fascinated with celebrities and how they live. That’s why a “My Dream Recreation Room” display (like the Ultimate Pool Party set) can generate excitement and encourage customers to “think big”. When people consider pool to be a family activity and part of their lifestyle, they are more likely to purchase. |
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EXECUTION: |
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- Contact local celebrities, such as TV anchors, sports figures or musicians, and ask them to create a dream room from your stock of tables, accessories and game room furnishings
- Create partnerships with furniture stores or art galleries and have them loan you items that can be used to build and display the celebrity dream rooms
- Create an in-store display featuring the“dream rooms”
- Develop special “recreation room” packages that give a discount if the customer purchases a table as well as game room furniture, accessories and room décor
- Train your sales staff in how to sell the “recreation room” concept
- Give customers who purchase only a table a coupon for furniture and accessories purchased within 30 days
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| :: FACELIFT FOR POOL & BILLIARD WEBSITE |
 The Pool & Billiard website ... recently underwent a radical re-design, to include a new interface for submitting news stories, a single-page PDF of the current issue contents page, and a links page entitled the "online Expo Center" with online references in 13 categories. The graphics on each richly color-coded page coordinate with the low balls, with the "Magic 8 Ball" containing the latest blogging, and the "7" containing a comprehensive and easy-to-follow TV/Events listing.
From the site, the publication's profile states that it "is the sport's oldest monthly magazine and boasts the largest readership of billiard businesses, players and fans. The company was founded in 1983 by Harold Simonsen and his oldest daughter Shari, [as a small monthly newsletter] originally entitled the Pool & Billiard Scratch Sheet. The infant publication grew out of their relationship with the sport through the family business, Harold's Pool Parlour, which was opened in the Chicago area in 1976 and operated for over twenty years before P&B relocated to Charleston, South Carolina." [ browse ] |
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| :: IPT GEARS UP FOR SECOND TOUR STOP |
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The International Pool Tour ... is currently previewing its World Open 8-Ball Championship, scheduled for competition at the newly-renovated Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada, September 2-10. Offering an unprecedented prize fund of $3 million, this event winner will be awarded $500,000.
The website contains linked details about the tournament schedule, format, and prize money distribution, plus "live" coverage of the qualifying series that is currently underway to award positions in the playoff. The series of twenty prelims is set to conclude this weekend, to name the final ten participants. |
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| :: BCA MEMBER NEWS |
:: BCA PROFILE |
CUE CUBE CORPORATION ... maker of the "Original Cue Cube", will soon celebrate its 25th year as one of the premier manufacturers of billiard cue shaping devices in the United States.
Among the most successful and widely-recognized products in billiards, the Cue Cube and the Shaft Slicker (a treated leather/nylon item for shaft maintenance), were packaged together for the first time as the "Pool Cue Maintenance Kit" in 1993. |
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This small "started-in-a-garage" company from Milwaukee is still going strong and is very proud to have competed successfully in a market with a lot of import competition, by stamping "MADE IN U.S.A." on every product. |
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 Tom Simpson ... is a BCA Master Instructor, whose latest contribution to the BCA included some volunteer time at the "Back to Billiards" Ballbusters event. A full-time instructor with the BCA accredited National Billiard Academy in Columbus, Ohio, Tom has worked with thousands of players and added many more to that total after offering free instruction to Baltimore enthusiasts last weekend.
As founder of Elephant Balls, Ltd., inventor of Practice Balls®, developer of the Ghostball Aim Trainer®, and Secret Aiming Systems™ Coach, Tom’s innovations in training have helped players dramatically improve their skills and deepen their knowledge. Over 35 instructional articles are available for public viewing at the academy website. [ more ]
| :: PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |
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BCA MEMBER PUBLICATIONS ... InsidePool and Pool & Billiard each carried coverage of the Back to Billiards Expo, and posted photo galleries of both the show and the Ballbusters promotional event.
The two publications were joined by Luby Publishing (Billiards Digest & Billiard Retailer) as exhibitors throughout the weekend. Click on the logos to view their respective online reports and photo spreads. |
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| :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS |
| COMING UP ... |
... August 24 ... In conjunction with the APA National Team Championships, Main Street Productions will host a "9-Ball" movie promo featuring an exhibition match between Jennifer Barretta and Kim White. Tickets for the exhibition match are available online. [ more ]
... BCA National 9-Ball ... in Louisville, Kentucky, August 29 - September 3 [ pdf brochure ] NEW! Onsite entries accepted.
... IPT World Open 8-Ball Championship ... in Reno, Nevada, Sept. 2-10
... US OPEN 9-Ball Championships ... in Chesapeake, Virginia, Sept. 4-10 |
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THE LATEST SIGN-UPS. |
New Members ... from the eastern seaboard signed up for BCA membership in Baltimore, after finding out more about what the BCA Expos have to offer. Welcome! |
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• A-N-R Billiards (room operator) Glen Burnie, MD
• Club Med Billiards, Inc. (room operator) Harrisburg, PA
• CuesPort, Inc. (room operator) Arnold, MD
• Number One Vending Service, Inc. (retail) Jacksonville, FL
• Sarago's Big Ugly Warehouse (retail) Mechanicsburg, PA |
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| DEMOGRAPHICS ISSUED |
| The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association ... has released its latest research report containing participation trends and demographics for Billiards/Pool. The 2006 edition provides key data on historical participation trends, demographic data, profiles by gender, frequency and crossover participation in other sports, plus a general overview, quickfacts and charts. |
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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. 17 – September 8, 2006 |
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