Billiard Congress of America (BCA) members have a growing need to track how the billiard industry performs year to year ... and, in meeting this need, the BCA is proud to announce the Trends Report, which will start in March of 2008.

The Trends Report is a new benefit offered exclusively to BCA members that will provide actionable information about how the industry performs year to year. The Trends Report details how the overall industry is performing, as well as details about how the member performs compared to similar members in the industry. The Trends Report will provide detailed information about things BCA members care about: sales; item volume; profitability; and overall industry direction.

Ellison Research, a neutral research firm using secure and confidential practices, will collect the information. No private information will ever be disclosed to the BCA or any other party. All responses will remain secure and confidential. The information provided to the research firm will be totaled so that members understand the health and direction of the whole industry. Each member will also see how he or she specifically performs compared to similar members.

All BCA members are encouraged to participate in this groundbreaking effort, and participation is free for all members. Here is how it works: four times a year, members will log into a neutral, secure and confidential Web site. Members will spend five minutes answering questions about their business. All responses will remain secure and confidential. Three weeks later a confidential report is mailed to the BCA member’s business address, free of charge.

More information about the Trends Report will be shared in the coming months. If you have any questions in the interim, please feel free to contact Robin Dahlen, BCA associate managing director, at robin@bca-pool.com or 404.760.4248.

Each year the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) ... recognizes an outstanding individual who has made significant contributions to the billiard industry with the presentation of the BCA President’s Award. This year the BCA has chosen to recognize BCA member Bob Radford, owner of Antique Billiard Supply in Rockford, Ill., which provides sales and service of rare and collectible pool tables worldwide. His showroom contains the Midwest’s largest display of restored antique Brunswick pool tables.

Radford, a BCA member since 1988, is a current member of the BCA Board of Directors, a member of the Finance Committee and chair of the BCA Instructor Committee. During his tenure with the BCA, Radford has served as BCA treasurer and has been a member of the Bylaws, Certification/Specification, Membership and Long-Range Planning Committees.

“Bob’s active participation in the last year has helped to bring the BCA to a new level of professionalism and service to our members,” said Ivan Lee, BCA president. “His selfless dedication of time, talent and resources to the BCA, as well as his personal commitment to the well being and betterment of the organization, make it my pleasure to recognize him with this award. Bob also combines his billiard industry experience with his marketing, manufacturing and communications background to help the BCA continue the pace of improvement in its vitality, responsiveness and leadership.”

Just a reminder ... all current BCA members should have received their 2008 membership renewal letter via postal mail.  New this year, you can quickly and easily renew your membership online on the BCA Web site at www.bca-pool.com.  Or, you can always renew your membership through the mail. 

Be sure to renew your membership no later than January 15, 2008, to be included in the 2008 BCA Membership Directory and to take advantage of your FREE 2008 BCA Expo registration.  The BCA looks forward to 2008 and has several new benefits and programs in the works for our members. As a Billiard Congress of America member, you are partnered with the only trade association in the billiard industry dedicated solely to your success.

If you have any questions regarding your current membership or your renewal, please contact Kari Freeland, BCA membership coordinator, at kari@bca-pool.com or 404.760.2892. Thank you for your continued support of the BCA!

The countdown clock is already ticking ... for the 2008 International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center, June 12-14, 2008.  Be sure to bookmark the BCA Expo Web site for all the latest information as it becomes available. We’ll be announcing some killer special events, along with a “new look” and some great opportunities for you to increase your return on the show.

The “Business of Billiards Seminar Series” returns in 2008 with a powerful set of sessions designed to position your business for growth. Your time will be well spent: we’ll address issues such as retail merchandising strategies, poolroom design tactics, Internet marketing strategies, and charity and promotions tips. And we’ll present our consumer research results again, too.

The beauty of having the Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina, is two-fold. Know that great feeling of running into an old pal at the corner bar or bumping into a business acquaintance when you least expect it? And remember the opportunities that come from those experiences? That’s what we’ve got in Charlotte: a huge, casual, comfortable networking opportunity – the convention center is located near some terrific restaurants and entertainment, so you’re sure to be doing business on and off the show floor.  Charlotte also has a lot to offer outside of the trade show world (learn more about the city in their official Visitors Guide).

The BCA Expo is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2008.  Come celebrate with us for an opportunity to combine serious business with southern hospitality. (Register FREE with your new or renewed membership by January 15, 2008.)