 |
Vol.5,
No.1 — January 22, 2008 |
|
|
|
BCA Expo 2008
June 12-14, 2008
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
REGISTER TODAY!
bcaexpo.com |
|
|
::
The deadline for your company to
be included in the 2008 edition of the BCA Member Directory ...
has been extended to January 31, 2008. If you have yet
to do so, be sure to renew your BCA membership NOW to guarantee that
your company will be listed in the “Who’s Who” of the billiard
industry. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year chance to have your
company listed in this comprehensive reference book.
In addition, if you renew by January
31, you will also be guaranteed a spot on the BCA’s new,
state-of-the-art consumer Web site, GenerationPool.com, which
is scheduled to make its debut in early March.
GenerationPool.com is designed to:
-
Provide BCA members marketing
opportunities to promote their business and
services;
-
Give BCA members that don’t have
a Web site the capability to create an online presence for their
business;
-
Afford consumers the ability to
quickly and easily search for a pool hall, retail location,
manufacturer or instructor; and
-
House interesting and informative
content to players at all levels of skill, including playing
tips, industry news and a pool social networking forum.
 Another member benefit? Exercise
(your right to vote)! This particular benefit of membership
allows business members to take part in setting the long-term
direction of the BCA by selecting your category representation to the BCA Board
of Directors each year. Voting is limited to current business
members of record that appear on the membership roster ninety (90)
days prior to the election, which will be held at the BCA Annual
Membership Meeting, June 11, 2008, in Charlotte. This means that you
must be a member in good standing on March 12, 2008, in order to
cast a ballot.
Quickly and easily complete your
renewal online now at
www.bca-pool.com to stay in the loop on all the latest industry
news with
BCA Member Update and to receive your
2008 International Billiard & Home
Recreation Expo passes. You simply cannot afford to not be
a member of the BCA in 2008. Again, renew by January 31, 2008, to
ensure your company takes full advantage of its membership
investment in the BCA.
|
^
contents |
| ::
CALL FOR BCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NOMINATIONS |
|
You can take part in
setting the long-term direction of the Billiard Congress of America
(BCA) ... by serving on
the BCA Board of Directors. The
2008 Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for a
total of six available board seats — four in the voting category,
and one each in the retail and room operator categories.
If you are interested
in running for a Board seat, or know of someone else who would be a
good candidate, please refer to the
Guidelines and Election Procedures on the BCA Web site for more
information on how to proceed.
Nominations are due
by Friday, March 7, 2008. If you wish to be considered for the
Board, now is the time to speak up! Contact BCA CEO Rob Johnson with
your qualifications at
rob@bca-pool.com. |
|
^
contents |
|
::
BCA EXPO: FAR FROM CONVENTIONAL |
|
 Make sure to check out the BCA Expo Web site ...
at www.bcaexpo.com for the latest
and greatest information. New details are being added every week!
Be sure to check out the “What’s
New” page, along with the “Attendee
Information” page. Remember that Expo registration is FREE
when you renew your BCA membership by January 31, 2008.
We’d also like to acknowledge the BCA member companies
that have exhibited at the BCA Expo every year since the inception of
the show in 1984. We extend a big THANK YOU SO MUCH to those companies
who have been the backbone of the Expo for 25 years. Be sure to look for
them on the Expo Web site for more information.
Come see these Expo pioneers and many other industry
movers and shakers in Charlotte, June 12-14, 2008.
Register today! |
|
^
contents |
|
::
BILLIARDS IN THE NEWS |
|
 For
2008, the American Cuemakers Association (ACA)
… has named Jerry McWorter of
Ventura, California, as the
recipient of the Cue Maker of the Year Award. This
award is based upon artistry and craftsmanship in
cue-making, as well as professionalism within the
industry. McWorter has been making cues since 1988 and
is a charter member of the ACA.
[
more ] |
-
IN OTHER NEWS ...
The United States Professional Pool Players Association
(UPA) recently opened the UPA Pro
Shop located on the home page of the UPA Web site. At this time, the pro
shop merchandise includes such fan favorites as:
autographed cue balls and touring professional player’s
photographs; UPA gear such as shirts, hats, patches, and
towels; Quick Clean table products; and its most recent
item, the UPA official rack (the Delta-13 Ball Rack).
- The heart and soul of U.S. snooker is in the San Gabriel
Valley in California. Specifically, Embassy Billiards,
which is the headquarters of the U.S. Snooker
Association and home court of the last three national
champions.
-
Michael Fuller defeated Jeff
Abernathy in the final match of the fourth stop on the
Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour, December 29-30, 2007.
Fuller won $1,000 for first place, plus entry into the
2008 Carolina Open.
-
Brian Tyler defeated Jason Steman to
take first place in the Viking Cue 9-Ball Tour Stand
Alone Amateur Tournament at Mr. Cues II in Atlanta,
Georgia, on December 29, 2007. A total of 60 players
attended and the event had a total prize fund of $3,580.
-
Heather Lloyd defeated Kyu Yi and
won her second in a row Fast Eddie’s Olhausen 9-Ball
Tour Season Finale in San Antonio, Texas. The top “Lady
Player of the Year” honor was awarded to Kyu Yi at the
player’s meeting as Kyu had an incredible year of play.
|
|
|
MEMBER MARKETING
101 ... From "52 Ways to Make Pool Everybody's Game" |
|
TIP №
06 |
|
|
With
the help of interior designers,
enhance your merchandise
presentation to boost sales. |
|
 |
|
|
|
STRATEGY: |
|
|
Successful furniture
stores know the power of
suggestion. By creating
the entire “look” of a
room, they’re more
likely to sell not only
a couch, but a carpet
and lamp as well. The
same theory works with
great rooms, recreation
rooms and finished
basements: Customers are
looking for turnkey
ideas for the whole
room. An interior
designer will help avoid
departmentalized
shopping by creating
rooms that are more
likely to sell multiple
products. |
|
|
|
|
EXECUTION: |
|
-
Contract interior designers
who work with furniture
stores or builders in your
area.
-
Ask that they design
billiard rooms in your
retail space in exchange for
a store discount or signage
that promotes their
services.
-
If your space is limited,
display easels with stylized
drawings or photographs of
rooms that have a pool table
as the focal point.
-
Offer package deals that
include the pool table and
the accessories displayed.
-
Provide customers with
interior design contacts;
you will offer a service
that differentiates you from
other billiard retailers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
contents |
| :: BCA NOTES & NEWS BRIEFS |
BILLIARD INDUSTRY TRENDS REPORT:
PROJECT KICKOFF MARCH 2008 |
|
Based on membership demand ... the BCA is
developing the Billiard Industry Trends Report. This project
will kickoff in March of 2008. The Trends Report is a new
program offered free of charge to BCA members and provides
actionable information about how the industry performs year to year.
The Trends Report will accomplish two things: it
will detail how the overall industry is performing and it will show
how the participating member performs compared to similar members in
the industry. In accomplishing these two items, the Trends
Report will provide detailed information about things BCA members
care about: sales; item volume; profitability; and overall industry
direction.
All BCA members are encouraged to participate in
this important project. Participation is free for all members.
Here is how it works: four times a year, members will login to 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
is available on the
BCA Web site. 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.
|
|
|
|
COMING
UP ... |
|
>>
JANUARY 2008
...
BCA annual membership renewals
due,
January 31 ... don't miss your opportunity to
appear in the 2008 BCA Membership Directory!
>>
FEBRUARY 2008
... BCA Board Meeting in
Phoenix, Arizona, February 5-7
>>
MARCH 2008
... Billiard Industry Trends
Report kickoff, early March
... BCA Board of Directors nominations
due, March 7
... Membership deadline for Board
election voting, March 12
... Application deadline for BEF
scholarships, March 15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^
contents |
|
::
BEF SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS |
|
 The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is pleased
to announce ... that they are accepting applications for the 2008
scholarship awards. The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is administered
annually under the direction and guidance of the BEF Board of Trustees.
Applications must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2008, and
can be downloaded by visiting the BEF Web site at
www.BilliardEducation.org.
The BEF Academic Scholarship Program is divided into
two categories: Excellence in Education scholarship (one $5,000
scholarship awarded over a two-year term) and Aiming for Higher
Education scholarships (seven individual scholarships at $1,000 each).
The objective of the BEF Academic Scholarship Program is to grant
scholarships to high school seniors who have benefited from the sport of
billiards and are pursuing a college education.
Prospects must adhere to the following scholarship
criteria: 1) hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale); 2) must
have an ACT score of at least 23 or SAT score of at least 1050; 3)
submit a 500- to 1000-word essay on how billiards has been an integral
part of their life; 4) must be accepted to an accredited undergraduate
academic program by June 1, 2008; 5) must attend an accredited
undergraduate institution and carry at least 12 hours per semester.
The final application must also include a letter from
the applicant outlining academic achievements, leadership and/or
community service work, a description of the applicant's background and
career objectives, personal and professional (academic) goals, and
chosen discipline of study. Applicants must also submit an official high
school transcript and SAT/ACT scores. |
|
^
contents |
|
::
UPA INTRODUCES NEW PUBLICATION |
|
 The
United States Professional Poolplayers Association (UPA)
... and Eclipse Media Group, LLC, have been working
diligently in the past few months to provide a comprehensive
source for UPA members, sponsors, and spectators that is
both informative and entertaining. As such, the UPA
Magazine will launch in early 2008. This magazine will
be published bi-monthly and will provide up-to-date facts
and statistics concerning the happenings within the UPA
organization and on tour.
“We are motivated by personal
determination to positively influence and elevate the
organization,” said Mark Cantrill of Eclipse Media Group.
“This publication is UPA specific and will provide tour
information and updates to its members and subscribers.”
This free publication will offer its
readers many interesting features, including: player
profiles; player stories and organization updates; tips and
instruction from professional players; letters from the
president of the organization; current rankings/seedings;
tour and event schedules; and features on the venues the
tour frequents. Visit the
UPA Web
site for subscription information. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 An exclusive service to Billiard Congress of America Business
Members, the
BCA
Member Update
is distributed via e-mail twice monthly and
archived
online. Please forward, print and circulate this newsletter widely and feel
free to submit your comments
or contributions to Robin Dahlen,
associate managing director. |
|
Copyright © Billiard Congress of America |
NEXT
ISSUE: Vol.5, No.2 |
|