Times are tough ... but, you’re not alone and there are opportunities to keep your business moving forward. The 2009 BCA Expo is one of those opportunities.

Become a more successful business owner by discovering new products and services, searching out education and connecting with others in your industry to share ideas and get help solving issues. Check out the new 2009 BCA Expo Attendee Brochure or bcaexpo.com for more information.

As a marketing vehicle, the 2009 BCA Expo provides the most cost-effective, efficient means to connect with qualified buyers to generate new leads, close deals, expand market share and maximize profits. See the 2009 BCA Expo Exhibitor Prospectus or bcaexpo.com for more information.

Don’t miss this dynamic opportunity to connect with your industry!

Retailers stung by consumers who refuse to spend ... are adjusting the way they do business, from cutting marginal suppliers to re-evaluating their pricing. Many merchants are also improving their customer service as they try to connect emotionally to shoppers. Here’s what the changes mean:

• SLASHING SUPPLIERS: Stores have been paring inventories for two years. Now they are slashing them, particularly goods from marginal suppliers.

• RE-EVALUATING PRICING: When housing prices were booming and credit was easy and jobs were more plentiful, shoppers kept buying and trading up. Stores were happy to accommodate by stocking ever more expensive products. Now, stores are adjusting their pricing.

• HIRING OUTSIDE SPECIALISTS: Companies are turning to outside advice on sourcing and currency hedging to reduce the impact of volatile foreign exchange rates.

• A NEW ATTITUDE: Consumers are already noticing sales clerks are more polite. There are
  friendlier greeters at the doors, and shoppers are finding thank-you notes in the mail.

• FOCUSED STOCK: Stores are ordering narrower selections of goods as they go for the most
  popular items, the surest sellers.

Source: Yahoo! News, January 20, 2009

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. In 2008, the BCA has chosen to recognize Fran Crimi, BCA Instructor Program administrator and BCA senior delegate to the World-Pool Billiard Association (WPA).

Crimi, a former pro player and previous president of the Women’s Professional Billiards Association, is responsible for the oversight and management of the BCA Instructor Program. Crimi works closely with each instructor to ensure that his or her certification is maintained on a yearly basis. She has worked to make the BCA a place where instructors can go for advice and to obtain their credentials, as well as a resource where players can turn when they are looking for a legitimate and qualified instructor. In fact, Crimi herself is a BCA Master Instructor, which is the highest level of certification that can be obtained in the program.

In her role as a BCA senior delegate to the WPA, Crimi works closely with the BCA’s WPA Committee to provide input back to the WPA on various issues, including the player selection process for international events, rules and specifications issues, potential scenarios for hosting international events in North America and other timely topics paramount to the sport and industry. In this capacity, she also represents the BCA at all WPA Board of Directors meetings and at the bi-annual General Assembly.

Crimi recently played a significant role in the WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships and WPA World 9-Ball Championships for Wheelchair Players hosted in Reno, Nevada, the first week of December 2008. Crimi, in partnership with the United States Pool Players Association, was responsible for several logistical items related to both events, including booking player travel and accommodations, management of tournament brackets, securing event sponsorships and player awards distribution.

“Fran’s dedication of time, talent and resources to the BCA, her willingness to work cooperatively and her personal commitment to the betterment of the billiard industry make her the obvious choice for this award,” said Ivan Lee, chairman of the BCA Board of Directors. “Fran is a highly-respected and well-known member of the billiard community. Her experience as the former head of the WPBA and as a BCA Master Instructor make her the ideal liaison to the WPA and manager of the BCA Instructor Program. Fran was chosen for both of these roles because of her litany of credentials and strong work ethic. She is truly an integral member of the BCA team.”

Billiard Congress of America (BCA) member Iwan Simonis, Inc., ... has recognized the progress and potential of Blair Thein and his reality show project, “Pool, Poker and Pain,” and has committed to help Thein align himself with a professional company to package the show for investment. Investors Resource Alliance LLC intends to deliver the knock-out punch to help attract the right investors that will allow this extreme dream to become a reality.

Edward Weinecke, vice president, and Alex Decker, executive, of Investors Resource Alliance LLC, feel they have a tiger by the tail as “Pool, Poker and Pain” is a very sexy and exciting project. By opening up their resources to help Thein put the final touches on the planning, development and packaging of the reality show, it looks like the highly ambitious project can get the funding that it needs to reach the next level. This final development process will be in high gear over the next month to package and present the groundbreaking show.

The character-based reality show has blockbuster potential as its reach touches three unique sports, pool, poker and mixed martial arts. The combination of this dramatic reality show, leading up to a unique triathlon-style event, is expected to bring new eyes to each respective sport.

“The interest in the uniqueness and excitement that surrounds this project, along with recent developments, lead me to believe that 2009 is the year that Pool, Poker and Pain will shine,” says Thein.

Thein intends to begin scheduling meetings with qualified investors interested in being involved with a completely new twist on combined discipline sports and ready to make sports and entertainment history. For more information and insight into the “Pool, Poker and Pain” concept, visit poolpokerandpain.com.